Customer Review?

Mathew wrote: Hello this afternoon I've received a letter asking me to go into the Jobcentre for a review to see if I am being paid the right benefits. I am in the Support Group for ESA and one of my conditions means I do not leave the house. I am panicking right now and have no idea what to do. Could anyone help please.

We have seen a lot of these over the last month or so.

I am afraid that I cannot say that you do not need to attend, however, as you are in the Support Group you do not need to attend Work Focussed Interviews and any meeting concerned with Work Related Activity.

You need to contact the advisor at the JC+ office and ask whether your attendance is mandatory or not, any meeting where your presence is not mandated is by definition optional and you do not need to attend.

If they state that the meeting is mandatory, then you can ask for an adjustment under the Equality Act, you should explain that your conditions prevent you attending, which was why you were placed in the Support Group and (assuming that it is the case) that you would be happy to hold the meeting over the phone or for the JC+ advisor to visit you at home, alternatively they can send you any forms and you will complete them and arrange for them to be returned.

Gordon