Universal Credit / Mental Health

tman411

I have been handing in ''fit notes'' for the past 3 months at my local job centre, i am being forced into going in for a work related interview every 2 weeks, however i have been advised by my doctor that I shouldn't have to go in / it wouldn't be good for me.
I am suffering from Depression and Anxiety / Anger
I am awaiting a appointment with a psychiatric appointment / Mental Health Nurse, which will be soon.
I am struggling to leave the house / anything and i feel as if they are not listening to me and still forcing me into doing work search / going in for appointments which only last for 2 minutes.
I have asked for phone call appointments and my work coach keeps rejecting me for them.
Does anyone have any advice because i feel very alone at this point with no help at all because no one is listening.

missmontana

Are you claiming ESA or JSA?

poppy12345

missmontana wrote: »

Are you claiming ESA or JSA?

Clearly the OP isn't claiming anything of these as stated, they are claiming Universal Credit.

poppy12345

tman411 wrote: »

I have been handing in ''fit notes'' for the past 3 months at my local job centre, i am being forced into going in for a work related interview every 2 weeks, however i have been advised by my doctor that I shouldn't have to go in / it wouldn't be good for me.
I am suffering from Depression and Anxiety / Anger
I am awaiting a appointment with a psychiatric appointment / Mental Health Nurse, which will be soon.
I am struggling to leave the house / anything and i feel as if they are not listening to me and still forcing me into doing work search / going in for appointments which only last for 2 minutes.
I have asked for phone call appointments and my work coach keeps rejecting me for them.
Does anyone have any advice because i feel very alone at this point with no help at all because no one is listening.

You should have been sent a UC50 form similar to the ESA50 form. This will need to be filled in and returned, along with all of your evidence. Evidence will be needed to prove how your condition affects you daily. If you haven't been sent one of these then contact your job coach.

I'm sure someone else with more knowledge to UC will come along and advice you further.

Alice_Holt

What benefits did you receive before moving onto UC?

tman411

I have received the Questionnaire and sent it back to them, just the waiting game now

huckster

Suggest you telephone the UC Service Centre to speak to someone about this.

It should work the same as ESA, where your 'conditionality' regime is set as no working requirements. On ESA assessment period of 13 weeks or however long it takes for a work capability assessment, you are not expected to attend a job centre or search for work. Once you are assessed medically or you are no longer signed off by a Doctor, your 'conditionality' regime is reviewed. If you are fit for work, you are given a tailored commitment by a work coach, based on intensive work search.

The UC service centre may know much more about UC than a Job Centre Work Coach and can make sure you are treated fully in line with UC rules. Job Centre Work Coaches are very likely to just keep seeing people until someone else makes a decision that the claimant does not need to attend a job centre.

pmlindyloo

huckster wrote: »

Suggest you telephone the UC Service Centre to speak to someone about this.

It should work the same as ESA, where your 'conditionality' regime is set as no working requirements. On ESA assessment period of 13 weeks or however long it takes for a work capability assessment, you are not expected to attend a job centre or search for work. Once you are assessed medically or you are no longer signed off by a Doctor, your 'conditionality' regime is reviewed. If you are fit for work, you are given a tailored commitment by a work coach, based on intensive work search.

The UC service centre may know much more about UC than a Job Centre Work Coach and can make sure you are treated fully in line with UC rules. Job Centre Work Coaches are very likely to just keep seeing people until someone else makes a decision that the claimant does not need to attend a job centre.

I am afraid this isn't correct.

You can have your work related requirements 'switched off' for the first 14 days of producing a fit note but for longer periods they may be switched off but the claimant may also be expected to attend the Job Centre and even take part in work searches if it is deemed appropriate.

Have a read of this:

http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2017-0556/24_CC-_Switching_off_work_availability_and_work_related_activities.pdf

It is important that the OP attends any appointments that they are given as it could lead to a 'sanction' of their UC.

Much depend on the work coach as regards what the claimant is required to do.

Even when on the assessment period of ESA you are required to attend work related interviews and of course if you are in the ESA WRAG group. Only when someone has been assessed and out in the Support Group is there no mandatory requirement to attend work related activities.

huckster

I stand corrected.

Your link does not work, but this link confirms that a claimant waiting for a WCA would still be within the All work requirements regime, so would need to see Job Centre Work Coach.

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/301588/response/743734/attach/4/FOI%204794%20part%202.pdf

Begs the question, as to how a Job Centre Work coach can assess someones capability to work or search for work, better than a GP.

I can see this being tested in a court at some point.

tman411

I have been on the phone to DWP several times and my work coach has put a note on my account stating im not allowed phone call appointments and i have to see him in person, he also is ignoring me with the reason of ''he doesn't want anymore correspondence with me?

pmlindyloo

tman411 wrote: »

I have been on the phone to DWP several times and my work coach has put a note on my account stating im not allowed phone call appointments and i have to see him in person, he also is ignoring me with the reason of ''he doesn't want anymore correspondence with me?

What is happening at your appointments? Are you saying that they only last two minutes and you aren't being made to do any work searches or what?

If going to the Job Centre is making your condition worse then all I can suggest is that your doctor writes a letter to your work coach explaining what is happening - waiting to see psychiatrist/mental health team etc - and attending the Job Centre is making your condition worse and ............................... (whatever is suitable in your circumstances) and asking for telephone interviews

It is likely that your job coach has only seen your fit note (what does it say?) and has no idea of the extent of your illness.

I am not guaranteeing that it will work but it is worth a try.

Would taking someone with you help?