Work Focussed Interviews?

Hi,

I have just passed my second ESA medical for ESA.. but I know I have another one in 3 months time scheduled. 3 so far. I have already attended the work focussed (pathways) interviews all 6? mandatory ones. Will I have to do them all again now I have pased the 'review' 2nd ESA medical/assessment is it called WCA?. Am I making any sense.

Sorry, is this the right place to ask this question. I usually just read posts and the guidance manuals.

Hi Colmc

I don't know if anything is changing with the new Work Programme introduced in June but I believe that after six mandatory interviews they become less frequent - one every six months.

Regards

Derek

Hi Derek,

Thanks for that. I have already got a letter today for another Pathways (not called that though) interview 2 days after my letter came to say I had passed the medical. Another medical review in 3 months and straight away the interviews all over again (they did the 6th one in April 2011 and another follow up end of May 2011 making 7 interviews). I will ask them how many of these I must attend when I go and update on this post when I go next week on 15th. I think they are trying to drive me into the ground by being relentless. They have only got to tell me the same things as before (permitted work, etc...). I am seeing a mental health vocational advisor and then referred to an employment advisor. Not sure how much more of this I can take, seriously affecting me, ...guess that is the general idea!

HI,

I have looked into this and spoke to the advisor I will see next week. It seems that my 'interview' was prompted by my recent medical. What they used to call a 'trigger point' of which there are other things that can prompt a work focussed interview.
However, my advisor at the jobcentre, who was very nice said that since April this year it is now at the discretion of the advisor as to how many 'WFI's people must attend. They will get the initial one and then the advisor will decide how often they see them. I explained that I am getting vocational support from my mental health service and she said if I come along and see her,for the appointment I have, next week, she can set my next interview for 3 months as that would seem appropriate. I explained that I felt a bit overloaded with it all. So there seems some flexibility since April. Apparently the WFI's are still mandatory but it is not the stright '6' interviews. Apparently it is at the advisors discretion.

Derek, I hoope this is correct. I just thought it might be useful to update on this as seemingly things have now changed. Wondered if this is true it could be updated in the 'guides'??

Hi Colmc1

Thanks for the information. It looks like things have changed with the new Work Programme. I'll see if I can find any information on this in the DWP guidance documents.

With regards to updating the guides (which have recently been updated) I'm sure Steve will do that when necessary but with the Welfare Reform Bill yet to be passed I suspect there may be many more changes in the not to distant future.

Regards

Derek

Hi, if you can, it's worth having a look at this;

www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/the-work-programme.pdf

and click link; minimum service offers on page 12.

Thought I would post this again. It looks like each 'Provider' is offering/expecting different things from claimants anyway.

Check who your 'Provider' is, then check what they are suggesting.

Best wishes,
Rachel