DWP disability discrimination

actonkj01

I have had a problem with DWP previously in February/March when I applied for UC due to ill mental health, they wouldn’t verify my identity via an alternative route other than an in person meeting but because I couldn’t go they closed down my claim, I asked several times if I could verify via phone or email but I had no luck.

Fast forward a couple of months I was in hospital again under a section 2 of the mental health act, at this time I applied again and explained my situation and was granted an over the phone verification, but not even a week after I got out of the hospital I was made to go to a work assessment to comply with the UC check list. I had a valid fit note and I put in the health section that I have a condition/s that make me unavailable to work or look for work.

I took evidence to my first meeting to show I was in hospital but they genuinely didn’t seem to care and just continued to explain to me that i needed to look for work for 35 hours etc.

In all I believe looking into the law statues and previous cases this is classed as discrimination but I’m not sure in all so any help would be appreciated.

I have formally complained to DWP via my online journal for now outlining the dispute, timeframes etc.

Again any information would be great full regarding my situation.

Albus_Alumni

Hi @actonkj01 and welcome to the community.

I'm really sorry to hear about your struggles with the DWP, that must be confusing and infuriating.

Until you're classed as LCWRA, then you're seen as fit for work unfortunately, so they will ask you to look for work, though if you're handing in fit notes, this should make the work coach lay off you a bit, but it's still mostly up to the work coaches discretion whether they stop making you look or not.