Work Focused Interview - *Confused*

Riverstone58

I've received a UC journal message asking me to attend a 'Work focused interview'.

I've been under a fit note since September of last year and returned a WCA form in early November of last year but have heard nothing since.

After having a Google my limited understanding is that an interview such as this only applies if you've been placed in the LCW group following a WCA assessment. Is this correct as I've heard nothing since returning the WCA form?

The original fit note was for a heart condition but since then I've developed a hernia which causes me a lot of pain and discomfort, causing me a lot of difficulty in walking amongst other issues. 

I have a hospital appointment for this a week after the JC appointment and I don't know what to do with any of it. 

KxMx

I think as you've not been informed of any WCA outcome, that the WCA hasn't yet finished in which case you do have to attend the interview.

As a reasonable adjustment you can ask that this is done by phone. 

Riverstone58

Thanks for the reply.

When I go the hospital with the hernia the only option is surgery. As that is going to cause major complications due to my other health issues and I'll reach state pension age in a few months seems a bit pointless.

Guess they've got to show they're earning a crust somehow.

Newcad

The Jobcentre Work Coaches are under pressure themselves (just look on the PCS union website)

Give them the information they need to tick the boxes that they need to and they will be happy until next time the computer throws them an action to bother you with.

Riverstone58

Newcad said:

The Jobcentre Work Coaches are under pressure themselves (just look on the PCS union website)

Give them the information they need to tick the boxes that they need to and they will be happy until next time the computer throws them an action to bother you with.

Yeah, I kinda get that.

I think it might be best if I ask them to  rearrange it until after I've been the hospital the following week otherwise I can see this ending up with two appointments.

tomtom256

Work focused interviews are also used for people with fit notes, that haven't had a work capability assessment and/or decision made yet.

Bigwheels1111

My friend who I care for is on ESA support group.
She does not need to attend job centre interviews etc.
Out of the blue 3 years ago, a letter demanding her attendance arrived.
After 2 weeks of calling I finally got through to the person dealing with her case.
I said do you have parking as wheelchair bound, ramps, changing room if accident happens etc, gave a long list.
Eventually she agreed to a call.
The call was a waste of 45 minutes of our lives.
As others have said box ticking exercises.

Driftingleaf

I moved to UC in 2022 and sent in fit notes like you. They were backdated with assessments and it took over a year for me to get WCA form. Have you had any texts or rang up about how your WCA is progressing? You do get asked to attend a few work coach appointments until a decision is made. Your work coach can set the level of commitments and you can request a phone appointment due to your health. In the 13 months before I was placed in cannot work group, I had the initial meeting about what UC is, a phone appt and had to attend in person once. You should follow up on your WCA. The decision for me was fast as I moved from IR ESA to UC and they assessed us faster, so it was done in 2wks. It's best to talk to them and message your work coach via your journal to explain things so you can see if they'll do a phone appt instead when you have a lot going on healthwise.

poppy12345

Driftingleaf said:

 Have you had any texts or rang up about how your WCA is progressing? 

They don't usually send texts for updates with the WCA. 

Riverstone58

Driftingleaf said:

I moved to UC in 2022 and sent in fit notes like you. They were backdated with assessments and it took over a year for me to get WCA form. Have you had any texts or rang up about how your WCA is progressing? You do get asked to attend a few work coach appointments until a decision is made. Your work coach can set the level of commitments and you can request a phone appointment due to your health. In the 13 months before I was placed in cannot work group, I had the initial meeting about what UC is, a phone appt and had to attend in person once. You should follow up on your WCA. The decision for me was fast as I moved from IR ESA to UC and they assessed us faster, so it was done in 2wks. It's best to talk to them and message your work coach via your journal to explain things so you can see if they'll do a phone appt instead when you have a lot going on healthwise.

Thanks for the reply. 

I'm leaving well alone with the WCA: as far as I'm concerned no news is good news!

I've also messaged UC to see if I can change the date and also have it done by phone.

poppy12345

Riverstone58 said:

Driftingleaf said:

I moved to UC in 2022 and sent in fit notes like you. They were backdated with assessments and it took over a year for me to get WCA form. Have you had any texts or rang up about how your WCA is progressing? You do get asked to attend a few work coach appointments until a decision is made. Your work coach can set the level of commitments and you can request a phone appointment due to your health. In the 13 months before I was placed in cannot work group, I had the initial meeting about what UC is, a phone appt and had to attend in person once. You should follow up on your WCA. The decision for me was fast as I moved from IR ESA to UC and they assessed us faster, so it was done in 2wks. It's best to talk to them and message your work coach via your journal to explain things so you can see if they'll do a phone appt instead when you have a lot going on healthwise.

I've also messaged UC to see if I can change the date and also have it done by phone.

If you're referring to the WCA here then you will need to contact the Health Assessment Advisory Service regarding this and not UC. https://chdauk.co.uk/about-us/contact-us/