ESA WRAG and Work Programme

Jaki_T_2

Hi all
I've just found this thread via Google. I am extremely concerned about this. I've been trying to look up about the Work Programme and would be interested to know how you got on @wombles. I am still on IB but my sister has just been placed in the WRAG group. Like her I also have agoraphobia/anxiety etc and I also have fibromyalgia. How do they make a prognosis? If you have (a) fluctuating condition such as I have it doesn't go in a few months. It's not a short-term condition that's miraculously going to go away. In fact, managing my condition and pacing myself is extremely important and isn't going to be helped by being bullied. More importantly, who does the prognosis of 3 months, 6 months, long term etc. If it is ATOS, they are not qualified to do so, any more than they're qualified to make the decisions over and above your own GP and health care specialists. I'd be very grateful for any information from anyone going through this at the current time. I also know Work Programme providers vary from area to area but to me, this just seems like Training For Work and all those schemes that have been offered on JSA. People on ESA are there because they are ill and often have long term health conditions.

Many thanks

Limana68

My hubby was placed in the WRAG group 2 1/2 years ago and has heard nothing form anyone, even after several phone calls from us, so a complaint letter has been sent off......................disgusting service.:mad:

eskimo26

ok so the 'work programme' for people in the WRAG is i fact anything but, they really need to rethink the name as its really dumb!

The first thing you'll be given is a letter by the job centre stating the following:
1. You cannot be forced to engage in work.
2. You cannot be forced to apply for work.
3. You cannot be forced to undergo medical treatment for your condition.

This begs the question what do they do with ESA claimants...
As I understand it you will engage in what is popularly known as 'work related activity', this includes working on such things as interview technique, CV building, building up your stamina with voluntary work. (For me this was suggested by JC+ but may be continued by the work programme provider.)

Every provider is different but they do have minimum service agreements put forward to the Government when applying, these are the very minimum they will do for a client and can be found in this pdf:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/provider-minimum-service-delivery.pdf

Now if you read between the lines it is still possible for your provider to hurt your health simply by setting up a programme of appointments you may not physically be able to keep up with.

My adviser insisted 1st time i spoke to him that their are plenty of disabled people with work and since the system had found me fit for work in x amount of months i should work towards being in the same position. However our most recent conversation went something like this, 'I don't think i'll be seeing you very often because its just unworkable with your condition'. {he told me he would consult with a former work colleague who was an occupational therapist and had obviously done so.} I then missed an appointment and he was completely understanding and simpy rescheduled it, but honestly if you get a bad adviser or aggressive company policy your likely to be sanctioned for that kind of thing...

Which is the bottom line its really down to luck i think.

eskimo26

Just an update on this, my adviser seems to have a serious memory problem as i went in for my 2nd appointment yesterday and he started talking about applying for jobs. About half way through the penny dropped when he said 'that would be a great action plan to get you off JSA.'

I thought fine his just overworked (he has been doing his work load AND a colleagues so is the only one there.) But he continued talking about work so i told him ESA claimants on the work programme are not to be told to apply for or engage in work, to say he was completely shellshocked would be an understatement (despite being sure i told him this before). He said 'why have they sent you here...,' 'I don't understand because the work programme is about work...,' 'i'm not sure what i'm supposed to do with you, how would this work...'

In the end he discussed it with the boss. They are absolutely not trained to deal with ESA claimants on the programme, he was completely unprepared for the idea that he could only engage me in 'work related activity'.

Either way i really like my adviser so we'll see what the next appointment brings, but i will definately be recording them from now on.