ESA WRAG for depression - can the job centre force you to go for counseling?

qubic

My friend gets ESA as she suffers from depression. She's in the WRAG group and every few months she has to go to the job centre. The most was from welfare rights is that they couldn't force her to do anything from these meetings. However she had an appointment two weeks ago and was a complete mess. Was told to make an appointment with her GP to chase counselling up. Because of the state she was in, she was allowed to leave but did say they'd send for her again. Much sooner than expected though, exactly two weeks she has another appointment for tomorrow. She hasn't seen her GP because her doctors is very busy but she was able to get an appointment for tomorrow.

Only problem being, it will have to be one appointment or the other. Basically, can the job centre force her to get counselling or just advise she should to move forward? Even if she could do both appointments tomorrow it will most likely be a few months till she does get counselling and the job centre are just going to keep hounding her. Because from what she said, the guy told her to ring the doctors the day after her last appointment and if she was getting counseling, she wouldn't have to go to the next appointment. All sounds sneaky to me. And like I say, it's only two weeks since between appointments so not possible to move along that quick even if she wanted and was able to.

I have to pick her up and give her a lift in the morning so would love it if someone could throw some input in before then.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Actually, advising her to see her GP for help and then calling her back to see how she's been doing in the fortnight seems to be a pretty humane response from the advisor.

She obviously needs help, moving the GP appointment time is going to cause fewer problems than missing the JCP appointment, so I think she should rebook the former.


There are human beings working in these places, contrary to public opinion.

Dovah_diva

I agree with the above. I think it is odd that your friend appears to be resisting the help and support being offered. Surely she wants to get better so she can get a job and become self supporting? If the two appointments clash then she should reschedule one of them.

BigAunty

Can your friend go back to the welfare rights place to get a bit of support or advice there on this matter?

I don't know the actual position on this, I would be very surprised that the JCP could force someone to visit their GP to chase up counselling or make it mandatory.

Whether or not a suggestion to book an appointment with the GP to try and get some counselling and an unexpected appointment with the JCP is the harassment that it is made out to be by your friend, I don't know.

Perhaps its the JCP rep being pushy and out of line. Perhaps they genuinely feel that some people in the WRAG need a little nudge to get the ball rolling on treatment for their condition.

lemontart

all the chasing up for such appts is not going to make it happen any quicker - my gp currently has a 6 month waiting list for such help

Poppie68

It does'nt seem like they are forcing her to do anything. You say she was in a state and they suggested she sees her GP and then let her leave early, seems like they are trying to be helpful. And to be honest with regards to them asking her to go back 2 weeks after that appointment seems perfectly reasonable, there are still rules to be adhered too.

nannytone_2

the advice from welfare rights isnt totally correct.
the friend cant be forced to seek treatment, but can be mandated to take 'reasonable' steps to prepare themselves for work, such as taking courses or attending the work programme.
failure to comply could lead to benefit being sanctioned.

under universal credit however, claimants can be forced to seek treatment under the threat of the removal of benefit.

i also dont consider the JC+ behaviour to be 'hounding' and see it as reasonable in the circumstances.

my advisor is very flexible with appointments and a phone call to them may well result in the appointment time being resscheduled

Morglin

qubic wrote: »

My friend gets ESA as she suffers from depression. She's in the WRAG group and every few months she has to go to the job centre. The most was from welfare rights is that they couldn't force her to do anything from these meetings. However she had an appointment two weeks ago and was a complete mess. Was told to make an appointment with her GP to chase counselling up. Because of the state she was in, she was allowed to leave but did say they'd send for her again. Much sooner than expected though, exactly two weeks she has another appointment for tomorrow. She hasn't seen her GP because her doctors is very busy but she was able to get an appointment for tomorrow.

Only problem being, it will have to be one appointment or the other. Basically, can the job centre force her to get counselling or just advise she should to move forward? Even if she could do both appointments tomorrow it will most likely be a few months till she does get counselling and the job centre are just going to keep hounding her. Because from what she said, the guy told her to ring the doctors the day after her last appointment and if she was getting counseling, she wouldn't have to go to the next appointment. All sounds sneaky to me. And like I say, it's only two weeks since between appointments so not possible to move along that quick even if she wanted and was able to.

I have to pick her up and give her a lift in the morning so would love it if someone could throw some input in before then.

I'm not at all sure that any GP would give out information about whether one of their patients was attending counselling, as it would likely be a breach of confidentiality.

The only info a GP can give out is on a specified form, to which the claimant has given prior consent for.

However, the DWP can encourage claimants to seek help with certain things, although, obviously, they cannot see if a claimant chooses to actually engage properly with a counsellor.

What goes on with counselling is strictly between the counsellor and the client.

If you are unsure, you could always ask the GP what their confidentiality rules covers.

Lin

Poppie68

Morglin wrote: »

I'm not at all sure that any GP would give out information about whether one of their patients was attending counselling, as it would likely be a breach of confidentiality.

The only info a GP can give out is on a specified form, to which the claimant has given prior consent for.

However, the DWP can encourage claimants to seek help with certain things, although, obviously, they cannot see if a claimant chooses to actually engage properly with a counsellor.

What goes on with counselling is strictly between the counsellor and the client.

If you are unsure, you could always ask the GP what their confidentiality rules covers.

Lin

There is no indication that the OP or her friend are worried about the GP giving out any information.

Also a GP would require a signed declaration from the patient to release any information to a third party.

micky2phones

Hello and good evening all,

Just a thought may be this has been one of the causes why many people who have been claiming benefits do so year after year.
Is that there not been or been sign posted to help/advice/counselling e.t.c

qubic

Hi, thanks for all the replies.

I think the "hounding" comment came from the fact that, there is always a huge waiting list for counselling and her adviser had said, he'd make her another appointment but, if she was receiving counselling, she could cancel the JC+ appointment, which obviously wasn't going to happen in two weeks. Heck she struggled to get the actual doctors appointment within that time! What she was worried about was, they'd keep calling her back every 2 weeks until she was receiving counselling and most people know it doesn't happen that quickly. And going out to appointments etc, she finds extremely stressful. She's told me that once she knows she has an appointment she isn't able to sleep etc, so having another JC+ appointment in such a space of time, really hit her hard.

She didn't go to the JC+ appointment as she managed to speak to her adviser and jist was, it was better for her to get her GP appointment and they'd call her back in a bit but, fortunately not in another 2 weeks (something else she was worried about) and agreed it would be after Christmas, so she has a bit of breathing space now. Or at least, she doesn't have to think about that appointment again this year.

She does want help and to be better but, just getting the counselling appointments is a task in itself.