Income Support; Work Focused Interview

lookingforsun · 2 April 2011 at 12:12PM

Hi,. I used to claim ESA & was in the support group, I also get DLA.

When I married my husband (who has mental health problems & gets incapcacity benefit & low-rate care DLA), the benefits adviser at the council advised us to claim Income Support. We have a 9 month old baby too.

My husband gets income support for us both, plus a bit extra as he's entitled to carer's allowance for me.

He had to attend an interview when he first claimed, but they did nothing at it as he's my carer

Now they've called me in to this 'work-focused' interview and I'm terrified. As I said he gets an amount for caring for me, so I guess that will stop & my DLA. I'm worried sick...

lookingforsun · 2 April 2011 at 12:31PM

I'm even more worried now as my husband says I will have to go the Shaw Trust every week & undertake workshops (he did when he first claimed IB), I was exempt from that when on ESA I'm so confused

lookingforsun · 2 April 2011 at 2:18PM

Anyone know?

danaharrison · 2 April 2011 at 2:54PM

the best advice i can give u is to get intouch with ur local CAB. i belive that u can work whilst on DLA as long as it dosnt contradict what u have declared on your form, eg. u say u cannot walk yet walking is a major part of ur job. try not to stress too much, i know its easier said then done but u will only make urself ill.

DX2 · 2 April 2011 at 4:06PM

lookingforsun wrote: »

Hi,. I used to claim ESA & was in the support group, I also get DLA.

When I married my husband (who has mental health problems & gets incapcacity benefit & low-rate care DLA), the benefits adviser at the council advised us to claim Income Support. We have a 9 month old baby too.

My husband gets income support for us both, plus a bit extra as he's entitled to carer's allowance for me.

He had to attend an interview when he first claimed, but they did nothing at it as he's my carer

Now they've called me in to this 'work-focused' interview and I'm terrified. As I said he gets an amount for caring for me, so I guess that will stop & my DLA. I'm worried sick...

What exactly is it that you are worried sick about? Why would a work focused interview stop your DLA or the extra amount of IS that your husband get's because you are sick?

I think maybe you are getting yourself into a state over nothing at all if I'm honest.

As far as I am aware everyone who get's IS has to attend a work focused interview, this doesn't mean they are stopping your benefits and making you look for work.

atomicsheep · 2 April 2011 at 6:12PM

Although there's nothing wrong of course with checking to see if there is any work out there that either of you could do.

lookingforsun · 2 April 2011 at 7:46PM

atomicsheep wrote: »

Although there's nothing wrong of course with checking to see if there is any work out there that either of you could do.

OK - I have bipolar disorder. I am recovering from post-natal depression & anxiety so severe that I couldn't leave my house for months... added to that I have been suffering severe paranoia.

My health visitor & CPN are happy that my husband is with me as they don't think I can cope alone... yet I'm so over-protective of my baby that I cannot leave her - even with hubby.

This is why the interview scares me - seeing people scares me anyway.

This comment isn't really helpful as I'm not stable enough to cope at home on my own, so at the moment a job would make it worse. I'm not prepared to sacrifice my stability for the added stress right now.

clemmatis · 2 April 2011 at 10:18PM

lookingforsun, it should not affect your DLA at all . But I can see the interview will be very stressful for you anyway. I agree with the suggestion that you should talk to CAB.

Aarons_mummy · 2 April 2011 at 11:21PM

Whenever I have been for a 'work focused interview' they have asked about my situation, if anythings changed etc and that's been it. There has been talk of future plans but I'm not on DLA or anything it's nothing to worry about it's just basically a chat.

Try not to worry, not easy I know but it won't be as bad as you think

allen35 · 3 April 2011 at 1:40AM

Contact the JCP and inform them of your current circumstances regarding your health, it's quite possible they don't know the full extent.

If the DWP decide a WFI may affect your health they can decide to have this interview at your home so do request this.

A few years ago my Dad received a letter to attend a WFI but when he phoned them and told them of his disabilities they conducted the interview by telephone but this is rare but even so do request it.

livermum · 3 April 2011 at 8:54AM

As far as I know ( a close friend claims IS) then you have to go for regular work focused interviews I think that you are supposed to have one every six months or so. All they do is check that your circumstances have not changed and see if you are interested in going back to work. I don't think that you should worry, they are not about to force you back into work if you can't do it.

On another note are you getting some help for your anxiety and things because you need to trust other people with your child especially their father.

Income Support; Work Focused Interview

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