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ESA 'WRAG' Is making me worse! What can I do?

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10 years 3 months ago - 10 years 3 months ago #128465 by jpg2502
I am getting into a right panic about it.

I will try and keep it brief, basically had medical last year, suffer from chronic anxiety attacks, the main symptom is vomiting, but sometimes can have extreme dizzy spells, shortness of breath and even passing out when i get really worked up.
I got put into the ESA 'Work Related Activity', i had heard so many horror stories about the medicals that i was just happy they believed me, so went along with it, i was also told the WRAG was not that bad and i would cope. So i did not appeal.

I had my first appointment way back in April (i think) of last year, the female adviser seemed nice enough, but i could not quite grasp how this WRAG was supposed to help me?
I then had a further appointment a month later, where i then got told she would be emailing me from now on. And she did, i got emailed every 4-6 weeks and i would email back with 'updates'.
This was not really that stressful and didnt cause me much trouble, though i did get a little anxious about what she might ask for next.

In December of last year i got a letter saying i had a new adviser and i had to go in and see him.
I went for that appointment, he was not there :angry: and i had to speak to some woman who gave me a form to fill in, but basically started answering the questions for me :ohmy: such as ''can i get on a bus'', she kept saying ''you can you can'', how the **** do you know love? :ohmy:
She also said how the ''rules had changed'' and from now on i HAD to go in every 2 weeks. :pinch:

This is when i really started to wonder what morons i was dealing with. i then finally had an appointment with the actual advisor about 2 weeks ago.
I was sat waiting for about 10 minutes in a horrible crowded room with computers tapping around me, i could feel myself getting warmer and warmer and short of breath, by which point the adviser came over to me and started talking at me, ticking off boxes telling me what courses he was going to put me on, obviously by this point its all going in one ear out the other i cant concentrate at all on him just on me trying to stop myself being sick!

Then he takes me to his computer to 'book me in', i said this is all too much, then he said 'may i ask why', and guess what i start to have a panic attack and cant breathe, he takes me to a private room and apologises. But i dont understand why he does not already know WHY i am on ESA in the first place?

He said 'leave it for now' and i will see you in 2 weeks. Where again he will no doubt try and pressure me into something else.

My next appointment is on Tuesday, and i am having a right panic about it.
Sleepless nights even.
I feel like i have had a huge set back. this is not helpful at all. And i just know i am going to be sick in the morning all morning till the appointment, get thrust in and feel even worse when i get there .
this is making me miserable and i really cant cope with it.

What can i possibly do? I live with parents so am not on any housing benefit, just the ESA.

I do not know who to call or who to turn to about the situation
Last edit: 10 years 3 months ago by bro58.

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10 years 3 months ago #128480 by Gordon
Jay

As you are in the WRAG you are required to attend Work Focussed Interviews and to participate in Work Related Activity, failing to do so can result in your benefit being sanctioned.

That said, any activity that you are asked to do must take into account any limitations that result from your conditions, so the first thing I would do is speak to your JC+ advisor about your problems with what they are asking you to do, if it will help you can take someone with you to the meeting, perhaps your mother or father, another relative or a friend.

If you think you are not being listened to then you should ask to speak to the Disability Advisor at the JC+.

You don't say when the Decision placing you in the WRAG was made, if it was less than 13 months ago, then there is still an opportunity for you to appeal the Decision, however, I have to warn you that doing this will not remove any requirements for you to do what your advisor is asking, this will only cease if you are placed in the Support Group.

The first stage to an appeal would be for you to request a Mandatory Reconsideration, our ESA MR & Appeal guide explains the process in more detail, one important point; this process will only consider your health as it was at the time of the Decision and change since then will not be considered.

If you can show that there has been a documented deterioration in your health then you can request to be re-assessed on this basis, this will likely involved your competing a new ESA50 and likely a face to face assessment.

All of our ESA guides are available on the following link, including one that discusses ESA sanctions and how to avoid them.

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants/esa1#claims

If we can help you further then please reply to this post.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

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10 years 3 months ago #128498 by SusanH
Jay.

When I went to my first 'meeting' at JCP I was surprised to discover they *don't* know our medical history!

I had to to tell her all my relevant medical details. I think she said it was to do with the 'Data Protection Act.'

Susan

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10 years 3 months ago - 10 years 3 months ago #128510 by jpg2502
Replied by jpg2502 on topic ESA 'WRAG' Is making me worse! What can I do?
May I ask how I find out who my job centre adviser is?
I do remember seeing her once quickly after the medical result. But I don't remember having any official paperwork as such with her name on it.
Last edit: 10 years 3 months ago by bro58.

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  • bro58
10 years 3 months ago #128527 by bro58

jay wrote: May I ask how I find out who my job centre adviser is?
I do remember seeing her once quickly after the medical result. But I don't remember having any official paperwork as such with her name on it.


Hi j,

You should contact The JC Plus, they should be able to put you in contact with their Disability Adviser.

bro58

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