Work Focused Interviews

Hello Forum
If your disability is such that being called to the WFI's is lightly to cause harm to yourself, i.e. traveling, being in pain etc is there any point in contacting the JCP prior to trying to make the journey in order to explain the problems, or is it just tuff, get here or else ?

Can anyone through any light on what questions are put to you on these wfi's, whats the attitude like, is the interview a very official format ?
I am assuming its done by JCP staff ? is the interview very long ? would be interisted to hear from anyone with experience of a WFI.

Regards, Derek

Derekq wrote: Hello Forum
If your disability is such that being called to the WFI's is lightly to cause harm to yourself, i.e. traveling, being in pain etc is there any point in contacting the JCP prior to trying to make the journey in order to explain the problems, or is it just tuff, get here or else ?

Can anyone through any light on what questions are put to you on these wfi's, whats the attitude like, is the interview a very official format ?
I am assuming its done by JCP staff ? is the interview very long ? would be interisted to hear from anyone with experience of a WFI.

Regards, Derek

Hi Dq,

They are supposed to make reasonable adjustments for claimants being compelled to take part in WFI's.

WFI's can be carried out over the phone, in your home, or can even be deferred, these three options are completely at the discretion of the JCP adviser though.

Have a look at these two topics, (if you haven't already read them) :

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum?view=top...id=10&id=96483#96923

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum?view=top...id=10&id=96511#97048

Of course, members are welcome to relate their own personal experience of WFI's.

bro58

It can last as little as 20 mins. Mine was. I was told about my condition. I was asked what I did in the past for work. The two were were then entwined to sell me the Work Programme and how work would be beneficial. In hindsight, it made no difference what she said to me as it was madatory. I must stress that I have a ESA review date for 12 months.

What I did find alarming was how little information about my condition and how it affects me they had. Since filling in an ESA50 and attending an Atos medical, my head naturally steers toward 'descriptors' and how my condition affeects me - thanks to this site! I found this lacking in the interview. Now until I have the Atos reports to hand, I cannot say why. I would advise strongly to request these in writing as twice I have asked for this over the phone. Having them will give you a clue to what the JCP advisor will know about you. The bottom line is to appeal or not, your choice.

If you attend the Work Programme, then its a new ball game. DWP don't forward any information about your condition I was told. The blanks have to be filled in by a software program that asks questions about you so it gives the Employment Advisor (Thats what they are called) a profile of you. This is not fixed and can be changed at anytime by the advisor. You are now in an 'intimate' one to one (just you and the advisor) nobody else now interferes. It's a journey between the two of you to slowly break barriers to work. I was told that it will be small steps for me and there is no time limit or pressure to get a job say by the end of the year. I asked lots of questions about being forced etc. I was told it's a journey and I have to be ready first. I was told it is a 2 year programme and we gently break the barriiers down. This is what is deemed as work related activity. The software generates tasks etc according to how you answered it's questions. The advisor types it all up.

I have come to the conclusion that each stage is separate. The qualification stage (i.e ESA50, Medical etc then award), and the Work Programme. They now are treating JSA and ESA differently i'm told by my advisor. Although the path is the same for both, ESA are further away up the path. I very much think it depends on the personality of the advisor how you get on. I have a lovely advisor. I am looking at this positively as a real opportunity if what they say is true in helping me. It would be great to know that when I am truely ready, I can take the next step.

Sorry for the long post but I thought I'd share this information as a lot of people are at this stage.

I've got my first one tomorrow. I can hardly wait

I am looking forward to my first wfi next week and will report back.

Keep on reading and following B&W guides. Be prepared.

PC

Hi Bro58
Thanks for your reply, very helpful advice again, I will be making contact with them soon as I have a WFI coming up and as Roadrunner said the JCP people seem not to be aware in any way as to the individual persons capabilitys and limitations to attend a WFI, the whole system is so dissjointed.

Thanks for the links very interisting reading.

Roadrunner
Thank you for your informative post, very kind of you to share infomation as many will read it and learn from it as I have, it is an eyeopener to me, yes, it hard to believe that after us all filling out the esa50 and in you case maving a medical etc all that infomation does not get passed to the advisor at JCP, if it did I think there would not be so many struggling to try and get there who should never have had to do so in the first place.

Your thought about each stage being seperate is proven I believe by your very own path that you have covered, will post another time as clock running out of time to send this post.

Regards, Derek