IB medical advice

jimjams_mommy

Hello I want a bit of advice to what to expect when going for a IB medical.

I've had depression since april and was on anti-depressants, I found I was pregnant and was advised by my gp to stop. Sadly the baby had heart problems and died at 18 weeks during the summer. I went for counselling at my gp but didn't find it help. I now have a cpn and I'm back taking meds.

I applied for IB in october as I wasn't working or getting any benefits. I was told I could get it and sent in my sick note that is from oct 08 to may 09. I was sent a medical questioner before christmas which I filled in and today got a letter that I have to go for a medical interview I arrange the interview for mid Jan.

I just want to know what to expect and I find it hard to talk about how I feel without crying. I'm not looking forward to the interview and just want to stop my benefits as I feel embaressed about having mental health problems.

sorry for long post. any advice welcome

yorkiegal

hi there. i've only had one medical for IB. They have very kindly sent me an IB50 form today, which is really nice for someone with depression on new years eve.
I found that the medical was ok last time. I was very anxious and couln't stop shaking so perhaps the doctor felt sorry for me. She basically went through a list of everyday activities and asked how my problems impacted on that. She wasn't interested in why I was depressed, just on how it affected me in relation to her questions. If I veered off the subject or couldn't understand a question she did get a bit impatient though.
This sounds like cheating the system but i would reccommend you don't dress too smartly. They mark you down for looking nice. It's all well and good to have self respect and want to look smart for a doctors appointment but if you do that they won't understand that there are days (in my case) when I can't wash my hair or brush my teeth. They can only go by what they see at the interview so don't hold back, and leave your self respect at the door i'm afraid. They may try to get you to focus on what you can do, rather than what you can't. It's important that you say just how disabling your condition is. And it might help if you see your gp before you go and let them know the dwp might be getting in touch. Your gp also might not realise just how your condition is on a day to day basis, so it helps if you let them know in advance. For example, mine knew i was depressed but not that i hadn't opened the front door for years and had no hot water or heating as a result.

dmg24

yorkiegal wrote: »

This sounds like cheating the system but i would reccommend you don't dress too smartly. They mark you down for looking nice. It's all well and good to have self respect and want to look smart for a doctors appointment but if you do that they won't understand that there are days (in my case) when I can't wash my hair or brush my teeth. They can only go by what they see at the interview so don't hold back, and leave your self respect at the door i'm afraid.

This is why those needing benefits advice should stick to the Benefits board. You are not knocked down for dressing smartly, that is absolute rubbish. :rolleyes:

yorkiegal

dmg24 wrote: »

This is why those needing benefits advice should stick to the Benefits board. You are not knocked down for dressing smartly, that is absolute rubbish. :rolleyes:

no it's not rubbish. you are also seen as ok if you managed to get to the appointment on your own, or if you answered the phone when they called to book the appointment with you. Added to that the fact that a lot of these medicals are now outsourced to companies who receive bonuses for declaring people fit to work, and it's hardly a level playing field is it? My friend in group therapy had to go to tribunal when they took her IB away, despite the fact that she was in full time group therapy and on very strong meds. They made a lot of the fact that she looked well and had manicured nails, when she had said on the form and at the medical that she found it really hard to motivate herself to get dressed or take care of her appearance. She hadn't lied to them. She simply would have felt too ashamed to turn up there looking grubby.

dmg24

yorkiegal wrote: »

no it's not rubbish. you are also seen as ok if you managed to get to the appointment on your own, or if you answered the phone when they called to book the appointment with you. Added to that the fact that a lot of these medicals are now outsourced to companies who receive bonuses for declaring people fit to work, and it's hardly a level playing field is it? My friend in group therapy had to go to tribunal when they took her IB away, despite the fact that she was in full time group therapy and on very strong meds. They made a lot of the fact that she looked well and had manicured nails, when she had said on the form and at the medical that she found it really hard to motivate herself to get dressed or take care of her appearance. She hadn't lied to them. She simply would have felt too ashamed to turn up there looking grubby.

Where do you get your information from? The Daily Mail? :rolleyes:

yorkiegal

No, from personal experience and that of friends, in addition to attending this years Rethink agm where we discussed the new benefit changes in depth, and also from working for Mind.

Are you able to post a message without using the sarcastic smiley or would that be too difficult for you? If you don't agree with my post then put forward your own advice for the OP, but there is no need to be rude to me.

dmg24

yorkiegal wrote: »

No, from personal experience and that of friends, in addition to attending this years Rethink agm where we discussed the new benefit changes in depth, and also from working for Mind.

Are you able to post a message without using the sarcastic smiley or would that be too difficult for you? If you don't agree with my post then put forward your own advice for the OP, but there is no need to be rude to me.

I am not being rude, I am telling you that your 'information' is wrong, and is scaremongering. If you wish for clarification of any of your so called facts, feel free to post on the Benefits board.

VfM4meplse

jimjams_mommy wrote: »

I now have a cpn and I'm back taking meds.

Sorry to hear about your troubles, it sounds like you have been through hell. The best advice I can give is to keep taking the medication but please use a reliable contraceptive until you are ready to come off treatment. Keep taking the antidepressants for a minimum of 6 months after the point you feel optimally better and talk to your GP before you think about conceiving again. Good luck for the future, I hope 2009 is a real turning point for you.

yorkiegal

dmg24 wrote: »

I am not being rude, I am telling you that your 'information' is wrong, and is scaremongering. If you wish for clarification of any of your so called facts, feel free to post on the Benefits board.

I don't need clarification for them thankyou. As I said, I was speaking from personal experience. Your tone is quite patronising and rude, but I'm not going to spend new years eve getting into an argument with you. We'll just have to agree to disagree.

OP, I wish you all the best with your medical. Take care xx

jimjams_mommy

Thank you for the advice from the posts, I just didn't know what to expect and yes I do have a couple of days when I wear the same clothes, when its an effort to dress and don't brush my teeth. I would have made an effort to to say all is ok and look smart when its not because I would have been embarassed.
happy new year

krisskross

I often wear the same clothes 2 days running except for underwear. I see nothing wrong with it at all. Might mean I am lazy but certainly wouldn't suggest I am depressed. I have just got dressed and I know my daughter slobs around in her dressing gown all day if she isn't going out of the house.