On ESA & had to move in with parents - now having to attend interview

Mands1990
Mands1990 Online Community Member Posts: 8 Connected
in Benefits and income

Hi,

I had to leave my job in October 2025 due to a chronic health condition and was put on ESA. My UC50 forms have been returned but not had any update as of yet. I received £0 Universal Credit and my appointments have all been over the phone. My circumstances have changed and I had to move in with my parents who are helping to care for me. I changed this within the portal on UC as they always say they need to be kept upto date. I am now been bombarded with phonecalls and emails to attend an in person interview for whatever reason. I have said within my journal that I cannot attend in person meetings or whatever due to ill health. They've cancelled an appointment and now gave me another one WHICH I STILL CANNOT ATTEND. Nothing has changed except I moved address - why am I being hassled? The woman I spoke to over the phone was horrible and no help whatsoever. I don't know what I'm meant to do now? I wish I had just kept it at my old address. To confirm I am not claiming any housing costs.

Thanks.

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Comments

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 5,592 Championing

    Hi,

    Have you moved quite a distance to a different area? When this happens you may get reassigned to the local Job Centre instead of your previous one.

    Unfortunately the change of address may need to be confirmed with evidence, even if you aren't getting Housing Costs.

    Does the appointment give any specifics about what the interview is for?

  • Mands1990
    Mands1990 Online Community Member Posts: 8 Connected

    Hi thanks for the response. It's in the same postcode area.

    What evidence can I give though as I only moved last Friday so I don't have anything in writing. It's my parents house.

    Apparently because I am providing fit notes then I'm on a "health journey" which means they want to get me ready for future work. I won't be working anytime in the future unless my neurologist comes in with a magical cure. They are also saying I need to prove my bank account - I don't know how I can do that either as I don't get paper statements or have a printer. I'm with RBS so they don't put the sort code and account number on their cards.

    A lot of stress for nothing.

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 5,592 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1096151#Comment_1096151

    Oh that is odd not being a change of Job Centre. You should still have the same Work Coach as before.

    Unfortunately UC classes everyone as a Job Seeker until the Work Capability Assessment proves otherwise. The Health Journey is the pathway to the WCA. All you can do for now is wait for the WCA now that you've returned the forms.

    If you have an understanding Work Coach then they have the discretion to turn off your work search commitments while waiting for the WCA. If you don't have an understanding Work Coach then it may be best to ask for a different one.

    Proving bank accounts is another standard thing for UC. It's meant to reduce fraud, although so far it just seems to cause more hassle for us as claimants. I don't have any experience with RBS but if you can contact them by phone or webchat then they should be able to send you some paper statements in the post. Or collect from a branch if applicable.

    Regarding housing proof. I understand you won't have any proof of that in this specific situation. That was only a suggestion from my end, if UC haven't asked for it then you won't need to do it. If they do ask for it then a bank statement with the new address on would be ideal. Perhaps you can change the address and ask for a paper statement from RBS at the same time.

  • Mands1990
    Mands1990 Online Community Member Posts: 8 Connected

    Thanks for the reply. My appointment is today and I need to take an advocate with me as I'll miss everything that's been said. They've told me as I am providing fit notes, I'm on what is called a "health journey" what I don't understand is I need to provide the fit notes do I not? This whole thing is so confusing and stressful. All I have done is change my address, I'm not claiming for housing costs or anything so I don't know why it's all changed and I now have to go through all of this. Previously, I would get the occasional phonecall to see if my circumstances had changed and that's it. I am not capable of working a normal 9-5 job hence why I had to leave 2 different careers. I never asked for this illness to happen to me and don't know why they are making it to difficult for me. I've never claimed before and I don't know how any of the systems work. I just feel like I am been harassed for absolutely no reason. I don't need help writing a CV - I have one but I can't use it! Honestly wished I had never told them I have moved but they said I need to update it. I just don't understand it.

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 5,592 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1097515#Comment_1097515

    Hi,

    This is all part of the standard procedure for the Health Journey unfortunately. You're not being singled out or harassed any more than any other claimant. It's really not the easy life the media make it out to be.

    You are classed as a Job Seeker until the Work Capability Assessment. From that assessment you will then either be found Fit for Work, or Limited Capability for Work (still expected to prepare for future work) or Limited Capability for Work and work Related Activity.

    You do need to keep providing fit notes until the Assessment happens, but the fit notes alone do not give you automatic entitlement to the LCWRA group. That is what the assessment is for.

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