ESA WRAG, and work programme - what is WCA prognosis.

rogerblack

This is going to be gobbldygook to most - please ignore.

The work programme documentation for providers at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/wp-pg-chapter-2.pdf page 5 gives definitions of what sorts of people are required to enter a mandatory work program.

In this it uses the term 'prognosis'. Paraphrasing - 'After the outcome of the WCA is known WRAG(IR) customers who have a 6 month prognosis will be expected to enter the WP in 3 months, and those with 3 month prognosis immediately'.

Does the HCP have the option of specifying a time at which you should be put into the work programme?

Or is this decision on prognosis made by the DWP.

Cpt.Scarlet

I believe a potential return to work date is provided by the ATOS "doctor".

Muttleythefrog

rogerblack wrote: »

This is going to be gobbldygook to most - please ignore.

The work programme documentation for providers at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/wp-pg-chapter-2.pdf page 5 gives definitions of what sorts of people are required to enter a mandatory work program.

In this it uses the term 'prognosis'. Paraphrasing - 'After the outcome of the WCA is known WRAG(IR) customers who have a 6 month prognosis will be expected to enter the WP in 3 months, and those with 3 month prognosis immediately'.

Does the HCP have the option of specifying a time at which you should be put into the work programme?

Or is this decision on prognosis made by the DWP.

Yes, I suspect unless medical not done this prognosis is from the ATOS medical report. If you request a copy from DWP it should give some indication of how likely it will be before a 'return to better health' (or similar). In my case 'a return to work could be considered in 18 months if suitably treated'. They'll use this information to decide on re-assessment periodicity and presumably with regards what you raise.

MrsManda

Just to add to the above, there is a section on the form which gets sent to your medical specialists (GP or whoever is treating you) if the DWP want more information which specifically asks for a prognosis, a timescale of when you're likely to get better.

deadby40

sorry for necroing this, i thought it better than to start a new thread.

i initially was placed in the wrag in august 2010, for mental health reasons. i'd received an ESA50 which led to a medical.

in march 2011, i received my first dreaded ESA 50. my welfare advice officer was pretty disinterested and told me to use the photocopy of the initial ESA50 which i'd kept to answer it myself. i did and sent it off, waiting for the letter telling me when the medical was. i didn't hear anything back at all. my benefits were still coming in. so far so good, on the benefits side of my life. i was amazed that seemingly i had 'passed' the ESA thing without having to go thru a medical. after over a year in a psychiatric hospital i was the only person i knew who had not been called in for a medical after getting an ESA50.

this month i received a letter regarding the details of my 'next jobcentre plus interview'. frantically i started googling. 3-6 months prognosis etc. the government has changed the WRAG in that now the interviews take place in a jobcentre and most crucially, the staff can force you to take step of their choosing or lose yr benefit. the previous WRAG interviews were essentially cordial - you could do what you felt up to health wise. i got mine 6 months after i got the ESA 50, so i am assuming that on the strength of said ESA50 i was given a 6 month 'prognosis'

my point is that they have reacted to the heat on ATOS and the cost of paying 3rd party companies to do the interviews with this sly change.

obviously if you are too ill to go to your interviews, you fail

if you don t comply, 'we want you to learn how to send an email at this 12 week course', you fail

if you jump thru the hoops like a super mario pro then bang, 3-6 months later you will get another esa 50, repeat ad infinitum -sooner or later, you fail

so basically i am looking, based on previous events, at getting an ESA 50 at least every 6 months and the attendant consequences to my health that such document entails. i suspect that many people will find themselves 'passing' their medicals on the strength of ESA50 alone and ATOS medicals becoming fewer.

(sorry if this seems/is a rant)

~Chameleon~

I was placed in WRAG in January 2012 with an 18mth prognosis by ATOS yet I'm already being hassled by the Job Centre to attend WFIs. Surely this can't be right?

rogerblack

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

I was placed in WRAG in January 2012 with an 18mth prognosis by ATOS yet I'm already being hassled by the Job Centre to attend WFIs. Surely this can't be right?

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/dmgch53.pdf

You are required to attend 6 WFIs, followed by more, triggered by events.

See 53014.
If you're getting paid ESA WRAG, and a woman your age can't get her pension.

The prognosis limits mentioned in this thread are for work-related-activity, not WFI.

~Chameleon~

Thanks for clarifying that Roger.

Does anyone know how they treat people who are already undertaking their own "back to work" programme, i.e. already studying, re-training etc.

Will they take this on board and allow a person to continue with it or does everyone have to follow the government's own policies even if that will interfere with plans already in place?

Sarah69

I only ever had 1 work focused interview, which I told them at the time I had a job to go back too once I was fit enough. I don't see the point of them. I'm in the support group now so I don't have to worry.

rogerblack

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

Thanks for clarifying that Roger.

Does anyone know how they treat people who are already undertaking their own "back to work" programme, i.e. already studying, re-training etc.

Will they take this on board and allow a person to continue with it or does everyone have to follow the government's own policies even if that will interfere with plans already in place?

It varies according to what the person interviewing you thinks is reasonable.

This is about all that can be said.
If they consider that you are not engaging with the process - at least considering their suggestions - you may in principle be sanctioned, and/or referred on to the work program, if that's possible in your case.

As to what Sarah said - if you have a job waiting for you, you're not required to do WFI.

alied

Anyone know how they work out a prognosis timescale if you don't have a medical and are put in the WRAG?