esa and pathways when ill

willa

The whole 'Pathways to Work' invention is an absolute disgrace:mad:. I have had to attend these stupid sessions myself. I am clearly not fit for work, having a long-term illness and attendant problems. I scoured the internet for a way out of this distressing and unhelpful process and was told by a Gov website that advisors have the ability to waive interviews in view of a person's health, however this information is out of date. I was told on attending that they used to be able to do this but can't any more unless a person is 'terminally ill'. What is particulary galling is that the woman emphasised to me again and again that it's all voluntary and it's all just an information-giving exercise. Either she is very seriously brainwashed or she was just lying. This is obvious nonsense because if it was just to give people information, it could be done over the phone or by letter. And the sessions are clearly NOT voluntary. Just to have to go to these pointless (when they are for people who have been recently medically assessed as unfit for work in the first damn place) is distressing. To have to listen to the designed to headf@ck repetition about ways you can get back to work (OK I found out some useful stuff for if and when I get better but it was all addressed to me as if I could work now, while being dressed up like it wasn't DUH!) is SO harrassing and distressing. James Purnell and his ilk just sit their in their suits dreaming up this stuff to manipulate statistics. One serious question to benefits agency workers who may read this - do Pathways advisors get some kind of points or bonus when their 'customers' take up courses, NHS programs etc?? No seriously I want to know because thats how it seemed to me - she was going all out to get me onto something (with, as I've said before an unashamed lack of knowledge about my health condition and consequent situation/abilities). Anyway, the whole thing just makes my blood boil :mad:and to be honest it makes me far less able to work through the worry and stress of it negatively affecting my already rubbish health. It's bullying, plain and simple. The system is set up to bully and it's set up by people who are lining their pockets with a hell of a lot more taxpayers money than benefits claimants are getting.

Oldernotwiser

I hope you feel better for your rant!

willa

If you were addressing me ONW, I'm just trying to educate the DWP about the 'customer's' experience. As well as venting and what's wrong with that? (Ooh were you being nice to me then ONW or just sarcastic?)

c0113tt3

oldernotwiser.

this is exactly what i explained in the other thread, and now you will feel just like you have previously stated. This is exactly what happens with customers experience of dwp / procedures and need to vent and come here to vent / get help.

You really need to understand this to be able to advise people, and be cool and its not personal. Also we are all human, and im sure there is a circumstance where you have vented, and been lets say p****d off at someone who was completely innocent. for example a bad day at work, you come home, your partner nags about something and you vent

Oldernotwiser

My response was totally neutral - it didn't seem to warrant a reply. I just hope that it served some purpose for the poster, although it's interesting that you interpreted even my comment as hostile. It really is a case of being oversensitive, you know.

(If my husband came home and had a good old moan, I'd say something similar to him, along the lines of "I hope you feel better for that!" Fortunately he takes it the right way!)

willa

healy wrote: »

Thats ok but they are wrong. It is very disappointing that an advice centre is giving incorrect advice. It might be worth telling them so they do not mislead others.

Healy, I think that confusion has arisen because the OP is not familiar with Pathways to Work and has referred to it as a 'course' (which it kind of is really). You, on the other hand, are differentiating between Pathways and subsequent courses that may lead from it. Therefore both the OP and the local people who have advised her are correct - attendance of Pathways is compulsory.

tobykim

Not on the benefit myself but was wondering out of curiousity, presumably these interviews are by prior arrangement, what if you are ill on the day and cannot attend, what happens then ?

Frosty-Box

willa wrote: »

One serious question to benefits agency workers who may read this - do Pathways advisors get some kind of points or bonus when their 'customers' take up courses, NHS programs etc?? No seriously I want to know because thats how it seemed to me -

Willa

Provider Led Pathways Providers who are contracted by the DWP are NOT on commission to get customers to join course etc, in fact they'd rather customers didn't sign up for courses as they have to fund them, eating into their limited budgets. The Providers DO however get paid for getting people into work, a sum at the job start and then a some of money following sustainability of the job after a period of time (not sure what if is - two months, 13 weeks etc??)

To answer the original question as many before me have, the lady in question does not have to attend or even agree to a training course or any other upskill course to that effect and her benefit will NOT be affected, however, she must attend all WFI's arranged by her Pathways providers and at least agree to attend ALL future interviews on her 'Action Plan'. These interviews can be postponed due to ill health, although not cancelled. In extreme circumstances a home visit can be arranged - be rare.

Don't know if this helps?

FB x

willa

Thanks Frosty. I was referring to points gained by DWP workers, not the provider led ones because I haven't had anything to do with them. To be fair, after I posted that original question I did think that maybe the DWP workers are pressurised by having to meet targets rather than being motivated by chasing points but anyway....
I just dipped into this thread again and wanted to comment on Healy's post because I have noticed some confusion arising before as a result of him (and others) not really understanding what an OP is saying before they jump in and give advice which is often very minimalistic, which in itself can cause further confusion (other posts, other threads).
Thank again Frosty.

dookar

tobykim wrote: »

Not on the benefit myself but was wondering out of curiousity, presumably these interviews are by prior arrangement, what if you are ill on the day and cannot attend, what happens then ?

You must show 'good cause' for failing to attend.

I know little about ESA but if 'good cause' is the same as for JSA, then you would consider what any reasonable person would do in that circumstance - it is not unreasonable for a person to not attend an appointment due to sickness.