Incapacity Benefit Review in Spain

seven-day-weekend

Yes Marcos, we could not afford to live on our income in the UK, that is one of the reasons why we are here.

System

Max_Fischer wrote:

The majority of people who fail the Personal Capabiltiy Assessment (PCA) are still the ones who fail to return the IB50 questionnaire on time, fail to turn up for the medical or do not have the backing of their own doctor (or their doctor was too lazy to back them up). Very few people who are ill and have a good GP backing them up will fail the PCA (and most of them will probably win an appeal).

In fact we're seeing more and more medical certificates annotated by the doctor (in secret code) asking us to start the PCA as they are too afraid to sign the person off themselves and would rather we done their job for them.

Also as GPs are now being pressurised by the government for issuing too many sick notes they're trying to get people off Incapacity Benefit either by signing them off or as a lot seem to prefer asking us to do their dirty work for them (at considerable expense to the taxpayer).

You would be surprised what GPs do behind their patient's back!

Also if your doctor fails to give us enough information or is too lazy to properly verify what you are telling us on the IB50 form then you'll obviously be more likely to fail as you'll be relying on what you've said on the IB50 form and how you perform at the medical.

Most other people though still pass the PCA.

It may appear that more people are failing. This is only because more people are actually being referred for PCAs than were a few years ago. But usually most people still pass the PCA.

The PCA section at my office has almost double the staff of 5 years ago whilst my section has barely changed.

A few years ago lots of PCAs were actually deferred as the resources just weren't there to do them. Now due to government targets and diversion of resources to Incapacity Benefits more PCA referrals are being made now than ever before.

Seven-day-weekend (who started this thread) is unusual in that they do not have a GP but from what has been posted it seems to me unlikely that they would fail.

max i have sent you a private message as im not sure of how to post on the open forum

saintjanet

trev1865 wrote:

max i have sent you a private message as im not sure of how to post on the open forum

I have not seen a posting by max recently, seems to have stopped advising.

SMC_2

Perhaps Max has had to stop posting about benefits as he actually works for DWP.

seven-day-weekend

AAAAAGH! :mad: :mad:

After recently having plucked up the courage to register with a Doctor here, and finding him kind and sympathetic, we now find that he has been moved from our village practice! :eek: :eek:

Something to do with him stating 'political views' I believe, my Spanish isn't good enough to pick out all the finer points.

The Doctor my husband saw today wasn't anywhere near as nice (However, he'd been sent here at short notice he was probably just p****d off).

Apparently there is a petition going around the village to get Dr Gomez back....we'll have to find where it is and sign it.

No news yet concerning the questionnaire, by the way!

Will keep you posted.

seven-day-weekend

I've just had a horrible thought.....I hope the IB people haven't written to Dr Gomez for further information......he's not there and the other doctor has only seen my husband about a crushed finger.

What do you think we should do? Anything or nothing?

hjb123

I would just leave it and wait and see what happens - after all the medical notes should show what he has been for and when and who he saw etc.

seven-day-weekend

*****UPDATE*****

My husband has passed the PCA without having to have a medical. We heard today.

Good news!

Hope this thread has helped someone!

!

Marcos

That is GREAT news, I hope I am as fortunate next year, my sysmptoms are no better including the mental problems I have. Like you say, at least it is sunnier here and cheaper to live.


I am pleased for you and you husband, took a while though didn't it? Is Dr Gomez back?

Marcos:beer:

SMC_2

Great news!! Must be such a relief for you!!!