oldrocker
Junior Member
Hope springs eternal Baldrick
Posts: 79
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Post by oldrocker on Aug 9, 2022 12:06:42 GMT
Hi Everyone I've spoken to Citizens Advice that was done yesterday and they helped me fill in the form and send it off, and the DWP are supposed to get back to me by the 12th of September if they don't they will be sent a reminder so at the moment it's a waiting game about the date for the tribunal,
Also spoke to my work coach today and he has referred me to a place called Sure Start they can help get me back into work ASAP, I got the feeling that they are hoping that I will drop the tribunal case if I'm in some kind of job before the hearing as I was told by Citizens Advice I can drop the case anytime I want but they said why would I if I have come this far, which I agree whatever the outcome of the tribunal is at least I can say I tried my best that's all I can do,
Anyway that's where I'm up to with my mandatory reconsideration about my work assessment will let you know more when I do.
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Post by philbadfactor on Aug 9, 2022 16:44:25 GMT
Cheers for the update oldrocker. Would like to hear more about this 'workcoach' malarky as well. the private sector won't employ long term unemployed folks. so to my mind it all sounds a bit cruel. But let's see.
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oldrocker
Junior Member
Hope springs eternal Baldrick
Posts: 79
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Post by oldrocker on Aug 11, 2022 17:04:17 GMT
Hi Philbadfactor,
Work coach is someone from the Jobcentre that you have to talk to every two weeks and basically what they do is ask how your job hunting is going if you have been to any interviews and if not why not and have you chased up any of the companies about why they didn't have you in for an interview, the reason for chasing them up is so the Jobcentre can look at what went wrong and eliminate that problem from your C.V so you have a better chance of getting called in for interviews at the next lot of jobs you apply for,
They also refer you to any organisations or training programmes that they think will help you get back into work that much quicker but it doesn't always work like that as I went on a training programme through the Jobcentre back in 2015 and it didn't help one little bit, the job I found was off my own back and I left the programme early but they still claimed it was because of them that I found a job, so the DWP will keep using these useless organisations and training programmes because it makes the minster for DWP and the Jobcentre look like they are doing an amazing job which the government is happy about,
Anyway something I'm puzzled about is my previous work coach told me that well the tribunal is going on I will still need to provide sick notes as I'm still not fit to work but my new work coach is saying that I have to start looking for work which is why he has referred me to the Quick Start programme not sure start I misunderstood what he said so what I'm wondering is which is it, is it what my previous work coach said or what my new work couch has said I'm asking this because he doesn't even know how the appeal process works,
For me personally it just seems stupid to look for work well the tribunal appeal is going on and if I win the appeal they will have to change what group I'm in so potentially they could have wasted a load of money by sending me on programmes and training schemes that I don't need to do.
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Post by gordo on Aug 11, 2022 22:45:28 GMT
Hi oldrocker.
Have you asked the new guy at DWP about what the previous coach had said? But think it safe to keep up with this new person, as they are the ones dealing with you just now. But it sounds a stupid thing at the same time!
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oldrocker
Junior Member
Hope springs eternal Baldrick
Posts: 79
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Post by oldrocker on Aug 12, 2022 14:11:10 GMT
Hi Gordo,
No I didn't as I assumed that the old work coach had told my new work coach everything but I'm getting the feeling that never happened, sounds like I need to mention it to him and see what he says I expect he will say that's wrong and I was miss informed so still need to look for work,
Also a letter from the tribunal people arrived today asking for more info or I can wait until I receive the court bundle from DWP then respond which is what Citizens Advice has said to do.
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oldrocker
Junior Member
Hope springs eternal Baldrick
Posts: 79
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Post by oldrocker on Aug 26, 2022 16:02:14 GMT
Hi everyone well a couple of things have happened since my last post,
Firstly, the conversation I was supposed to have on the 25th of August with my work coach and the restart or sure start organisation can't remember what they are called, has been postponed until the 14th of September I do find it strange though that I declare a sicknote on Tuesday and suddenly my phone appointment has been changed which I didn't find out until ten minutes before the call was supposed to happen, also the DWP has until the 12th of September to respond to my tribunal request,
Secondly, I received a PIP assessment form last week and they given me two weeks to fill it in and send it back to them, the thing that gets me is my award was until April 2023 so why are they sending me the assessment form a clear six months before it needs to be looked at again, I think and I could be wrong on this but it's because the DWP have declared me fit for work so they want me of the PIP award as well which is why the form has been sent out earlier, if I'm wrong then please let me know the reason for the early assessment,
Anyway will let you all know what happens.
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oldrocker
Junior Member
Hope springs eternal Baldrick
Posts: 79
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Post by oldrocker on Sept 2, 2022 18:08:23 GMT
Hi everyone just a quick update about my tribunal case,
Well yesterday I received an email from HMC Tribunal and they inform me that the DWP have responded and sent them the counter paperwork, they have also said it will be several months until I get a court date so I'm to just wait until I hear from them they also said that I should also have a copy of the DWP paperwork by now as well, but I don't it may turn up in the next few days but if it doesn't then I'm not sure who to tell about it so that I do receive the paperwork,
Anyway that's what's going on with me and any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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Post by gordo on Sept 2, 2022 23:09:03 GMT
Hi oldrocker. Thanks for update. If you don't receive the paperwork, and they say it was sent, I'd be calling DWP next week to ask why you haven't had it, and possibly to request they send out new stuff. However there was a mail strike midweek, Just maybe it's gotten delayed? But if nothing by midweek, I'd certainly call them up.
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oldrocker
Junior Member
Hope springs eternal Baldrick
Posts: 79
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Post by oldrocker on Sept 4, 2022 14:42:41 GMT
Thanks Gordo for the advice will give the DWP a call by the end of next week.
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oldrocker
Junior Member
Hope springs eternal Baldrick
Posts: 79
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Post by oldrocker on Sept 8, 2022 14:57:19 GMT
Hi Everyone,
I've received another email from HMC Tribunals court asking for additional evidence if I have any as my court hearing could happen at any moment, but I'm still waiting for the paperwork to be delivered so I can go through it with someone from Citizens Advice,
So just wondering if anyone knows what the number is for the DWP and which department I need to speak to as I can't find anything online, also my work coach sent me a message in my journal today saying that he thinks I should (but only if I want to though) put my name forward for the free training course on how to operate a forklift which starts in October, well now I know what sort of work they are expecting me to look for which I know for certain I'm unable to do these days,
Anyway if someone could point me in the right direction for the DWP that would be very much appreciated,
Many Thanks.
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oldrocker
Junior Member
Hope springs eternal Baldrick
Posts: 79
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Post by oldrocker on Sept 10, 2022 16:35:42 GMT
Just quick update the court bundle arrived today so will contact Citizens Advice on Monday as they wanted to go through it and send any evidence that counters what the DWP.
Update: just spoke to someone at Citizens Advice national area advisor, they've contacted my local office and now I'm just waiting for them to contact me for an appointment to prepare for the court hearing.
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oldrocker
Junior Member
Hope springs eternal Baldrick
Posts: 79
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Post by oldrocker on Sept 14, 2022 17:02:33 GMT
Hi Everyone,
Well I spoke to my work coach and the woman from the Restart Scheme that's being run by Fedcap, anyway this is what happened my work coach explained that it's mandatory for me to be on this scheme even though I've gone down the tribunal route, he did say that if the scheme isn't for me then I will be taken off it and something else will be tried, basically what he was hinting at is they want me back in work ASAP, I don't know but and I'm guessing here but before my court hearing, they maybe trying to prove to the court that I'm perfectly able to work but like I said I'm only guessing at that but I wouldn't put it pass them,
Anyway then the woman from Restart explained who she was why she was talking to me, she asked what sort of work I had done in the past so I explained, she then asked me how my disability effected my day to day life and what was wrong with me so the people at Restart Scheme knows what's going on with me,
And this bit pissed me off because as I was explaining it to her my work coach interrupted me and said this to the woman from Fedcap and I quote "can we move past this bit right now", the woman was flustered and shocked at that and just said oh okay so we moved to the next bit before I had chance to finish explaining anything,
Anyway she booked me in for a virtual call as getting about is an issue for me which is a phone call next week with a bloke from the Oxford branch of Fedcap and that was it, the call didn't even last ten minutes despite the email from the jobcentre saying it will take 30 minutes to complete this referral, all that remains to be seen now is if they get me working ASAP or if it will take longer than the 12 months that I'm on this scheme,
It ended with my work coach saying that if the court rules in my favour then I will be automatically taken of the scheme and my case will be looked at again to see if I need to look for work or not, I've also received an email saying that I have until the 20th of September to accept the work commitments otherwise my UC payments will stop,
Anyway that's where I'm upto with my situation with the DWP the only other thing is I'm still waiting to hear from Citizens Advice about getting ready for my tribunal hearing hopefully that happens soon preferably before Christmas.
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Post by philbadfactor on Sept 14, 2022 18:56:25 GMT
How old are you oldrocker ? I'm guessing by your moniker not all that young shall we say ? I'm still trying to take in all that above. Are they being relatively civilised or do you get the feeling they are throwing their weight around and being disrespectful to the reality of your situation ? You don't have to answer, I'm just thinking out loud.
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oldrocker
Junior Member
Hope springs eternal Baldrick
Posts: 79
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Post by oldrocker on Sept 15, 2022 17:15:23 GMT
Hi philbadfactor,
I don't mind answering, 1st my age I turned 50 this year and 2ndly I don't think they are being very respectful at all and just throwing their weight around, and not fully understanding the reality of my situation it's like they have a script and flow chart to follow to get someone back into work and they never will not waver from that paperwork, and they don't care what someone is going through in their personally lives if you see what I mean mate.
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Post by philbadfactor on Sept 15, 2022 19:39:06 GMT
Hi philbadfactor, I don't mind answering, 1st my age I turned 50 this year and 2ndly I don't think they are being very respectful at all and just throwing their weight around, and not fully understanding the reality of my situation it's like they have a script and flow chart to follow to get someone back into work and they never will not waver from that paperwork, and they don't care what someone is going through in their personally lives if you see what I mean mate. for 12 years of it i see what you mean. You will prevail because the tribunals will also see what you mean. just hang on in there and keep us updated. you ain't as old an oldrocker as some of us by the way. when this all started 12 years ago I was your age and they still ain't got me.
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