DWP assessment

Kayslay

As some of you may remember me from my thread...

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/68199062#Comment_68199062

So I received a letter from the dwp they want to assess me.

Now I know this is standard protocol and all but it kinda ticks me off that they need me to prove it not ill and that my doctors words aren't enough.

But anyway that's life I can't complain too much it's just another thing I must do.

In an ideal world I'd like to take a pill and wake up fine tomorrow morning but since that isn't the case I ask you guys how should I prepare for the examination? What should I take with me?

merlin68

Medication, any aids, any hospital letters. How long did you wait for an assessment if you don't mind me asking.

Kayslay

merlin68 wrote: »

Medication, any aids, any hospital letters. How long did you wait for an assessment if you don't mind me asking.

A year.

I'm really nervous about this. I mean it's bad enough I'm stuck in limbo with an undiagnosed condition but now I'm gonna have someone else assess me and decide whether I'm fit enough to work, in other words whether I'm lying or not.

merlin68

They do try and trip you up, i went to one with a friend.
Do you watch tv, can you use a phone, can you drive, have you any pets.
These are all the tricks designed to catch you out.

tomtontom

merlin68 wrote: »

They do try and trip you up, i went to one with a friend.
Do you watch tv, can you use a phone, can you drive, have you any pets.
These are all the tricks designed to catch you out.

They're not tricks, they're questions about what you do on a day to day basis. If someone can use a phone then they can learn basic tasks, the same with driving - the questions relate to the descriptors. Please stop scaremongering.

Kayslay, the reason you are being assessed is twofold. Some GPs give out fit notes when they are not needed, for various reasons including undue influence from patients. The WCA looks at specific descriptors that relate to your ability to do certain things, which are not directly related to a medical diagnosis, it is outside the remit of most GPs to assess you on these.

It would be worth reading through the descriptors before your appt, but in general you just need to be honest.

missbiggles1

merlin68 wrote: »

They do try and trip you up, i went to one with a friend.
Do you watch tv, can you use a phone, can you drive, have you any pets.
These are all the tricks designed to catch you out.

Trick you in what way?

missbiggles1

Kayslay wrote: »

A year.

I'm really nervous about this. I mean it's bad enough I'm stuck in limbo with an undiagnosed condition but now I'm gonna have someone else assess me and decide whether I'm fit enough to work, in other words whether I'm lying or not.

It's not necessarily a question of lying - your personal assessment of your ability to work may simply be inaccurate.

rogerblack

missbiggles1 wrote: »

It's not necessarily a question of lying - your personal assessment of your ability to work may simply be inaccurate.

ESA is not an assessment of your ability to work.
It is an assessment of if you meet the various criteria of ESA, have certain communicable diseases, or would be put at risk if found to be fit to work.

Inbility to work is not a requirement for ESA, nor is ability to work required to be found fit for work.

missbiggles1

rogerblack wrote: »

ESA is not an assessment of your ability to work.
It is an assessment of if you meet the various criteria of ESA, have certain communicable diseases, or would be put at risk if found to be fit to work.

Inbility to work is not a requirement for ESA, nor is ability to work required to be found fit for work.

I'm sure that you're technically correct but interesting that you addressed this comment to me rather than to the OP, who said earlier "I'm gonna have someone else assess me and decide whether I'm fit enough to work,"

Kayslay

tomtontom wrote: »

They're not tricks, they're questions about what you do on a day to day basis. If someone can use a phone then they can learn basic tasks, the same with driving - the questions relate to the descriptors. Please stop scaremongering.

Kayslay, the reason you are being assessed is twofold. Some GPs give out fit notes when they are not needed, for various reasons including undue influence from patients. The WCA looks at specific descriptors that relate to your ability to do certain things, which are not directly related to a medical diagnosis, it is outside the remit of most GPs to assess you on these.

It would be worth reading through the descriptors before your appt, but in general you just need to be honest.

I have nothing to hide nor am I lying so hopefully I'll be fine.

It's just I had an appointment at the job centre a few months back and the "advisor" asked me why exactly I can't work, I gave her my 2 main symptoms which are dizziness and pain on the right side of my abdomen and her exact reply was "but how does that stop you from working then?"

rogerblack

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I'm sure that you're technically correct but interesting that you addressed this comment to me rather than to the OP, who said earlier "I'm gonna have someone else assess me and decide whether I'm fit enough to work,"

Simply as I did not see the phrase when I read the thread the first time.