i got phone call 6.30 this evening i have to attend a dhss medical

Ted_Hutchinson

pipkin71 wrote:

Thanks Natjaek.
Only reason I'm worried is all the stories going round about how unfair the medicals are. I have genuine health problems but so do many others who are having to appeal medical decisions.
Hopefully DSS will have got in touch with GP or hospital consultant to verify the answers I gave in the questionnaire, which is why it's taken so long.

In order for you not be too alarmed at my previous post I would like to reiterate what I have said several times and that is that in general Medical Services reports are fair and do support the claimant. While I am certain that some of the doctors they employ are on "special rates" the majority are not and for the most part their reports support the claimant in as far as the test criteria are concerned.
See

IB214 A guide to the personal capability assessment and if you are very worried
IB Handbook

the_blue_angel

i was up all night with anxiety abount going to medical

Dalkirst

pipkin71 wrote:

I filled in my questionnaire and posted on 9th Feb. Have heard nothing since then. Is that a good thing? Really worried about what happens next.

Don't worry about it i filled in my form and sent it off on 20th December and only got a letter back at the beginning of this month and they said i didn't have to go to a medical:)

the_blue_angel

Dalkirst wrote:

Don't worry about it i filled in my form and sent it off on 20th December and only got a letter back at the beginning of this month and they said i didn't have to go to a medical:)

but i have filled in the form and they phone me up to attend a medical on the 27 of this month and the cab helped me

beanielou

I filled in my form at beginning of Feb.
Got word last week benefit to continue.
May be reviwed in 5 years!
I have Cerebral Palsy.

the_blue_angel

hjb123 wrote:

When you go make sure that you take someone with you. They will ask you quite a few questions and if you struggle on any you have someone there to back you up or to help you etc. I had to go for one back in October and never took anyone with me - and definately regretted it! If you want to know anything more PM me!


what question do they ask you i am now starting to get alot of anxiety worrying what they will ask can you give me some advice was your claim sucsessful

aussielle

have a read of this and try not to worry too much. Make sure you take any medication you take with you, you will be asked to show it. Also, if you have any supporting evidence, ie consultant/ specialist report or letter from your GP take that along too. Some of the questions are similiar to these;

What time to you get up/ go to bed/how do you sleep?

Who does the shopping/cooks the meals?

Who do you live with? Do you cry a lot?

Do you watch television/can you read a book?

Can cope with personal care yourself (washing/dressing yourself) or do you require help? who helps you?

Can you walk up a flight of stairs unaided?

Who does the housework/how long do you spend per day doing housework?

Just answer the questions as honestly as you can, and remember to emphasize how your problems affect you on the WORST days....don't focus on how things are for you on 'good' days, qualifying to continue for the benefit is usually dependent upon you scoring the most points.

If the worst comes to the worst, don't panic, you can appeal and the CAB will be able to help you with that.

Dalkirst

the_blue_angel wrote:

but i have filled in the form and they phone me up to attend a medical on the 27 of this month and the cab helped me

Sorry i don't understand what relevance that has to what i said?
Thought i'd just point out that you can go 2 or 3 months like i did without hearing anything:)

the_blue_angel

has anybody else been for this test on forums i filled in form with cab and i get a form back saying you dont need to go for medical as you qualify but this year ther are sending for a medical

Ted_Hutchinson

the_blue_angel wrote:

has anybody else been for this test on forums i filled in form with cab and i get a form back saying you dont need to go for medical as you qualify but this year ther are sending for a medical

The decision to ask you to attend for a medical will be affected by many different and random matters over which you have no control.
The Decision Maker will have some imput as they can ask to have a claimant checked but a proportion of claimants will be checked anyway irrespective of what they have written. Medical Services are a profit making organisation and their turnover will be influenced by the number of claimants they have to examine. To some extent therefore they can ensure they have a steady workflow by sending people for assessment simply because they have appointments vacant and the last thing they want is a dr sitting in a Medical Centre doing nothing but waiting for the next claimant to examine. They can also reduce the number of claimants called for assessment if the waiting time is getting too long.
So try not to worry or read into the fact that you have been called anything sinister. The DWP are trying to get as many people as possible seen and will therefore be pushing Medical Services as much as possible, last year there was quite a spate of people who should be exempt from PCA being called quite unnecessarily, but failing to submit to assessment is grounds for termination of benefit in itself so not attending, even if you think it is a stupid waste of your time is not a good idea. If pointing out to the IB decision maker that you are in an exempt category isn't sufficient to cancel the appointment then attend and before the Assessor starts the examination point out to him your concerns that as your are in an exempt category the assessment has no legal basis and see the reaction. If you are right then the assessment should be terminated, if the assessor disagrees with you then I am sure the reasons for any difference of opinion will be explained to you. However, rather than risk being thought to be refusing to submit to assessment, make it clear that you are willing to be assessed, it's just that you don't want the GP to be put in an embarrasing postion of acting unlawfully .