£100 lost by not attending ESA appointment

[Deleted User]

Been going to Triage for nearly 2 years now, and I am in the work related group. Used to have to attend weekly and fortnightly sessions with other people till they put me onto monthly sessions quite some time ago, as they said they feel that I am not ready for work. So now I attend once a month, and it's a 1 to 1 with an adviser instead of a group. But, I was kept on the same ESA and not put into the support group.

3 weeks ago I had an appointment. It was scheduled for 10am. However, I was feeling ill the night before and didn't fall a sleep till around about 6.30am. I work up about 10.30am, and I immediately contacted Triage. They told me they would have to inform the Social that I had not attended my appointment. This is the 1st time, I have ever missed an appointment.

Triage rescheduled my appointment for 2 weeks later, which I attended last week. They then said they wanted a quick chat with me yesterday, so I attended that too. So have had 2 appointments, and attended both since missing the one 3 weeks back.

Received a letter from the DWP today saying that my ESA, has been stopped, till I start re attending my Triage appointments. I phone the DWP and told them that I have actually had 2 appointments, and been to both since missing that original appointment. he woman said that, they have had no word from Triage (I phoned Triage after the call and they said that had informed the DWP, but will call me later to see whats happening, to be honest, Triage probably hasn't informed the DWP, as they are not well organized)

Anyway, the woman (at the DWP) told me that my payments will restart once they receive word. I said, so have I lost money? She said "Yeah, it's just a weeks payment so far" Just a weeks payment???

I am due Monday (always been paid on Saturday though) Starting to worry I won't even be paid if they haven't been informed from Triage that I have attended since missing the original appointment. But even if I do receive payment, they will deduct a weeks ESA from me for missing that 1 appointment. The first time I have ever done that, not by my own fault, and I phoned when I woke up. But they feel that's acceptable to take over £100 away because of this.

Do they have the right to do that to me?

Thanks.

UPDATE:I was paid, but they paid me £3.10, instead of £204. So lost £200.

[Deleted User]

Just received a follow up call from the DWP, and the woman told me they have every right to take away 1 weeks benefit from me. I said well personally, that's crazy taking away £100 for missing an appointment. She said well, just like everybody else, if we miss appointments we lose money too by charges etc I didn't say this as it didn't cross my mind during the call but, who the hell would lose a weeks money by not attending a doctors, dentist, etc appointment?

She finished off by saying, you only have to do minimum tasks such as attending once a month appointments, and you failed to do that.

What a rude woman.

Diary

Yes they do. If the claimant doesn't stick to the very rigid rules they will immediately stop money and look into the reasons at their leisure often taking weeks to make decisions.

Even if you do receive your next payment you will have a fight on your hands to get the 100 pounds back.

[Deleted User]

Diary wrote: »

Yes they do. If the claimant doesn't stick to the very rigid rules they will immediately stop money and look into the reasons at their leisure often taking weeks to make decisions.

Even if you do receive your next payment you will have a fight on your hands to get the 100 pounds back.

Thanks for your reply. To take away a whole weeks person's ESA is disgrace. We spoke about this at 1 of our sessions last year. The man running that session told us about what happens if we miss appointments. I cant remember the exact figures off of the top of my head, but he said it was something like £15 for missing 1 appointment, £30 for 2, etc etc Certainly wasn't the full £100 for 1 appointment. When I mentioned this on the follow up call from the rude woman, and she said it wasn't Triages call to say how much a claimant will lose by not attending their ESA appointments.

Certainly wasn't the full £100. Yes, I understand I only have to attend monthly appointments but, we cant determine what days and when, we will be ill.

marliepanda

You only go once a month. You're lucky they didn't take a whole months ESA of you. If I don't turn up to work, I don't get paid. You didn't turn up, you don't get paid.

I personally would have rushed down at 10.30 and apologised for being late and attempted to make good.

McKneff

The whole experience with make sure you wont ever do it again.
Its as simple as this.... You slept in....

[Deleted User]

marliepanda wrote: »

You only go once a month. You're lucky they didn't take a whole months ESA of you. If I don't turn up to work, I don't get paid. You didn't turn up, you don't get paid.

I personally would have rushed down at 10.30 and apologised for being late and attempted to make good.

It's literally not possible for me, just to rush on down. And they wouldn't see me even if I could manage. It doesn't work like that.

Yes, you don't get paid if you don't turn up to work. But do you lose a whole weeks income for that 1 day?

nannytone_2

if you only work 1 day a week then you do !

[Deleted User]

nannytone wrote: »

if you only work 1 day a week then you do !

Oh hardy har har. P.S Some places will actually pay, regardless if you work the day or not. When I worked at the council in the housing department, this was the case. A fellow worker who shall remain nameless, took every Monday off, and was paid. And I know the council were still paying for "sick" days, till at least a couple years ago. As my cousin and his pals were working for the council, and yep, they were all doing the "sick" days too. No wonder they are like 30 million in debt.

seven-day-weekend

Well...you DID miss the appointment. You should have set an alarm and got up in time. Or rung them before your appointment was due if you were too ill to go. A once a month appointment is not a lot to ask.

You'll have to take the hit, I'm afraid.

[Deleted User]

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Well...you DID miss the appointment. You should have set an alarm and got up in time. A once a month appointment is not a lot to ask.

You'll have to take the hit, I'm afraid.

My alarm was set. Never heard it. I know a once a month appointment is not a lot to ask, but, we can't control when we are sick.