From The Comments: Reader’s Son (In WRAG) Told To Start Business Or Look For Work
Reader Hugosmum70 sent in the following comment, which I thought should be in a post of its own so that it could be easily answered.
Hi, can they force someone on ESA in the WRAG group to start own business or look for work? they are trying to force my son into starting a photography business which hes already tried before and failed due to his fibromyalgia problems. this time hes to 1. come up with a business plan 2. think of a name for it 3. apply for a loan which he has no way of paying back ever.to cover for equipment. the camera he has is fine for normal use but not for taking professional shots.he lives in a 1 bedroomed first floor flat. his daughter lives with him,also not working, and no real space for taking photographs of people there.is looking for bungalow so he can get out more. at the moment if he has a flare up he cant even get down the stairs. can they actually force him to do this? or look for jobs? hes never gonna get any better unless they find a cure for it.
They have told him he has to have applied for this loan by time he has his next interview. of course the pressure now means he cant even think straight.ive tried helping him come up with a suitable name but its impossible.theyve told him if he doesnt do this then they will force him to look for work.
Does anyone know if this is a common thing? Have you had a similar experience?
Same Difference 
They cannot force him to find a job, but they can get him to make inroads into getting a job like training etc as for forcing him to take a loan that is a definite no, no one can force another into debt.
He needs to get advice and quick before his next interview, I would go to CAB
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This situation is insane. For a start, who would give someone a loan with no job, no prospects, and no way of paying it back?
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Hi, fibromyalgia is not a nice disease to live with, the pain are excruciating and can last for days, weeks or even longer, there is help with the fibromyalgia benefits help line which can be found at fmauk website, there is also a solicitor who understands fibromyalgia, I don’t know if there is any charges or what they are.
Best of luck fighting these morons in power.
I also have amongst my illnesses fibromyalgia so good luck.
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Under no circumstances should your son enter sign a legally binding loan agreement to satisfy the requirements of his benefit. Having said that, he could apply to shut them up because he is unlikely to get it and then he can’t be blamed. In the chance he is offered it, he must not sign not matter what is said or threatened because that would amount to duress which would likely negate the contact anyway. I am angry that they would do this to your son, but fight back – take the information to your local councillors and MP and get them to intervene. Your MP can refer this to Ian Duncan Smith’s office. Go to your local CAB and get this highlighted everywhere – make a complaint against the agency requiring this of your son. If they are doing this to your son, they will be doing it to others. Get your GP’s support and make an appeal against your son’s benefit to get him in the Support Group. If you lived near me (Liverpool), I would take your case on and fight for you. Please don’t give up, get support and fight back. How dare they do this to sick people just to tick boxes for the DWP. I wish you well – good luck.
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Absolutely no way!
Their own documentation states that the have an obligation to take into consideration any claimants physical disability both in terms of workfare or a route into work.
It’s hard not to stress but you have to fight them with their own rules. Lots of advice out there. It’s easy said than done but it’s the only way to avoid a complete loss of income.
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There seems to be a campaign to force people in this country into debt-bondage, a common form of slavery found in 3rd world countries.
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Feel free to tell me about your problem and, if I can help, I will.
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