I'm a little confused by a form - any help?

Prinzessilein

I got a letter today from the DWP, it contains a form BF85A. The letter says they want to update my details, and the form is asking me for any changes in my condition.

Now, I am a chronic worrier, and get more than a little tense by things I don't understand. So I wondered if anyone can answer a couple of questions for me?

Is this letter/form a precursor to the ATOS interview?

I send sick/fit notes in every 6 months - wouldn't this show that my condition hasn't changed? So why do I need to fill in this form?

I'm not objecting to filling out the form, it's just that I've never had any forms before - only my application form for IB and then later DLA - and I feel better when I understand things!

yappycat

As far as I know the BF85A is sent out for purely adminstrative reasons to ensure that the DWP have the correct info for you on file. I get the impression that these forms are intended to be sent out far more often than they actually are. I guess no one at the DWP wants to make more administrative work for themselves than they need to which is why I guess they are more often than not overlooked.
You may want to do a bit more digging yourself rather than just taking my word for it, but as far as I can tell its just an exercise in checking that their current info is correct.

dmg24

Have you asked why you still have to send in sick notes?

Prinzessilein

dmg24 wrote: »

Have you asked why you still have to send in sick notes?

No, I haven't asked.

My mother/carer was going to ask for me. (The DWP have an agreement that she deals with phonecalls for me). We decided to ask when my last sick/fit note was due (about 5 1/2 months ago - the next one is due at the end of this month), but her own ill health meant that she couldn't do this. We then decided to wait until this next note is due.

dmg24

Prinzessilein wrote: »

No, I haven't asked.

My mother/carer was going to ask for me. (The DWP have an agreement that she deals with phonecalls for me). We decided to ask when my last sick/fit note was due (about 5 1/2 months ago - the next one is due at the end of this month), but her own ill health meant that she couldn't do this. We then decided to wait until this next note is due.

I don't want to worry you, but whilst I agree with yappycat that the form is a standard admin check, when it is processed it may highlight that your claim needs a review as something is wrong with your claim (have you ever had a PCA/ IB50 form?). If this is the case they *may* look at assessing you for ESA now. Equally if they have missed it up to now, they may process your form with no questions and leave you as you are.

Prinzessilein

PCA?...that's the Personal Capability Assessment? So a medical? No, I've never had a medical.

IB50? Some sort of form, is the IB for Incapacity Benefit? The only form for IB I ever completed was for my initial claim.

When I looked into the fact that I have never been called for a medical, I thought it might be because I have ASD and am elective/selective mute. I read that some clients with Aspergers/ASD are exempt from medicals.

dmg24

Prinzessilein wrote: »

PCA?...that's the Personal Capability Assessment? So a medical? No, I've never had a medical.

IB50? Some sort of form, is the IB for Incapacity Benefit? The only form for IB I ever completed was for my initial claim.

When I looked into the fact that I have never been called for a medical, I thought it might be because I have ASD and am elective/selective mute. I read that some clients with Aspergers/ASD are exempt from medicals.

You can be exempt, I used to be, but if that was the case you would have had a letter through saying that you were exempt and that you no longer needed to send in sick notes (your GP would have also had a letter to that effect).

I'm torn as to what to suggest - it could be easier not to do anything, but if you don't it could cause problems once the omission is discovered.

Prinzessilein

Thanks.

I'll obviously fill in the form I've been sent. I hope it's just an administration issue.

The sick/fit note is a trickier issue. I know for certain my claim is genuine, I have no problems with the DWP looking into any aspect. But I don't want to bring the ATOS interview any closer than it undoubtably is (I haven't had 'the' letter yet, but know it is a matter of time) - I have heard things about ATOS that make me seriously lack any faith in them.