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Work Program.

Bloodheart

Does anyone know what our rights are while within the Work Program (and larger benefits system such as Job Seekers Allowence)? 

I've had multiple problems with the Job Centre and New Deal - general prejudice and ignorance from advisors, being told I have to phone to appy for benefits (I can't use a telephone) and refused any help unless I 'get over it', being told I'm mentally incapable, verbally abused, forced off JSA and onto ESA, and being forced into work placements I was either unable to fulfill or that put me at serious risk. All that is on top of the other problems unemployed people have with the job centre. Now I've just started on the Work Program and I'm terrified of what's going to happen. 

For example what do I do if they try to make me apply for jobs I'm unable to do due to autism? They mentioned classes involving role play or social speaking which I simply cannot do, what happens if they claim this is my being unwilling to participate in mandatory classes? They seem to make no allowences for disabled clients, so I'm worried they'll threaten to stop benefits if I'm unable to do something. 

No one has ever been able to tell me what the job centre can or cannot make me do, what to do if they threaten to remove my benefits, or whether I can refuse to deal with staff who are openly prejudice towards me. What are my rights? 

Parents

  • stranger said:

    I'm on ESA now and still despite being in the early stages, I am still being harrassed by the work programme.

    At what point in the ESA claim process are you?

    Have been to an assesment at Atos?

    Are you getting any more money than when you were on JSA?

    GP wasn't too happy about signing me off - claiming I'm not actually sick. I never said I was. I have numerous disabilities which affect my ability to work. This isn't helped by other peoples ignorance.

    Yeah, I had that exact same problem. Though, at that point I didn't have a formal diagnosis of Asperger's (though I did my Crohn's diagnosis (and it's the Fatigue that may be caused by that that actually causes me the most problem with being able to work)) - it seems that GP's simply don't understand the way the benefits system works - for example they don't understand that whilst you're in the 'assesment phase' of the ESA claim process you have to send sick notes tot he DWP, or they stop your benefit payements. I guess this is understandable - they have enough to learn keeping up with all the advances in medical treatments, all the time, without the need to also learn all the changes in the whims and ways of the DWP!

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  • stranger said:

    I'm on ESA now and still despite being in the early stages, I am still being harrassed by the work programme.

    At what point in the ESA claim process are you?

    Have been to an assesment at Atos?

    Are you getting any more money than when you were on JSA?

    GP wasn't too happy about signing me off - claiming I'm not actually sick. I never said I was. I have numerous disabilities which affect my ability to work. This isn't helped by other peoples ignorance.

    Yeah, I had that exact same problem. Though, at that point I didn't have a formal diagnosis of Asperger's (though I did my Crohn's diagnosis (and it's the Fatigue that may be caused by that that actually causes me the most problem with being able to work)) - it seems that GP's simply don't understand the way the benefits system works - for example they don't understand that whilst you're in the 'assesment phase' of the ESA claim process you have to send sick notes tot he DWP, or they stop your benefit payements. I guess this is understandable - they have enough to learn keeping up with all the advances in medical treatments, all the time, without the need to also learn all the changes in the whims and ways of the DWP!

Children
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