ESA Sanction

Kipepeo

At the beginning of the year my ESA was sanctioned because I hadn't attended any work-focused interviews. I understand that but the reason I can't work and am on ESA in the first place is because I am severely agoraphobic. I was told that I couldn't have the interviews over the phone (which, while still very anxiety-inducing, I could just about manage).
So every time a meeting was scheduled I would fail to attend because I would have a terrible panic attack and couldn't leave the house, or the anxiety leading up to it would cause a migraine and I couldn't leave the house anyway.

So they placed a sanction on my ESA and lowered it to £28 a week, which is almost half my rent (£50, but luckily I live with my parents so I don't have to pay them anything until I can afford to pay it back).
We phoned them up and they said the sanction would be lifted as soon as I went to an interview. I managed to go to one but my GP had to prescribe me diazepam to take on top of my normal meds and I still had panic attacks.

That was six weeks ago and there is no sign of the sanction being lifted. We have phoned numerous times but just keep being told 'a decision is still being made'. A decision about what? I was specifically told if I attended this one interview the sanction would be lifted, several times.

So what do I do now? They can't expect a person to live on £28 a week.

SailorSam

It's probably difficult for you to get there but could you phone the CAB or a welfare rights office.

rogerblack

Kipepeo wrote: »

So they placed a sanction on my ESA and lowered it to £28 a week, which is almost half my rent (£50, but luckily I live with my parents so I don't have to pay them anything until I can afford to pay it back).

Have you actually appealed the sanction?
You should have had when you were sanctioned a leaflet explaining how you can appeal this decision.

Plus, if your condition has worsened due to the requirements of being in the work group, you may now qualify for the support group.

'Engagement in social contact is always precluded due to difficulty relating to others or significant distress experienced by the individual'.

Or.
'Has, on a daily basis uncontrollable episodes of aggressive or disinhibited behaviour that would be unreasonable in any workplace'.

In the above 'always' does not mean always - but something like 'the vast majority of the time'.

'Significant distress' - would seem to cover your condition.

Disinhibited means a lack of inhibitions.
Were you during the interview or on the way there or back doing things that would not be acceptable in a workplace.

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

https://www.gov.uk/complain-jobcentre-plus