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re :how do i prepare for work focussed interviews?

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7 years 1 week ago #187178 by Marcus
This is my first ever posting on any forum ever so please forgive me if i don't obey protocols!
I have just been placed in a WRAG .my claim for esa started in sept last yr . apparently i may now have work focussed interviews and am worried by what to expect and how to stop people making me do things i cant do. I have a long term spinal injury ,and deterioration ,and depression,anxiety and partially diagnosed Aspergers or ASD of some kind .
I get very very anxious about being made to do things i cant do . i had anervous breakdown last yr ending in a hostile redundancy . I am worried they will make me use computers and phones and business jargon and emails and all that. i am burned out on all that.
I am about to ask my GP to prepare a statement about my mental health issues .the spinal ones have generated a long list of surgical procedures to 'prove' my physical limitations, but i was (partially) diagnosed with ASD only in my early 40s .i have never had any support with it. Depression is logged medically for 15puls yrs ,as my spinal injuries are ,but my anxiety ,nervous breakdown and ASD are not. any advice on how to defend myself from being forced into work related activies that would adversely affect my physical and mental health would be deeply appreciated. i feel alone and in the dark about it all. i am sorry if this is long!

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7 years 1 week ago #187195 by Gordon
M

Welcome to the forum, you might want to have a look at the following FAQ which explain where everything is

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I'm afraid that Work Focussed Interviews and Work Related Activity are part and parcel of being in the WRAG. Any activities that you are asked to do must take into account the limitations that result from your conditions, so if you feel that this is not being adhered to then you should raise this with your advisor and if necessary their supervisor.

But you must also be aware that if you do comply with any mandatory activities then your ESA can be sanctioned as a result.

The only way to avoid these issues is to be moved to the Support Group, do you believe that you meet any of the SG Descriptors?

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

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7 years 6 days ago #187215 by Marcus
Gordon , thankyou so much for helping! i will read it all very carefully. i did believe i met a support group descriptor ,and i feel i made it clear in the face to face,but the decision was over a month ago.just getting to that point had entirely drained me -i had a nervous breakdown in the late summer and doing all the forms up to the f2f was so damaging to my health i didnt have anything left for an appeal. i have been told that a GP letter outlining my mental health issues can be taken to the interview as 'evidence' ,and i assume they have to pay some heed to my medical recrod for physiological problems (documented over a decade period ) I am mostly concerned by th lists of activities the dwp think are reasonable work preparation activities -many of them involve computer use and communication and jargon ,and i burned out on all those things -they cause anxiety,depression, and phsyiological symptoms too. I am looking for any ways to protect myself from having to do these things . but thankyou so much for your quick and helpful response ,and i will work with what you have given me ...and if anyone else reads this and can offer any experiential advice i would be grateful...

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7 years 6 days ago #187250 by Gordon
Marcus

Even though it is over a month since the Decision you can make a late request for an MR but you will need to explain why the request is late.

A letter from your MP will certainly help you to avoid some WRAG activity, but I'm afraid you may struggle to avoid the activities that you are concerned about.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

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