IB50 question

krato

I'm expecting my IB50 form to arrive within the next few weeks. I really hate how I get it just before Christmas, all of November and December I have this horrible nervous feeling in my stomach and it spoils my Christmas completely as I usually have to wait a week or two after Christmas until I receive a reply. I'm sure most other people who get this form feel similar, as it's the most degrading thing in the world to fill in!

Anyway to make it short, I have Mental Health problems, OCD, Anxiety, depression social phobia and a few other problems. I don't leave the house, haven't done so for 5 years and my Psychologist is currently referring me for an Aspergers assessment which is anxiety provoking enough without the IB50.

Part of the IB50 requires you to write an essay to qualify for the benefit. Everytime I've written a short 1 page note saying how my problems affect me I've been requested for a medical which is extremely traumatic for me, sometimes I just want to cancel my claim and not bother with all the hassle, if it wasn't for people around me I would have done that by now! But last year I wrote a long 5 page letter explaining all the little and large problems I experience due to my illnesses, I made sure to include all of the required points with the help of some benefits websites, I guess it helped as I wasn't asked to attend a medical.

My problems haven't changed since then so the letter will be pretty much the same content just worded differently, it makes sense to just submit the same letter as last year, it would take the pain, and humility out of getting help to write another one. Would I be allowed to send the same letter with it, or do they compare your letter to the previous year?

Also I'm still on IS/IB I've not had any information about moving on to ESA yet, does anyone know when this is expected to happen?

I'll probably be attracting those who despise benefit claimants, and comments like "we give you our money, the least you could do is write a letter and not reuse the one from your previous claim" tbh if you feel like that, I've already said it, so there's no need to comment.

I hope someone is decent enough out there to help me with this one!

Kind Regards

Krato

FTW

krato wrote: »

I'm expecting my IB50 form to arrive within the next few weeks. I really hate how I get it just before Christmas, all of November and December I have this horrible nervous feeling in my stomach and it spoils my Christmas completely as I usually have to wait a week or two after Christmas until I receive a reply. I'm sure most other people who get this form feel similar, as it's the most degrading thing in the world to fill in!

Anyway to make it short, I have Mental Health problems, OCD, Anxiety, depression social phobia and a few other problems. I don't leave the house, haven't done so for 5 years and my Psychologist is currently referring me for an Aspergers assessment which is anxiety provoking enough without the IB50.

Part of the IB50 requires you to write an essay to qualify for the benefit. Everytime I've written a short 1 page note saying how my problems affect me I've been requested for a medical which is extremely traumatic for me, sometimes I just want to cancel my claim and not bother with all the hassle, if it wasn't for people around me I would have done that by now! But last year I wrote a long 5 page letter explaining all the little and large problems I experience due to my illnesses, I made sure to include all of the required points with the help of some benefits websites, I guess it helped as I wasn't asked to attend a medical.

My problems haven't changed since then so the letter will be pretty much the same content just worded differently, it makes sense to just submit the same letter as last year, it would take the pain, and humility out of getting help to write another one. Would I be allowed to send the same letter with it, or do they compare your letter to the previous year?

Also I'm still on IS/IB I've not had any information about moving on to ESA yet, does anyone know when this is expected to happen?

I'll probably be attracting those who despise benefit claimants, and comments like "we give you our money, the least you could do is write a letter and not reuse the one from your previous claim" tbh if you feel like that, I've already said it, so there's no need to comment.

I hope someone is decent enough out there to help me with this one!

Kind Regards

Krato

Is there no-one from Citizens Advice, Welfare Rights, or someone your current psychologist can refer you to (possibly assign a CPN) who can help you with the form-filling side of things?

Yes, the medical itself feels like Death Row to those who know how they're being done, and unfortunately, it's an unavoidable process.

What I always recommend (and you can quite legally do this) is to secretly audio-record that assessment.

This is so that you'll have a much stronger case if you appeal a report that revokes you from sickness benefits, and you find the content of that report to be wrong/unreflective of your medical status.

Atos, the company that does the assessments for the DWP, is sometimes called 'The Lourdes of the DWP', for their miracle cures of severely incapicitating afflictions like terminal cancer cases, and suddenly giving such people the ability to work.

In other words, they're frequently dishonest charlatans whose information routinely kicks people off sickness benefits mainly - because the contract they have with the government stipulates it.

You may be lucky to get a fair and proper medical, but it's best to be well prepared just the same.

There are far too many cases of wrong medicals to assume that your own will be a fair and correct one.

healy

krato wrote: »

I'm expecting my IB50 form to arrive within the next few weeks. I really hate how I get it just before Christmas, all of November and December I have this horrible nervous feeling in my stomach and it spoils my Christmas completely as I usually have to wait a week or two after Christmas until I receive a reply. I'm sure most other people who get this form feel similar, as it's the most degrading thing in the world to fill in!

Anyway to make it short, I have Mental Health problems, OCD, Anxiety, depression social phobia and a few other problems. I don't leave the house, haven't done so for 5 years and my Psychologist is currently referring me for an Aspergers assessment which is anxiety provoking enough without the IB50.

Part of the IB50 requires you to write an essay to qualify for the benefit. Everytime I've written a short 1 page note saying how my problems affect me I've been requested for a medical which is extremely traumatic for me, sometimes I just want to cancel my claim and not bother with all the hassle, if it wasn't for people around me I would have done that by now! But last year I wrote a long 5 page letter explaining all the little and large problems I experience due to my illnesses, I made sure to include all of the required points with the help of some benefits websites, I guess it helped as I wasn't asked to attend a medical.

My problems haven't changed since then so the letter will be pretty much the same content just worded differently, it makes sense to just submit the same letter as last year, it would take the pain, and humility out of getting help to write another one. Would I be allowed to send the same letter with it, or do they compare your letter to the previous year?

Also I'm still on IS/IB I've not had any information about moving on to ESA yet, does anyone know when this is expected to happen?

I'll probably be attracting those who despise benefit claimants, and comments like "we give you our money, the least you could do is write a letter and not reuse the one from your previous claim" tbh if you feel like that, I've already said it, so there's no need to comment.

I hope someone is decent enough out there to help me with this one!

Kind Regards

Krato

You could send the same letter if you want. I do not know if they compare it with your last review but I would imagine that they do not have the time to do that especially these days.

You were lucky to not be called for a medical last time because most people with mental health problems are called for a medical unless they have severe problems and are exempt.

The transfer to ESA has started in Aberdeen and Burnley and it is planned for the rest of the Country to start the transition in February of 2011.

The majority of claimants have a fair medical, unfortunately forums like this highlight those that do not.

cit_k

Im actually amazed they did not call you for a medical on the strenght of just the IB50 form, it seems to be very rare to hear of that happening.

I doubt they would compare previous claim info with current claim info unless they are investigating for suspected fraud.

These days, I doubt they would even read the current info, I know for sure they did not read my latest esa form I sent in (or if they did, they completely ignored what I requested, which is equally as bad if not worse).

However, a tribunal could take into account previous info if it is relavent to the procedings...

krato

healy wrote: »

You were lucky to not be called for a medical last time because most people with mental health problems are called for a medical unless they have severe problems and are exempt.

Ahh, you just scrapped and glimmer of hope I had for this year!

Due to my problems the only thing I'm worried about is actually going for the medical, and the time leading up to the medical, once I've had the medical I'll be perfectly fine. I usually go with my mum, but I hate talking about my "problems" in front of her (even though I believe its everyone else who has a problem with me being different lol) yet I can't go on my own. I had a welfare officer a couple of years ago but they were completely useless, I can fill out the forms fine, if not better than the welfare officer I had (she failed my DLA claim because she didn't know what she was doing). Getting help for the form will cause me more stress due to appointments, and going out etc. I just about manage to go to my Psychology/Psychiatry appointments without bailing out at last minute, though I do require a lot of persistent persuasion and encouragement from my partner to go, appointments just make things worse for me =[

I don't think I'd be able to cope with another medical and I'd probably just cancel my claim as it gets far too much for me to deal with. I just need to prevent a medical as much as possible and last years letter seemed to do the job, whether it was just luck or not I don't know.

I can't see me getting better any time soon, especially if my Aspergers assessment comes through positive, my psychologist is giving up on me because I'm "too complicated" and my Psychiatrist is terrible and doesn't really want to know anything. I can't see me doing these IB50 and medicals for much longer... maybe I should fall for the Tories plans and scrap my benefit claims and just become homeless.

krato

cit_k wrote: »

However, a tribunal could take into account previous info if it is relavent to the procedings...

Never thought about that! Oh dear, I best get writing again then

Just out of curiosity how long are other peoples "letters"?

tangerine2

Yes send in a copy of your last letter with any recent changes. If they want you to attend a medical ring them up and say you can't attend because of the way you feel. They will say you wuld be able to have a home visit if you get your doc to fax a letter confirming your illness. Sometimes this is sufficient to grant you your IB without any further action.

krato

tangerine2 wrote: »

Yes send in a copy of your last letter with any recent changes. If they want you to attend a medical ring them up and say you can't attend because of the way you feel. They will say you wuld be able to have a home visit if you get your doc to fax a letter confirming your illness. Sometimes this is sufficient to grant you your IB without any further action.

I guess I could amend my previous letter and change it about a bit rather than rewriting it completely. I don't know if to mention anything about the possibility of having Aspergers or not as I'm still waiting for the referral for that.

I've heard bad things of home visits, my GP would probably charge me for writing the letter, they seem to do that for everything these days, and it's another appointment that I have to put up with, so I may as well settle for a 'non home visit' medical if I decide to put up with one...

cit_k

krato wrote: »

Never thought about that! Oh dear, I best get writing again then

Just out of curiosity how long are other peoples "letters"?

Mine have varied from just the form itself (with not much written on it really) to fully filled in form with 10 pages of detailed notes supplied in addition.

Called to medical regardless of much was written.

tangerine2

krato wrote: »

I guess I could amend my previous letter and change it about a bit rather than rewriting it completely. I don't know if to mention anything about the possibility of having Aspergers or not as I'm still waiting for the referral for that.

I've heard bad things of home visits, my GP would probably charge me for writing the letter, they seem to do that for everything these days, and it's another appointment that I have to put up with, so I may as well settle for a 'non home visit' medical if I decide to put up with one...

Just write a letter to the Surgery and get someone to drop it in. They don't charge. I presume you do see your GP for meds.

Not being able to attend a medical is proof for a start that you can't go out.

Breast_Cancer_Survivor

krato wrote: »

I'm expecting my IB50 form to arrive within the next few weeks. I really hate how I get it just before Christmas, all of November and December I have this horrible nervous feeling in my stomach and it spoils my Christmas completely as I usually have to wait a week or two after Christmas until I receive a reply. I'm sure most other people who get this form feel similar, as it's the most degrading thing in the world to fill in!

Anyway to make it short, I have Mental Health problems, OCD, Anxiety, depression social phobia and a few other problems. I don't leave the house, haven't done so for 5 years and my Psychologist is currently referring me for an Aspergers assessment which is anxiety provoking enough without the IB50.

Part of the IB50 requires you to write an essay to qualify for the benefit. Everytime I've written a short 1 page note saying how my problems affect me I've been requested for a medical which is extremely traumatic for me, sometimes I just want to cancel my claim and not bother with all the hassle, if it wasn't for people around me I would have done that by now! But last year I wrote a long 5 page letter explaining all the little and large problems I experience due to my illnesses, I made sure to include all of the required points with the help of some benefits websites, I guess it helped as I wasn't asked to attend a medical.

My problems haven't changed since then so the letter will be pretty much the same content just worded differently, it makes sense to just submit the same letter as last year, it would take the pain, and humility out of getting help to write another one. Would I be allowed to send the same letter with it, or do they compare your letter to the previous year?

Also I'm still on IS/IB I've not had any information about moving on to ESA yet, does anyone know when this is expected to happen?

I'll probably be attracting those who despise benefit claimants, and comments like "we give you our money, the least you could do is write a letter and not reuse the one from your previous claim" tbh if you feel like that, I've already said it, so there's no need to comment.

I hope someone is decent enough out there to help me with this one!

Kind Regards

Krato

I have asperger's, depression & anxiety and sent my IB50 off in September but still haven't heard whether I need to go for a medical or not.

I filled the form in very thoroughly as usual & i'm presuming that it was thorough enough to not need a medical again as I haven't had to have one since 2006 when I first claimed IB.