Work programme

Hi
I have been put onto the work programme. Now I am sick but I definately want to get back to work in the future if that will be possible.

My Job centre plus advisor. Has written on my Action Plan that we have discussed job goals. I said i'm doing voluntary work for 2 hours per week and 5 to 10 minutes of dog walking per month. He said to me to consider job goals. I told him I was too sick too consider job goals saying that I'm sturggling to do the voluntary work. But he assumed and has made out that my "face looks better" and that I'm doing alot more than I used to. I'm not doing that much more. but i am pushing my self although my conditions dont let me much. (anxiety disorder and Osteomalcia) Now I am on contribution based ESA and I am definately not 3 months away from getting better. The job centre plus advisor reffered me as Income related 3 to 6 month period. I dont know what this is?
I dont mind going on the work programme, but it wont benefit me at the moment because i'm not well enough. But i dont know whether they will let me be positive. Each time i have been postive either at my medical or job centre. I have had bad results because they seem to be making assumptions and judgements.

Plus I am on contribution based ESA and I thought that if you were in contribution based that its not mandatory. I'm not 100 percent sure what right he had to refer me. I've checked the legislation but dont understand this clearly.

Could anybody shed some light on this for me? .

jason wrote:

Hi
I have been put onto the work programme. Now I am sick but I definately want to get back to work in the future if that will be possible.

My Job centre plus advisor. Has written on my Action Plan that we have discussed job goals. I said i'm doing voluntary work for 2 hours per week and 5 to 10 minutes of dog walking per month. He said to me to consider job goals. I told him I was too sick too consider job goals saying that I'm sturggling to do the voluntary work. But he assumed and has made out that my "face looks better" and that I'm doing alot more than I used to. I'm not doing that much more. but i am pushing my self although my conditions dont let me much. (anxiety disorder and Osteomalcia) Now I am on contribution based ESA and I am definately not 3 months away from getting better. The job centre plus advisor reffered me as Income related 3 to 6 month period. I dont know what this is?
I dont mind going on the work programme, but it wont benefit me at the moment because i'm not well enough. But i dont know whether they will let me be positive. Each time i have been postive either at my medical or job centre. I have had bad results because they seem to be making assumptions and judgements.

Plus I am on contribution based ESA and I thought that if you were in contribution based that its not mandatory. I'm not 100 percent sure what right he had to refer me. I've checked the legislation but dont understand this clearly.

Could anybody shed some light on this for me? .

Hi,

Claimants on Contributory WRAG ESA are treated much the same as claimants on Income Related WRAG ESA, with respect to WFI's, WRA, etc.

See the information on this post re : The Work Programme. :


www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum?func=vie...mit=6&start=30#73978

bro58

Thanks for the reply.

Do you know who decides when you are 3 months away from returning to work?

As this is one of the criteria to be put onto the work programme

jason wrote:

Thanks for the reply.

Do you know who decides when you are 3 months away from returning to work?

As this is one of the criteria to be put onto the work programme

Hi J,

This would depend on the length of your WRAG ESA award (prognosis).

This would have been determined when you were put into the WRAG of ESA.

Length of awards can be 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24 months or "In the longer term"

The longer awards tend to be given to claimants in the Support Group.

You can find out the length of your "prognosis" by requesting your ESA85 medical report if you actually had a face to face medical, or your ESA85A if you did not have a face to face.

You should request these from the benefits office that deals with your ESA.

bro58

Mod Edit : Reply posted same time as Gordon.

Thanks again

I just wanted to point out it seamed very strange that when I kept going to the interviews with the ESA advisor at the jobcentre he always kept saying to me that the Work programme was voluntary until I spoke alittle positively.

Also I will shed some light to you guys if you need it about the programme.
Its for 2 years. The first session is for 5 hours. Then its up to 2 hours every forthnight. However they will accomodate people after the first session. The first session will have to be attended alone, however I would phone if people have anxiety disorder or other mental illnesses especially to ask to see if you could bring someone with you. (SERCO)- (INspire 2 independence)
Also if they know you wont return to work they will probably conduct things over the phone with you to accomadate around your condition. If you require any more information about the programme let me know? I know you wanted to know about it and you may already know abit about it. But you did want some further information from one of the posts that I read. I hope this helps