The Work Programme New Thread

Spamfree_2

donnajunkie wrote: »

this has nothing to do with the work programme. also there is already a thread about this.

Workfare isn't the same thing as the name of this thread?

looby75

Spamfree wrote: »

Workfare isn't the same thing as the name of this thread?

no the name of the thread is Work Programme. Workfare is something completely different.

kazzah60

looby75 wrote: »

does anyone know what rights you have to get the WP to leave you alone while you are on the sick?

My GP has signed me off for 6 weeks and I am now claiming ESA, she's said that she doubts I'll be ready to go back on JSA for a while yet for various reasons.

I have told the WP whats going on, at first they said they needed to see my sick note, but when I told them I had already sent it to ESA they said that it was ok they would be able to check that I was actually claiming ESA and that would be enough.

Since then I've had multiple letters with appointments for job search sessions and appointments with an advisor. Each time I phone them up and remind them I am on the sick at the moment, they say OK we'll cancel your appointments and put a note on your file....then a couple of days later I get another letter with another appointment for a date in the period I've already been signed off sick for.

Part of the reason the GP has signed me off is because of anxiety and all these letters from the WP aren't helping things. I've got too much on my plate at the moment to be dealing with the WP.

In your cuircumstances I think you should write a letter of complaint to the manager of your WP provider and remind them that a DOCTOR has said you are unfit for work so to continue any sort of job seeking steps would be both pointless and against your GP's advice and if they continue to harass you with appointments and phone calls you will be seeking legal advice -

I'm not certain by any means, but it may be that your illness could count as a Disability under the Equality Act and you may have some redress through that - but I am sure a stern letter would do the trick

sorry you are feeling so harassed - my hubby felt the same and he wasn't poorly

looby75

kazzah60 wrote: »

In your cuircumstances I think you should write a letter of complaint to the manager of your WP provider and remind them that a DOCTOR has said you are unfit for work so to continue any sort of job seeking steps would be both pointless and against your GP's advice and if they continue to harass you with appointments and phone calls you will be seeking legal advice -

I'm not certain by any means, but it may be that your illness could count as a Disability under the Equality Act and you may have some redress through that - but I am sure a stern letter would do the trick

sorry you are feeling so harassed - my hubby felt the same and he wasn't poorly

Thanks, if I get any more letters I'll do that. I've never been signed off work by a doctor before (while in a job or not) so I'm not sure what I do or don't have to do while "on the sick"

EndlessStruggle

It might be that the letters are automatically generated, we used to have a system that did that and it was chaos!

donnajunkie

LetItBe wrote: »

I thought it was a new claim after 26 weeks linking period?

i remember being told something likethat but that was before the work programme started. perhaps i am wrong but i am pretty sure the rules say if you sign on again within 2 years you get refered straight back.

donnajunkie

Spamfree wrote: »

Workfare isn't the same thing as the name of this thread?

no it isnt the same. basically what you are doing is trolling. this thread is about helping people. if you havent got anything helpful to say then please go away.

EndlessStruggle

Yeah you do get referred back. They do it just after your first signing. I got referred back that way. I also saw an adviser who just dealt with people who had been on the programme, lost the job and got referred back. But each provider will probably be different.

LetItBe_2

So, I guess your foreced to go onto the work programme if you resign on or you face sanctions?

donnajunkie

LetItBe wrote: »

So, I guess your foreced to go onto the work programme if you resign on or you face sanctions?

if you are signing on and get refered but refuse then yes you will get sanctioned. however just incase it isnt obvious if you get refered back you dont start from where you left off. for example if you did 6 months on wp and then 1 year fulltime education and then signed on again you would only have to do 6 months on wp not 18 months.