Universal Credit and signed off sick
Comments
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Confuseddot wrote: »If you find someone who has applied for ESA, regardless if they are coming from JSA, work or Universal Credit, and been assessed within the 13 weeks I would be shocked. Some people can wait up to a year for an assessment especially when they sacked ATOS etc. You have to keep sending in the fit notes until you are assessed and you will remain on the assessment rate until then.
Have you been to the job centre ? They are usually helpful and may have the form for you to fill in. Where are the fit notes being sent currently ? Is the person currently receiving any money ?
I imagine the backlog of which you speak is for the work capacity assessment. Normally there is no issue sending out the questionnaire. Have you chased the DWP for the letters ? Is there normally any problems with their mail ?
So is that assessment rate whatever you were getting prior to signing on sick?
The job centre is fine. The fit notes go to them directly. Yes, the person just gets the normal, non sick rate at the moment. But as you can imagine, this isn't a rate designed to be lived on for any length of time.
With Universal Credit though, the job centre can't just print off the UC35 letter or issue the WCA questionnaire for you to complete. It's all changed now. These two things have to be initiated out of the contact centre.0 -
So is that assessment rate whatever you were getting prior to signing on sick?
The job centre is fine. The fit notes go to them directly. Yes, the person just gets the normal, non sick rate at the moment. But as you can imagine, this isn't a rate designed to be lived on for any length of time.
With Universal Credit though, the job centre can't just print off the UC35 letter or issue the WCA questionnaire for you to complete. It's all changed now. These two things have to be initiated out of the contact centre.
Yes the assessment rate is the same amount as the amount they receive prior to them signing on sick.
Chase the contact centre for the form.Play nice :eek: Just because I am paranoid doesn't mean they are not out to get me.:j0 -
pmlindyloo wrote: »I am not totally sure about what is happening with your family member's UC claim.
Are you saying that it has been stopped or that it is continuing but they are having to wait for an assessment and then get paid the element if they are awarded the extra element?
I am not sure whether you are having a moan in general or are referring to how UC in particular is not working effectively.
The process for those who become ill is exactly the same as for those applying for ESA. Mistakes are made and you should keep asking for another copy of the relevant form. If the WCA is done they will get an element backdated.
The mistakes, the waiting for the WCA is no different to thousands of other claiming the old ESA.
Your family member is still receiving UC and (if you read the links) will not have to carry out the claimant commitment as they did when they were well.
If your family member has extra financial expenditure because of their disability then I suggest that they apply for PIP.
If the legislation goes through the element for the work related group will end in April 2017 for those on UC as well as the old ESA (another topic for discussion) but at the moment I cannot see (other than their admin incompetence) that there is too much to get angry about. The system is as it is and you just have to get on with it. Yes, have a moan, lobby your MP but other than the 28 day rule before sending out the form it is really no different. (I can actually understand that rule!)
I don't mind the 28 day rule. After all, it's not as if any potential premium for being ill applies before the person has been signed off for 13 weeks.
What I mind is being told the UC35 letter has been sent out by one person on the phone at the UC call centre and then the job centre lady looking after my relative's claim looks this up and says no letter has yet been sent out. It's just an endless line of lies from people, especially over the phone, who just can't be bothered to do their job and check properly or re-request the letter. It's easier just to say it has been sent out even though it actually hasn't.
The problem with being off for so long on the basic rate is that really UC, like JSA, is not designed to be viable financially into the longer term. It's not as if people who are ill have the option of going to work to supplement the stipend. But all their bills, even if it is just gas, electricity and the phone/broadband contract, are still there. And it's stuff like having to go to the hospital. She has a bus card, but it still has to be paid for. People imagine you can just cancel things and save money that way. But most of this stuff is on contract.
Someone else was saying to her that she might just have to find something workwise to tide her over. But followed it up with "the problem is, you look ill, so nobody is likely to take you on". I find that is usually the case with ill people - they look ill.0 -
Bananas123 wrote: »if helpful / struggling:
I have tried to discourage her from this option. It is such a hassle to pay it back, because it can only be paid back out of Universal Credit payments. So say you get work, and the stipend drops to, say, £30 for that month. That's all you can pay back that month. You can't pay it back out of working pay unless it goes through the Debt Management Office, a long winded process.
That's the other thing about being ill. Eventually, unless you are unfortunate enough to be landed with an incurable disease, like MS or cancer, you recover and go back to work. Being in debt to the DWP, if that point ever arrives, is something I hope she can avoid.0 -
pmlindyloo wrote: »If your family member has extra financial expenditure because of their disability then I suggest that they apply for PIP.
I realise ill people are, at that point in time, disabled in some way. But I think of PiP as a payment for the much longer term, where people can't be treated sufficiently to avoid being disabled for the longer term. PiP awards seem to be for 3 to 10 years.
Illness, on the other hand, seems to me to be something that is usually treatable. Yes, it could take months before the person is back to say 90% wellness (does one really need to be 100% fit to work? I wouldn't have thought so seeing some of the illnesses and disabilities my co workers have worked through over time), but even so there usually is treatment available.
If the person needs treatment and is denied it by the NHS, (e.g. being told in England and Wales you are too young for a hip or knee replacement in your 50s - thank goodness that doesn't happen in Scotland) that's a different matter. Then yes, they are disabled, through no fault of their own, even though treatment is available, but denied to them for no other reason than a postcode lottery and should claim whatever they are entitled to in order to get them through it.0 -
Hi, I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on my situation. I have done my work capability assessment and was awarded the higher rate however I was told by the job centre that I will need to wait 3 months before I receive my first payment. I was wondering if I would get back dated payment from the date of award. Would appreciate any help.
Thanks0 -
everyone gets the basic assessment amount for the first 13 weeks regardless of which group they are placed in.
the full amount is only payable for week 14 nwards0
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