Disabled & been asked to attend work focus interview

WhiteHorse

dmg24 wrote: »

I don't need a link to DIAL to understand PCA exemptions!

Er ... it isn't a link.

Parkinsons does not automatically exempt someone from the PCA, so the fact that he has been called for a WFI does not necessarily mean something is seriously adrift.

Refer to the quoted text. DIAL is quite specific.

Best to gather information before making sweeping statements.

Hmm.

wild666

sunnyone wrote: »

A wfi isnt a medical, why are you giving people such bad advice on this and other threads?

The work focused interview means they have already or in many cases still deciding if you are fit for work.
I attended 2 WFI's and the second one with a4e the person I saw @ the second one said I should be in the support group, this is more money, but I don't care about the money, I know that because at all the dealings I have had this year with ATOS the DWP and a4e have all resulted in me falling asleep when been there, I was going to check the side effects of the medication as I was certain this was why I was sleeping so much. My youngest daughter got me to use http://bnf.org/bnf/
to check the side effects of the medication this is especially useful when going to the so called medical with an ATOS HCP as this is the book that many GPs carry with them to refer to for what medication to prescribe it even tells you the price for a set amount of the medication. I haven't had a close look at the site but I believe there is stuff there that ATOS will not want to be presented with.

IMHO the work focused interviews should only be carried out after you have been put into the work related group, or if you are in the support group and request it, not before the decision on your report has been made, a4e have to be paid for seeing those that are failed at the medical so the more they can cram through before they are denied ESA the more they earn.

ivyleaf

Hi. I am on IB and not exempt from the PCA; I have to have a WFI every 3 years. The person doing the interview should not try to persuade your Dad to try to go back to work if he is obviously not well enough, but may give him info and leaflets which might be useful if he improves enough to think about looking for work. (From what you have said, this is unlikely to happen, but i expect they have to give out the leaflets anyway)

The lady who interviewed me last time - earlier this year - did say that they do put a lot more emphasis on taking part in "work-related activities" if you are on ESA. I'm trying not to worry about being transferred across until it happens

HTH:)

Lion-King

Thanks to all of you who have replied.

In response my father is on the highest level of dla )he is 55 years old )indefinitely as parkinsons is unfortunately a progressive disease and not something that can be cured.

So to summarise, what you guys are saying is that the work focus interview is just to see what work/training related options are open to him. Well there is really no point because he can't work not because he doesn't want to but because he can't!

His fear is that they will stop his icb they can't do that can they. That will destroy him as he has not income and is dependant on that money as my mother is unable to work either because she is a full time carer for him.........

PS I hate to appear thick but what does PSA mean?

zzzLazyDaisy

Lion-King wrote: »

Thanks to all of you who have replied.

In response my father is on the highest level of dla

If he is on Incapacity Benefit (not ESA) and is in receipt of High rate care DLA then he is exempt from the WFI (HRM on its own does not exempt him).

If he meets the criteria for being exempt, then you need to contact the advisor and point this out, it may just be that a mistake has been made or the records are not up to date. The same thing happened to my friend and they were quick to cancel the interview once they were aware he was exempt.

Lion-King

Hi thanks for the quick response.

Yes he is on icb and higher rate of dla. So should I phone advisor and double check if he iis for these reasons exempt from attending wfi.

What are ESA & HRM ayway?!

LittleTinker

sunnyone wrote: »

Nice try, alter your post after I, (Miss Know It All Uk Champion 2010) told you your wrong but you cant alter my quote of your post

Of course you can alter it....it you wanted to.

As my post obviously wasnt clear enough for some people, I chose to make sure it was better understood.

sunnyone

LittleTinker wrote: »

Of course you can alter it....it you wanted to.

As my post obviously wasnt clear enough for some people, I chose to make sure it was better understood.

I am not a know it all, you were wrong and instead of just admitting it you try and insult me instead.

grow up.

zzzLazyDaisy

Lion-King wrote: »

Hi thanks for the quick response.


What are ESA & HRM ayway?!

ESA has repaced IB for new claimants, and over time current IB claimants will gradually be transfered to ESA. Some IB claimants are exempt from WFI's, there is no such exemptions for ESA claimants - even people in a permanent vegative state are not exempt....

DLA is awarded for two types of needs - care and mobility. People on High Rate Care (HRC) are exempt from IB WFI's. People who are on High Rate Mobility, but not High Rate Care, are not exempt. So when you say your father is on the highest rate of DLA, you need to check that is the Care rate, and not just the Mobility rate on its own.

If he is in fact in receipt of High Rate Care, and Incapacity Benefit, then yes, just give the adviser a ring and explain that he is exempt because he is on High Rate Care DLA, and ask him/her to check their records and confirm in writing that he doesn't need to attend the WFI.

But if for some reason you don't get this sorted in time, don't just miss the interview. Take your father to the interview with the DLA paperwork and any consultant or doctor's reports that your father might have, and sort it out on the day. But hopefully it won't come to that.

Limana68

What if the person is on HRC of DLA but placed in the worked related ESA group? This just didn't seem right to me for my hubby who also has a progressive neurological condition and he had to give up work due to his illness . We thought he would go into the support group.
Saying that, he hasnt heard anything about an work related interview at all and that was over a yr ago.