Going for medicalfor incapacity benefit- what to expect ?

Cat72

Hi
Hopefully you can help. I have to go for a medical for my incapacity benefit next week.I know I filled out the questionaire form all wrong, so this does not help. I am wondering what to expect and what will happen. Also how do they rate your " incapacity" .My problem is have I have chronic fatigue syndrome , which varies in day to day symptoms. and also depression. I have been feeling ill since I heard about this medical as I am SO scared I will get my money stopped - and I worry so much as I have very little money.I know if they do stop it I would be entitled to JSA but I would have to reapply and this means having NO money coming in until they sort out their forms. The ridiculous thing is that I know no employer wopuld touch me with a barge pole and now since they have said I am getting a medical my moods have became much worse.I just want to give myself the best chance plus feel a bit better as to what is going to happen.

Fran

See Ted's Reply 3 on this thread - he gives a useful link re Incapacity Benefit questions.

Have a look at the questions and how many points you might get. If possible can you get to your local Citizens Advice Bureau or speak to another welfare benefits advisor in your area about the questionnaire?

Sarahsaver

You ought to take someone with you even if just for moral support. I had a medical last year and the doctor didnt believe anything.
I get fatigued because I have had a stroke, but the doc thought it was all down to being a woman - you know parenting, shopping, cooking, cleaning GRRR!
Good luck Cat, and take any letters from doctors or consultants if you have any.
xx

rushnowt

Hi Cat

I agree with what Sarah says about taking someone along with you, it will help to have someone familiar there.

Now most important try not to worry, theres nothing you can do until you get there and making yourself ill is not good for you.

When you do go for the medical be as specific as you can and dont worry about contridicting anything youve said on your forms, there not the easiest to fill in and things change.

My mum applied a couple of years ago when she had a lung removed due to cancer so I've been to these with her, weve seen a terrible doctor who thought she was making it all up and a really nice doctor after an appeal who really knew his job.

She was turned down for the benefit the first time but was granted it on appeal, so dont worry about it, and as Sarah says take all your letters and medication along with you.

Good luck x

Cat72

Rushnowt - Oh I am really sorry about your mum, its a shame she had to go through all that hassle.But thats the problem you have people who are much sickier than me going and they get turned down and treated like criminals.
I will be taking my boyfriend ( as all my family are dead ) but I dont want him to go in with me, as I cant bear for him to hear about the depression side.I tend to hide a lot of my illness from others. But I dont go out on my own anymore anyway. Where they are sending me is 30 miles away, the busy city centre, and much futher than I would normally go , even supervised. Thanks for your support - its nice. It would just be better if I knew what might happen. I read some of TEDS links , that helped a bit.

Fran

Cat,

You can have a home visit. Ring the centre where the medicals are held and tell them that part of your problem is that you have difficulty going out and can you have a home visit. You'll need a letter from your doctor - ask the centre if they can contact your doctor re this. If you contact your doctor you may be charged for his letter.

Ted_Hutchinson

PCA points calculator

The above calculator should if you answer the questions honestly give you an idea of how many points you should score and whether or not you should meet the threshold.

For those points that are relevant it would be worth thinking of recent examples of behaviours which meet those criteria so that when the Assessor asks you to describe your typical day you will be able to highlight those behaviours which match scoring criteria.

It may be that you sit in front of the tele.
If this is the case then you must explain in more detail whether or not you are able to concentrate throughout the program. The same might apply to listening to the radio or posting on the internet or reading a paper/book. If you find that much of the time this is beyond you as you are unable because of your condition to concentrate for long enough or remeber what you have read, then you must make this clear.
You will need to ensure you focuss your replies on your ability as it is most of the time or at your worst.

It may be that for parts of the day life is bearable however if this is all you relate to the assessor then it may happen that only these positive nuggets of information appear in the report. So do try to emphasise the tiredness, pain and lethargy and don't give any statements which may be regarded as positive.

Cat72

Thanks a lot Fran and Ted. I didnt know you could get a home visit but I had stated on my forms that I do not go out unaided. However I did the test and answered the questions the way I did on the form and not even as at my worst. I got 21 for physical and 15 for mental so I would qualify for benefits. I suppose its all about HOW the doctor asks these questions. Does he simply just ask if you can walk so far or does he make you? Will he ask me what I was like before ? But the fact that I passed for benefits made me feel better, a bit. I just want to get through this and make sure my money still comes in, so I dont lose my house, and so I can maybe concentrate in getting better. Probably a lot of you will understand that the additional pressure of worrying about money does not help at all.Obviously I would love to be back to the person I was before, and having the income too, but until that happens ( i do hope it does) I need some security of income in the meantime. I always answer questions honestly - but tend still to do to much myself - and I was told that social security can easily penalise you for this.
Thankyou SO much everyone who has replied. It does mean a lot to me - and others hopefully will get some help from your advice too.

Cat72

HI
I went for my medical today.My appointment was at 11 and I arrived at ten to as requested.The nice man at reception said there was an hours delay so to come back, rather than wait as in his words " it is one of the most depressing places ever ". So we came back and an hour and twenty minutes later I was taken.
I got a shock when I saw it as there was a lot of people - it was just like the crowded benefits office ( stupid me thought it would be more like a doctors with only a few people).
The doctor mainly asked questions and to be honest was VERY leading. On several occasions she tried to put words in my mouth.And she did skip over questions that I had expected her to ask ( ie she never asked if i answer the door or phone) .Things were not to bad but she asked me to the physical and then commented that I had NEW trainers .They are two months old , my others literally fell of my feet after 4 years,and cost the grand total of £12.00.They may look new as i never really go out! This toatlly threw me as she said I must go shopping if i bought new shoes! I pointed out that in the past year i had bought two items a jacket (which is now too big) and the shoes.Then she started " how often do i go to the hairdressers? " EEK I dont . My hair is very long and she would not believe me that i have not had it cut or coloured for a year.She keeped persistanting with this! Not the kind of question you expect in a medical.
My word of warning to others going is to wear your most horrid, ill fitting smelliest clothes - make sure even your socks are old. I am very serious and silly things seem to be scrutinised. Also I fail to see how the test in any way took into account CHRONIC FATIGUE so if this is your illness definatley go for the mental illness approach. I am now upset over today.I was very tired, exhausted but will probably be unable to sleep tonight because of the stress.Now I have three weeks to wait. I dont hold much hope.
Thanks for everyone who gave me advice before I went. If they fail me does that mean i go on income support and do i then have to sign on ( i could not take this ).

Fran

Cat,

It's easy to say... but try not to worry about it, at least for the three weeks:rolleyes:. You can appeal the decision anyway and get help with that.

Cat72

Hi Everybody
Well I went for my medical last wednesday and was told it would be at least 3 weeks before I heard anything. But I got a letter in this morning. I started to tremble anticipating the worst but I passed ! I am SO happy my income will go up dramatically compared to what it was ,plus I no longer will have to hand in sick lines.This means so much to me as the additional worry of money as not been helping me at all. Neither was the idea of form filling and appeals which I am stiil not up to. So a big thanks :beer: to you all especially the test and links that ted gave. I would definately recommend these to anyone having to go for this test. As you could easily be misled in to implying you were better than you really are. I was honest throughout the exam but but thanks to the advice on here remembered to give an account of how I am at my worst.
The only downside has been that sincethe medical , the distance I had to travel, the long waiting and stress of it all I have a relapse on my ME and have been unwell since. However I am SO glad its over and for once something went my way. Take care everyone - going for snooze now !!