Work Focused Interviews

asm1970

Hi, I am currently receiving Incapacity Benefit and have been for approx 4 monts, I have just received a letter to ttend a 'Work Focused Interview' at my local job centre. Does anyone know what this entails? This is my 1st ever claim since leaving school and am getting nervous!! Many Thanks

jacnorm

This is nothing to worry about, my husband had to go to one recently and all was fine. They asked him a few questions about his medical condition and said if ever they could help in the future to contact them. If you do a search on this board you will find plenty info from others who have been for these interviews.

cattie

Just be aware that you have to attend these interviews, otherwise they will stop your benefits.

tanith

I got a letter to go for an interview soon after my claim went through , I actually rang the lady whom I was to go and see at the Job Centre to change the time of the interview and she said well if you have time we can do it now... so the whole thing was done on the telephone... not sure if this is usual but it sure stopped me from worrying about it for days....

tosca5

cattie wrote: »

Just be aware that you have to attend these interviews, otherwise they will stop your benefits.

Hmmm! Even if you do attend the interview some ninnie nit has their head up their backside and forgets to log it on the computer. Causing un-needed stress!:rolleyes:

*Pixie*_3

My husband who has recently been awarded IB had one of these interviews last week. He was offered a telephone interview but preferred to have a face to face meeting.
It was mainly to tell him he had to contact his employer to ask them to make adjustments to his job to enable him to go back to work which seems rather stupid since the DWP medical officer already decided he was incapable of any kind of work and he has a medical condition which will deteriorate over time. They will interview him in another month to see if he has made any progress. He was told that if he failed to attend his IB would be stopped.

ukdickie31

It's all to do with the "Welfare to Work " agenda set by HM Gov't.

Although people on Incapacity Benefit are not capable of work at the point they are claiming the benefit, there may be a time in the future when they want to work. The whole point of the "Work Focussed Interviews" is to explain the support and services available for when a person is ready to work.

Some people will never be able to work due to their illness / disability. Others just have a short term medical condition.

Attending the interview is the compulsory part. Deciding to look for work is the voluntary part.

For some people, a telephone interview is more appropriate due the nature of their illness and in some cases, the need to participate is waived or deferred.