Institute for Employment Studies

Hello Everyone
This is my first post here. I received a letter this morning from a Helen Barnes who is a Principal Researcher at the above Institute. She is inviting me to take part in some research, apparently the Institute has been asked by the DWP to look into people's experiences of claiming ESA. They are particularly interested in people's experiences of the medical assessment process. Because I have recently taken part in medical assessments (WCA and WFHRA) they would like my feedback.
As it happens I am appealing my WCA as I was placed in the WRAG instead of the support group.
Two Questions
(1)Has anyone else received anything similar?
(2)Does anyone hold any views on the wisdom of taking part.
I can post a copy of the letter if anyone is interested.Given the content of the excellent documentary on BBC Scotland and the many criticisms of the ESA scheme, it seems to me that the DWP may be hoping that the research will provide them with some counter arguments.

I would be very careful if I were you especialy as we know who payes the piper

I agree, it seems too risky (unless for anyone out there who thinks the system is excellent).
As they must surely be aware of!

Sounds very interesting. Could you get someone to help you/do it for you (assuming it would involve writing), thus emphasising your incapacity?

Hi Robert1,

Don't abandon the idea entirely. The DWP coes commission 'independent' research which ends up criticising what they are doing - Pathways to Work, for example.

If they don't get to talk to claimants who have had a hard time then they will end up with a very false picture of what's happening.

If you can post the full text of the letter that would be useful. It should tell you whether your personal details will be kept anonymous from the DWP - which would normally be the case.

Steve

IES
Church Street
Sovereign House
Brighton
BNI 9UF

May 2010

Project reference:

Dear
I am writing from the Institute for Employment Studies (IES) to invite you to participate in some research. IES is an independent organisation that has been asked by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to research people’s experiences of claiming Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), in particular their experiences of the medical assessment process (this is formally known as the Work Capability Assessment and Work-Focused Health-Related Assessment).
We need to know how well ESA is working for the people it was designed to help. We are contacting you because you have recently taken part in a medical assessment, and would like to invite you to help us with the research, by telling us about your experiences. This would involve being interviewed by one of the IES research team, either in your home or at a convenient local venue. The interview will last for up to an hour, and everyone who is interviewed will be given a £20 High Street voucher as a small token of thanks for their help. Your participation is entirely voluntary and any benefits you receive will not be affected in any way.
The interview would cover your experiences and views of having a medical assessment and, if applicable, your experiences of seeing a health professional in a second appointment to discuss your future hopes and expectations about work. Anything you say to the researcher will be strictly confidential; your name and personal details will not be passed on to any Government department or to anyone else.
Please do let us know if there is anything we can do to make it easier for you to take part. We are able to provide an interpreter if you wish to be interviewed in a language other than English. We can also arrange to meet any access needs you may have arising from a disability or health issue.


What happens now?
• If you are willing to take part in this research, you do not need to do anything. IES will contact you to ask a few questions and arrange a time and place for one of our researchers to speak to you in person.
I do hope that you will take part in this important research, as we would like to hear your views. But if you would rather not be involved, then please contact me on 020 7470 6117 (or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or use the reply slip and prepaid envelope provided), and we will not contact you again about this. You can also contact us on this number if you need assistance to take part or if you have any questions about the research.
If you would like to speak to the DWP about the research, the research manager for this project is Michael Kelly. He can be contacted by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., telephone on 0207 449 7643, or by post at DWP, 1st floor Caxton House, Tothill Street, London, SW1H 9NA.
With thanks and best wishes
Yours sincerely
Helen Barnes
Principal Research Fellow