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Is Work Programme/DWP report given to Assessor?

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7 years 6 months ago #169177 by Zinny
My son was put on WRAG from Income Support and then beginning 2014 put onto Work Programme till end of 2015. He was then referred back to the DWP (still on ESA) who put him on the Working Capital scheme which operates in London. He now has to complete and return a new ESA50 - so he may be called in for a face to face assessment. He has physical and mental health problems but the assessors do not regard his physical problems will cause him difficulties in work and so has no points in the physical section of the ESA form. At the time he was put in the WRAG group he was attending psychiatric hospital for 2 years of treatment. His treatment ended and he was referred to his GP. His mental problems have not improved and he could not do a job.
I want to ask if anyone knows - first is he likely to be given a face to face assessment and secondly will the assessor (of the form and at any interview) be given any report or information by the Work Programme provider(who was useless) or the DWP(Working Capital scheme)? I'm also fearful the ending of hospital treatment will count against him.
Sorry - not linked this with my previous question as I cannot find it on the Forum. ella

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7 years 6 months ago #169234 by Gordon
Ella

I'm afraid it's impossible to predict whether a face to face assessment will be required or not, to a considerable extent it will depend on the information in and with his ESA50.

There will be no information from the Work Programme provider.

Yu need to explain why his hospital appointment have finished, many claimants are parked by the NHS as they cannot provide any further or additional help.

Please refer to our ESA Claim guides for details of the current ESA criteria that he is being assessed against and information on how to complete the form.

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants/esa1

If you have further questions then please reply to this post and we will do our best to help.

Gordon

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

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7 years 6 months ago #170161 by Zinny
Thank you. When they receive my son's ESA50 form - whether he gets a face to face assessment or not - as he did 104 weeks on a Work Programme and from January this year has been on DWP Work Related Activity - is it possible for them to send him back to the Work Programme again? Do they ever put people on it twice? This would be a terrible outcome.
I have read all your guides. His major problems are mental health and I think it unlikely they will put him in the Support Group as he got no points for his physical health in his original assessment.and the best outcome would be for him to remain in WRAG on the DWP Work Related Activity as while on this he has been put on the Working Capital Scheme which a few London Boroughs are running. Under this he has a permanent case worker who tries to help him with his health issues and any problems he has and there are no sanctions - the idea is to help him. However he is actually in a worst state than when he was originally assessed at an interview (because he no longer is supported by a hospital he attended 5 days a week as that programme finished) so even more depressed, anxious and obsessive and is now attending hospital about his physical problems. I am thinking of writing on his form that I think since his hospital programme finished he is very vulnerable and that the the DWP Work Related Activity referral may help him but the assessors may think he has been on it for several months but has not improved. My comment also may prevent him being put in the support group.
I want to prevent him being put back on the Work Programme or onto JSA I know they may ignore my comment. My son would not ask his GP to write anything. He sees different GP every time at the surgery. Please is it possible to give an answer by Tuesday as we have to post the form on Tuesday? Thank you.

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7 years 6 months ago #170193 by Gordon
Ella

He won't be put back on the Work Programme, once you have completed two years you are returned to the JC+, they cannot refer a claimant to the WP again. However, the WP is being replaced next year and it is possible that the new scheme will reset everything and he will be put forward to the new scheme, I'm afraid I don't know whether this is likely or not.

Decisions to place him in the WRAG or the Support Group are based on whether the claimant meets the criteria or not, I think it very unlikely that any comment that you make in the ESA50 will impact on this

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: Zinny

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