esa without medical

Hi,
Thanks to this site i completed the esa forms back in november for renewal of IB and just received phone call saying i am entitled to ESA for 18 months but will have to attend a work focused interview in about 6 months time...not sure if that is good news or not.
I have been off work for 5yrs now with fibromyalgia and depression. I get HRC and HRM from DLA which is up for renewal in Dec this year.
Just wondered if everyone has to attend these work focused interview - got told in phone call from DWP that if i dont attend it could affect my benefit ?
Many thanks for all the advice on form filling as it seems to have worked wonders
Good Luck to everyone who has to fill in these forms. Take your time completing them and dont leave any stone unturned - explain in full your incapacity and how it affects you on a daily basis.
Imelda

Hi imelda

Pleased to hear that you were awarded ESA.

Everybody in the work-related activity group is required to attend work-focused interviews in order to continue receiving the work-related component.

Regards

Derek

Just been for my work focussed interview today. This is my third. The first I was so sick I could not talk. The second I was a bit better. Today, I was told categorcially that I had to enroll on a course, or, at least make an appointment to see them. (They...decide whether I have to do a course or not!!) I need to have in writing that I have at least had an appointment with them, and, by by my next WFI I need confirmation of this AND and up to date CV for her to look at!! Then informed if I do not do as I was told, the decision maker would be informed and my ESA stopped.

I felt like a beggar, and I felt like she was taking the money out of her purse to pay me! Absolutely felt sick to my stomach.

I have issues with alcohol which I am addressing...this today, instead of a help has set me back, big time...

Despondent is an understatement.

On top of depression I have physical problems and have hearing problems ( 2 hearing aids)

What next I do not know...

I feel for everyone on this site and I do wonder what this country is coming to..

This new "regime" is making people more sick, more depressed and made to feel like beggars..

Any more news or advice on WFI's I will wecome.

Rosie

Hi imelda, have you checked the descriptors for the Support Group to be sure you do not meet any of the criteria? I ask because though not definate HRM and HRC suggests the possibility.
people in the support group do not attend WFI and are not affected by what ever time limit there will be on contribution based ESA
regards from another fibromite
Linda

rosyposy wrote:

Just been for my work focussed interview today. This is my third. The first I was so sick I could not talk. The second I was a bit better. Today, I was told categorcially that I had to enroll on a course, or, at least make an appointment to see them. (They...decide whether I have to do a course or not!!) I need to have in writing that I have at least had an appointment with them, and, by by my next WFI I need confirmation of this AND and up to date CV for her to look at!! Then informed if I do not do as I was told, the decision maker would be informed and my ESA stopped.

I felt like a beggar, and I felt like she was taking the money out of her purse to pay me! Absolutely felt sick to my stomach.

I have issues with alcohol which I am addressing...this today, instead of a help has set me back, big time...

Despondent is an understatement.

On top of depression I have physical problems and have hearing problems ( 2 hearing aids)

What next I do not know...

I feel for everyone on this site and I do wonder what this country is coming to..

This new "regime" is making people more sick, more depressed and made to feel like beggars..

Any more news or advice on WFI's I will wecome.

Rosie

Hi RP,

I can only refer you back to the links on Gordon's previous post in this thread, here :

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum?func=vie...id=10&id=80577#80588

The information on the pages from the WFI and Works Programme links has been recently updated with respect to the "Upper Age Limits"

And draw your attention to this extract from the pages from these links :

Things you cannot be asked to do
You cannot be required to;

apply for a job

undertake work

undergo medical treatment

You may well be aware of the above information.

bro58