Anybody else experienced this?

jw68

For people with Mental Health problems receiving UC….Has anybody else received messages (via post,SMS text or journal) from the DWP suggesting sessions with one of their chosen Mental Health advisors.?

What i would like to know is this?…If a claimant turns the DWP offer down,then will this result in a sanction?

It seems to me the DWP are determined to make it very difficult for disabled people.

Any thoughts on this please?

Ross1975

I'm on LCWRA and I haven't received any messages like this. I'm 99.9% sure that if you're on LCWRA and you get a message like this it is not mandatory and you wont be sanctioned if you turn it down.

Otherwise if you're on LCW or something else then ask if it is mandatory or not. Hopefully they're not trying to force help onto people.

jw68

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1051707#Comment_1051707

Thanks for the reply.I was on ESA (Income Based) and in the Work Related Activity Group,even though i had a verbal agreement (for what it's worth) with the DWP that i should be in the Support Group.I have recently been migrated over to UC..The inference is from the message received is that i might be in a spot of bother if i do not accept help from their chosen company of Mental Health advisors.This really is causing me a lot of stress.I am very worried about it and need to know where i stand,both legally and morally if i do not accept their offer.

Albus_Scope

Morning @jw68 I'd not worry too much about the texts, it sounds like a lot of people have started receiving them out of the blue. So I'm guessing as technically you're in the WRA group, you'd have been on the mailing list to receive these messages. If you're in any doubt, it'd be worth just leaving a note on your journal to check it's ok to skip them. But as far as I know they're voluntary.

Is it not something you'd be interested in trying? Or finding out some more information about?

jw68

Hi Albus,

This wasn't a generic text.Just to clarify,it was a message sent from my Work Coach.I am in a Group,which is labeled "Group 3 (Work preparation requirement.)"

…An Excerpt From Benefits & Work website..

"This group will be expected to take reasonable steps to prepare for work, such as attending a skills assessment, preparing a CV, participating in training or an employment programme, AND UNDERTAKING WORK EXPERIENCE OR WORK PLACEMENT.

A sanction may be applied to your Universal Credit award if you fail to undertake work-related activity. This sanction may be imposed for a period until you meet the compliance condition that you failed, or for up to 26 weeks."

So basically,the goalposts have been moved halfway through the game (was halfway through an ESA award and living life unmolested by the DWP,until switched to UC),and yes,there is plenty to worry about,at least on my part anyway.

As for the message regarding accessing MH treatments,the intimation is that if i do not go for treatment then sanctions will be applied/benefits will be stopped.How on earth did we ever get to this?

Regards

Albus_Scope

Apologies, I should've said "messages" instead of "texts" @jw68 as I've seen a few people mention them over the last few days, so it looks like it's something new they're rolling out. Would you mind sharing the message as I've yet to see one? No problem if not.

jw68

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1051839#Comment_1051839

Of course (if it can done in a private manner).

Albus_Scope

Of course @jw68 If you could email us at Community@scope.org.uk it would be most appreciated. Let's see if we can't get to the bottom of this. 😊

jw68

email sent.

Tx

Albus_Scope

I've just seen it, thanks so much @jw68 I'll go and have a read now. 😊

jw68

Hi Albus,

I have sent you another email explaining things more thoroughly.

Thanks again

Amberpearl

No nothing