'invitation' to a work focus interview

suzanne wrote:

I looked at page 31 and it starts with Work-focused (pathways to work) interviews:
'Claimants in the work-related activity group are subject to a series of five further work-focused interviews – also known as pathways to work interviews -after their initial work-focused interview in the assessment phase.'

But I am not in any group - I have not had a medical and been put in the work related group rather than the support group.

How can they interview me as someone capable of work when no medical assessment has taken place or information gathered from my GP?

Has the DWP Atos person jumped the gun here and how would I challenge it?

I am going to tell them about my own personal family circumstances which are in massive upheaval as I try to get both parents in residential care - he wieth severe alzheimers, she blind, brain tumour and crippled with arthritis. I see that this might be taken into account in deferrring the process for a while.

But what about the main question above?

Suzanne

Question 1

Are you still on IB ?

Are you on Higher rate care ?

If the answer to the above 2 questions is YES then no interview

If you was on IB but have filled in ans ESA 50 and been called and had a medical then they can if NOT in the support group call you for an interview

The ONLY interview you get called for on IB I think is if they are checking up on you ?

Last question have you been called for an interview ? or just got worried about being called ? where did the interview idea come from ?

I phoned jobcentre today. I postponed my interview til later in May. She said it was not to do with getting my back to work (oh, really!) but was the review they had to do every three years ago to see if things have changed and what they can do to advise (!). I didnt tell her I had never had a review before.

can you tell me how these reviews work and is what she said a lot of bunkum and actually part of process to migrate me to ESA?

Suzanne :

It just came out of the blue. I delayed it today but she said that it doesnt mattter if I am on higher rate DLA care - everyone has to come to the interview. The problem is that I had read the info about work focused interview but because I got so stress I forgot all that I had read and her blanket denial that there was any attempt to get people back to work just confused me. I am not thinking logically and am on the verge of tears every time I speak to someone about my parents and this obviously is carrying over to other stressful situations in my life.

SHould I ring back and say that I have further information that tells me that they should not be calling me for and interview so I want to cancel it unless they provide me with written information telling me how I can be called when I am on higher rate DLA and therefore exempt and have had no medical and my GP not been issued with the IB form regarding my current state of health and fitness to work?

Hoping you can advise me further

SUZ

Pa I have not filled in any form and they havent assessed me and put me in the work group. In fact if they had done a medical I am pretty sure I would be in the support group

Can you advise more and many thanks for your input


Suzanne

sorry more - I am not just worried they did call me for an interview and this is the first communication from them for years.

Can they just check up on you but is it a bone fide review which I have read abotut but never had because last time they did when I told them I was on higher rate care they said I did not need to come to an interview.

Is this person just misinformed or is it a new policy afre the welfare reform bill?

suzanne wrote:

Should I ring back and say that I have further information that tells me that they should not be calling me for and interview so I want to cancel it unless they provide me with written information telling me how I can be called when I am on higher rate DLA and therefore exempt and have had no medical and my GP not been issued with the IB form regarding my current state of health and fitness to work?

Hoping you can advise me further

SUZ

Yes, ask the DWP office which deals with your IB claim to provide you with the written evidence which now authorises them to call you for a WFI, when you were previously exempt?