THE FULL FACTS

After many weeks of waiting i've been placed in the work-related activity group and I didn't require a medical.

I understand that being in this group requires attending work focused interviews but it also mentions the possibility of 'work focused health-related assessment with a health care professional', does that last one mean a medical test? Can these interviews and assessments overturn the decision to award me ESA?

The letter also makes no mention of reassessment date. My condition can be triggered by stress and I don't think I could handle it if it was only a few months away after the near constant feeling of impotent terror I had since the mention of the name ATOS in relation to ESA migration.

No , relax. Part of what happens when you're in the WRAG is that they look at how your health issues impact on your ability to work, and what kind of work would someone with your issues be able to do. And no, they can't overturn the ESA award without having to attend another ATOS assessment (which is not what the letter is about).

You may find if you're sick enough that you will be told there is no need to go back again after your first interview - apparently that has happened to some people. Or you may be asked to attend a series of interviews. Either way, they cannot actually force you to find work while on ESA.

_________________
Forms:

• GL24 (February 2012) - Download pdf
• ESA50 2013 NEW - Download pdf
• ESA113 (03/11) - Download pdf (DWP Form sent to Dr to complete for ESA)

Information:

• Claim Form and medical guide - (Download pdf)
• The Full Facts - Advocacy support list
• Support Group Criteria
• ilegal guide to ESA50 questionnaire
• Turn2us - access to Benefits and Grants
• Contact your local MP
• 2012 WCA handbook pdf
• ATOS official complaints procedure pdf

As long as the it's just a series of interviews I'm okay with that and you never know they could be helpful.

Is it usual for them (dwp) not to tell you how long you have been awarded ESA for? I've heard people mention reassessments varying from three months up to twelve (I guess a year is the maximum now) but the letter I received makes no mention of any of this.

It depends on whether your ESA is Contribution- or Income-Based. The former is due to be limited to twelve months from April 2012 (though the legislation hasn't been passed yet). It will be backdated, so if your C-B ESA begins today it will expire twelve months from today. You then claim the means-tested I-B ESA as long as you qualify.

If it's I-B then there is no limit on how long it's awarded for, though everything depends on the state of your illness/disability, further ESA assessments, sick notes, etc. For now there is no need to worry.

_________________
Forms:

• GL24 (February 2012) - Download pdf
• ESA50 2013 NEW - Download pdf
• ESA113 (03/11) - Download pdf (DWP Form sent to Dr to complete for ESA)

Information:

• Claim Form and medical guide - (Download pdf)
• The Full Facts - Advocacy support list
• Support Group Criteria
• ilegal guide to ESA50 questionnaire
• Turn2us - access to Benefits and Grants
• Contact your local MP
• 2012 WCA handbook pdf
• ATOS official complaints procedure pdf

I've received my letter confirming the date for my first meeting.

What can I expect? I did a pathways to work interview a couple of years ago (I think it was called that) where I just talked to a women at the jobcentre for twenty minutes then wasn't called in again, will it be similar to that?

Do they try to pressure you into work or is it more informal and just suggestions and advice?

My experience was just like that. The lady listened and empathised and said I wouldn't be called again. Hope it goes ok for you.

_________________
Forms:

• GL24 (February 2012) - Download pdf
• ESA50 2013 NEW - Download pdf
• ESA113 (03/11) - Download pdf (DWP Form sent to Dr to complete for ESA)

Information:

• Claim Form and medical guide - (Download pdf)
• The Full Facts - Advocacy support list
• Support Group Criteria
• ilegal guide to ESA50 questionnaire
• Turn2us - access to Benefits and Grants
• Contact your local MP
• 2012 WCA handbook pdf
• ATOS official complaints procedure pdf

I agree with what snowman said. I attending my first WFI with my advisor at the JCP on Monday there and it lasted barely 15 minutes in toll and at the end of it she said she would see me after my next reassessment. She asked the basic what conditions I had, what meds I take and the details of my last job. When I came on benefits, which benefit apart from ESA I might be getting and explained the reassessment process to me.

At no time was job seeking, return to work or training schemes mentioned. She explained I could if I wished gain access to a course that I could work at home with, attend once a week at a local community centre and the fact if I found anything I wished to do basically to get me out of the house and stop the walls coming in on me I could claim a grant to pay for any course that might interest me. No pressure at all, she said that more and more services where coming online all the time and probably by the time I was due for review there would be more options out there for me if I wished to look.

She agreed that anything like say an IT course which would means 2 to 3 hours sitting a day or weekly whatever wasn't possible for me but said if I found a once a week or at home course I was interested in I could get aid in paying through government grants/schemes. Nothing was said about any type of work based training courses etc., I was also informed that if I felt I wanted access to counsellors or therapists they could help refer me including a pain clinic etc., should I want or need it and my doctors/specialists haven't offered it to me.

Afterwards she actually helped me out of the seat that was in and got the security guard to help me to the lift and said I would be by mandatory rules be referred back once I went through my next review. She mentioned that my file stated that I wouldn't be reviewed for 2 years, this being the longest period she had seen awarded, but didn't know how the possible 12 month limit on my type of ESA would affect that should it go through next April. Either way she said I could contact her at any time if I needed and if I didn't she would see the next time I went through the reassessment process.

Thank you for the responses. It does sound a lot like the pathways interview or whatever it was called.

So worst case scenario I have a pleasant conversation with an 'advisor' once a month for six months? I won't be forced or coerced into doing anything beyond my physical means, just asked if there is anything they can do to help?

Went to the WRAG interview yesterday, was a bit embarrassing having to tell some non-medical type all my issues but otherwise was pleasant enough. Have to go to another in a few months, mostly pointless as it's not like I can do much but was told 'I have to be seen to be moving forwards' whatever that means. Also forgot to ask how long I had been awarded for.

Woke up this morning to find a renewal claim pack for DLA on my mat, it never bloody ends.

I went for my first interview today and i was very anxious about attending. I did phone up the JC who told me my interview would be arranged to have in a private room as i suffer with anxiety and social phobia. The woman i saw was very nice and seemed to listen and go through my conditions but she kept mentioning the work programme to me and saying it might be of some benefit for me to 'have a think' about going onto it. Does anyone have any more information about the work programme? I dont want to commit myself to going on it without not knowing too much about it.


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Thanks.