Home-based WRA and Work Programme placements

I refer to a recent thread started by Del and titled ESA WRAG Placements: www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum?view=sea...ldforums=1&catids=10

In the course of the above discussion Jim Allison posted the following link to a Rightsnet post about a claimant with severe agoraphobia: www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/5073/

It brought to mind the question I posted in June titled ESA50: Social situations and “tell us why…” Here it is: www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum?view=top...d=98266&limitstart=0

The claimant has passed through the fire of a face-to-face WCA and the result is still pending.

The two threads cited-- and many others to do with extreme physical or mental disability-- lead me to query whether Jobcentre Plus even offer Work Related Activity (not just WFI) that can be fulfilled from a claimant’s home or whether a Work Programme Provider offer home-based work.

For many people, flexible part-time work from home be it paid or unpaid is the only way forward...and even that a difficult route.

Gordon,

I’m sorry to have caused confused so soon after the Bank Holiday!

I am familiar with the Government's rhetoric but possibly not their primary intention.

The Government has said its aim is to get people off out-of-work benefits and into employment. In legislating for ESA it has stated that WRA and WP placements must take into account a claimants physical and/or mental limitations. Hence my question with reference to two claimants mentioned on this forum.

The Government has never stated that its primary aim in reforming the welfare system is to drive people into specific types of work. That said, when I think back to the Cait Reilly (Poundland) case of 2011 it does appear that the Government has no intention of ensuring that work placements are in keeping with JSA/ESA claimants’ specific attributes and/or limitations.

MW