ESA work focused interviews

barney2k

Hi thanks, your post made the day less stressful.

The interview was interesting, from not being allowed upstairs ( the interviewer had to come down to see me ) to being asked by her within the first 5 minutes if I was claiming DLA , she even got me the form before I left !! I did say I would be making an appeal of the WRAG so I will have to see what happens. Do they use the information from the interview when they reconsider the claim?
I now have my GP writing a letter as well, so I will see if that helps.

I do hope you get some positive news soon, it does seem to be a long time , so I won't hold my breath.

Perhaps if things were done properly in the first place they would save money by not having to do all these appeals, I don't hold out much hope.

schrodie

TOBRUK wrote: »

In October last year I was transferred from IB to ESA and after the form filling I was placed in the 'work focused support group' which I was very worried about as it is highly unlikely to ever be fit to work.

I requested a copy of the 'Medical Report' as I was not called for a medical which they kindly sent me. With a number of flaws in the report (which was done by a nurse) showing a lack of knowledge regarding what the prescribed drugs were for and the affects of the illness/condition, I decided to request a reconsideration - to be placed in the 'support group'. It did state at the bottom of the report that they did not expect any improvement in my condition for at least 2 years! I am yet to hear from the DWP regarding this.

I was contacted by the job centre in December to attend interview on 2/1/13. I attended the interview for the work focused group and I was told not to worry too much about the interview but I was there because I had requested a reconsideration. The disablement employment advisor who interviewed me was ever so nice and he told me early on that they wouldn't expect me to look for work - he could see the difficulty I had immediately. He also told me that there were a high volume of people requesting appeals and that many had won their appeal.

After attending the work focused support group interiew I felt a lot more relaxed (perhaps wrongly) with regard being placed on the 'work focused support group'.

I attended a GP appointment recently and mentioned the ESA situation - he said that he had received a form regarding this and had sent it back, he told me what he had written. I said to my GP that I wasn't sure how I would manage to work, he looked at me, shook his head saying no. He told me that if I didn't win my appeal to go to the 'citizen's advice' as they dealt with these matters all the time.

The work focused support group isn't as scary as I had imagined but I suppose it depends on the person who will be interviewing you at the job centre as they obviously make a report. The chap who interviewed me said he was making notes at the interview - he was typing away.

Also the interviews are expected to be approx 2 a year, however, I don't believe that this is doable when you think about the volume of people in the work focused support group as well as the cuts that are being made in the public sector - many at the job centres!

The job centre employees it seems are totally stretched and are finding it difficult to fulfill all these interviews already. I can only imagine the chaos that will happen when (if) they place everyone on the 'universal benefit'!

From what's on your medical report I would have thought that you should be in the Support Group rather than the Work Related Activity Group. However it does depend whether you satisfied one of the Support Group descriptors. It's still worth though putting in an appeal. You need to do this with 1 month of the decision letter.

TOBRUK

Hi Schrodie, I did make an appeal before the deadline. The medical report (copy they sent me) does contradict especially when they state that they don't believe there will be any improvement in my condition. I hardly leave the house and my disability and illness is not going to change for the better. I have had to move from a house to a bungalow as well as be near family for a support network!

Barney

The interview was interesting, from not being allowed upstairs ( the interviewer had to come down to see me ) to being asked by her within the first 5 minutes if I was claiming DLA , she even got me the form before I left !! I did say I would be making an appeal of the WRAG so I will have to see what happens. Do they use the information from the interview when they reconsider the claim?
I now have my GP writing a letter as well, so I will see if that helps.

The interviewer I had was typing away throughout the interview - this was I believe a report he was doing which I am certain will be open to the assessors. I also believe that he was making a record of the way I walked, sitting, my responses to questions etc. I also think that they watched me leaving as he asked where I was parked and even walked me out! He probably watched me go to the car and get in.

JS477

TOBRUK wrote: »

Barney The interviewer I had was typing away throughout the interview - this was I believe a report he was doing which I am certain will be open to the assessors. I also believe that he was making a record of the way I walked, sitting, my responses to questions etc. I also think that they watched me leaving as he asked where I was parked and even walked me out! He probably watched me go to the car and get in.

You should always be aware that no matter how "nice and friendly" the Atos person appears to be at ones assessment they are there to stick to their targets of throwing people off their benefits. They are most certainly NOT your friend. You will be under constant observation from the moment you arrive until the moment you leave the car park. The recptionist will be spying on you they also have CCTV cameras in these processing centers. You will be watched if possible from the processing room window when you leave.

So no matter how nice these Atos people appear to be they are the complete opposite. They work for the government and they have been given targets of how many they are allowed to pass.

barney2k

You should always be aware that no matter how "nice and friendly" the Atos person appears to be at ones assessment they are there to stick to their targets of throwing people off their benefits. They are most certainly NOT your friend. You will be under constant observation from the moment you arrive until the moment you leave the car park. The recptionist will be spying on you they also have CCTV cameras in these processing centers. You will be watched if possible from the processing room window when you leave.

Hi JS477

I perhaps did not make it clear I have been put in the WRAG group and my interview was at the job center for a work focused interview.I have been reading lots of comments and wouldn't expect anything less.

The interviewer I had was typing away throughout the interview - this was I believe a report he was doing which I am certain will be open to the assessors. I also believe that he was making a record of the way I walked, sitting, my responses to questions etc. I also think that they watched me leaving as he asked where I was parked and even walked me out! He probably watched me go to the car and get in.

Hi Tobruk

My interviewer wrote everything down without taking her eyes off me, it was very strange. I have just finished writing up my GL24 form so possibly both of us will have some good news soon.

TOBRUK

barney2k wrote: »

Hi JS477

Hi Tobruk

My interviewer wrote everything down without taking her eyes off me, it was very strange. I have just finished writing up my GL24 form so possibly both of us will have some good news soon.

Same here barney, it was strange, quite odd although I didn't really think about it until I had left. It just niggled me the way he was and got me thinking that maybe I was under the microscope!

He was very nice and did tell me that he did not expect me to work and he wasn't going to suggest that I looked at all - I think he could see how ridiculous that would be! He said that he could not suggest anything that there was nothing he could see that I would be able to do at this time.

euanT

Horseunderwater wrote: »

Has anyone on here been in the IR ESA support group with a partner who has had to go to these WFI's? I'd like to know what happens.
Need to be prepared for the 26 week point.

Hi there,
My partner has been on IR ESA Wrag for over three years and I have never been for any WFI's although they did state I could be called in after 26 weeks

barney2k

Tobruk, it does sound like you could have a positive outcome and I do hope that happens.

I have had an letter saying that they have received my appeal so fingers crossed.