Anyone Else Getting Harassing messages on their Journal on whose LCWRA every 10 days?

deelee
deelee Scope Member Posts: 69 Empowering
in Universal Credit (UC)

Good morning everyone. I care for my partner who is on LCWRA and ver the last 10 days they have had 2 messages from UC to check their journal. The first message really reiterated that they only needed to respond to going on courses and learning or getting ready for work kinda stuff - if they were up to it and to ignore the message if they were not ready to "engage" in work related activity. But as on LCWRA, it was a choice.

We ignored it as my partner is actually rather poorly after having a severe reaction to treatment. Yesterday there was another message from UC and this time a shorter message but almost more intimidating. Harassing even. They said they were at our local job center and they wanted to know WHEN they could see my partner to discuss preparing for work and they were willing to do so when suited my partner and it would in no way threaten my partners money and LCWRA claim and ended with "if you're would like more information please respond to this" .

It really seemed far more direct and pushy and not taking no for an answer although you can say no is there. So we have again not responded and await perhaps more harassing journals or even worse phone calls or visits.

On the evening news we saw that our area, along with other areas,was trialing what the government plan to do from next year ( April 2026) to EVERYONE who claims any form of disability or sickness on UC - LCWRA or LCW. Basically it feels very bad that very ill people get this type of harassment - especially when their days are taken up with so many medical appointments and in a lot of pain.

Has anyone else had this anywhere else in England? Where their area is trialing the back to work pressure that is very pushy and anything but what they said - if you recall a while back they said it would be a "choice" and no obligation if you cannot do it and wont loose money etc. This feels anything but this. They say that it is not being forced but it feels threatening. Has anyone else had this? I think there will be 5 areas they are trialing it.

ALso please remind me again. If you are in LCWRA are you expected to be able to work or be forced to work ? Or prepare for work now? Even though it is being trialed for my partner now, do they need to go? It does clearly say they only need to respond " when ready" which sounds like they want my partner to respond - yes at some point in the next few weeks.

Any advice please?

Comments

  • Lauren29
    Lauren29 Online Community Member Posts: 184 Empowering

    From a DWP perspective I think that they would justify this on the grounds that they are making individuals aware that support to prepare for work is available if that is something that the person wants to access. Your partner could ignore the message or respond that this support is something that they can't /don't wish to access at present but that they will be in contact if they want to access support in the future. You do not need to look for work or take part in activities to prepare you to return to work unless you want to if you have LCWRA.

  • deelee
    deelee Scope Member Posts: 69 Empowering
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1059263#Comment_1059263

    Hi @Lauren29 , thank you for taking the time to reply. We have thought of replying as you suggest but have not because they do add that only respond if you want this. I just noticed the tone was harsher. Because my partner is undergoing a lot at the moment, I did not want to trigger an appointment. the next 4 weeks ( including today ) are full of scans and ongoing tests and treatments. The plan is to notify them once we actually can. My partner is hardly able to eat and has lost so much weight and considered malnutioned. There is a lot going on and these journal entries could not have happened at a worse time.

    Thanks again for your response and advice.

  • Lauren29
    Lauren29 Online Community Member Posts: 184 Empowering

    Your partner doesn't have to reply if they don't want to and they shouldn't fee under pressure to engage. It seems to me that the tone of these messages from UC is unfortunate and can sound quite hostile and harassing. Hope that your partner feels better soon.

  • deelee
    deelee Scope Member Posts: 69 Empowering
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1059274#Comment_1059274

    Thank you @Lauren29 much appreciated

  • Passerby
    Passerby Online Community Member Posts: 1,047 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1059355#Comment_1059355

    This is part of what they've called "Duty to engage". I believe soon there'll be more than messages on the journal, as they clearly said in their Green Paper that they were consulting on whether to make such a duty to engage a requirement to benefits entitlement. We'll know more about this in this autumn when they'll be presenting their White Paper on a number of policies.

  • deelee
    deelee Scope Member Posts: 69 Empowering
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1059390#Comment_1059390

    I agree. They did say they would test it out in areas before they meet again in the autumn. I will post again when they make contact. It is very stressful but it is what it is unfortunately.

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