Expected to find full-time work when waiting for capability assessment?

jenifan

My condition has recently deteriorated and I have decided to take the health journey route and request a work capability assessment. I was told by my job coach today that whilst I am waiting for my assessment (which apparently could take months) I am still expected to be looking for full-time as part of the intensive work search group. This feels wrong and unfair and I plan to challenge this with my job coach in my appointment with them on Monday. If these are the current rules then they would be expecting some very ill people to spend 35 hours a week looking for full time work??? I wondered if anyone else has any advice or information about this? Thanks in advance!!!

Albus_Scope

Hey there @jenifan and welcome to the community.

I can only speak from personal experience here, but when I was waiting for my WCA, I didn't have to look for work, as I'd supplied fit notes to say I was unfit for work. As long as fit notes are handed in, I believe they can't make you look for work. I'm not sure if this is the same for every work coach though?

jenifan

Hey Albus! Thanks for the reply ☺️

That was the case last time I went down the WCA route about 2 years ago. If you dont mind me asking was yours a few years ago or more recent? I didn't realise different job coaches could have different rules.

Albus_Scope

No problem at all @jenifan mine was about 16 months ago now? I've found work coaches have a fair bit of wiggle room on how they interpret certain rules, which can be very annoying.