Really confused about WCA and PCA, etc.

PopcornUK

Okay, I am currently on IB and have every year a PCA. I read about changes coming from February for existing claimants. I have tried to search and read through older threads on here but it is a bit confusing, or perhaps I am just thick, which is possible

So, the PCA is being wiped out early next year, yes ? For everyone ? Will the IB50 form still exist or will this be changed too ?

So if I get an appointment this year, it will be for PCA ? Does this mean a couple of months later I could also be called in for a WCA even if I pass the PCA ?

When I am called in for a PCA seems random, is it ? Or is there a method ? Sometimes it is within 6 months of my last one, and other times it is a 14 month gap.

What exactly is the procedure existing IB claimants will go through post February 2011 ? Is it still IB50 ====> Medical ======> Result ? Also what happens differently in a WCA compared to a PCA ? Also I don't understand what they mean about a trial at the end of the year in Manchester to see if the tests are fair, I thought the WCA has been happening for a good few months already ?

I also hear there are 3 ends to the result, one being Support Group, another Help and another Fit. What happens during the "help" group ? Also are these actual groups people attend, or is that just a name ?

Sorry for all the questions, any info appreciated, thanks.

amus

A PCA is a Personal Capability Assessment, a WCA is a Work Capability Assessment, so basically you may have a disability but the WCA goes on the premise that this does not necessarily mean you cannot work, therefore it asseses your work capabilities rather than personal capabilities. Between 2009 and 2013 the Govenment are phasing out IB and will eventually transfer everyone onto ESA (which uses the WCA to assess claimants). If you pass the WCA you will be transferred over to ESA, if you fail you will be moved o JSA. I presume if you are having to attend a WCA they will send you an ESA50 form to complete (which is similar to an IB50).

Im not too sure how the appointments will work i.e. when you would be called for a WCA, however, no the PCA appointments are not random. When you have your medical and you pass, the doctor who conducted the medical will give the DWP a period of time in which he/she expects you may improve, this can be 3 months, 6 months 12 months etc. So when the time period is up which the Dr has recommended is when you get called for another, give or take a couple of months.

The proceedure is still the same for a WCA, but it wil be ESA50, medical, result. As far as I am aware there is not much difference between the two medicals (I cant be certain as I have never been to either), but the descriptors (things used to assess your disability) are very similar, they are just scored differently.

The three groups are support group, for those most ill e.g. those undergoing cancer treatment, severe mental illness, Work Related Assessment Group (WRAG) - people in this group are required to attend work focused interviews at the job centre, with the eventual aim of finding suitable work, and the third group are those found fit for work, who could either appeal or claim JSA.

Hope this helps.

healy

amus wrote: »

A PCA is a Personal Capability Assessment, a WCA is a Work Capability Assessment, so basically you may have a disability but the WCA goes on the premise that this does not necessarily mean you cannot work, therefore it asseses your work capabilities rather than personal capabilities. Between 2009 and 2013 the Govenment are phasing out IB and will eventually transfer everyone onto ESA (which uses the WCA to assess claimants). If you pass the WCA you will be transferred over to ESA, if you fail you will be moved o JSA. I presume if you are having to attend a WCA they will send you an ESA50 form to complete (which is similar to an IB50).

Im not too sure how the appointments will work i.e. when you would be called for a WCA, however, no the PCA appointments are not random. When you have your medical and you pass, the doctor who conducted the medical will give the DWP a period of time in which he/she expects you may improve, this can be 3 months, 6 months 12 months etc. So when the time period is up which the Dr has recommended is when you get called for another, give or take a couple of months.

The proceedure is still the same for a WCA, but it wil be ESA50, medical, result. As far as I am aware there is not much difference between the two medicals (I cant be certain as I have never been to either), but the descriptors (things used to assess your disability) are very similar, they are just scored differently.

The three groups are support group, for those most ill e.g. those undergoing cancer treatment, severe mental illness, Work Related Assessment Group (WRAG) - people in this group are required to attend work focused interviews at the job centre, with the eventual aim of finding suitable work, and the third group are those found fit for work, who could either appeal or claim JSA.

Hope this helps.

The descriptors have changed a great deal especially for those being assessed under mental health. The questions are different and the chance of those with mental health problems of passing have been greatly reduced as evidenced by the numerous threads on this forum.

amus

healy wrote: »

The descriptors have changed a great deal especially for those being assessed under mental health. The questions are different and the chance of those with mental health problems of passing have been greatly reduced as evidenced by the numerous threads on this forum.

Well the descriptors looked the same on the score cards when I had a look, just an altered scoring system, but Ive never worked on IB and only had a quick glance of the IB descriptors so maybe I looked at the physical ones. Yes it is true far fewer pass the ESA medicals at present.

healy

amus wrote: »

Well the descriptors looked the same on the score cards when I had a look, just an altered scoring system, but Ive never worked on IB and only had a quick glance of the IB descriptors so maybe I looked at the physical ones. Yes it is true far fewer pass the ESA medicals at present.

The physical descriptors have not changed so much but the mental ones are almost completely different.