Hi all,
I am a universal credit claimant suffering from severe anxiety with
agoraphobia. I am currently awaiting my work capability assessment.
A few months ago, DWP management confirmed with me by email that my
future appointments will be conducted over the phone. Unfortunately, my next
appointment has been scheduled as a face-to-face appointment; I have tried
several times via my journal to ask for it to be changed to a phone
appointment.
The response that I am getting on my journal is “don’t worry, your work
coach will call you,” however, my request to get the appointment properly
changed on the system is being ignored.
I am not understanding why they won’t officially change the appointment
details so that it is clear that I am having a phone appointment (not a face to
face appointment) and there are no mishaps/misunderstandings on the day of the
appointment. In other words, on my To Do list, the appointment instructions
remain the same, stating that I am required to attend the interview at the
specified jobcentre address.
Because my appointments have been frequently changed in the past with
the press of a button, the apparent refusal to properly change the appointment
is creating so much additional stress for me a) because it just seems so odd
and b) I fear being sanctioned if the appointment isn't properly changed and I
don't turn up for the appointment in person.
I am wondering what people’s thoughts are on this. I have set out below
what I was expecting when an appointment is amended.
When a change is made to my DWP appointment, I typically receive a
number of notifications/updates on my universal credit account.
1) I receive an email message in the following format:
Subject: Your Universal Credit appointment has changed
To: my email address
Dear ______________
Your phone appointment at 10:30am on Monday 11 July 2022 has changed. Your
appointment is now at 12:00pm on Friday 15 July 2022.
Sign in to your account for details.
From,
Universal Credit
2) My journal is updated as shown below:
Work Focused Interview
Monday 11 July 2022 at 10:30am by phone
Rebooked:
Work Focused Interview
Friday 15 July 2022 at 12:00pm by phone
3) The appointment details on the To Do List change to reflect the
amended appointment.
