Ib50

Paul_Varjak

I made a claim for Incapacity Benefit about nearly 10 years ago. I don't believe I have been asked to complete an IB50 form since; that is until a few days ago. I have not been asked for a MED4.

Is it usual for claimants not to fill in IB50 at regulat intervals? If so, why have I been asked this time? I suspect it may be to do with someone making a false report claiming I am not disabled!

healy

Everyone who is not in an exempt group from the Personal Capability Assessment (PCA) should have to regularly fill in an IB50. If you are not in an exempt group you should have received IB50s to fill in before now.

Paul_Varjak

I thought I was in an exempt Group! When I completed the IB50 about 8 years ago I did not have to attend a medical and got the following reply after completing the IB50:

Because you satisfied the incapacity test, this means that we will carry on paying you benefit.

And the following sentence was DELETED: "We may ask you to fill in another from IB50 and attend a medical examination at a later date if you are still getting benefit or National Insurance credits then."

I am convinced I got another IB50 as result of someone reporting me for falsely claiming Incapacity Benefit! That person publically stated on Consumer Action Group that he was reporting me. That same person was also banned from MSE in August 2006!

zzzLazyDaisy

Hi Paul, have you checked if you are exempt?

People on high rate care component of DLA are exempt, as are people with certain conditions.

Also, some people with certain conditions, while not 'exempt' automatically get the full points for that condition. For example, you get 15 points is you have no voluntary control over your bowels. Someone with a colostomy or ileostomy, who wears a bag, has no voluntary control. So they automatically get the 15 points needed for a physical disability, and as long as they have a doctor's letter to confirm this, would not have to attend a medical, though they may have to complete for IB50 from time to time.

I have heard, however, of claimants in exempt categories receiving form IB50 in error, so if you believe you are exempt, it is worth querying this.

Hope this helps

Daisy

saintjanet

The DWP are sending out ib50's,to loads of people ,who have not had one for many years,a friend of the family,not exempt,who last had one 12 years ago , has recently been sent one.He has been on ib and invalidity before it, since 1992 and is now 63!!may reach 64 before he gets a decision,and there is no chance he could go back to work with his condition if he was 23.

Paul_Varjak

I think I really have nothing to fear. The DWP tell me that they select people at random to send an IB50 to. My condition is certainly worse than it was when I passed the Incapacity Test in 1999; in fact, I was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2002 but the doctors only told me of this about two years later, when they decided their diganosis was wrong!

If, for some inexplicable reason, my Incapacity Benefit were ceased, I have no doubt that I would be all day at the computer to generate income from those websites that pay for clicks! At least that level of physical activity I know will not do me any harm!

smithja

I know some people will use this to their advantage (fraudulently), but sometimes it is very difficult to know what the DWP need to know to find you "unfit for work". You would do well to go to the CAB, or a welfare rights adivsor, or you can simply find the manual and points system the DWP uses on the net. It is particularly difficult with mental health problems as there is a big empty box, you might be very unwell and unfit for work, but write nothing in it the DWP can use to help you.

Hope this helps.

James

Paul_Varjak

When I completed the first IB50 some years ago I did look at the criteria then and made sure that I included all the relevant information then. I also kept a copy of the completed IB50 - which I located within two minutes of receiving the second IB50!

It was interesting to see just how my physical disabilities have changed over the past few years. My overall condition is worse but some small aspects of my condition are actually a little better! So, unless the scoring system has changed to my detriment (the IB50 is almost identical to the one I received 8 years ago), then I really have nothing to worry about.