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Incapacity Benefit (IN)

Hello!

Please would someone give me the benefit of their experience in the field of IB.

I've been on sick leave from work since November 2007 and am under my GP's care, receiving medication and couselling.

I stopped getting full pay from my job in May 2008, when my salary was reduced to half pay. I then claimed and was awarded IB.

In early July, I attended a DWP-appointed doctor for an assessment.

This morning I received notification that with effect from today's date, the IB was withdrawn. The assessment gave me 2 points. To stay on IB I needed 10 points. The assessment said that I should contact my employers with a view to going back to work.

I phoned the DWP helpline, who informed me that I can appeal the decision, but I will not receive any benefit in the meantime. It may take six months for them to reconsider the decision, by which time I should be back at work (fingers crossed).

I cannot claim for IS or JSA until the decision on my appeal has been made.

This means that my financial position is going to be very dodgy.

1 Does the DWP usually inform clients of their decision at such short notice?

2 How long is the appeal likely to take in real time, as opposed to DWP time?

3 How does this government expect people to live?


Any answers or guidance gratefully received.

Appeal sent off. Angry letter to Gordon Brown to be written!

Thanks for listening to me let off steam.
«134

Comments

  • tigtag02
    tigtag02 Posts: 6,857 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    mdeebee wrote: »
    1 Does the DWP usually inform clients of their decision at such short notice?

    Yes, if the decision is no then the award stops.

    2 How long is the appeal likely to take in real time, as opposed to DWP time?

    Our written appeal has just taken 5 months. We won but have to wait 6 weeks for them to *sort it out* :rolleyes:

    3 How does this government expect people to live?

    How long is a piece of string?!!


    I presume that if you are needing 10 points you are claiming on mental health grounds. Do you have anyone who can help you with your appeal or provide further evidence?
    :heartpuls baby no3 due 16th November :heartpuls
    TEAM YELLOW
    DFD 16/6/10
    "Shut your gob! Or I'll come round your houses and stamp on all your toys" The ONE, the ONLY, the LEGENDARY Gene Hunt :heart2:
  • stazi
    stazi Posts: 1,295 Forumite
    1) Yes
    2) Up to 6 months in real time- what you've been told is about right.
    3) You can either-
    a) Claim JSA- it will not affect your IB appeal.
    b) Claim Income Support at a reduced rate until your IB appeal has been
    heard- assuming you can claim. If you have a partner that works, it's
    unlikley you would qualify.
    c) Make a new IB claim- however, the new claim will not normally be
    accepted until you pass the medical test called PCA with 10/15 points.

    If you appeal, your claim will be looked at again. You'll need to provide more/new evidence to support your argument to increase your score. Writing to Brown will be waste of an envelope and stamp.
  • healy
    healy Posts: 5,292 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    stazi wrote: »
    1) Yes
    2) Up to 6 months in real time- what you've been told is about right.
    3) You can either-
    a) Claim JSA- it will not affect your IB appeal.
    b) Claim Income Support at a reduced rate until your IB appeal has been
    heard- assuming you can claim. If you have a partner that works, it's
    unlikley you would qualify.
    c) Make a new IB claim- however, the new claim will not normally be
    accepted until you pass the medical test called PCA with 10/15 points.

    If you appeal, your claim will be looked at again. You'll need to provide more/new evidence to support your argument to increase your score. Writing to Brown will be waste of an envelope and stamp.

    If the OP is still employed they will not be able to claim JSA.

    If they are still on half pay Income Support would seem unlikely too.
  • stazi
    stazi Posts: 1,295 Forumite
    As usual, well spotted healy.

    Further option unless the OP can increase 2>10 points-
    4) Return to prev employment on a phased return/change of job.
  • mdeebee
    mdeebee Posts: 381 Forumite
    Thank you all for your replies.

    Appeal duly sent in post. May have to go and forage in the woods for nuts and berries. Wonder if they know anything about tasty dishes using these ingredients over on the OS board?

    I think the government is about to push me into debt.




    My blood is boiling.
  • mdeebee
    mdeebee Posts: 381 Forumite
    That's one of options I will be pursuing once my head has stopped being a shed.

    Don't want to go back to the old job and be bullied and harassed all over again.

    stazi wrote: »
    As usual, well spotted healy.

    Further option unless the OP can increase 2>10 points-
    4) Return to prev employment on a phased return/change of job.
  • josie75_2
    josie75_2 Posts: 135 Forumite
    I know exactly how you feel Mdeebee Im in same boat I scored 0. I have also appealed. I suffer from daily intense migrain type head aches (obviously alot worse but wont bore you all) and because there is no physical symptoms to look at they are putting me through the same process - my mother is writing my appeals and getting alot of info on my condition from my neurologist and the internet to support my appeal also my gp is assisting her.

    What makes mine more ironic is it was 10 months ago I first claimed and they refused to pay me anything due to a lack of NI contribtutions which, was assumed, down to me taking additional maternity leave in 2005-2006 but last week it transpired that it was actually my previous employer not declaring me as being on statuatory pay in that year(when I actually was SSP for pregnancy related illness and SMP when son born) and therefore my NI contributions were qualifying so they agreed to pay me the outstanding 10 months but not a penny more from that day on. Never mind the fact we have had to struggle for this long and now survive of what we should have been getting all along because my employer was negligent (Does anyone know if I have a Dispute with my previous employer for this as a lack of care of duty)

    they certainly dont help with your stress levels while you not well do they

    Sorry to rant on your thread but they get my goat too :mad:

    Good luck with your appeal Ill let you know if and when I hear back from my letter
  • mo1_2
    mo1_2 Posts: 350 Forumite
    how do they work out there point system?
  • dmg24
    dmg24 Posts: 33,920 Forumite
    10,000 Posts
    mo1 wrote: »
    how do they work out there point system?

    They have set criteria to mark against. The information is available deep in the DWP website, and also on here, I just can't remember where! I'll have a look ... x
    Gone ... or have I?
  • Titch89
    Titch89 Posts: 712 Forumite
    mo1 wrote: »
    how do they work out there point system?

    http://www.tameside.gov.uk/benefits/capabilityassessment
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