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Socialising in the support group

Friendlyghost

Hi.
Have any of you ever been followed by the dwp. Or know if they have made an official limit to the hours you can be out in public and be in the support group?
When I was in the work group I was told I could only leave the house once a week unless I was in full time work.
In 2016 I was moved to the support group.. And I started trying to be braver and go out more than once because my mental health was getting worse and I was scared to even go to the end of the drive with the rubbish..

The hours I'm out total 7 hrs a week 8 when I was well enough to do psysio. It's hard and I sleep alot but my mental health was getting better...

But I keep seeing this big car watching me and this week the man usually sitting in it knocked the door and walked away when I answered..

I have left the bsl class I was doing to cut down the hours I'm out. But I'm scared.. I don't want all my benefits to be stopped again.. And I don't know what they are going to accuse me of.. I live alone I don't have visitors. I can only go out on a mobility scooter.. I was just trying to make a bit of a life.as I can't even have the TV or music on at home much next door complain constantly.. ?

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Comments

Misscleo

You could have your tv and radio so they arnt heard by your neighbours.
At some time you may need help from your neighbours. So its best to not annoy them with a load tv & radio

poppy123456

Hi,

There's no limited hours for either of the groups for ESA that you're allowed to go out, i'm not sure where you got that from or who told you but it's certainly not correct. Only being able to leave the house once a week for those in the WRAG also isn't true. You can go out anytime you want, for as many hours as you want.

DWP wouldn't just randomly watch someone. The only time they would do this is if you were reported by someone and they had reason to follow you. Are you sure the person in the car is "watching" you?

Friendlyghost

Yes. Because it was the same guy who knocked the door.
Well next door report's me about 10 times a day to the council. For opening a window or opening the back door or going in the garden or my mom visiting or having the TV on or anything. So maybe he started calling them.
I'm not paranoid I know he reports me I rang and asked after he sent me a threatening letter and my old housing officer said I wouldn't even believe what he reported me for he's crazy.

As for the rest.. Well my job center work group advisor told me I was not allowed out more than once a week unless I was in work. I asked what I was supposed to do if I got 3 medical appointments in 1 week and she said move them to the same day..

She said everything I had claimed I did because of my disability like use a bath board and mobility scooter were lazyness and personal preferance and that I could do it properly if I tried harder and if I was well enough to be out then I should be at work.

I found out last year she has been fired.. But I'm still scared to go out

Friendlyghost

Missolo.
My TV volume is usually 9 and the cd 5, out of 30.
they are not loud.. He moved in 4 months after me and stood in the front garden shouting at my dad about how unfair it was that he had been housed next to trailer trash who has never worked and he worked all his life.
He's nasty.. Even when I don't have them on at all he complains about the washing machine microwave or a sneeze or cough.

You can hear their TV over mine. And their dog barks constantly...
As well as hearing their appliances. The walls are thin..

I'm not the guilty one..

Roddy

I would suggest that if you feel that you're being 'watched' or 'stalked' by ANY person unknown to you, that you report this to the police.

With regards to the noise & disturbance caused by your neighbour, 'try' to record this and/or keep an accurately kept time & dated diary every time this takes place. DO NOT EXAGERATE or fabricate things. Once you have kept 4 weeks records, contact your Health & Environment or Public Disturbance departments at your local Council, in writing.

Friendlyghost

I haven't fabricated anything.!!
I only wrote what he dose because I didn't want people to think I'm guilty of anything when I'm not.

I spend my days in the house alone 90% in silence no TV or radio. He still complains.. I don't do or say anything about it to them or anyone else.

I find out very hard. But I had been spending as much time as I could manage out.. Because on top of being expected by next door to be silent and never go in the garden or open windows and not have visitors .. I have recouring rat and mouse nesting in my loft which makes the place smell bad and makes my health conditions worse.. The council have said I have to live with them as they are not a problem...
No one can visit here because of the smell.

But with this car following me around and the same guy knocking the door I don't feel safe going out I can't afford to loose my benefits. I do not have the strength or mobility to work full time..

Guess I'm back to being just stuck in here..

poppy123456

There's absolutely no rules at all about how many times you're allowed to go out when claiming ESA in any of the groups. I have no idea why your work coach told you that but it's certainly not true. I've been claiming ESA since 2013 and yes i do go out when ever i want, not when they tell me i can go.

If you're having problems with your neighbour and they're scaring you then i'd advise you to report them to the police.

Friendlyghost

Poppy.
Every job center staff here I ever met has said the same to me ever since I started collage after leaving school. The last work coach I had was 2016...
So I have been given the same rules for 24 years..
When I was well enough that I could have worked full time and survived sort of..
I used to go out more.. But since I have not been able to walk enough to use public transport I have been afraid to go out..
Once in my 20s they actually stopped all of my benefits.. And the only reason I was ever given is that I had been seen in town to often by job center staff... At the time I was studying child care full time... And they knew it!

Well my sign language Tutors boss is going to find out if it was dwp for me
Next door I just have to live with as he has friends who work for the council and uses that to get things.. Unless I find out he called the dwp... If he did... The police will hear about him...

poppy123456

Well it's most definitely incorrect.

wahyd

You can go out whenever you want. There are no rules about how many times you're allowed to go out claiming ESA in any of the groups.

Dawns61

I think it's a misunderstanding. It's up to you if you want to go out on your mobility scooter at any time. Your benefits are due to you because in their assessment you are unable to do certain things because of your health. With better weather coming, it would be good for you. I'm sorry you have such a horrible person living next door to you. If he complains whether you watch tv or not, and the Council know what he is like, perhaps you should just watch tv whenever you feel like it? He has no right to talk to you like that, and no right to keep you in this state of anxiety. I hope you feel better soon.

Tra7cy

I really think that you should contact social services and have a needs assessment saying it's unbearable living next door to him, also contact your housing officer and ask for them to visit. You have a right to listen to tv and CD as loud as you want during the day, noise abatement is 11pm. Go to the docs about your anxiety and the reasons why, you'd be surprised how much they can help. I hope this a helps a bit and your situation resolves itself soon, best wishes x

wilko

Hello everyone, I have to admit I am in the support group and if there was, is a limit of the number of hours I was allowed out each week then I am guilty as charged. I am out with my dog up to 5 hours a day on my mobility scooter covering between 5 and 7 miles each day meeting wonderful people and have varied and interesting conversations. The neighbour is jealous instead of being grateful that he doesn’t have to live on benefits.

Friendlyghost

Dawn not misunderstood.
Have been told point blank I'm not to go out unless it's to work many times and they totally stopped all my benefits saying I'd been seen out to much once before.

Tra7cy
I don't have a housing officer.. My area has 1 for North 1 for South I live in the middle so they both refused to help me.
Agree I should have complained but there is so much going on already I don't have energy.. All my fight is currently trying to make the council fix my roof so I don't have to live with endless rats nesting because the smell is awful. But they say live with it... I really do live in a place where disabled are treated like dirt...

I still think it was dwp as I have now received a work capacity assessment..

But it's nice to kmow that not everyone was given the same rules about being out... ?

poppy123456

Friendlyghost said:

Dawn not misunderstood.
Have been told point blank I'm not to go out unless it's to work many times and they totally stopped all my benefits saying I'd been seen out to much once before.

Who on earth is telling you this? Who ever it is, is incorrect, it's the most ridiculous thing i've ever heard. People claim ESA and go on holiday, days out, weekends away, shopping. Just because you claim a benefit it doesn't mean you can't still have a life.

CockneyRebel

If you are able you should get this ridiculous instruction in writing, then take it to your MP.

Friendlyghost

Poppy. Every job center person since before esa ever existed has told me that. But the last one was my back to work coach in 2016. Though I have never had a real job to go back to..

Cocney reble

Can I do that?
I never thought to ask that.. I'll try at this assessment Thsnks

poppy123456

Friendlyghost said:

Poppy. Every job center person since before esa ever existed has told me that. But the last one was my back to work coach in 2016. Though I have never had a real job to go back to..

Cocney reble

Can I do that?
I never thought to ask that.. I'll try at this assessment Thsnks

I would definitely take CockneyRebel's advice.

It totally baffles me when you've been told this nonsense.

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