Questions about WFI and awaiting a new decision

[Benefit Regarding = ESA, WRAG Group]

Hiyah all,

Just have some questions regarding the WRAG group and WFI's that I am attending.

1. I have only had a couple of WFI interviews, with another one due in a couple of weeks, yet I have had yet another questionaire through that I have just filled in and am awaiting a ATOS reply soon about. If I am told I am no longer allowed WRAG ESA then what happens to the WFI interviews and any future appointments already scheduled ?

2. If I am allowed WRAG again, do I have to add 6 more WFI interviews on top of the ones I still have left, or do I just have to do the 6 overall ?

3. Does what is typed on a computer during a WFI by your job centre advisor have any influence on a ESA decision maker ? As I hear a decision if you are entitled to ESA is made by a decision maker who works for the job centre, and they are influenced by the ATOS report. Does the decision maker also look at all the info from chats I have had at the WFI interviews and go from anything there ? As I know everything is probably computerised all around the job centres. By "chats" I mean anything the WFI advisor thought worth typing.

4. If in a couple of weeks when I have my next WFI I still haven't heard back from ATOS then should I tell my advisor that a renewal is in the process of being decided ? If so, do they get involved in anything to do with the decision making, by this I mean phoning up to give their view ? Would it be wise for me to ring them up and let them know I have had to send back another questionnaire, or just wait until I see them ?

5. I have been asked to make a CV and it must be all positive, from what I have been told. Is this just routine ? As I feel wrong being all positive on it, but I was told not to mention anything negative or my health. If I hand over something really positive then it may look misleading to any decision makers. So I just wondered if this is normal procedure for WFI people.

Thanks for your help and sorry for so many questions.

Benson

Benson wrote:

[Benefit Regarding = ESA, WRAG Group]

Hiyah all,

Just have some questions regarding the WRAG group and WFI's that I am attending.

1. I have only had a couple of WFI interviews, with another one due in a couple of weeks, yet I have had yet another questionaire through that I have just filled in and am awaiting a ATOS reply soon about. If I am told I am no longer allowed WRAG ESA then what happens to the WFI interviews and any future appointments already scheduled ?

2. If I am allowed WRAG again, do I have to add 6 more WFI interviews on top of the ones I still have left, or do I just have to do the 6 overall ?

3. Does what is typed on a computer during a WFI by your job centre advisor have any influence on a ESA decision maker ? As I hear a decision if you are entitled to ESA is made by a decision maker who works for the job centre, and they are influenced by the ATOS report. Does the decision maker also look at all the info from chats I have had at the WFI interviews and go from anything there ? As I know everything is probably computerised all around the job centres. By "chats" I mean anything the WFI advisor thought worth typing.

4. If in a couple of weeks when I have my next WFI I still haven't heard back from ATOS then should I tell my advisor that a renewal is in the process of being decided ? If so, do they get involved in anything to do with the decision making, by this I mean phoning up to give their view ? Would it be wise for me to ring them up and let them know I have had to send back another questionnaire, or just wait until I see them ?

5. I have been asked to make a CV and it must be all positive, from what I have been told. Is this just routine ? As I feel wrong being all positive on it, but I was told not to mention anything negative or my health. If I hand over something really positive then it may look misleading to any decision makers. So I just wondered if this is normal procedure for WFI people.

Thanks for your help and sorry for so many questions.

Benson

Hi,

Whilst we cannot answer specific queries relating to your claim, in general the following would apply:

1. It depends what one wishes to do, ie not claim anymore - then no more WFI's. If one wishes to appeal the decision not to award, then as well as taking te actual appeal action one must continue to attend WFI's pending the appeal.

2. In theory the process restarts with a new award .

3.No. The WFI adivser is mainly concerned with placing the client in 'work related activity'. They have no bearing over whether or not ESA is actually awarded or not.

4.THE WFI adviser may know about the renewal from the computer but takes no part in the award process. That is all carried out by the Decision Makers at the Benefits Centre your actual benefit letters come from.

5.Sorry but we cannot advise on such as CV's etc.


Pete

Hi Benson, I will answer your questions to the best of my ability. I expect that one of the more knowledgeable mods will be along later to fill in the gaps.

1) If you are not in the WRAG after your reassessment then you will not have to attend any further WFI's. This also holds true if you are not entitled to continuing ESA, other than NI credits, because of your savings/income.

2) If you are put back into the WRAg then I think your WFIs will continue for the duration.

3) As far as I am aware, the JCP adviser has no input into the reassessment process.

4)See above. You are at liberty to let them know that you are now being reassessed, but I don't see why this can't wait until you are next seen.

5) I understand that writing a CV is a normal task when undertaking WFIs and it would make sense that it should be positive (as you would want to give yourself the best chance if you were really jobhunting). I haven't heard that the Decision Maker takes into account the records of your WFI's - but I understand your caution!