a4e . Inappropriate referral by DWP.

Olive_Oyl

I wonder is someone could offer me some advice please .

I was moved from IS to ESA work related group in January with MH problems .

I was refered by the DWP to a4e for a telephone interview last week, I waited for the call but after three hours nobody called .

Briefly after speaking to a4e they have said that due to my MH issues their opinion is that I've been inappropriately been referred to them & they've contacted their care team .

Could anyone please advise me what an inappropriate referral means?

Thankyou

DomRavioli

It will likely mean they cannot accommodate your specific condition or disability; if they do not have the correct training and procedures to deal with a situation which could arise out of you having said condition/disability, then it could invalidate their insurance which can leave them in a pretty big hole.

There are other providers who will be more suited to you, and they will usually refer you on to this.

rogerblack

It means that in their opinion, there is nothing they can do for you, and hence they do not wish to continue to work with you.
The charitable view would be because they do not believe that they can help you, and to try to force you to do things that won't help will be counterproductive to any possible future recovery.
The less charitable one would be that they don't think they're going to get paid as there isn't going to be a favourable outcome.

As to what they can do - as I understand it their options I think are limited to reporting to the DWP the reasons why they believe you have been incorrectly placed in the work-related group, and you should be in the support group.
It's then up to the DWP to change this if they consider it's right.

Olive_Oyl

Thank you for taking the time to reply Dom & Roger .

A quick update .

A4e have told me today that I should be in the support group.

They've spoken to the DWP who said I have to remain in the work related group and advised me that the decision is entirely up to the DWP .

I don't know what to do . Could you advise me please? Thank you .

mcculloch29

Olive Oyl, if you cannot find an answer here, there are a lot of people with answers on the ouchtoo.org forum. It took the place of the BBC's Ouch! messageboards which disappeared a few years ago. There are a lot of people who have a depth of experience as both service users and advisers there, and it is a very safe, friendly place.

Edit. Just copy and paste what you have put here.

rogerblack

Olive_Oyl wrote: »

They've spoken to the DWP who said I have to remain in the work related group and advised me that the decision is entirely up to the DWP .

You are not generally put in the support group because anyone thinks you should be there.

You need to meet one or more descriptors for being in the support group.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esa214-a-guide-to-employment-and-support-allowance-the-work-capability-assessment
contains the list of support group descriptors.

This varies from not being able to take part in 'work related activity' because you're a danger to yourself or others, to being unable to move from one chair into a chair next to it without help.

The relevant part starts on page 26.

In order to be placed in the support group, you would need to generally gather evidence to show that you meet one or more of the support group descriptors.