IB medical assessment

angus1

I've been claiming ESA for a few weeks now and understand that will probably be called for a medical / work assessment within the 13 week assessment period. Am also suffering from depression / anxiety and am now really worried and scared about the assessment after reading this thread.

I've worked all my life and this is my first experience of claiming benefits. I want to work again, just know that I'm not ready to right now. Am working with my GP and occupational therapist to build up my confidence and cope with my problems and get back into working (voluntary work first) very slowly.

It sounds like you have to wait ages for the the medical assessment itself and then the results of it. Can anyone tell me what happens if it goes over the 13 week assessment phase - do you still get the assessment stage rate until a decision is made? And if it is decided that you are fit for work do they ask for money back?

Sorry, like most people on this thread, I worry about every little thing, and it just snowballs...

healy

angus1 wrote: »

I've been claiming ESA for a few weeks now and understand that will probably be called for a medical / work assessment within the 13 week assessment period. Am also suffering from depression / anxiety and am now really worried and scared about the assessment after reading this thread.

I've worked all my life and this is my first experience of claiming benefits. I want to work again, just know that I'm not ready to right now. Am working with my GP and occupational therapist to build up my confidence and cope with my problems and get back into working (voluntary work first) very slowly.

It sounds like you have to wait ages for the the medical assessment itself and then the results of it. Can anyone tell me what happens if it goes over the 13 week assessment phase - do you still get the assessment stage rate until a decision is made? And if it is decided that you are fit for work do they ask for money back?

Sorry, like most people on this thread, I worry about every little thing, and it just snowballs...

Yes you still get the assessment stage rate until a decision has been made. If it is decided that you are fit for work they do not ask for the money back.

If you pass the medical you will be get any back pay you are due if a decision is made after the 13 weeks.

angus1

Thank you Healy. Perhaps you could help with another question. I asked on another thread whether it would be okay to do voluntary work whilst still in the assessment phase and ESA kindly answered that yes I can so long as I complete the necessary form.

I'm worried now that if I go for my assessment and tell them I'm doing voluntary work that they will think I'm fit for work and I'll not pass the medical. The voluntary work i'm talking about is a couple of hours a week washing dishes in the tiny village where I live. I worked full time before in a marketing job which I loved but they terminated my employment due to my illness. I do want to work again, but as I said before, I need to take it slowly.

I do have bills to pay though and we're only just managing so am scared of losing this benefit by going into voluntary work before I am assessed. I hope no one says that if I can do voluntary work then I am ok to work, it's not like that at all. I can't go anywhere alone, I suffer from severe anxiety and panic attacks. I feel though that I could try this as its a safe place and hopefully build on it as I do want to get better.

Thank you

healy

I cant really answer that as it would depend on how the Doctor/Nurse you see at the assessment views it.

It would not affect youre claim before you are assessed though.