can Ingeus force you into work?? ESA related

Roxy07

told by the job centre that since I'm on ESA I have to attend the work programme and go to ingeus..

My question is, can they force people on ESA into work or stop you're benefit if you do not take a job/work? everyone who knows me thinks its crazy I'm considered for work..

[Deleted User]

WRAG or support group esa?

MidnightHour

Assuming you are in the WRAG group no they can't make you find a job but they can make you undergo training courses and whatnot.

rogerblack

MidnightHour wrote: »

Assuming you are in the WRAG group no they can't make you find a job but they can make you undergo training courses and whatnot.

In principle, they can't make you apply for work, or take jobs offered to you.

However, with recent changes, they can in principle (for those in the work-related group) mandate that they take part in 'work related activity' including requiring you to turn up for mandated activity 8 hours a day for an employer for an unlimited time.

This is not, technically, however, work in the normal sense.

MidnightHour

rogerblack wrote: »

In principle, they can't make you apply for work, or take jobs offered to you.

However, with recent changes, they can in principle (for those in the work-related group) mandate that they take part in 'work related activity' including requiring you to turn up for mandated activity 8 hours a day for an employer for an unlimited time.

This is not, technically, however, work in the normal sense.

In the normal sense that you don't get paid for it?

sniggings

remember tho that if they ask you to do something you are not able to do, get a letter from your doctor.

But yeah they can't make you apply for jobs, but can ask you to do things that will help you into work when ready, so training and Cv writing courses, stuff like that.

rogerblack

MidnightHour wrote: »

In the normal sense that you don't get paid for it?

Pretty much - and in the sense that it gets around the 'can't make you do work' thing.

It must be reasonable.
The problem is that the only way you can protest the reasonableness - if the provider will not reconsider is to not do/fail at the activity, be sanctioned, and then appeal that sanction.

sniggings

just to say that being on the WP does not mean you will be told to do unpaid work or stuff you can not do, I'm on the WP on JSA and all I have had to do is a couple of hours on a CV writing course and a couple of hours on a interview skills course, apart from that I just have to turn up for a chat once every 3 weeks for 10 minutes, so don't think the worst until it happens, they are no all as bad as each other.

osdset

The providers might be a tad reluctant to sent ESA claimants off to undertake unpaid work if they can't garner a fee for the referral.
Much better in their eyes to have claimants hanging on the back of a door ready for the plethora of lucrative origami, and psychobabble 'self improvement' courses

rogerblack

sniggings wrote: »

just to say that being on the WP does not mean you will be told to do unpaid work or stuff you can not do,

No, it doesn't.
The problem is that what you can be mandated to do is very loosely specified, and the appropriateness of actions you are asked to take will depend on how your work program provider and the person dealing with your case understands your condition.

If, for example, you get an adviser that does not believe in your condition, then it's clearly problematic.

sniggings

rogerblack wrote: »

No, it doesn't.
The problem is that what you can be mandated to do is very loosely specified, and the appropriateness of actions you are asked to take will depend on how your work program provider and the person dealing with your case understands your condition.

If, for example, you get an adviser that does not believe in your condition, then it's clearly problematic.

that's what I was trying to say, each work programe and adviser are different, some you will get on with and they will not ask you to do something you do not want to do, others will be dam right nasty.

On my WP the advisers are fine, if you turn down a job they give you to apply for.