UNIVERSAL CREDIT: COMMITMENT TO LOOK FOR WORK

bkmla

My friend is currently in receipt of NS ESA.
He has completed Form ESA 50.
Some time after doing so, he underwent a telephone interview to assess his health with a doctor from the DWP.
He is still waiting for a decision from the DWP as to whether he is fit for work or to be included in the WRAG or to be included in the Support Group. He is still in the assessment phase.
Recently, he made a claim for Universal Credit to cover his housing costs.
He has been interviewed by his local Job Centre, with a view to making a commitment to look for work.
He does not feel sufficiently healthy to do so.
Given that he is still in the assessment phase of NS ESA, can the Job Centre refuse to pay him Universal Credit if he doesn't commit to look for work?

HillStreetBlues

bkmla said:

My friend is currently in receipt of NS ESA.
He has completed Form ESA 50.
Some time after doing so, he underwent a telephone interview to assess his health with a doctor from the DWP.
He is still waiting for a decision from the DWP as to whether he is fit for work or to be included in the WRAG or to be included in the Support Group. He is still in the assessment phase.
Recently, he made a claim for Universal Credit to cover his housing costs.
He has been interviewed by his local Job Centre, with a view to making a commitment to look for work.
He does not feel sufficiently healthy to do so.
Given that he is still in the assessment phase of NS ESA, can the Job Centre refuse to pay him Universal Credit if he doesn't commit to look for work?

Your friend should have a Fit note, if that note states unable to work then there should be no commitment to look for work until the WCA is known.
They might want your friend to prepare for work.

bkmla

HillStreetBlues said:

bkmla said:

My friend is currently in receipt of NS ESA.
He has completed Form ESA 50.
Some time after doing so, he underwent a telephone interview to assess his health with a doctor from the DWP.
He is still waiting for a decision from the DWP as to whether he is fit for work or to be included in the WRAG or to be included in the Support Group. He is still in the assessment phase.
Recently, he made a claim for Universal Credit to cover his housing costs.
He has been interviewed by his local Job Centre, with a view to making a commitment to look for work.
He does not feel sufficiently healthy to do so.
Given that he is still in the assessment phase of NS ESA, can the Job Centre refuse to pay him Universal Credit if he doesn't commit to look for work?

Your friend should have a Fit note, if that note states unable to work then there should be no commitment to look for work until the WCA is known.
They might want your friend to prepare for work.

Could you please advise me of the Universal Credit regulation to your response?

bkmla

I received this response on another forum:

I understand that you are in the assessment phase of New Style ESA awaiting the outcome of your WCA.
The Commitment you are referring to is not a Commitment to look for work it is a Claimant Commitment which the vast majority of unwell claimants including those in the LCWRA or Support Group have to agree. It was something incorporated by the DWP in the design of UC so as to replace the concept of Benefit Entitlement which was the case before with Income Support etc. For most people accepting the Claimant Commitment means clicking the green button on the UC phone account.
For you the Work Coach at the Jobcentre will be talking about work preparation if in the future you are no longer unwell. So no one should be talking about you looking for jobs at present.

TimeLord1

Yes, you have no commitments to go job hunting until they decide. They may ask on your forms for evidence and a doctor's statement, so either get one now with extended time on. I've known some people to get certs for a year. And make copies of those, too.