Battling job centre, what can I do?

a2203

hi so I’m battling with the job centre currently right now it’s my work coach to be honest so I’ve been signed off from the doctor for a month for my back and now I’m starting to receive physiotherapy for it also which they said with my condition of my back I could be out for a while , now I’ve explained all this in my journal addressing my problems and my work coach and the manager off that job centre are fighting against me saying I must attend even with the sick note or my benefits will be stopped I have called up complaining addressing the issue to them saying I would like another work coach because I feel the one I have isn’t being very compassionate or understanding and believes it’s just a joke it’s really getting me down and stressing me out he knows I’m in serious Agony he knows I can’t come in and have been signed off I told him after this note is likely I’m definitely getting another one due to my condition he decided to ask some personal questions which I felt was kinda alarming and he shouldn’t be doing and has made me feel very uncomfortable I requested a change in work coach they replied not at this time the manager will sit in on my appointments even though I have a gig note that clearly states I’ve been signed off but they don’t seem to care what shall I do as it’s causing me such stress and I feel very hard done by right now, I feel as there following Certain procedures and protocols and are abusing there power even with a fit note what shall I do please.

OverlyAnxious

Hi,

This does sound like a difficult situation. Was there any explanation given for not changing the Work Coach? If they are genuinely short staffed then that could be a legitimate reason.

I'm not fully understanding the circumstances here. Were you previously expected to look for more work due to low earnings? And currently unable to work at all? Do you expect a longer fit note next time, and then a work capability assessment from that? If you get awarded LCW or LCWRA from a WCA then that does reduce or remove your working commitments. However, without that status, you will still be treated as a job seeker and therefore expected to attend appointments.

a2203

hi again thank you every so much for the reply, I am expecting a longer sick note due to my back I haven’t really given me a real reason to why I can’t have another work coach I also been told by my doctor physiotherapists I could be out a long while when will I be entitled to a work capability scheme this has been mentioned by someone else but not by my work coach as they are being very unreasonable. At the moment they said for my current condition am not to look for work but my telephone appointments must stay the same am not sure if this is all correct my mind is just in limbo and I’m really confused I just know I’m not going to be able to work for a while due to my condition and I’m confused to how they are handling this situation. I would like a work capability assessment is that something am entitled too if so I what do I need to do

regards

Summerlove

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/939115#Comment_939115

Hey there I hope they have given you telephone appointments and stopped threatening you.

I'm not sure about WCA I think it has to be a condition where you are not expected to recover from in next 12 months or is that pip? Not sure others will know more about eliability criteria.

I hope they leave you alone while you are in pain so you have some headspace.

Ross1975

There might be measures that you'll be able to take. The Citizens Advice Bureau might be able to tell you more about this and help you along the way. Also, ChatGPT might be able to give you info on how you can take things further too.

Ross1975

Work coaches shouldn't be able to get away with behaving like this.

Kimmy87

https://www.gov.uk/health-conditions-disability-universal-credit

Yes you are entitled to have a WCA, report the health condition and your work coach should refer you on day 29.

If your work coach continues to be unreasonable, details on how to complain are here

https://makeacomplaint.dwp.gov.uk/

IndignantPigeon

Hi sorry to hear what you've been through. I'll just give some general points we've experienced this end on UC:

1. Even though you're recognised as unable to look for work they can still ask you to attend interviews unless you can show you are unable to. The interviews are just to talk about your health etc, not to force you to look for work. In your situation with your back I'd have thought it evident you can't attend in person but they might say you could take a bus / lift in a car etc, unless you can argue it would put you in a lot of pain. Your doc should be able to help here, you could ask him / her to write a general statement "to whom it may concern" sort of thing to say you find travel + walking difficult at present. The fact that they are arranging phone appointments is a good sign, they might have accepted you cannot attend. But always fulfill requirements as stated in your To Do list or you might have your benefit docked. In your shoes without a doc statement I'd write a polite note on your journal saying travel would be painful so could they make appts by phone instead, if you show you'd be willing to talk to them on the phone they should have no problem agreeing with you.

2. When I first took a WCA years + years ago, I had to wait a whole year before I could do so. Don't know what the regulations would be now, best to ask at your interview. Try not to give them the impression that you mean to remain sick for a whole year or more, it makes them suspicious that you've no intention of working. So if they say you need to wait for a year, just ask them what happens while you are in the situation you are in now without doing a WCA and leave it as that, don't bring up WCA anymore.

3. If they don't change your work coach, try not to fret too much, keep polite + keep explaining about your current situation to him, don't talk about being sick for a long time, rather talk about the treatment you are going to have and what difference you hope it will make (it doesn't have to, the key word here is "hope"). In the longer term they'll probably pass you over to a new work coach anyway, so don't try and make too many enemies for now. If the manager sits in and there's nothing to complain about, then agree all is ok and leave it at that. At the end of the day, they have the power, not you, so go along with them as much as you can, keep polite + willing but stick to your guns about your back and how it's affecting you.

Let us know how things go + best wishes x

a2203

hi guys so following my last conversation I’ve been sanctioned I think it’s asking me to call them to speak about my earnings which I’m a little confused why. Today I was supposed to have my appointment and I wrote in my journal politely that could I have a telephone call due to being still in pain I was ignored and they sanctioned me and are now asking me to call them. On Saturday I had 7 days to get another sick note tomorrow I’m seeing my doctor again about my back so I’m just confused to why they sanctioned me and can I get it over turned if I have

Summerlove

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/943335#Comment_943335

Appalling They should have made reasonable adjustments covered by the Equality act 2010

You can ring UC to challenge the Sanction if

"If you had a good reason for not being able to complete your work-related activities, you shouldn’t be sanctioned. If any of the following reasons applied to you, or if you have another good reason not listed below, talk to the DWP straight away and ask them to reconsider the sanction.

The DWP can use their own judgement about whether you have a good reason. However, they must be reasonable and take your circumstances into consideration

You might have a good reason for not meeting a work-related requirement if you're disabled, you’re in poor health or there's a risk to your physical or mental health."

They should have offered you a phone appointment and made reasonable adjustments.

You should challenge the Sanction on these grounds and the fact that you would fullfill the work related commitments if they had made reasonable adjustments based on your inability to attend offering you a phone appointment instead. 💕

a2203

morning guys so I just called the job centre they’ve re booked a telephone interview for me and stated that the person im going to be speaking to will make the decision on if my benefits will be reinstated but due to my medical issues it looks like it will because they wouldn’t have booked another appointment right if I was definitely in the wrong they would have just said there is nothing they can do so do you think they will reinstate my money the person on the phone was lovely by the way I took this as a positive I hope everyone is well.

a2203

the appointment is too check what you're doing to meet your commitments. We will also discuss how we can support your job search or help you develop your skills. This sounds better.