I'm in the ESA WRAG.
Apart from other things I suffer from severe depression & anxiety.
I had my first 4 Work Focused Interviews at the Benefits Office, but I was so stressed
out at them, that they said I could have future interviews via the 'phone.
I've had 3, (so far), 'phone interviews & that in itself is puzzling me. I thought
that people in the WRAG were 'only' supposed to have 6 WFI'S? I've had about
7 so far.
The woman who interviews me now wants me to have my 4th telephone interview.
But I missed that interview as I never received her letter.
She left a message on my mobile, telling me that I'd missed the interview &
that I should 'phone her.
I rang her on Friday, but she was not available. Another member of staff answered
& when she looked up my details on their computer, she said that as I had my last
'phone interview in October, I'm not due another until April!
I asked her if there was any details about a Thursday January 8th interview, & she
said that there was not. Only that the interviews are every 6 Months & my next is
in April.
So, I'm completely confused.
1)... If Work Focused Interviews are every 6 Months, how come my 'Personal Advisor'
is making me have them every 2 Months? (I had one in August, 1 in October, & she
now wants a January one).
2)... I thought that people in the WRAG were 'only' supposed to have 6 WFI, but I've had
7 & she now wants me to have an 8th.
3)... If she's interviewing me every 2 Months, how come there was no reference to that,
when the other member of staff checked on her computer? She said that my Personal
Advisor has my next WFI down as not being until April - even though she wants to
interview me now - in January.
4)... I tried to 'phone her on Friday afternoon, but she was not available. I'll try again
on Monday.
5)... Can anyone advise me what to ask her? Is she treating me unfairly, by making
me have WFI's every 2 Months? Am I allowed to ask for a different Personal Advisor,
if I'm not happy with the way she is treating me?
I'm not at all sure what to do. All I know I that the WFI's - even by 'phone - have
me in a terribly anxious state, & if I'm only supposed to have them every 6 Months,
I don't know why she is making me have them every 2 Months, & the next one will
be my 8th, when I thought that 6 was the most you had to have.
Can anyone advise me as to what to say to her, when I 'phone her? Please.
Thanks.