Help IB medical?

poorbird73

HI All,.



I have been on IB for years and they have sent me a letter of which I have to fill a form out and maybe go for a medical. ( It is the old style form and not the new one) I have filled out the form the best I can and was hoping someone could tell me how long it takes to find out if they will send me for a medical and if they will write to me either way (I posted it last Tuesday)? The reason for this is I am thinking of doing permitted work and don't want to apply for it incase I fail my medical ( I have read some horror stories of this happening!) ....As then I will be left with nothing.

I did go for a medical years ago but the doctor was horrible to me and I filed a complaint and they have not sent me any forms fro over 5 years and I find it strange that they have done now!

Any help would be much appreciated and thank you in advance!

Sara x

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zzzLazyDaisy

Hi Sara, sorry I can't help, I don't have to go for IB medicals, so am out of touch with what happens.

You might get a better response if you post your query on the benefits board?

regards

Daisy x

sharon59

advice l was given was to always fill it in as if it was your worst day/worst pain level etc.hope all goes well for you.

jehane

Hi Sara

The results of the personal capability assessment questionnaire can take quite a while to come through. They will write to you and will either say that you have scored enough points in which case you won't have to attend a medical, or you will be asked to go to the medical. It will really depend on the info they get from your GP and your medical condition. I've known it take up to 2 months to get called for the medical.

If you get called for a medical make sure you show yourself as you really are. Many people will make an extra special effort - get dressed smartly, shave when they normally wouldn't etc.

Also make sure that you say if you feel pain when being examined and that you give a true picture of how you really are. The examining doctor will ask short questions and people often give short answers. So if the doctor asks if you do your own shopping, don't just answer yes, but say if you drag yourself out to the corner shop to get essentials and need someone help with a bigger shop. Or when they ask about hobbies make it clear how often you ae able to do the hobbies. If you can do an activity once and then cannot repeat it again that day due to pain/fatigue then make use you say that.

The doctor is scoring you on points and every point you can score counts.
The best thing you can do now is make sure your GP knows exactly how your illness affects you so that its fresh in his mind when he writes his report for the DWP. - However this is no guarantee as some conditions they seem to automatically call for a medical

Jehane

rosepink

Also remember that the medical examiner can often observe you from outside the building and may ask you some pleasantries which will then be quoted in the report! Always think of how you are on your worst day as you may not know when that will be !

keefyboy_2

Don't be afraid of the medical, I have had several now over the years, next one due in 2011. Just take the advice of people above about completing your form to the worst days you have, be honest with the Dr (who is an impartial Doctor), take someone with you if you want, to back you up.
The medical is designed to try and weed out the fraudsters who are bleeding the system.

You might not get called to the medical, it all depends on what your Dr puts on the forms they send him. But lastly don't get all worked up about it, just tell the truth.

FabSascha

Yes I agree with what's been said above. I can often come across as quite capable, even though I'm on crutches full time and the first time I had a medical I was freaking out trying to think of all sorts of various ways I could somehow prove how disabled I am; how ridiculous is that?! The medical was nothing to worry about though, the doctor was very kind and reassuring thankfully.

I do however think it can't hurt to go with the 'worst day of my disability' vibe just to make sure the point takes hold.

I'd strongly suggest not worrying if you get called for an examination. It's just paperwork at the end of the day and as long as you meet the criteria - which you would've done if you're on the benefit and haven't lied at all - then you'll be absolutely fine.

ethika

The best place to go for help is the CAB Benefits Adviser. Hopefully you won't be turned down, but if you are the CAB wil help with any appeal.
Make sure you give an accurate picture of you on your worst day and remember to answer the questions correctly. EG one question asked is 'Does doing walking/standing/sitting/ moving cause you DISCOMFORT? Note the question asks if these actions cause you DISCOMFORT - not pain.
Another question refers to preparing food - cutting cheese/meat/bread - if you have difficulty spell it out - including whether you have changed yopur diet to get over something - like buying sliced bread or cheese - not because you want to but you can't cut them.

dabbit

With me it took about 3-4 weeks before they let me know I needed a medical. The medical itself was answering the questions I had answered on the form plus a few additional ones. And he said he 'obviously' didn't need to examine me as my disability was obvious (to me it isn't though). The appointment was also made by phone with a confirmation letter in the post a few days later.

TaBunny

I feel for you, I for one who has been disabled since age 4 and steadily getting worse get annoyed that I have to keep proving I'm disabled and to be honest no one can 'see' pain it makes me fed up to keep being paraded in front of drs like cattle, sigh if my specialist says I'm bl**dy disabled then why don't they believe me. Anyhow good luck with yours. Oh and what's permitted work?? not heard of that

midas67

Hi,

I had to fill in the form for the IB PCA (personal capability assessment) early this year.

It took about 2 months for a reply and for me to be deemed as unfit to work. I also worried a lot about them stopping my benefit and having to go for a medical. Thankfully they awarded this to me without having the added stress of attending a medical.

What really helped me is to get the form filled out with the help of the Citizens advice bureau. They were great and what I found is that the women was really good at knowing what to write, whereas if I had filled it in myself I would of been more inclined to underplay my illness and symptoms etc (something I feel the benefits people want!!)

I cannot praise and recommend the CAB enough they have helped me a lot in various ways.

I feel that this is what helped me in not having to attend a medical.

Another website that was really useful with an enormous wealth of information about all benefits is at http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/content/view/881/122/

The downside of this site is that they charge £18.95 for a years subscription. However I feel it is worth it. Whilst there is a lot of free information out there, this site gives you detailed information on filling out all the forms such as DLA, PCA etc. As well as information about the medical, what to expect, etc. In addition to this it has inside information on such things as memos etc within the benefits agencies themselves.

In other words this site has a lot of information that you just cannot get elsewhere and I feel answers just about any question you might have about any benefit. The fee is well worth it if it means the difference between them stopping your benefit or not!!

Hope this helps.