Passed IB to ESA without medical!

Just Me wrote:

bro58 wrote:

JM,

Please remember, even though they can compel you to have WFI's, and to get involved in Work Related Activity, ( WRA ).

They CANNOT compel you to seek, or take up employment, even though they may well try and exert pressure on you, to do just that.

bro58

Oh great, So apart from talking though options with an advisor what kind of work related activities can they make me do then?

Hi JM,

WRA, could include, training courses, interview techniques, constucting a good CV etc etc.

It is supposedly to get you "work ready" for a future date, when you may be fit to work.

bro58

Hi JM, If you click on the "Understanding Employment and Support Allowance link, from the link below, you will see a 42 page guide.

Page 31 onwards covers WFI's and WRA.

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants/esa

cheers

bro58

But considering I can't sit for long due to pain, and walking cause me fatigue and even more pain how am I going to be able to do that then? If I could attend such things I'd be able to get a job.

Just Me wrote:

But considering I can't sit for long due to pain, and walking cause me fatigue and even more pain how am I going to be able to do that then? If I could attend such things I'd be able to get a job.

Hi JM,

You will have to make sure that they are aware of any such limitations.

Have a look on the link to the ESA guide that I provided in my previous post.

cheers

bro58

JM,

Have a look at the thread on the link below, one of the posts refers to a WFI over the phone.

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum?func=vie...id=10&id=65203#65203

cheers

bro58

millymoo wrote:

Just a thought!! If you had gone for a medical etc would you have expected to have been placed into the support group or work related group? I am wondering if DWP are making decisions without medicals and putting people in the work related group and hoping that they are just so grateful to have not required a medical that they accept the decision. It really makes me wonder if this is a cop out to keep the support group numbers to an absolute minimum, or am i being cynical?!!!!

Mm xx

Here is a copy of a post which I drafted in the moderators' forum recently. Isn't it curious that we both reached the same conclusion:-

Hi All,

There have been an ever-increasing number of members in the forum being placed in the WRAG without a medical assessment. In the circumstances, this would appear to be a new tactic by the DWP which I believe to be twofold.

It seems to me to be a dubious tactical manoeuvre designed to cut down on the large amount of appeals currently going through the system at the present time, but also an exercise to expedite the number of current IB claimants to contribution-based ESA, in the hope that following the 12 months time limit on ESA(CB), a substantial majority will not qualify for ESA(IB). Consequently, this will cut the number of claims more rapidly, save money, and may very well lead to manipulation of the claimant figures in the process, culminating in bogus claims by the government that ESA is getting people off benefit and back into work.

Maybe I am just being cynical?

Regards,

CD