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IR ESA migration to UC
- Ingy
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1 month 1 week ago #295297 by Ingy
IR ESA migration to UC was created by Ingy
Hi,
I’m looking for some feedback concerning migration to UC. I have been on IR ESA wrag for many years, before 2016. In 2019 I went through a traumatic experience which has affected me to this day. Since 2019 I have had no contact with JCP or a work coach. My old work coach in 2019 did suggest I may want to apply for the SG. Due to what I was dealing with emotionally, mentally & physically, I felt unable to deal with anything else which was going to cause me more stress & anxiety. In hindsight I wish I had applied to see if I would have been eligible for SG.
When I receive my migration letter to apply for UC I’m going to have a work coach & commitments along with having to attending a JCP. I am 63yrs old & have many health conditions including agoraphobia which causes me so much distress at having to interact with people, 95% of the time I need the support of my son. I’m feeling the added stress & anxiety about how I am going to achieve what will be asked of me. This is leaving me thinking that I will be given sanctions if I’m unable to do the things I’m asked to do. I’m unsure of how I am going to cope with the change over to UC, it all feels very daunting & leaving me not wanting to apply for UC but I will have bills to pay. I receive PIP ongoing & I’m concerned my pip will be affected also.
I have read through the added 11 pages on questions about UC, thank you. Do you have any tips or suggestions you could give me on getting through this journey to UC. What rights do I have if I am unable to do the tasks that will be set for me to do. Will I receive sanctions. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated, thank you.
I also wanted to ask if I will have to pay for my prescriptions on UC.
Thank you for the great work & support that is put into the running of B&W it has been a great help to me & continues to be, many thanks.
I’m looking for some feedback concerning migration to UC. I have been on IR ESA wrag for many years, before 2016. In 2019 I went through a traumatic experience which has affected me to this day. Since 2019 I have had no contact with JCP or a work coach. My old work coach in 2019 did suggest I may want to apply for the SG. Due to what I was dealing with emotionally, mentally & physically, I felt unable to deal with anything else which was going to cause me more stress & anxiety. In hindsight I wish I had applied to see if I would have been eligible for SG.
When I receive my migration letter to apply for UC I’m going to have a work coach & commitments along with having to attending a JCP. I am 63yrs old & have many health conditions including agoraphobia which causes me so much distress at having to interact with people, 95% of the time I need the support of my son. I’m feeling the added stress & anxiety about how I am going to achieve what will be asked of me. This is leaving me thinking that I will be given sanctions if I’m unable to do the things I’m asked to do. I’m unsure of how I am going to cope with the change over to UC, it all feels very daunting & leaving me not wanting to apply for UC but I will have bills to pay. I receive PIP ongoing & I’m concerned my pip will be affected also.
I have read through the added 11 pages on questions about UC, thank you. Do you have any tips or suggestions you could give me on getting through this journey to UC. What rights do I have if I am unable to do the tasks that will be set for me to do. Will I receive sanctions. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated, thank you.
I also wanted to ask if I will have to pay for my prescriptions on UC.
Thank you for the great work & support that is put into the running of B&W it has been a great help to me & continues to be, many thanks.
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- David
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1 month 1 week ago #295304 by David
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by David on topic IR ESA migration to UC
Hi Ingy,
As you have been through a traumatic experience it would be a good idea to get some professional medical advice which would also be of use with your UC claim. Have you tried making contact with your local Mental Health services department? Most GP surgeries these days have a first point of contact mental health practitioner. You would be looking to get an initial appointment to explore what assistance there is available locally. They often offer CBT ( cognitive behaviour therapy ) though your condition may necessitate a more in depth intervention.
At your first Jobcentre interview the Work Coach should discuss the limitations imposed by your health condition on your work preparation activities. As your WRAG status will have been transferred to UC and has now become LCW ( limited capability for work ) you don't have to look for work. Someone completely healthy may have work preparation activities of 20 or more hours per week but this can be lowered to just 1 hour per week for someone with a severe health condition. So in that case your claimant commitment will just say that you will spend 1 hour per week in work preparation activities such as keeping my IT skills up to scratch.
As you have agoraphobia you could request that you don't attend the Jobcentre in person and that the Work Coach does a phone interview. If they insist that you need to be seen in person you can request that a DWP Visiting Officer attend your home.
It is very unusual for someone in the WRAG to be put forward for a sanction. One tip is if you have a worry that your Work Coach doesn't understand your health condition is you can request a meeting with the Jobcentre Disabilities Employment Adviser who will have had a lot more health related training.
Hope this helps,
David
As you have been through a traumatic experience it would be a good idea to get some professional medical advice which would also be of use with your UC claim. Have you tried making contact with your local Mental Health services department? Most GP surgeries these days have a first point of contact mental health practitioner. You would be looking to get an initial appointment to explore what assistance there is available locally. They often offer CBT ( cognitive behaviour therapy ) though your condition may necessitate a more in depth intervention.
At your first Jobcentre interview the Work Coach should discuss the limitations imposed by your health condition on your work preparation activities. As your WRAG status will have been transferred to UC and has now become LCW ( limited capability for work ) you don't have to look for work. Someone completely healthy may have work preparation activities of 20 or more hours per week but this can be lowered to just 1 hour per week for someone with a severe health condition. So in that case your claimant commitment will just say that you will spend 1 hour per week in work preparation activities such as keeping my IT skills up to scratch.
As you have agoraphobia you could request that you don't attend the Jobcentre in person and that the Work Coach does a phone interview. If they insist that you need to be seen in person you can request that a DWP Visiting Officer attend your home.
It is very unusual for someone in the WRAG to be put forward for a sanction. One tip is if you have a worry that your Work Coach doesn't understand your health condition is you can request a meeting with the Jobcentre Disabilities Employment Adviser who will have had a lot more health related training.
Hope this helps,
David
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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- VIA
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1 month 1 week ago #295311 by VIA
Replied by VIA on topic IR ESA migration to UC
Thank you very much David,
Your suggestion to request a meeting with the Jobcentre Disabilities Employment Adviser who would have a lot more health related training if we worry that our Work Coach does not understand our health condition is fantastic! I did not know they existed.
I am making a note of this at my end, “Jobcentre Disabilities Employment Adviser” in case I were to need one, hopefully not.
I think I have read somewhere that someone from Esa Support Group transferred to UC via Managed Migration was requested ‘wrongly’ by his work coach to provide fit notes ( as existing conditions on esa to not provide fit notes and not to look for work should migrate with us? )
- I suppose if we are wrongly asked to provide fitnotes, we could request a meeting with the Jobcentre Disabilities Employment Adviser?
- Or maybe we could request to have a phone appointment with this Jobcentre Disabilities Employment Adviser if when we request a phone appointment instead of going to the Jobcentre or if we request to being seen as soon as we arrive to the jobcentre due to poor mobility? Pain? Distress being around other people?
- Do you think it is possible to speak to one in those case scenarios?
I really appreciate for help.
Thank you and Best wishes
Your suggestion to request a meeting with the Jobcentre Disabilities Employment Adviser who would have a lot more health related training if we worry that our Work Coach does not understand our health condition is fantastic! I did not know they existed.
I am making a note of this at my end, “Jobcentre Disabilities Employment Adviser” in case I were to need one, hopefully not.
I think I have read somewhere that someone from Esa Support Group transferred to UC via Managed Migration was requested ‘wrongly’ by his work coach to provide fit notes ( as existing conditions on esa to not provide fit notes and not to look for work should migrate with us? )
- I suppose if we are wrongly asked to provide fitnotes, we could request a meeting with the Jobcentre Disabilities Employment Adviser?
- Or maybe we could request to have a phone appointment with this Jobcentre Disabilities Employment Adviser if when we request a phone appointment instead of going to the Jobcentre or if we request to being seen as soon as we arrive to the jobcentre due to poor mobility? Pain? Distress being around other people?
- Do you think it is possible to speak to one in those case scenarios?
I really appreciate for help.
Thank you and Best wishes
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- David
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1 month 1 week ago #295323 by David
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by David on topic IR ESA migration to UC
Hi Via,
To answer you question "Or maybe we could request to have a phone appointment with this Jobcentre Disabilities Employment Adviser if when we request a phone appointment instead of going to the Jobcentre or if we request to being seen as soon as we arrive to the jobcentre due to poor mobility? Pain? Distress being around other people?
- Do you think it is possible to speak to one in those case scenarios?"
That will largely depend on the size of the Jobcentre and staff availability. The Jobcentre in Bridport, Dorset for instance is tiny whilst the one in Exeter is huge. But as they say there is no harm in asking.
David
To answer you question "Or maybe we could request to have a phone appointment with this Jobcentre Disabilities Employment Adviser if when we request a phone appointment instead of going to the Jobcentre or if we request to being seen as soon as we arrive to the jobcentre due to poor mobility? Pain? Distress being around other people?
- Do you think it is possible to speak to one in those case scenarios?"
That will largely depend on the size of the Jobcentre and staff availability. The Jobcentre in Bridport, Dorset for instance is tiny whilst the one in Exeter is huge. But as they say there is no harm in asking.
David
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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- Ingy
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1 month 1 week ago #295345 by Ingy
Replied by Ingy on topic IR ESA migration to UC
Hi David,
Thanks for the information you’ve given me. That’s good to know that I can ask to speak to Jobcentre Disability Employment Officer. I have some letters from my Doctor which I used for my PIP application, maybe I can use them. I think they maybe a year old. I’m not sure if there is a time limit for this kind of evidence.
It has been in my thoughts to reach out for support in the form of therapy, that I do badly need. Hopefully I can do that.
Once again thanks for your suggestions they are greatly appreciated.
Thanks for the information you’ve given me. That’s good to know that I can ask to speak to Jobcentre Disability Employment Officer. I have some letters from my Doctor which I used for my PIP application, maybe I can use them. I think they maybe a year old. I’m not sure if there is a time limit for this kind of evidence.
It has been in my thoughts to reach out for support in the form of therapy, that I do badly need. Hopefully I can do that.
Once again thanks for your suggestions they are greatly appreciated.
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