personal capability assessment

saintjanet

The government do intend to try to get people off ib but this is a ten year plan and takes into account people coming off by choice,by not coming on in the first place,when people retire and even when they die!! it remains to be seen if they can achieve these figures.I dont think it is a witch hunt against existing claimant so dont worry about that.

It is strange though that people are being sent ib50 s after so long though.

As far as the interviews are concerned we will just have to see long term,i do know that people have been sent for them who are sick but have a job to go back to,so do not really need any advice about finding one.!!

healy

saintjanet wrote:

When this was announced by the government,it was stated that all new claimants would be required to attend work focused interviews.I think the confusion lies in the fact that the announcement was made long before the interviews were to begin taking place.

For this reason people coming onto ib in the ensuing period would then be expected to have them at this later date.Not existing claimants from before the idea was thought of.This was discussed on another site and was confirmed by a welfare rights adviser at the time,only wish i could direct you to this.Perhaps they changed this at a later date,i dont know.

In any case it is simply an interview anyway,nothing to really worry about.

The following is a quote from the Jobcentreplus website:Pathways to Work
On 4th July 2006, Jim Murphy, Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reforms announced the Government's intention to extend the successful Pathways to Work support to all new and repeat incapacity benefit (IB) customers by April 2008.

saintjanet

healy wrote:

The following is a quote from the Jobcentreplus website:Pathways to Work
On 4th July 2006, Jim Murphy, Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reforms announced the Government's intention to extend the successful Pathways to Work support to all new and repeat incapacity benefit (IB) customers by April 2008.

Extend it to existing claimants,not make it compulsory as it was explained by tony blair at the time on tv,perhaps HE was wrong,really cant argue any more got to go out sorry.

lemontart

a friend of mine has had one 2 yrs on trot and now another this yr.

Chrysalis

after a PCA awarding benefit it will tell you how long it is for, if it says a year then it could be anything upwards from a year, then an ib50 form would get sent out and you usually have a month to return it, after that it could be many months before its processed due to the heavy strain of the system payments will still be paid during the wait.

IB50 renewals can be lower then a year I have seen 6 months.

healy

saintjanet wrote:

Extend it to existing claimants,not make it compulsory as it was explained by tony blair at the time on tv,perhaps HE was wrong,really cant argue any more got to go out sorry.

New and repeat are lumped in together so that sounds compulsory to me, if you dont believe me read the details on the DWP site.

lemontart

she was told would loose benefit if did not attend though not compulsory not a lot of choice really.

beth
xx

SMC_2

Chrysalis wrote:

after a PCA awarding benefit it will tell you how long it is for, if it says a year then it could be anything upwards from a year, QUOTE]

This doesn't happen in every case. I have never had that states how long it has been awarded for.

recovering_spendaholic

I hope some of you will be able to give me some information and advice. I went on IB in July, after being diagnosed with paroxysmal Atrial fibrillation and flutter, which is an abnormal heart rhythmn. After being diagnosed I started getting panic attacks and terrible anxiety and the GP signed me off and I claimed IB, which I was granted. After about 8 weeks I was called in for interview and I explained to the adviser that I was waiting for two separate surgical procedures to fix my heart problem, and once it was sorted I would be able, hopefully, to go back to work. She said that was fine and took down the details of the hospital and the consultant. Since then my anxiety has got worse and the cardiologist has said that the earliest they will be able to do the procedures is March for the first one and possibly May for the second one. Today I got an IB50 questionnaire and it has made me all anxious. I cannot do a job at the moment and if it means I lose my benefit then so be it. I only claim IB as I get maintenance from ex OH and he doesn't want me claiming income support in case the CSA get involved. I can just about manage on what I have coming in but I am really scared at the thought of going for a medical or getting my benefit stopped. I have filled in the questionnaire and I have to get a MED4 form from my GP to return with the form. What is this? When I rang the practice they said I had to come in and see the GP about it, which is adding to my stress. I have stated on the form that I am hoping to get the procedures done in March and May, after which I will start to look for work. I know it is irrational to be this worried but I am really upset - I have never claimed any kind of benefit before and I am finding it really stressful and am scared it is going to kick my heart problems off again. Sorry for the long post.

hjb123

Just a quick question -

if you are on Incapacity Benefit and have to attend interviews etc - you are ill and catn attend - does this mean your benefit would be stopped? I have CFS/ME and certainly wouldnt be able to say yet I can do that day - I hope to be back to work soon but am not quite ready but its going to be hard to find an employer who wants me!