incapacity benefit, doctor!

Natty68

I would just like to add that every time I have been for an IB medical I have had no trouble at all. I wasn't sure whether it was because I have a mental health condition and due to it being a grey area they were particularly good to me, that they passed me.

The last time was just under 2 years ago and I had to have the full medical where the examining Dr asked me the whole list of things that was on the medical forms. It did help that I had also prepared a list of things that I could and couldn't do for them to take into consideration. I also went along with my husband who eventually spoke for me as it was too much for me in the end.

Regarding my DLA I have never had a problem with them either, and the most recent claim came back at the beginning of May as being an open ended claim (no deadline date!) where as the previous ones have all had a two year claim deadline.

I have now been claiming IB for 14 years and DLA for 6 - so in my opinion if you are honest to the examiner then you have nothing to worry about.

Also I feel that a lot of acceptance/denials tend to fall in whatever your Primary Care Trust area is. Some are better at accepting you whereas others are high in the denials..

DenBo_4

I beg to differ Natty68, "I have now been claiming IB for 14 years and DLA for 6 - so in my opinion if you are honest to the examiner then you have nothing to worry about." is a tad insulting IMHO. :eek: I was totally honest, I am disabled, I had no trouble getting a blue badge and that had to go through council checks, doctor's n specialist's reports etc. I am now going to appeal, I see a Welfare Benefits man, who remarked that he had a lot of people coming to him who had either failed a PCA or had been refused DLA, and they had all been seen by Dr *****, and my WRO said that this man had caused much heartache to many people.

When the WRO saw my completed DLA form, doctor's and specialist's reports he was amazed that I was awarded nothing. We asked to see the Incapacity Doctor's report, it was absolutely amazing, if I hadn't been in the room with this man I would have imagined he was talking about someone else!:mad:

I have Fibromyalgia, which is a chronic pain condition and includes, amongst many things, chronic fatigue. I also have osteoarthritis, I am unable to do many things and need help dressing, cooking, getting out of bed etc. But I don't look disabled, I don't use a stick and so I have a "hidden disability".

BUT IT'S A DISABILITY ALL THE SAME!!

Being honest does not come into whether you pass a PCA, and yes, I agree people with mental health issues appear to pass easier, as I did.

AJB135

Hello Everyone


Please can anyone tell me how long they had to wait from sending the Ib50 form to when you get a reply saying you are getting IB or not( or when someone says you have to come in for a medical.)

I am just waiting nervously at the moment.

Many Thanks in advance.

AJB135

seven-day-weekend

It can take ages. My husband waited around four months, but I have heard of it taking as long as six months.

Chrysalis

Morglin wrote: »

Most EMP's are fine, and write honest reports.

Just be sure that you sign nothing you don't agree with (although some areas have rolled out pilot schemes so that the claimant doesn't have to sign anyway, and it's all done on a laptop).

Have someone with you.

You can always appeal the award, if the medical report does not reflect the true situation.

Lin

Honest in that they following guidelines, and these guidelines state they are not to simply state a medical opinion they are told to decide if they think the claimant is lying and defrauding the system which a doctor shouldnt be doing. Also the way these medicals work its quite possible to completely misinterpret a claimant as generally now the computerised medical questionaire simply asks the EMP questions which he answers so many relevant parts of the illness can go unaddressed, also assumptions get made based on certian things eg. if you used a bus to get to the medical they assume you can deal with the public and have no or little mobility problems, they dont take into account you may be sitting on the bus in extreme pain and its the first time you done it for a long time. Undiagnosed conditions particurly suffer in medicals.

Its right advice to be honest but I say also be careful and assume just because you been honest you will get a right judgement if there is any doubt in the EMP mind its likely they will not give you enough points.

Chrysalis

Morglin wrote: »

No, she won't........most EMP examinations are done in the doctors office, and many are no problem at all.:rolleyes:

They are reluctant to do home visits unless there is a valid reason.

Most EMP's are honest and truthful - a few aren't, but if they aren't then there is a complaints system through Atos Origin (who supply them).


Lin

The new computerised reports a claimant cannot verify whats put in is correct before sent off and as such cannot sign it as accurate.

You dont find it dubious that the company that does the medicals also handles complaints?

There has been numerous reports of altered hand written reports where the EMP would alter it after the claimant signed it so not enough points would be rewarded, the new lima system doesnt even allow the claimant to see whats been put in.

seven-day-weekend

Chrysalis wrote: »

Honest in that they following guidelines, and these guidelines state they are not to simply state a medical opinion they are told to decide if they think the claimant is lying and defrauding the system which a doctor shouldnt be doing. Also the way these medicals work its quite possible to completely misinterpret a claimant as generally now the computerised medical questionaire simply asks the EMP questions which he answers so many relevant parts of the illness can go unaddressed, also assumptions get made based on certian things eg. if you used a bus to get to the medical they assume you can deal with the public and have no or little mobility problems, they dont take into account you may be sitting on the bus in extreme pain and its the first time you done it for a long time. Undiagnosed conditions particurly suffer in medicals.

Its right advice to be honest but I say also be careful and assume just because you been honest you will get a right judgement if there is any doubt in the EMP mind its likely they will not give you enough points.

So tell them!

Morglin

DenBo wrote: »

I beg to differ Natty68, "I have now been claiming IB for 14 years and DLA for 6 - so in my opinion if you are honest to the examiner then you have nothing to worry about." is a tad insulting IMHO. :eek: I was totally honest, I am disabled, I had no trouble getting a blue badge and that had to go through council checks, doctor's n specialist's reports etc. I am now going to appeal, I see a Welfare Benefits man, who remarked that he had a lot of people coming to him who had either failed a PCA or had been refused DLA, and they had all been seen by Dr *****, and my WRO said that this man had caused much heartache to many people.

When the WRO saw my completed DLA form, doctor's and specialist's reports he was amazed that I was awarded nothing. We asked to see the Incapacity Doctor's report, it was absolutely amazing, if I hadn't been in the room with this man I would have imagined he was talking about someone else!:mad:

I have Fibromyalgia, which is a chronic pain condition and includes, amongst many things, chronic fatigue. I also have osteoarthritis, I am unable to do many things and need help dressing, cooking, getting out of bed etc. But I don't look disabled, I don't use a stick and so I have a "hidden disability".

BUT IT'S A DISABILITY ALL THE SAME!!

Being honest does not come into whether you pass a PCA, and yes, I agree people with mental health issues appear to pass easier, as I did.

Fibromyalgia is notoriously difficult to get DLA for, as are ME/CFS, although it can be done.

The problem with them is that medics disagree on what causes them (physical or psychological) and sometimes whether they actually exist - all of which gives the DWP ammunition to reject claims.:rolleyes:

I know they exist - but until there is countrywide medical agreement on them, it will always be a problem.

Lin

lexi

Just to add a little. i have had experience of the PCA when my husband had a breakdown 5 yrs ago. He was in bad shape, physically shaking & the lady ( not sure if she was a doctor as i was very nervous) was very nice & did her job, which was asking a few basic questions. She could see the state he was in & said she satisfied he was unable to work & that she wasnt going to put him through the trauma for at least another yr & then he may not have to go. Basically we all think the worse, me included but you just have to go & try & act normal. I cant believe that there are so many doctors out there who simply want to get the ill back to work as it were. There are so many genuine ill people to deal with now & you are always going to get a wrong decision here & there, as we have read on these forums. However most people get a second chance with the appeal, so its not all done & dusted. I had dealings with Atos origin thru Royal Mail & although it sadly ended in a medical retirement for me, they fought my corner & i was able to give my job another chance, thru a rehabilitation order which management had to follow. I saw a nurse who was wonderful & saw a doctor who i thought was a bit stuck up, however when i met him again 9 mths later he couldnt have been nicer. I guess he was having an off day, probably just like most of us. If, OP you are unhappy with things try approaching Atos, they were helpful to me. I wish you well.

sleepymy

Morglin wrote: »

Fibromyalgia is notoriously difficult to get DLA for, as are ME/CFS, although it can be done.

The problem with them is that medics disagree on what causes them (physical or psychological) and sometimes whether they actually exist - all of which gives the DWP ammunition to reject claims.:rolleyes:

I know they exist - but until there is countrywide medical agreement on them, it will always be a problem.

Lin

AFAIK ME now has to be treated as a physical disease by DPW staff.