Letter from JCP for Work Focused Interview Help Pleaes

A question about : Letter from JCP for Work Focused Interview Help Pleaes

Hi all,

I'm in the ESA Support Group and today received a letter stating my wife has to attend a work focused interview, we knew partners had to do these but we have a child under 5 and she takes care of me a lot so i'm wondering if she will have to now start signing on?

Also, they sent one letter addressed to her and one to me, the one to me has a separate bit of paper asking if i give them permission to discuss my benefit with her, What's the reason for this? Why would they need to discuss my benefit with my wife? Is it best to allow this or deny them.

Thank you.

Best answers:

• Do you get DLA middle or high care or the standard or enhanced rate of Personal Independance Payment for daily living/ care. Are you on means tested ESA? Does your wife earn less than Ј102 a week after tax, NI , half of any occupational pension? It makes a difference to what advice might follow......
• Thank you for your replies,
  I'm just on ESA support group, I don't get dla or pip, I only started ESA in 2013, wasn't fully aware of dla or pip but I don't think I am brave enough to claim that and go through what I did with esa.
  My wife is unemployed and on my claim, she looks after me by making sure I take my medication and she helps me with things throughout the day.
  I just imagine its an interview because she's on my claim, ive read that it's because our son will reach 5 in 2 years and it's just to get any help she might need.
• they are usually straight forward things to go to and usually notnh9ing to worry about
  if you feel you might meet the descriptors for PIP then make an application for it
• A new claim for PIP can result in the previous ESA award being re-examined when going to a medical.
• I have read that somewhere about pip.
  I just thought they would make my partner sign on once our child turned 5. Maybe that is the case but they still have to do these work focussed interviews for her
• If you are married, then they can't make her sign-on as you cannot claim JSA if you are a joint claimant on an ESA claim.
  My spouse suffers from clinical depression, but she has to be named on my JSA claim as we are married. Mind, you, if I ever get a sanction, then we switch and I become a 2nd claimant on HER ESA claim, so it has it's benefits (so to speak).
  Not sure if the same is true if you are not married though.