Jobcentre just called

Doorframe99

Hi there,

I'm on income related esa (WRAG) and have been for 6+ years, also claiming pip since last year (won tribunal).
Jobcentre just called out of the blue for the first time in about 2 years asking me to make commitments, told them I'm too ill at the moment and should've been put in the support group years ago, but made me make commitments anyway. I told them I'd like to be able to get therapy and be working again one day, but at the moment I'm too ill. So she put them as my commitments and gave me a few weeks to do them. I told her I'm a long way off them and they were long term goals.

After the phone call I got an email with a document titled "New style esa". This was not discussed with at all during the call. Also mentions I'll be sanctioned £11 a day if I don't meet the commitments. During the call I asked if my benefits would be affected if I don't meet them she said no.

To me it sounds as if they are trying to switch me over to new style before the cost of living payments, so that I won't be entitled to them anymore. Kind of felt like I was being pressured during the call too.
Could this new style esa document be a mistake? Just trying to make sense of it. I have emailed them just waiting for a reply.

Any advice would be much appreciated 🙂

Alex_Alumni

Hello there @Doorframe99 and thanks for reaching out with your query. I'm sorry to read about what's happened, there's nothing worse than feeling pressured or rushed during a phone call!

I hope you get a reply to your email soon, it's always a good idea to get information in writing. To help everyone share their thoughts, I've marked this post as unanswered for now. 

I do know that Income-related Employment and Support Allowance is being replaced by Universal Credit, so perhaps that is what the call was about?