WFI

chrissie wrote: I has my first WFI today and was totally blown away when I informed them I had a 3 month holiday booked mid sept. due to my condition, the sun helps. I booked this holiday last December.

I was I formed today that if I don't attend my WFI every 4 weeks then my money will be stopped. They didn't seem to care that I had already booked this vacation prior to migration from IB to ESA without a medical.

Surely they can't do this, they told me I have to cancel my vacation or fly back after 4 weeks to attend my WFI.

IS THIS RIGHT? Is there anyway around this? Help please !!!!!

I think they are being unreasonable, but that does not mean that they are not legally entitled to follow this course of action.

As far as I am aware your not being in the country should still be accepted as Good Cause for you not attending a WFI, however, there are other matters you need to consider, and having Good Cause will not prevent the DWP sanctioning you.

You are required to tell the DWP if you are going to be away from home, this was the case for IB as it is on ESA.

If you are leaving the country then you need to check that you are entitled to continued payment of the benefits you are receiving and whether your claims can remain open, especially as you will be away for more than 4 weeks. I am afraid that this is a complicated area of benefit law and we are not able to advise on this.

If the DWP do sanction you, then it will be part or more likely all of the Personal Allowance (£71.70), the sanction remains in place until the requirement is satisfied, e.g. you attend a WFI or the sanction is overturned at appeal.

My best recommendation is that your get face to face advice from a Welfare Rights advisor with experience in this area.

Where to get advice?

Gordon

chrissie wrote: Thank you Gordon, however, it does seem rather u nfair as I have already booked the vacation prior to ESA.

I guess I will be penalised and sanctioned if I don't attend.

I really do recommend that you get face to face advice.

Gordon