ESA work focused interviews

darkstaruk

I have been on ESA for some years when I first passed my ESA assessment I had to attend 5 or 6 work focused interviews, these were completed several years ago now and I haven't been asked to attend anything since. A few days ago I got a call from the jobcenter saying they haven't seen me in years and want me to come in for a work focused interview.

I'm wondering for people who have been on ESA for a long time how often have you had to attend these work focused interviews? it took me by surprise because it's been roughly 2 1/2 years since my last work focused interview I figured it would be yearly at least.

Sugar_Coated_Owl

I assume you are in the work group then?

darkstaruk

Yeah I'm in the work related activity group, but it's been years since they asked me to do anything I always thought it would be a case of completing those work focused interviews then they would call me back for more maybe in a years time but it's been just over two years.

Sugar_Coated_Owl

So are you actively looking for work or currently working?

darkstaruk

I'm not working or actively seeking work due to illness. I recently had an ATOS medical assessment and passed.

It's been years since I first claimed ESA but back then the work group was just a case of completing a few work focused interviews. Is it still the same or have they changed it? my last work focused interview was years ago, but I remember them telling me that they were planning to make the work focused interviews permanent and I would most likely be back later in the year. It's been years since so I'm guessing it never went through.

Sugar_Coated_Owl

I thought if you were in the work group it meant you had to be in work or looking for work *confused* perhaps I'm wrong. Surely if you cannot work at all you would be in the support group?

darkstaruk

I'm sure the work related activity group was for people they feel have some potential for returning to work. When I went for the work focused interviews they said to me, there is no pressure, it was more about writing CV's and thinking about the type of job you wanted than attending interviews. Surely if they expected people on work related activity group to be out trying to get work then they should be on JSA.

Cpt.Scarlet

Sugar_Coated_Owl wrote: »

I thought if you were in the work group it meant you had to be in work or looking for work *confused* perhaps I'm wrong. Surely if you cannot work at all you would be in the support group?

Whether you are in the Support Group or the WRAG, nobody on ESA is required to work or even to seek work.

rogerblack

Cpt.Scarlet wrote: »

Whether you are in the Support Group or the WRAG, nobody on ESA is required to work or even to seek work.

This is less true than it once was.
While you cannot actually be required to work, you can now be put in the work program, (if in the WRAG), and compelled to do any 'work related activity' - that may now include actual work placements (not technically work) for an unlimited period.
In addition, this could for example include making up dummy applications for jobs, writing CVs, ... as long as you don't actually have to submit them.

In principle, this is only if 'reasonable' - but the appeals process is at best unclear.

HB58

Sugar_Coated_Owl wrote: »

I thought if you were in the work group it meant you had to be in work or looking for work *confused* perhaps I'm wrong. Surely if you cannot work at all you would be in the support group?

So IDS and his cronies would have you believe. However, access to the Support Group depends soley on meeting certain criteria -and not being able to do any work is not one of these! Tphere are many people in the WRAG who will never work, even those who suffer from progressive conditions. On the other hand, it is possible to access the Support Group having sustained a short-lasting injury that will kee one off work for no more than a few months.

Sugar_Coated_Owl

Kind of silly calling it the 'work' group then.