Incapacity Benefit Stopped

hjb123

Am really mad and upset.

Received a letter on 2 days since saying that the DWP are stopping my Incapacity Benefit as they think I am fit for work. It doesnt matter that my doctor who I have been seeing at least once a month says that I am not going to be fit for work in the forseeable future, we have even sent a letter in to the benefits office saying this but they say that doesnt make a difference to their decision.

It is clear to anyone that knows me or sees me that I am clearly not fit to work.

I had to attend a medical at the jobcentre in October, the result of which is my benefits being stopped! At the medical the questions that I was asked were not relevant at all to my conditon. I was just asked at the end how it affected me but didnt feel like the person was that bothered. Most of the questions she asked at the medical were closed questions- where I had to answer yes or no.
Where is my bedroom - is it upstairs or downstairs - what time do I get up - how often do I iron and how long for - how long do i hoover and how long for - how often do I walk and how long for - how often do i go shopping and how long for - do i push the trolley - do i reach for stuff off the shelves - do i unload the trolley into the car and do i drive
These were only a small selection of questions I was asked but from these they feel that they are better qualified than my own doctor to determine whether or not I can work.

I am appealing against the decision to stop benefits and at the same time -as advised by the job centre complaining about the irrelevance of the medical to my condition!

I realise that there are people who milk the system or are fit for work but I am not!

Has anyone else had similar experiences?

H

Poppycat

It concens me to about these questions they ask, as you rightly said they are clsoed questions. Are you capable of walking so much distance? not how long it can take you or how much pain you may incur etc etc.

I no exactly where your coming from, I been to one of those so called medical examinations however I passed.

Not aure what else you can do, other that what else you are doing like appealing. Can you get your doctor to write a letter so you can show the appeal process.

Good luck I hope you get sorted. If the health problems you may have, this is the last thing you wanted.

hjb123

Yeah I hope I get sorted soon.

I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome which like ME. At the medical I did not feel that the questions were relevant to this! The letter I got back explaining that as I had not scored the minimum of 10 points from the questions - they scored me nil!! I would no longer get the benefits - I would have got 2 points if I had to drink alcohol before midday!!

Some days it affects me really bad and other days arent as bad. With it I also suffer alot from migraines and I get them behind my eyes - I know it sounds wierd but the pain is right behind my eyes.

I will be getting my doctor to write a letter too, though I do wonder why they cant take his letter/form he sent to them a fortnight ago into account but apparently they would rather their 'medical expert' knows me more!

Thanks for the support

H

mandi_moles

Do the appeal. The same thing happened to us (different medical condition tho) and we won it. If you feel you can win it then go for it.

chrissiesurfergirl123

You can claim Income Support (subject to normal conditions ie capital, income etc) at a reduced rate until your appeal is heard. See your Jobcentreplus or Social Security office

Fran

chrissiesurfergirl123 wrote:

You can claim Income Support (subject to normal conditions ie capital, income etc) at a reduced rate until your appeal is heard. See your Jobcentreplus or Social Security office

If you sign on for Jobseekers Allowance it won't be at the reduced rate. Tell them your limitations when applying.

It's unfortunate but the doctors that do those medicals are working for the DWP and quite often have differing opinions than the person's own doctor.

You should go to your local Citizens Advice bureau or similar as soon as possible. CAB can help you with an appeal and may be able to represent you too.

hjb123

I was told that during the appeals process while my incapacity benefit is stopped i can claim for income support. In order to do this I had to ring a number, was asked several questions then told that I would be called back next wednesday to be asked some further questions then I would have to attend an interview at the local jobcentre.

So for the forseeable future I have no income whatsoever - in the run upto xmas

Fran

Tell them you want to claim Jobseekers and that you are appealing a decision. You will at least get the full amount of JSA but if you go on Income Support as someone said it will be at a reduced rate which is even worse. Tell them the limitations of work you can do. CAB will be able to help hassle them at DWP re your claims too.

shelly

Fran wrote:

Tell them you want to claim Jobseekers and that you are appealing a decision. You will at least get the full amount of JSA but if you go on Income Support as someone said it will be at a reduced rate which is even worse. Tell them the limitations of work you can do. CAB will be able to help hassle them at DWP re your claims too.

To claim JSA you have to be actively seeking and able to work. The OP can't work thats why they are appealing against their IB being stopped. Surely if the OP now says they want to claim JSA they are saying they can work which is contradicting themselves and the DWP might take the claim as an admittance that they can work? (if that makes sense:D )

Fran

shelly wrote:

To claim JSA you have to be actively seeking and able to work. The OP can't work thats why they are appealing against their IB being stopped. Surely if the OP now says they want to claim JSA they are saying they can work which is contradicting themselves and the DWP might take the claim as an admittance that they can work? (if that makes sense:D )

The OP is saying that they are willing and able to do certain work (perhaps this could be working from home in their own time or something like that). Unfortunately because of the way the system is set up if OP claims Income Support it will be at a reduced rate while if they claim JSA at least they will get the full amount.

shelly

Fran wrote:

The OP is saying that they are willing and able to do certain work (perhaps this could be working from home in their own time or something like that). Unfortunately because of the way the system is set up if OP claims Income Support it will be at a reduced rate while if they claim JSA at least they will get the full amount.

Sorry but I can't see anywhere in the OP's post about being able to work. Quite the contrary......

hjb123 wrote:

It doesnt matter that my doctor who I have been seeing at least once a month says that I am not going to be fit for work in the forseeable future.

hjb123 wrote:

It is clear to anyone that knows me or sees me that I am clearly not fit to work.

hjb123 wrote:

I realise that there are people who milk the system or are fit for work but I am not!

So I can't see the OP getting JSA as you have to be actively seeking work and able to work which the OP obviously isn't due to health problems. Personally I think the best thing to do would be to claim IS......even if its a reduced rate its better than nothing.