ESA WRAG Sanctions.

~Thingamajig~

I'm on ESA and was placed in the WRAG group. I don't want to go into detail about my illness, but suffice it to say I am unable to attend work focused interviews at the Job Centre, so I have them over the phone, about once a month.

The last one I was informed that they didn't feel I was progressing quickly enough, and that sanctions could be introduced.

I am stunned really, err I'm sorry for being ill, I'm sorry their system isn't set up sufficiently to put people into the right groups. I can only do what I can.

Can they sanction me for not progressing? And who are they to identify if my progression is quick enough or not? My Doctor thinks I'm doing well, I doubt my advisor has any medical training. I know they have targets and timeframes, but to penalise someone for being ill seems unacceptable.

Anyone faced this? Any advice?

Thanks.

iluvmarmite

~Thingamajig~ wrote: »

I'm on ESA and was placed in the WRAG group. I don't want to go into detail about my illness, but suffice it to say I am unable to attend work focused interviews at the Job Centre, so I have them over the phone, about once a month.

The last one I was informed that they didn't feel I was progressing quickly enough, and that sanctions could be introduced.

I am stunned really, err I'm sorry for being ill, I'm sorry their system isn't set up sufficiently to put people into the right groups. I can only do what I can.

Can they sanction me for not progressing? And who are they to identify if my progression is quick enough or not? My Doctor thinks I'm doing well, I doubt my advisor has any medical training. I know they have targets and timeframes, but to penalise someone for being ill seems unacceptable.

Anyone faced this? Any advice?

Thanks.

By progressing I don't think they were talking about your illness but your progression on the work programme.

I am in the same boat as you, I was put in the WRAG and had to go to the job center to see my advisor, I went 2 times and it made me very ill so I sent an email to my advisor telling her I couldn't do it anymore and I wanted to make a complaint, she then said she would to the interviews by phone or email, I had 2 phone calls and then she said it wasn't working out as I wasn't moving on quickly enough and she was going to put me in the work programme to see if they could get any further with me.

I had a phone call at 7.30pm last mon I think it was from the work programme and the lady said I had to register over the phone and it would take around 20 mins, I told her I couldn't do it right then as I was feeling unwell and she said fine I will put it down as a refusal and you will be sanctioned so I had to answer her questions for 25 mins.

I told her that it was a waste of time as I just can't work but she said I will have to see a work advisor every week for 2 years or lose money.

I didn't have a WCA just put straight into WRAG so they haven't seen what my mobility is like at all.

Cpt.Scarlet

You are required to do work related activity as a condition of you being in the WRAG, however, anything you are asked to do must take into account your condition(s) and any limitations they cause.

You can be sanctioned, but this is an appealed decision.

You haven't said what is wrong with you, and that's fair enough, but is this a condition that is unlikely to improve or that may deteriorate, if so this may be seomthing you can talk to your advisor about.

~Thingamajig~

iluvmarmite wrote: »

By progressing I don't think they were talking about your illness but your progression on the work programme.

He specifically spoke in terms of my illness. I'm having treatment, and they don't think it's moving along quickly enough.

Sorry to read you're having a hard time to it too.

iluvmarmite

~Thingamajig~ wrote: »

He specifically spoke in terms of my illness. I'm having treatment, and they don't think it's moving along quickly enough.

Sorry to read you're having a hard time to it too.

He is out of order then as he isn't medically qualified to say how quickly or slowly your condition is progressing and I would complain.

sja75

~Thingamajig~ wrote: »

He specifically spoke in terms of my illness. I'm having treatment, and they don't think it's moving along quickly enough.

Sorry to read you're having a hard time to it too.

As I understand it this is totally against the rules. WRAG participants cannot be mandated, at present, to undertake or be judged upon medical treatment regards sanctions.

miduck

OP, you need to clarify what was said on the phone. Can you email your advisor, get his comments in writing?