scared and confused re WRAG

HI all, Like many others I am scared and totally confused re migratiion to ESA.
If I get into the WRAG can I then me FORCED to take part in work related activities/schemes ? My pain is at such levels that it toally devastates my body and mind and Im really scared that I won't be able to do what they tell me.

This is something that concerns me as I fear I will be put in WRAG and having read on here that some of these activities are several hours long, I just can't cope with that.

Don't worry about being put into the WRAG, if that were to happen you would have to attend only five work related interviews, but no-one is going to make you take a job that you can't physically do, I found the work interviews quite amusing, and the Pathways reps that I had didn't even know exactly what was wrong with me, apart from the obvious inability to walk. Stop making yourself ill with the worry, everything will be fine. (By the way, the interviews are 1hr only each time)

Hi Mr X

If you are placed in the WRAG it is possible for your benefit to be sanctioned if you do not take part in mandatory work-related activities, but you won't necessarily be given them.

If you have an understanding advisor then he/she may decide to defer your interviews until your health improves, whenever or if ever that may be.

It is also possible, as in my case, to be given activities that are not made mandatory, and you only have to do them if you feel able.

If you are given a mandatory activity that you fail to complete and your benefit is sanctioned as a result, only the component part of your benefit is sanctioned (you still get the basic rate) and the decision is appealable.

It is a legal requirement for the DWP and their providers to take into consideration your health problems if asking you to do work-related activity and you should not be sanctioned if you have good cause for failing to meet the requirements.

Incidentally, I haven't heard form anyone on this forum who as been sanctioned for failing to undertake work-related activity so I would imagine sanctions are quire rare.

Hope this helps

Derek

Lyn wrote:

Don't worry about being put into the WRAG, if that were to happen you would have to attend only five work related interviews, but no-one is going to make you take a job that you can't physically do, I found the work interviews quite amusing, and the Pathways reps that I had didn't even know exactly what was wrong with me, apart from the obvious inability to walk. Stop making yourself ill with the worry, everything will be fine. (By the way, the interviews are 1hr only each time)

An interview of an hour or less I could probably cope with, it is more the work related activities that concern me, these from what I have read can be several hours.

Derek4 wrote:

Hi Mr X

If you are placed in the WRAG it is possible for your benefit to be sanctioned if you do not take part in mandatory work-related activities, but you won't necessarily be given them.

If you have an understanding advisor then he/she may decide to defer your interviews until your health improves, whenever or if ever that may be.

It is also possible, as in my case, to be given activities that are not made mandatory, and you only have to do them if you feel able.

If you are given a mandatory activity that you fail to complete and your benefit is sanctioned as a result, only the component part of your benefit is sanctioned (you still get the basic rate) and the decision is appealable.

It is a legal requirement for the DWP and their providers to take into consideration your health problems if asking you to do work-related activity and you should not be sanctioned if you have good cause for failing to meet the requirements.

Incidentally, I haven't heard form anyone on this forum who as been sanctioned for failing to undertake work-related activity so I would imagine sanctions are quire rare.

Hope this helps

Derek

Thanks Derek, think an understand adviser is key in all this! As I said it is not some much the one to one interviews with the adviser than concern me, more the actual activities which could be a lot longer than an hour.

Sorry to Mr X hope you don't feel I have hijacked your thread!