Employment and Support Allowance Advice Fair

Can anybody help please. I have been in the ESA support group for 3 years now, without any contact from the DWP what so ever. The other day I received a letter from the DWP,saying I have been invited to attend a Employment and Support Allowance Advice Fair at my local Community Hub, apparently they are running these Advice Fairs through out the north of my county, the DWP are saying there will be various organisations such as CAB, Public health, Guideposts and many other organisations that may be able to help you? The DWP also are saying, please tell us immediately if you cannot attend this session. My question: as any other members had this sort of appointment through their door? and is it compulsory that I attend, me being in the support group?

Thank you

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

Welcome to Benefits and Work

I haven't heard of this particular letter before but DWP so seem to enjoy dreaming up new ways of harassing claimants in the Support Group!

You should not have to attend any Work Focused Activities. I suggest that you read the letter carefully and check whether there is any mention of attendance being mandatory. If not, feel free to decline the kind offer. It it does appear to be a mandatory activity, you should contact DWP to see what is going on.

Thank you for reply

All the letter says is: We would like to invite you to attend one of our ESA Advice Fairs.

On the day, information will be available about the support we can offer you. We will have representatives from partner organisations such as CAB, Public Health, Guideposts and many more other organisations that maybe able to help you.

I have booked you a place on: such a date and time.

Please tell us immediately if you cannot attend this session for example if you have returned to work or no longer wish to claim ESA.

That's basically what letter says??

As long as the word 'mandatory' does not appear anywhere, you are free to decline the offer!

I've just received a letter inviting me to contact a work coach. However, my letter makes it clear that it is voluntary and my benefits will not be affected if I do not contact them, so I suspect that different parts of the country are receiving different letters.

It's quite ironic that the letter ends with a statement claiming that the DWP do not discriminate against disability, ethnicity, gender, etc.

Unfortunately the word 'postcode' does not appear on the list!