I am part of a Housing Association welfare rights forum and yesterday we had a presentation by the Pathways to work training team, here in Glasgow.
The pilot commenced in October and the first interviews are about to take place, so I would be grateful for your knowledge of your clients experiences with Pathways.
A number of areas were highlighted during our discussion.
The following relates to new IB claims from October. At the 8th week of the claim, a mandatory work focused interview, and a PCA medical. If you are found fit for work at this examination, then you are removed from the Pathways programme. If however you are found to have satisfied the PCA, therefore being unfit for all work, you remain on the Pathways Programme. You will then have 5 further work focused interviews at monthly intervals and a mandatory Work Focused Action Plan. If you fail to comply with the interviews or the action plan, there is a benefit sanction.
Therefore those who have been medically found unfit for work will have a mandatory duty to seek a way into employment.
If at the initial interview the "Specially trained Incapacity Benefit Personal Adviser" decides that a lot of support would be required before you could consider going into employment and then a PCA finds you fit for work, the decision maker will not take into consideration the information from the Adviser, as they are not medically qualified, so you are off Pathways.
Am I missing something here?
Any comments
Willie
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