New Claim Incapacity Benefit / Sick Note Problem

Jack21_2

Hiya,

I would really appreciate some help here!

Last week (Thursday 17th May) I claimed over the phone for Incapacity Benefit and for it to be backdated from 1st Feb 2007.

Claim pack only just came through today, as did my sick notes..trouble is when I applied for Incap Benefit, I explained that the reason Im unable to go for jobs, is anxiety and depression, however my Doctors (well, two seperate GPs that I've seen) have issued me with two seperate sick notes.

On the one sick note, it stated the reason for my inability to work at present, as being 'Debility' - What the hell?! How vague is that?!

The GP in question has known me for 8 years and knows all about my depression, anxiety and problems associated with alcoholism..and yet writes ' debility' to cover me from 17th May for 2 weeks..how do I explain this to the benefits people when I take these forms in to the Jobcentre tomorrow?

The second GP who Ive seen more recently over the last few months, has (as I requested) provided me with a backdated sick note to cover me for the 1st Feb until the 16th May, and rather than write 'anxiety and depression' on that sick note, has decided to instead write 'Substance Misuse' ...well alcohol dependency has most definetely been a problem on and off for years and this has been the year Ive bitten the bullet and asked for help with cracking it.

However, Im worried what the Jobcentre people tomorrow will think of me when faced with 'Substance Misuse' on my sick note..will they accept this as a valid reason for my recent inability to work, and will they allow me to claim IB? Also, Im praying that they will backdate this claim from the 1st Feb as I said, but Im worried they will laugh me out of their office wondering why I didnt claim earlier..(I should've I know, however, I simply didnt have my head together back then..but now I really need the money.)

Any ideas how they'll view all this guys?

Any help / experience of the above would be most appreciated!

Many Thanks,

Jack

healy

It doesnt matter what is on the sick notes - they will accept your claim as it is just a sick note that is required.

As to backdating, it is possible to get it backdated for up to 3 months so if they do backdate it it will not be to the 1st of Feb.

Jack21_2

Thank You for your reply.

Well, today I took the forms / sick notes into the local JobCentre, and they were to post them off to their payment processing dpt, where apparently they will then make a decision as to whether or not backdate my IB payment.

Im very worried that they will take one look at my sick note ('Substance Misuse'..still cant believe my GP wrote this..) and will forget about backdating it!

However, I did get through to a very helpful Lady within the payments processing dpt earlier in the week who took my NI number / name, and promised to keep an eye out for my paperwork. So, I'll be giving her a bell tomorrow to double check if they can backdate it.

Any experience anyone re the backdating of claims? Is it just a case of the mood they're in on the day?

Im quite worried!

Many Thanks,

Jack

Yogibear

could you not go to your local welfare rights office they will help you I am sure,you`ll get their number if you google it.

Jack21_2

Thanks yogi, I'll give my local CAB a call next week as I have a feeling things aren't going to be straightforward after today!

Ive been told that due to not having enough NI contributions, I'm ineligible for Incapacity Benefit, thus my forms were forwarded on to the Income Support team instead.

I then panicked a bit as I don't think on the original forms the Income Support element was to be backdated from 17th Feb, but from the 17th May instead.

Anyway, I called up and spoke to a very helpful Lady who promised to send them a note to request a backdated payment from 17th May.

I chased them up this afternoon, and apparently my claim 'being processed', and will probably be done in a couple of days - ie - next Wednesday

The guy couldn't give me a definitive answer re backdating, but seemed to think they only generally go from the date you phone up to claim when it comes to Income Support.

Alas, they have my sick notes going back to 1st Feb, and the balls rolling so I'll chase them up next Tuesday and see whats happening.

Does anybody know what I can do to help my case here regarding asking them to backdate my Income Support claim, without looking like Im pestering them?!

Many Thanks,

Jack

Jack21_2

Anyway, I called up and spoke to a very helpful Lady who promised to send them a note to request a backdated payment from 17th May.

What I meant to say was a backdated payment from 17th Feb!

Cheers,

Jack

cattie

Substance misuse is a valid reason accepted by DWP for incapacity purposes, so if this is what is worrying you, then worry not.

In fact with the government trying to crack down on the amount of people going sick citing depression & anxiety, if you get called for a medical with the DWP the substance abuse might work more in your favour when coupled with the associated mental health issues.

real1314

On what grounds are you asking for the claim to be backdated to 1st Feb?

They take your claim from the date you contact them. If there's some sort of earlier contact, they can sometimes backdate to then, or if there was a good reason why you could not claim, they may be able to backdate, but usually only up to 1 month.

my_two_cents

Since the reason you are going on income support is due to the fact that you had not paid enough NI contribution, it will be backdated to the same period as incapacity benefit.

Jack21_2

Cattie - Thanks for helping put my mind at rest re the sick note.

Real1314 - I've asked for the claim to be backdated from 17th Feb, due to my being too depressed to leave my house back then. I didn't have my head together in order to claim.


my-two-cents - Thank You, this is the reason that they at the local DWP office gave me for putting my claim through as Income Support rather than Incap Benefit - due to my not having paid enough NI.

Do you really think they'll backdate my claim for Income Support from 17th Feb? Im worried they won't after talking to one of their employees yesterday...
He told me they generally only backdate I.S. claims so far in rare extreme circumstances and couldnt really advise me either way

So, it looks like I'll have to wait until Tuesday for a definitive answer

Thanks again all :cool:

buff-tom

Hi, my background is as a new claims adviser for JCP, you will need to continue sending sick notes in to qualify for Income Support. You will be getting Incapacity Benefit - NI credits only.

As for back dating your claim - you need to have a good reason to not have contacted them before they will point out that someone could have asked for the form for you, you could have phoned ect. Please be aware that the advisers do not make the rules and they will try and help if there is a way around it.

Good luck.