Confused about ESA WRAG WORK PLACEMENTS

If the prognosis is 24 months am I correct in understanding that means I can refuse any activity other than to attend interviews with Jobcentre Plus Adviser?

del wrote:

bro58 wrote: Hi d,

Apparently it must be for the benefit of the community.

"As well as voluntary work experience, in some situations, having taken into account an individual’s circumstances, a Jobcentre Plus adviser or Work Programme provider may feel that an appropriate mandatory work placement - which must be of benefit to the community - would be helpful. This includes circumstances where someone refuses to take reasonable steps to address a barrier which is stopping them working.

The work placement has to benefit the community and must be appropriate to claimant’s health condition, including location, hours of attendance and placement content. Any work-related activity is discussed fully with the claimant and consideration is given to their health problems or disabilities to ensure that any activity is appropriate to their personal circumstances."

From :

www.gov.uk/government/news/people-on-sic...them-back-into-a-job

bro58

Thanks bro58

Again, this document makes interesting reading and thank you for taking the time to give a detailed description.

Is there are information available that actually gives a detailed description of what the WRAG activities are, for example to name a few, types of training and courses, hours involved in these, does the Adviser have full details of claimants medical history to make an accurate and safe decision about placements?

I might have it wrong but in my opinion anything related to WRAG all appears to be extremely vague and a bit of a case of anything goes with the boundaries being continuously moved.

Hi d,

You are right, it is extremely vague, and can be variable locally.

Here is another associated document : www.dwp.gov.uk/supplying-dwp/what-we-buy...ramme-provider.shtml

They are supposed to agree an action plan for any WRA, and as previously stated, they should take into account your medical conditions and resulting limitations.

One can ask for a reconsideration of any WRA action plan, (to the DWP DM) if the claimant feels that it is not in keeping with their medical conditions and limitations.

Here is an interesting rightsnet thread :

www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/5147/

bro58

Hi d,

Here is The DM Guide on WFI & WRA :

www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/dmgch53.pdf

bro58

Gordon wrote:

del wrote: If the prognosis is 24 months am I correct in understanding that means I can refuse any activity other than to attend interviews with Jobcentre Plus Adviser?

I am afraid not, however, anything you are asked to do must take into account any limitations that result from your condition(s), failing to participate without Good Cause can lead to your benefit being sanctioned.

Changes to ESA Sanctions

Gordon

Thank you Gordon, I appreciate your answer. This is very much where the confusion lies for me as to regards what can be mandated and what is voluntary, there appears to be a very fine line between them, conveniently me thinks . My Adviser appears to think I am negative when I tell him my health restrictions and limitations and he can work round them in the voluntary work programme. This thread has provided me with some very useful information for using in my compiling my information for appeal. I wish I had found the site first time I was placed in WRAG.

If you click on Gordon's link, and then change the "3c" to "3a", you'll get a section on Mandation. It deals with JSA and ESA(WRAG), very inter-linked, with alternating parags and sentences.

(The DWP had entitled the WRAG as "Work Group" in the spreadsheets we were sent after making a subject access request. And the accompanying glossary of DWP jargon did not mention "WRAG". So I think WRAG folk and Job-seekers are closely associated.)