Hi. Does anyone know how long it generally takes for an employer to arrange an occupational health visit? I have been off work with health problems and my employers have had all the info they requested - a GP report - to arrange an appointment for me with the Occupational Health dept since NOVEMBER. I feel they are being slippery. They don't answer emails until my union rep has sent at least 3, and the last time, they said they would deal with my directly and the visit would happen soon. That was 6 weeks ago, I have sent them 3 emails which they have not answered since then.

Well, got one next week. That was quick, I guess. Any advice? Thanks, all!

Oh, thanks, guys. It seems to be 6 months-ish? Udaymorjaria, I'm sorry, I don't understand your post. Are you saying you had an interview one week after being in WRAG and then one 18 months after that? Thanks.

Hi, am in WRAG, informed of this about Nov 25th. Since then, not heard anything. How long does it usually take for all the interview stuff to start? Thanks.

Please sign the WOW petition! Happy New Year, all.

Hi. I've been filing my own taxes for both Schedule D self-employment as an actress and singer, and as an employed person. I generally get money back as I spend some on Spotlight etc but haven't worked as an actress for some years. This year, though, I have been made co-signee on some of my mum's accounts and have power of attorney over her stuff, too. She's in the US, the accounts are in both countries. Can anyone please tell me what implication will that have for my own taxes? Thanks for reading! Happy New Year. May we all find a way out of our conundrums and find 2013 a wonderful year!

Hi. I wondered if Francesca Martinez's petition against the War on Welfare is here somewhere for everyone to sign. Found it on twitter and did a search here, but didn't see it. If not, can someone - a mod or whoever is allowed to - put it on? Thanks.

No, still off work and no idea from GP when I'll be able to return. Update, though, they finally answered today, with no explanation, just 'sorry for the delay' and they were considering all the documents. They've had them for weeks, and all they have to do is arrange the occupational health visit - I don't see why the big pause. Something's up.

Hello. I'm in a bind. I'm off sick due to back problems, been off since FEB, and now on WRAG, but in my last meeting with HR with Union rep, in JULY, it was agreed I would give work my GP's report, and then they would set up an exam with their Occupational Health dept, with a view to seeing whether I could come back to work in a feasible amount of time. All very amicable and smiley-smiley, as is HR's fake wont, but my Union did mention the possibility of an action against them. Well, I did my bit with the GP report, and HR said they'd got it and would look at it and be in touch. That was 4 weeks ago, and since then they are ignoring all my emails and phone calls. Understand, they have never been silent on me before; this is deliberate. It's not about being too busy. I have left messages with the Head HR guy, his assistant and his deputy. I sent them emails suggesting that we do the Occ Health thing this week, last week, the week before, and - nothing. I asked them for some records to give ATOS, and nothing. I replied to their Out of Office notifications by emailing that I hope they would, as stated in their notification, get back to me as soon as possible, as I want to work towards getting back to work and need this moved forward as soon as possible - nothing. What should I do? I am also filing with a solicitor against them (they don't know this) but not having much confidence as both the date of 'first injury' and 'last disability discrimination' have passed. I have to pull out records of every job I've had since leaving school and I'm pretty sure it's all for nowt. I'm still on work's books, still getting 'zero' paycheques from them in my email. I'm wondering if their refusal to help me further constitutes a 'disability discrimination'? I bet they've been advised not to talk to me, but this was a strategy we agreed to, in the presence of my Union Rep, but not in writing. Any thoughts? Thank you for reading.

What will they do if you are too sick to report in for the work you have been mandated to? I had a job that was perfect for me, if not my dream job. I had to leave it, in these awful frightening times of recession, with many debts to pay. Why do they think I will be able to go to a job they find for me when I couldn't even keep on a job down the road from me? I was off sick with pain, I'm not going to do another job while in the same pain - I won't be able to, if I did, I'd be back at my old job.

Hi. Can anyone point me to a post on here from someone who has been forced from WRAG to one of these placements? I'd be interested to know how it went/goes. How often do people get called in for interview on WRAG? Thanks.

This is all very interesting. Thanks for letting us know your experiences. I'm a little different, as I've been on Schedule D but also working as an employee for years. I've claimed expenses but not WTC. Haven't actually worked in acting for years, so profit been zero for a long time. I'm wondering if I should continue to claim, weirdly have spent more on my acting this year than ever, since conned myself into a new agent had to have photos and have been to a workshop (had to cancel 3 because of back pain, my reason for having to give up my regular job, but made it in the end).

What if you are now living abroad? I noticed a blaring DM headline about people claiming disability allowance having the nerve to go and live in Spain or go back to Jamaica or wherever, as if it were something illegal. Will these people now have to come back to the UK to do some slave placement? I believe that the word 'slavery' shouldn't be taken so lightly; people's labour IS being sold without their true and free consent, and at detrimental result to their health, with all due respect to traffiking victims, whose situation is of course far worse. The Anti-Slavery Campaign should be made aware of this.

Thanks, Simon. Not earning anything but still on Schedule D,so should be fine. believe me, if I were earning 90 quid a week regularly, I would only claim HB instead of all this fol-de-rol with the other stuff! I have no idea whether my benefits are income-based or not, will have to look at the letter. I understand you are not an expert, so thanks for taking time to reply and I will get more indepth advice.

Can I just ask - I'm new to not being able to do my normal job due to illness, so please bear with. I was/am technically still employed at my reception job, but also still file tax as an actress & writer, self-employed, though I haven't actually worked in that field for about 4 years. (I did have one job but was forced to leave cos of my back). Should I be doing anything about that, to my advantage? I have had my ATOS medical and have heard this morning that I will be in the work group thing rather than JSA. I do hope to be able to go back to acting and have just finished my second book (am on edits for both, so neither agented yet). I did once have a writing agent and am getting good feedback from my very draconian writers' group, so am cautiously confident at least of being an OK writer. Incredibly, I have an acting agent, too, though I've managed to conceal my back probs so far as because I was out of the game for so long, it's taking a while to get auditions. I did have to cancel 2 of them, though, so I'm hoping for some kind of breakthrough with treatments before my life folds completely. All that being said, should I do anything re having a self-employment status?

If you refuse to sign, what about the benefits that will certainly be stopped?

OK, I've just had a call from the benefits people and I am in the work group apparently whatever that means - will have to check on this site exactly what it entails.

My union doesn't want me to communicate with them without their presence. I kind of see union's point. The position is cordial at the mo because that's how they always play, even when dragging you in for disciplinary etc, but 'a man may smile and smile and still be a villain': I know that if I hadn't got the union at my back, they'd have very cordially and smilingly ripped me to shreds. I hope to be able to negotiate a leaving deal out of sheer exhaustion - would you believe my solicitors want me to list all the jobs I've had since leaving school, along with company name and addresses! That's a fair few years, no chance.

Good luck, no problem, you haven't troubled me at all. We should stick together.

Thank you, pusillanimous (one of my favourite words, btw!) I did ask the solicitors in the end and they suggested the disability claim. But I've been off work for 9 months now so don't see how it falls within the 3 months limit. This is my fault; I never wanted to sue anyone so I was slow off the mark. I'll have to talk to solicitors again.

Hi. Hope to make this post as succinct as possible. Thank you for reading and helping. 1.My Union's solicitors wrote to me saying they were taking my case (RSI back-strain from work), but according to the same letter, I am outside the statute for an action as I (not my GP) realised my pain was work-related in 2006 and they say it has to fall within 3 years. Solicitors knew this was the situation - they have my letter of grievance to my HR from 2007, so I don't know why they bothered to say they'd take on the case. 2. My workplace HR did make some noises about making an 'amicable parting of the ways' if first my GP report then their Occupational Health report, concluded it wasn't likely I'd be able to return to work soon enough (been off since Feb). I sent them my GP report last week and I have left numerous emails and phone messages to the HR person but got not a word in reply. She has never done this before. Whassup, d'you think? 3. If I'm too late for legal recourse, could I/my Union negotiate a leaving package anyway, d'you think? Or will they smell that I'm screwed legally if I try? I have just done the ATOS medical and am so screwed as regards employment and money. I do not want to live on benefits so: 4. I was even thinking of just doing Saturday nights at work; I'd get HB and Council T bens and maybe medicine help, but wouldn't have to deal with other benefit groups. That would be my last resort, because I'm terrified my back will get worse. I'd be able to rest up a lot afterwards, though. Sat night is the unpopular shift, of course, so my workmates would fall on me with a glad cry, but not sure employers would wear it. Thing is, I don't want to go through all the other negotiations, lose, and then rely on them being accommodating enough to agree to my last resort. Left a message with the solicitors and my union but neither has got back to me, so I'm appealing for any wisdom from you guys!

I have back problems. Had to lean forward as far as I could, asked to squat w/out support=told doc I couldn't, had to lie on bed and lift each leg as far as I could. Had to raise and wiggle hands= no prob. That was about it. I hate talking about my condition as it depresses and stresses me, so I was crying all the way through the medical.

Had the medical. Not sure how it went, hardly lasted half an hour, little physical exam - just a few movements. We shall see.

Thank you. Still dreading medical and feeling horrible with pain and meds but glad to have your help. Been reading lots about ATOS etc and feel that there should be a union for people who claim benefits, as 'they' seem to be able to do, change goalposts arbitrarily and generally treat humans like bits of garbage.

Well, just rang ATOS and they say that if the questionnaire has been received, ATOS hasn't noted it, so looks like I'm OK to submit new one, but will check with DWP. Also got them to agree to let me come to an assessment centre that is clearly nearer than the one they gave me in the letter. Going for my physio today, so will check if GP has done my report.