As if it isn't hard enough to deal with RA ...
the lovely Government have introduced a harsher sanctions regime for those on ESA. This follows the changes to the sanctions regime for JSA last month.

There are harsher sanctions for failure to attend a Work focussed interview , or failure to do a Work Related Activity (this could include the Work Programme):

Details are as below:

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/ad...s/esa-sanction-changes/

DWP memo 41/12 " ESA Sanctions and Work related Activity" 28/11/12: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/m-41-12.pdf

Claimant ESA Journey (Nov 2012) DWP : http://www.dwp.gov.uk/ad...s/esa-claimant-journey/

Regards


RichC

The whole benefits system seems to be designed to put people off applying. It all seems so punitive these days. How will the powers that be know if someone with RA missed an interview for good reasons (e.g. a flare). I have been so ill with a flare in the past that I could barely move, let alone attend an interview. Having stress like this would have been terrible on top of being that ill. I'm working at the moment (gone part time) and I will continue as long as I can. The treatment people on benefits get from the press, the government and from other people with misconceptions can be really soul destroying. I hope I can stay well enough to stay in work as the idea of claiming benefits really scares me.