DWP online chat?

[Deleted User]

My "Work coach" has asked me to agree to a commitment - that I guess is part of the system ?

I can be sanctioned if I fail to keep up my end - whatever my end is ?

But since I will not be receiving a penny - what can they do - give me negative benefits ?
I have not been asked to sign anything though - so they have no case against me if I fail to uphold my of the agreement. 

poppy12345

Deleted_User said:

My "Work coach" has asked me to agree to a commitment - that I guess is part of the system ?

I can be sanctioned if I fail to keep up my end - whatever my end is ?

But since I will not be receiving a penny - what can they do - give me negative benefits ?
I have not been asked to sign anything though - so they have no case against me if I fail to uphold my of the agreement. 

Part of the ESA process is the WCA assessment. Once you receive the forms, if you don't return them by the date stated on the letter, you risk being found fit for work for failing to return and there's no extension to the time in which you need to return them by. If found fit for work then your NI credits will not be paid.

NedS

Deleted_User said:

My "Work coach" has asked me to agree to a commitment - that I guess is part of the system ?

I can be sanctioned if I fail to keep up my end - whatever my end is ?

But since I will not be receiving a penny - what can they do - give me negative benefits ?
I have not been asked to sign anything though - so they have no case against me if I fail to uphold my of the agreement. 

Everyone claiming benefits has to agree and accept commitments, as appropriate to their circumstances, even if that is only to notify DWP of any changes in your circumstances and attend any appointments as required. No commitments, no claim.

You say you are not receiving any money (benefits), so why bother claiming. That's kind of rhetorical, as I guess you are receiving a benefit from claiming - your weekly NI credits. And yes, if you do not meet your commitments, they can sanction you and that includes stopping any payments and not crediting you with your NI credits.

You do not have to sign anything - commitments can also be accepted verbally over the phone, or electronically on UC.

This may all sound harsh, but it is not intended to be. It is intended to be fair. Fair on the claimant and fair on the tax payer. The policy of this (and previous) governments is that claimants are expected to do what they are reasonably capable of in return for receiving state benefits. As both a tax payer and a recipient of tax-payer-funded benefits, I think that is only fair.

EDIT: In response to the original question regarding DWP online chat, it would be very difficult to implement a meaningful system given DWP operate a policy of least access, whereby DWP employees are given only the minimal accesses to IT systems required to perform their roles. Given a chat operative could field questions regarding absolutely anything, IT security issues, aside the amount of training/knowledge required would make it a non-starter. Most DWP workers work within a very small specific area, and even then often don't know everything about that one specific field. It would simply not be possible for one person to have access to all the required systems, knowledge on how to use those systems and detailed knowledge of all the different subject areas that could be raised in a query, thus making it impossible to implement any sort of meaningful chat service.

pebbles88

Op you would better keeping 1 thread and asking all your questions on there.