Abrupt change to LCW weekly commitments (England)

CMB3

I am in the Limited Capability for Work group (LCW) and struggle with severe anxiety, agoraphobia, and insomnia. Yesterday, during my telephone appointment, a nameless random work coach (who I have never spoken to before) updated my commitments, and he advised me that there would be no changes.

However, when I reviewed the commitments, I noticed that he had dramatically increased my weekly hours from 10 to 35 per week. This was not discussed with me during the telephone appointment. (I need to confirm my commitments by September 29th.)

When I raised the issue in my UC journal last night, I received the following curt reply in the morning. The individual provided a first name this time:

"Good Morning Ms. ... ,    I spoke to you via phone and conducted the appointment on 23rd Sept ' 24.   You need to log in to your universal credit account, go to 'to do lists', click on 'accept your commitments by 29th Sept ' 24 and accept in by that date.    Please note that we are not asking you to look for work and apply for jobs, as you have limited capability for work as per  the decision of work capability assessment. 

Regards,

G...."

Yesterday's sudden alteration to my weekly commitments, marking the first change since November 2022, has significantly affected me, especially after an already exhausting day due to this work coach being one and a half hours late for the scheduled phone interview.

Moreover, I had a lot of problems with this job centre prior to my work capability assessment nearly 2 years ago and am worried that it is going to start all over again. As I explained during my work capability assessment, I am deeply impacted by both expected and unexpected changes.

I have a few questions:

1) Has there been a policy change concerning the weekly hours LCW claimants are expected to prepare for work?

2) Is it normal to expect LCW claimants to prepare for work 35 hours per week?

3) Do I have any rights to appeal this abrupt change?

Any advice on these matters would be greatly appreciated.

HillStreetBlues

Other will know much better than myself so do wait for other replies.

My view is the CC is something both parties agree too, when in the LCW it has to take into account of what you are able to do and how it will affect you.
I would not accept the CC as then you become bound by it, as you are agreeing that you can do all the stuff on it.
I would be replying on how that none of this was mentioned in phone call and the agreement during that call was nothing would change, I would then list the reasons you can not accept this commitment. giving your heath reasons.
EDIT what I forgot to say is after you give the reasons for not being able to accept it is to ask for a second opinion.

huckster

Probably just an error which can be corrected. If the Work Coach had decided to increase work preparation hours to 35 per week, they would have had to discuss this with you and explain what they expected you to do that would take 35 hours.

Send a journal message saying that the new claimant commitment issued contains an error I.e. 35 hours work preparation, when you were told no change to previous 10 hours per week.

sammyjammy

huckster said:

Probably just an error which can be corrected. If the Work Coach had decided to increase work preparation hours to 35 per week, they would have had to discuss this with you and explain what they expected you to do that would take 35 hours.

Send a journal message saying that the new claimant commitment issued contains an error I.e. 35 hours work preparation, when you were told no change to previous 10 hours per week.

I agree, almost certainly an error, it probably defaults back to 35 on the system when an update is done.

sammyjammy

On the call, if someone rings you and doesn't introduce themselves just ask them who you are speaking to.

Newcad

I would add that whatever else, and whether you believe that the hours are correct or not,
YOU SHOULD ACCEPT THE NEW CC BY THE DATE STATED.

If you do not do that then your UC claim WILL automatically be closed because you have not complied with the conditionality.

No if's or but's - If the CC has not been accepted on the journal by the date stated then the UC computer WILL automatically close the claim for non-complience.

In your position I would accept the CC with the increased hours and ask for a Mandatory Reconsideration of the decision to increase the hours.

Just to ask - what work preparation activities are they actually asking you to do for 35 hours?
(And perhaps more to the point, how are they intending to check other than by taking you at your word?)