Just had a WFI.....

With a diiference.
Different ? How so ?
Well I have been dumped in WRAG, like so many other unfortunates when I believe I should be in the Support Group. A familiar situation it would seem.
I was called for a WFI and – right or wrong – decided I would go to it. I don’t want to lose my benefit.
So me and my chronic sciatica, heart disease and depression (not to mention a myriad of other complaints) went to see a guy behind a desk, who we shall call Fred. All ridden shotgun by my lovely wife.
He asked if I understood why I was here. Naturally I said ‘no’. Not knowing what on earth he was going to say next, he asked me to check my contact details, and, to my disbelief he knew nothing at all about me. Not his fault of course, but still astounding.
He then asked me to tell him about myself. So we told him about the 20 years I did as a civil servant and the 10 year shift at the NHS, and then onto the heart attacks, the heart operation, the sciatica and so on.
I then told him I had been working even after my heart attack – ironically for the NHS – until they (the NHS) retired me on ill-health. By the time he asked if I got a pension and was told that I did and that it was a half pension on ill health retirement, he starting shaking his head.
He then said ‘ I don’t know what you are doing here, you are in the wrong group.’ We fervently agreed. He then went on to grumble about the number of people he’s seen, that were clearly in the wrong group. He guessed that they’d stuffed me in the WRAG without a medical, which I confirmed.
He then gave me the option either to appeal WRAG or to proceed with the interview. We agreed the interview was pointless and he gave me the appeal form and an envelope.
On parting he said ‘I hope I don’t see you again, if you see what I mean’ wished me good fortune with the appeal and we left not before we shook his hand and thanked him for his help.
So it seems that even the staff (ok, I know they aren’t able to assess medically or make decisions) are somewhat perplexed about the whole situation with this ESA nonsense. For what it’s worth, I have the support from a worker at the coal face ; it will be interesting to see what happens when I appeal, armed with Doctors letters.
The reason for this post is to show that a WFI maybe not, in itself be a bad thing, especially if you don’t understand why you were parked in WRAG in the first place. Also, I wanted to give something back to the forum, which has – and will – help me through this circus.

Hi,

Thanks for sharing your experiences of your first WFI.

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My full name is showing, how can I stop it?

bro58

I get confused with the jargon, what's WFI

karen wrote: I get confused with the jargon, what's WFI

Hi k,

WFI = Work Focused Interview

Which is part of WRA = Work Related Activity.

Claimants who are paced into The Work Related Activity Group (WRAG) have to take part in WFI and/or WRA if they are so requested.

Work Focused Interviews

&

The Work Programme

bro58