Need help/advice
Justme1973
Online Community Member Posts: 6 Listener
Hi, I'm not at all sure if anyone can help or if I'm even in the right place for what I need, hopefully I am...
The problem I have is that I just been sanctioned again (1st one went in my favour) by universal credits for missing to many appointments, I just don't understand how this can be...
I currently have depression, social anxiety (which I'm prescribed mirtazapine 45mg, the maximum dose you can have) , I had a heart attack 11 months ago which left me with problems still being investigated by my heat specialist, I have uncontrolled angina (again on medication for it) and breathing problems (my gp thinks its either copd or my heart, had an lung xray only last thursday), I'm on 9 different tablets some of which I take twice a day and for the rest of my life, to cut a very long story short my future looks bleak either way...
I'm currently receiving PIP which I got with no issue at all because of the same issue I've just been sanctioned for, I've contacted them by phone and been told to attend the job centre and engage in what ever they want me to do is the only way the sanction will be lifted, so back to square one again... I had a work capability assessment only last week (on the phone) and UC refuse to even hold the sanction until the results of the assessment are found.. I've asked how long this could take as it's already been with 11 months for to tell me they have no idea... I also have 11 months of fit notes with no days missed...
I'm really freaking out because I'm only getting £70 after rent this month to live on and now not getting that payment that helps out (about 300 I think) as I'm sanctioned...
I also want to mention before the pandemic and my heart attack I was a plasterer for 19 years...
My faith in humanity is gone...
Sorry for the long post and thank you to anyone to reads it...
The problem I have is that I just been sanctioned again (1st one went in my favour) by universal credits for missing to many appointments, I just don't understand how this can be...
I currently have depression, social anxiety (which I'm prescribed mirtazapine 45mg, the maximum dose you can have) , I had a heart attack 11 months ago which left me with problems still being investigated by my heat specialist, I have uncontrolled angina (again on medication for it) and breathing problems (my gp thinks its either copd or my heart, had an lung xray only last thursday), I'm on 9 different tablets some of which I take twice a day and for the rest of my life, to cut a very long story short my future looks bleak either way...
I'm currently receiving PIP which I got with no issue at all because of the same issue I've just been sanctioned for, I've contacted them by phone and been told to attend the job centre and engage in what ever they want me to do is the only way the sanction will be lifted, so back to square one again... I had a work capability assessment only last week (on the phone) and UC refuse to even hold the sanction until the results of the assessment are found.. I've asked how long this could take as it's already been with 11 months for to tell me they have no idea... I also have 11 months of fit notes with no days missed...
I'm really freaking out because I'm only getting £70 after rent this month to live on and now not getting that payment that helps out (about 300 I think) as I'm sanctioned...
I also want to mention before the pandemic and my heart attack I was a plasterer for 19 years...
My faith in humanity is gone...
Sorry for the long post and thank you to anyone to reads it...
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Comments
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When claiming UC you are classed as a job seeker until a decisions been made on the work capability assessment.It’s a work coaches discretion whether they turn off or reduce work commitments. Some do and others don’t. You can ask for a different work coach if you’re not happy with the one you currently have.Have you asked if you can have telephone appointments instead of having to attend your local job centre?
Hopefully a decision will be made on your work capability assessment very soon. Sometimes the decisions are made within a couple of weeks but other times it can take several weeks or more.Once a decisions been made a letter will be uploaded onto your journal.
In the meantime if you disagree with the sanction you can challenge that decision.2 -
I used to get phone calls bud then they decided that I was to attend appointments rather than call me, I asked if he could continue with the phone calls instead to which he very rudely said no as its mandatory and its the same for everyone, I missed a couple of appointments which I let them know in advance due to me feeling ill and depressed so he sanctioned me... I've been told the only way to get it removed is to attend all his appointments and engage in all activities, doesn't seem right at all...
He's the only one out of all the people I've spoke to about my condition that treats it like I'm the problem... He's not nice at all to speak to... He told me I wouldn't get pip when I told him I'd applied but I did....
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Morning @Justme1973 welcome to our great group.
I'm sorry i know nothing of this type of problem but i will say Poppy is one of the best with her information and knowledge. So i do hope you get this sorted.
When your ready have a look around the forum, you may find things of interest or simple distraction from the outside world.0 -
Thank you, to both of you for welcoming me and answering my post... Hoping it gets sorted out soon too, it's so stressful...
I'm finding it hard to understand why I'm treated this way, like I'm a problem, just wish they would speak to my gp but they won't...
I just get the impression they don't want me signed of work regardless of any health issues, just trying to make sense of it all and struggling...0 -
I have my housing association helping me now, they offered to step in and help so fingers crossed, they won't listen to me I've tried to explain, the woman helping us upset by what they have done, she think especially with me receiving pip I've been treated wrong...0
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Hello and welcome to the community @Justme1973 thanks for joining and posting this morning
I'm sorry to hear about what's been happening lately, I'm not surprised it's having a negative impact on your mental health. You've mentioned your GP, have you spoken to them about how all this has made you feel?
Do you feel like you're getting enough support day to day for your mental health?
It's good to know your housing association is supporting you with this, and I would certainly encourage you to request a different work coach and see about turning off your work commitments or having appointments by telephone again.
Citizens Advice have information on changing your claimant commitment, work coaches have a duty to ensure they make reasonable adjustments to accommodate any health conditions or disabilities claimants have:It could be discrimination if your work coach refuses to adjust your claimant commitment based on your health. You can check if they’ve failed to make a reasonable adjustment and ask them to make changes if they have.I hope the above is helpful for you, and keep us up to date about how things go. If you have any questions or something doesn't make sense, let us know.
Alex1 -
Thank you for commenting Alex, and yes I have spoken to my gp last Monday, he wants me to go back into therapy again which I really don't want to do but I rang the talking shop anyway, after making an appointment and speaking to them for about an hour they want me to contact an organisation called Napac and engage with them, if I'm honest I really don't want to drag my childhood up again...
As for universal credits, they rang me after speaking with my housing association, I have to go to the job center at 11am tomorrow to start the procedure to end my sanction, im guessing they can do what ever they want regardless as if it in my best interest or not, I give up I'll have to go no matter how I feel... Just seems wrong, its not like I don't want to work, I could go back to my old job if my health was OK, I get on great with the owner, been told there's always a job for me there, just get better...
Think I'll just have to face what ever brings, and try to keep cool, I'm so angry and upset they can do this to me, it's doesn't feel right at all...0 -
The law when claiming JSA is that you’re classed as a job seeker until a decision is made on you WCA.Some work coaches are more understanding than others with claimants health conditions.Hopefully your sanction will be lifted and you’ll receive the decision on your WCA soon.0
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I understand, hopefully it will be dealt with soon, this can't carry on... I'll just have to deal with it..
Thank you for commenting again...0 -
I hope it will be dealt with soon too @Justme1973. Dealing with it sounds tough though. Do let us know if we can do anything to help with dealing with it, even if that's simply a listening ear. We are here for you 0
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Good luck at the Job centre today @Justme19730
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