ESA - personal advisor interview at Jobcentre

See this thread for the full story related to my ESA claim...

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum?func=vie...id=10&id=70850#70850

Anyway, I received a letter from my local Job Centre today informing me that I need to attend a 'Personal Adviser Interview' with regards to my Employment Support Allowance. In a couple of weeks (was hoping that I'd be able to get Xmas out of the way first).

Anyway, as detailed in the previous thread, I'm also appealing their decision to put me in the WRAG (as opposed to the Support group) - just at the state where they've written to me confirming that they have received my initial appeal request and are processing it.

At the moment I'm really looking for tips as to what to say/not say at this interview and an overview as to what it might involve. My immediate initial concern is that they're going to use this interview to attempt to trip me up, ask me leading questions, try to trick me into saying things that I don't mean and make it appear that I'm a bullshitter with regards to my mental illnesses. This may or may not be the paranoia talking.

Thanks.

phild wrote:

See this thread for the full story related to my ESA claim...

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum?func=vie...id=10&id=70850#70850

Anyway, I received a letter from my local Job Centre today informing me that I need to attend a 'Personal Adviser Interview' with regards to my Employment Support Allowance. In a couple of weeks (was hoping that I'd be able to get Xmas out of the way first).

Anyway, as detailed in the previous thread, I'm also appealing their decision to put me in the WRAG (as opposed to the Support group) - just at the state where they've written to me confirming that they have received my initial appeal request and are processing it.

At the moment I'm really looking for tips as to what to say/not say at this interview and an overview as to what it might involve. My immediate initial concern is that they're going to use this interview to attempt to trip me up, ask me leading questions, try to trick me into saying things that I don't mean and make it appear that I'm a bullshitter with regards to my mental illnesses. This may or may not be the paranoia talking.

Thanks.

Hi P ,

WFI's are supposed to get a claimant "Work Ready" for suitable employment, at some time in the future.

For more information see 53021 onwards of the WFI DM guide, here :

webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100...gov.uk/docs/ch53.pdf

bro58

bro58 wrote:

phild wrote:

See this thread for the full story related to my ESA claim...

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum?func=vie...id=10&id=70850#70850

Anyway, I received a letter from my local Job Centre today informing me that I need to attend a 'Personal Adviser Interview' with regards to my Employment Support Allowance. In a couple of weeks (was hoping that I'd be able to get Xmas out of the way first).

Anyway, as detailed in the previous thread, I'm also appealing their decision to put me in the WRAG (as opposed to the Support group) - just at the state where they've written to me confirming that they have received my initial appeal request and are processing it.

At the moment I'm really looking for tips as to what to say/not say at this interview and an overview as to what it might involve. My immediate initial concern is that they're going to use this interview to attempt to trip me up, ask me leading questions, try to trick me into saying things that I don't mean and make it appear that I'm a bullshitter with regards to my mental illnesses. This may or may not be the paranoia talking.

Thanks.

Hi P ,

WFI's are supposed to get a claimant "Work Ready" for suitable employment, at some time in the future.

For more information see 53021 onwards of the WFI DM guide, here :

webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100...gov.uk/docs/ch53.pdf

bro58

Hi P,

See all the threads that came up when I put WFI into the search engine. :


www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum?func=adv...name=1&childforums=1

bro58

Hi P,

Further information on WFI's :

WFI INFORMATION.

WFI's may be deferred, for various reasons, but this decision is totally at the discretion of the dealing officer.

Many members have had their WFI carried out over the phone, or there is an option of a home WFI.

However, neither of the above options are a given right.

Whilst in the WRAG, a claimant cannot be compelled to seek or take up employment.
See the extract below from the DM Guide re : WFI's. :

Work-focused interviews.:

A work-focused interview (WfI) is an interview with a person conducted for any or all of the following purposes.

1.Assessing that person's prospects for existing or future employment, (whether paid or voluntary)

2.Assisting or encouraging that person to improve their prospects of such employment.

3.Identifying activities which that person may undertake to strengthen their existing or future prospects for employment.

4.Identifying current or future employment or training opportunities suitable to that person's needs.

5.Identifying educational opportunities connected with the existing or future employment prospects or needs of that person.

bro58

Thanks, Bro.

Re: WFI over the telephone... how might I go about requesting that they do that?

Most days I struggle to leave the house, due to various mental health reasons. I might be able to attend an interview in person, but I can't say for certain that on the day, I'll be able to do it. I never know how I'm going to be on any given day until I wake up and see how I feel in myself. I have established a fragile equilibrium that allows me to potter around my flat and usually look after myself and the mundane things in my life - but usually no more than that. Doesn't take much to send me crashing...

phild wrote:

Thanks, Bro.

Re: WFI over the telephone... how might I go about requesting that they do that?

Most days I struggle to leave the house, due to various mental health reasons. I might be able to attend an interview in person, but I can't say for certain that on the day, I'll be able to do it. I never know how I'm going to be on any given day until I wake up and see how I feel in myself. I have established a fragile equilibrium that allows me to potter around my flat and usually look after myself and the mundane things in my life - but usually no more than that. Doesn't take much to send me crashing...

Hi P,

You should make any requests to The Adviser dealing with your WFI's at the JCP as on the letter of appointment that you received.

They are not compelled to comply with any such requests.

It may help to gain the support of your G.P. or other treating HCP in this matter.

Many members have had their initial WFI, and then had further ones deferred when the JCP adviser was made aware of the members limitations.

Again though there is no guarantee that this would be the case with you.

cheers

bro58