ESA Pathway to work interview.

missile

chelleybelley wrote: »

my mum was still employed but they made her attend all of the pathways to work interviews and they even admitted it was pointless but they was bound by the new esa guidelines

Could it be that those carrying out the interviews are self employed and paid irrespective of the outcome?

Is that being cinical? :rotfl:

DAMARA_2

Just a note, The Job Centre has the power to delay your pathways to work interviews for up to 6 months if they feel is necessary to allow you time to recuperate from surgery etc.

nogginthenog

You could ask for a phone interview,you might get one if you have a good enough reason.

You dont have to attend, you MAY loose part of your benefit if you dont.


pps
Attending and taking part in an interview

Normally you have to attend a work focused interview as a condition of receiving certain benefits. See below. It normally takes place at a Jobcentre Plus office but it can be in a person's home if going to the office would cause undue inconvenience or be a danger to health. Some allow interviews over the phone

yellowduck_2

I had to attend before I'd had my medical so it was all a bit pointless but it is in the rules so you just have to go and that's all there is to it! The woman I saw was horrible, I took my portfolio with all my qualifications, sample references, examples of work I had done in the past and a copy of an up to date CV and she responded by saying "you can put that away as I have no interest in it" She then went on to say I should "get out of my comfort zone" (previous work has included youth work, work in the criminal justice system, work in drugs services and drug service commissioning!!) and go and do some voluntary worj in a charity shop. I would have complained but was feeling too ill and I left the place in tears. I think I incurred her wrath as I sat in the wrong place and she had to come and look for me. Her opening remark was "What on earth are you doing in this section, I have been calling you for 5 minutes" Well I was very new to the joys of the DWP and did not know where to sit and had parked myself in the Jobseekers' bit. Hope you have a better experience than me.

Uncertain

healy wrote: »

I would think they would probably leave you alone for a while but it is up to the person conducting the interview.

If only......

My experience, when in exactly the same position as the OP, was that I had to go along to the "provider" each month and see a long suffering but very pleasant lady. She gave me coffee, filled in her endless forms and apologised at regular intervals about the whole stupid waste of both our time. She told me she had no discretion to waive these meetings.

At least in my case it was less than a mile from home but what a terrible waste of resources.

Robert_Hopkins

The Employment and Support Allowance regulations allow for deferral on Pathways to Work interviews which mean that you can get the interview postponed to a later date. This is at a advisors discretion. You have to give the advisor on the interview a reason why you would ind it difficult to participate, for instance you are receiving treatment which makes you feel unwell., a medical apppointment, a funeral, having relationship problems.
What you do is ring the person on the letter advising you of the interview and discuss with the person or another of their colleagues why you would find it difficult to attend and they will also ask you when you arel likely to be ready for the interview and they will send you another letter near the time.
I started claiming ESA in late July 2009 after exhausting the period of sickness aloud under the Jobseekers Allowance Regulations(I was claiming JSA alongside DLA since 2000) and I went through the assessment process including a intitial Pathways to Work in Sep 2009 (at this initial interview I discussed with the adviser all about my circumstances, I was already on the Jobcentre Computer for my JSA claim and I was seeing a Disability Employment Adviser (one of many) while claiming JSA.) then I had the first two parts of the medical in late sept 2009 which were the Limited Capability for Work and the Limited capability for Work related activity. I passed the first one just about (with 15 points for mental health according to the medical report)I deserved much more I felt on both physical and mental health. I have Dyspraxia, Psorasis, Anxiety, Depression, Panic Attacks, Sinusitis, Rhinitis, Psoriatic externa ottiss media, Migraines. I failed the second one so I was put in the Work Related Activity Group. At the end of october I had another Pathways to Work Interview but I got this deferred to the New Year on the ground of Hospital light treatment for psorasis. At the beginning of Novemeber I had the part three of the medical the Health Related Work Related Activity Assessment which was a load of rubbish the medical professional was struggling to find things to put into the report for the personal adviser, he suggested that I becomes self employed and reday to start work in the next few weeks.
In the New Year I had a letter for another Pathways to Work Interview, I explianed the light treatment was not working and I am on a systematic thereapy for my psorasis (basically taking one acitretin tablet a day) and explained that the drug had huge side effects which make you unwell. I got it postponed to March 2010. Another letter advising me of the interview in March 2010 arrived then I explained my treatment is contiuing and that I am expecting a review in Late May 2010.

Robert_Hopkins

Another thing, if the Jobcentre Adviser refuses to grant you a deferal simply complain to the District Manager who will decide. Failing that there is your mp, the parliamentary ombudsman and the cheif executive, you could go to the press too to embarrass the government.
If you are unhappy with your treatment by jobcentre plus staff at the jobcentre, you again should raise your greviance with the district manager.

hermum

I found the advisers in my local JCP really nice people, I must have been lucky. My first appointment was rescheduled as I was unable to get in due to my health. My last appointment in December I opted to go on a voluntary basis to an agency who are employed for the Pathways to Work, again nice guy. However I'm finding that despite wanting to get back to work & knowing exactly what I want to do my questions are always answered with, I'll get the self employment guy to contact you. 31/2 months, 3 appts later & several phone calls from me, I'm still waiting. I did get to speak to him once in January on a Thursday & he was going to call me on the Monday.
I have another appointment with Pathways this week, if they still can't answer my questions I will go back through the JCP & hope that they can answer my questions.
I would have thought that in order to up their stats a voluntary participant would have been ideal, as I do want to work, there are just a few things that need to be ironed out first.

Robert_Hopkins

To the original poster, if you are already in employment you should ring the adviser on the letter and explain your situation, you will get exempted on the grounds of the interview being of no assitance to you. However you can contact the Disability Employment Adviser at the jobcentre if you are having difficulty retaining your current job as they may be able to advise you and your employer.

Robert_Hopkins

In the Preston area (a part of the Lancashire and Cumbria Jobcentre Plus District) all pathways to work interviews are done directly by the jobcentre. If you are in a provider area you should contact the jobcentre to get deferrals.