Re job focused interview

parki

My husband has just been told today that he may have to go for a job focused interview in 6 weeks time and has to go to another town 10 miles away to this jobcentre,best of it to come he has been on incapacity benefit for 5 years.He is 60 years old in march 2007 4 months away ,and these are his ailment which have got worse over the years. Ashma ,crumbling knee due to arthiritis ,Arthiritis in kneck ,arms hands and shoulders and back.This has been confimed with an x ray.He also has a disease in the hands which effect his ligaments and his third finger is bent inwards to his palm and cannot straighten it .The other hand is starting now,its called a viking disease their is a proper medical name for it but cant find it off hand ,when we looked it up on the web its viking disease.He has also suffered depression for 5 years due to other factors ,and he has to go to physio .But the physio said they cant do anything for the arthiritis as its wear & tear,and his knee just gives way .We were walking out oneday and i was linking in with him and his knee just went and he fell and pulled me down with him unintentional as i had my arm in his we just went .He cracked his ribs and bruised all the side of his face and he hurt his lung they said when he went for x ray this has happened on several occassions.He dosent go out now unless i drive .I dont like leaving him alone ,i have to keep ringing him and if i dont get an answer i have to ring his sister to go and check on him she lives 2 doors away,im currently off sick with carpal tunnel .What i would like to know is why they are sending him for this job focused interview as they know his conditions and the doctor etc can verify this.We are currently living on £78 pw.since i went sick on the 6/10/06 still waiting for our income support to be sorted out .Has anyone else had this problem.

Fran

Hi,

I suggest that you go to your local Citizens Advice. They will be able to chase up any benefits for you and advise you of any other benefits you might be entitled to.

Re the job focused interview, this is something they are introducing to Incapacity Benefit claimants more and more. Again, CAB will be able to advise whether he has to attend.

He might be entitled to Disability Living Allowance. This is not income related so it doesn't matter if either of you are working, it is related to the extra cost of a disability. Again, CAB could advise if a successful claim is likely.

doelani

parki wrote:

My husband has just been told today that he may have to go for a job focused interview in 6 weeks time and has to go to another town 10 miles away to this jobcentre,best of it to come he has been on incapacity benefit for 5 years.He is 60 years old in march 2007 4 months away ,and these are his ailment which have got worse over the years. Ashma ,crumbling knee due to arthiritis ,Arthiritis in kneck ,arms hands and shoulders and back.This has been confimed with an x ray.He also has a disease in the hands which effect his ligaments and his third finger is bent inwards to his palm and cannot straighten it .The other hand is starting now,its called a viking disease their is a proper medical name for it but cant find it off hand ,when we looked it up on the web its viking disease.He has also suffered depression for 5 years due to other factors ,and he has to go to physio .But the physio said they cant do anything for the arthiritis as its wear & tear,and his knee just gives way .We were walking out oneday and i was linking in with him and his knee just went and he fell and pulled me down with him unintentional as i had my arm in his we just went .He cracked his ribs and bruised all the side of his face and he hurt his lung they said when he went for x ray this has happened on several occassions.He dosent go out now unless i drive .I dont like leaving him alone ,i have to keep ringing him and if i dont get an answer i have to ring his sister to go and check on him she lives 2 doors away,im currently off sick with carpal tunnel .What i would like to know is why they are sending him for this job focused interview as they know his conditions and the doctor etc can verify this.We are currently living on £78 pw.since i went sick on the 6/10/06 still waiting for our income support to be sorted out .Has anyone else had this problem.

Once he gets the appointment he can phone and explain he is to ill to come to the appointment, they can either defer the interview or they can make him exempt from it.

I was off work for 9 months when I recieved a letter saying I had to go for WFI. I had spent 5 months in hospital suffering from depression and anxiety. when I got the first letter I phoend the jobcentre and spoket o the perosn who's name was on letter and he reassured me this was only to make sure I was claiming all benifits and to see if they could help me WHEN I was ready to go back to work. When I recieved my appointment I phoned and explained I was not able to go as I did not feel well enough and could not see me being able to work within the near future. he said he would defare the appontment but after talking to him and explaining how I was he ended up making me exempt so did not have to go at all.

give them a ring and explain the situation, the system flags up for tehse appointments automatically now and he will have to go or get it waived or defared or his IB may stop or be reduced.

parki

Thanks for both replies i will do this A.S.A.P kind regards

doelani

parki wrote:

Thanks for both replies i will do this A.S.A.P kind regards

No problem parki. Just do not yourself or hubby get stressed out over this.:)

let us know how you get one

rio

The work focused interview is part of the 'Pathways to work' programme that is being rolled out across the country. I believe it is possible to ask to be interviewed at home. Basically everybody on IB is going to be placed on the scheme sooner or later as the government is trying to get at least 20% off IB. I've been on IB for 6 years due to a degenerative bone condition, and I have been given clearance for IB on medical grounds until my next review which is due in 2010, and I have been called in for a WFI next week. It will be interesting to see how it goes.

parki

The system is going beyond a joke now .I have seen guys 30 plus hanging around estates with cans in there hands and never done a days work ,where is there( W F I )It makes me mad to think my Hubbie has worked all his life and in dangerous situations on the oil rigs.They now seem to be taken it out on the genuine cases to compensate for the un genuine claiments .Especially the older ones as my Hubbie is 60 in march .No the wonder he suffers from deppresion as 7 years ago he was took to the cleaners for £92.000 pound by his ex wife.while he was making mega bucks and had been for years he had everything she had been spending her money on her boyfriend and drawing all his money from the bank and took all cards to the hilt .She kicked him out after being away 3 months on the rigs .She hadnt been paying the mortgage either and she lived in the house until it was repossessed while hubby was in a bedsit.He had a nervous break down , and had to go bankrupt.He has had a raw deal and now the system is treating him unfairly. Sorry but it makes me mad if yor face dosent fit thats it .Sorry for burbling on but its a fact .I feel sorry for anyone in this situation and nobody ask for these people to get ill.

Fran

parki,

I know it's sometimes hard to get away from the past, but you have some good advice from others on here about how to proceed in the present situation. If you follow what they are saying hopefully this will turn out ok for you.