1st WFI. Is this usual?

Kris35

Hi all,

I had my first WFI yesterday. I was shown into a room that had glass windows to separate me and the work coach. I was a tad early but I was shown into the room and waited for ten minutes. Some alarm went off and I almost jumped out of my skin, but there you go, most of us would.

Anyway I wanted to ask - there was another woman sat at the back making notes. Is this usual procedure?

I suppose it must be.

Also, the WFI wasn't what I was expecting - so if anyone out there is worried about going to one - the women I spoke to were nice and I don't have to do anything I don't want to do or feel that I can't do.

Edited to add: Also do I get the WRAG for a year and then go for another medical assessment? I am a tad worried that I'll fail that next year and have to go on JSA.

Ezorqs

Alarms go off regularly in DWP buildings, standard protocol, usually either a fire alarm drill or a bomb drill, these alarms are 'tested' weekly. So that's fine. Unless you're in a particularly...busy Jobcentre, in which case it could be a panic alarm because someone has gone nuts again. (Probably with very good reason...like not being paid for the fifth month in a row).

It's rare from my own experience to be taken off to a different room, but then I've never been on the WRAG, just full support esa and JSA. Most New Claims interviews are made in the usual place (rows of desks and claimants sat in a waiting area nearby). As for the taking notes, that's unusual, but no doubt nothing for you to be concerned about, this is likely due to the advisor being quality checked. They'll usually say as much if you ask (they should have been up front about their reason for being there however as it may be that the advisor has difficulties with writing so requested assistance to have someone else take notes). Disclaimer: To be fair, most of my jobcentres have been quite small ones, so they may not have had the extra space available.

As for the WRAG being yearly... the last time I checked, yes. You should have had an entitlement letter that will say 0.00 from dd/mm/yyyy that would be your WRAG review date, this wouldn't affect your payments until you fail to attend however...but yes you will have regular medical assessments while on ESA/PIP and so on, no matter which element. You can ask the ESA team when your next assessment will be due, this will give you a heads up so that you can start collecting all your evidence together again.

I'd be surprised if you didn't fail, but then, I strongly advise anyone who has failed, to submit a Mandatory Reconsideration request (in writing) followed by a full appeal. One day, they will give the private contractors a good kick and make them do the jobs correctly.

Kris35

Thankyou. The thing is, is that I've been trying to not bother my doctors. When they want new evidence, I don't really have any. It's just me trying to get off the drugs/starting new drugs etc. Maybe the thing is for me to go and see my doctor and ask for next step, but I've already seen three shrinks and no help really. What I need to do is get my original ESA form that I filled in and got SG. As far as I know, nothing has changed.

[Deleted User]

Its not unusual for another person to be there I had that recently for my ESA f2f, obviously the one conducting the assessment was either being trained or dare I say assessed her self
Its always a good idea to photo copy form like the ESA50 before you send them in then you have them for reference next time.

Kris35

Thanks. It crossed my mind they were both assessing me for some reason. Maybe part of the 1st WFI. At first I thought she was a trainee. Who knows. Like has been said - the assessor was maybe a trainee herself and the woman at the back was taking notes on her.

sammyjammy

Either way they really should have explained the presence of the second person, don't be afraid to ask next time.