Jobcentre Plus Personal Adviser Meeting

valvalc

I wonder if anyone can tell me if I have to attend this meeting. I receive DLA HRC and HRM and have just been moved from SSP onto Incapacity Benefit. I am still currently employed and my Employer is holding my job for me.

The letter states that the Adviser can help show how much better off I'd be in work but as I am currently employed how can they help. I realise that I would be better off financially in work but at the present time I am not capable due to pain from my condition and side effects from medecation.

I phoned the number on the letter only to be told that they were on strike so I wondered if anyone would be able to give me some advice. Thank you in advance.

dmg24

Hi valvalc,

Yes, you do have to attend the Work Focused Interview. If not, they can stop your IB.

Try not to worry, it is clear that you are not fit to work at the moment, so it should just be a formality x

valvalc

Thanks dmg24 for your speedy reply.

Will try not to worry, just get in a panic when any official letter drops through letterbox.

healy

You can contact them and get the interview waived or deferred, if you have a good reason for not attending, which in your case it sounds like you do.

valvalc

Thanks healy will phone tomorrow and see what they say.

valvalc

Hi dmg24 and healy phoned JCP today couldn't get to speak to the Adviser. Explained my condition and problems with medication and was told that meeting was mandatory.

I was given the option to have meeting deferred for a couple of weeks asked about having it waived and was told that is very rarely done. I have decided just to go when it was planned for because waiting an extra couple of weeks would just cause me to get stressed and that is one of the things that aggravates my condition.

Once again thanks for your help.

dmg24

Sorry they weren't more helpful, it does seem that sometimes these things are a little too inflexible. Hope it goes ok x

clairec79

TBH if you just go and say you are planning on returning to your old job and they are holding it open for you then that will just about be the entire interview - you may get asked a few extra questions to fill in boxes (qualifications, what job you do, work history) if you could manage to get hold of the advisor they'd probably do it over the phone, I know I have in the past as you said if you have a job to go back to then it's a waste of everyone's time