Having a Medical?

AJB135

Hi Everyone

I am so scared at the moment, I have just received a letter asking me to make an appointment, to go and basically have a medical done, it is to do with Incapacity Benefit, the problems I have are due to depression.

I am just so not looking forward to it, I made the appointment on the 6 September, I am just so scared.

Has anyone else been to one, how many people are in the room? . I just don't like not knowing if you see what I mean.

ajb135

sorted_2

I Went with a friend of mine when she was going for incapacity. There was just one doctor there, asked her a lot of questions. this was a few years ago now, but assume it is the same. I'm sure you can take someone with you still.
Good luck.

cattie

I know it's easy for me to say relax & try not to worry, but I want to reasure you as I've had to have 2 such medicals in the past as I suffer with a severe & enduring mental health problem. Each time the doctor conducting the medicals were very kind & understanding of my very fragile state & treated me very gently.

Nowdays the medicals are what they call computer based, meaning they ask you a list of set questions about your abilities to do things, to which the answers are for the most part of a yes or no response. The amount of points you score on your replies to the questions is relative to whether you will continue to qualify for incapacity benefit on health grounds.

Take somebody along with you for support if it makes you feel less anxious. They can either wait in the waiting room or come into the medical room with you if you really want them to.

There is only one doctor at the medical interview, so you are not going to have to face a whole bunch of them.

elsieo

Hi.
I had one last year. Just one doctor he was very nice. I was really worried to but it was fine. They ask you loads of qustions re if you can do basic things such as toileting etc. I was worried as i was saying i could do everything. The doctor had to help me in the end! Just remember they are asking you how you manage while things are bad. A couple of weeks later i was the proud owner of a certificate saying i was unfit for work!!!
Seriously try not to worry. good luck. x

Kazzea

This http://www.bhas.org.uk/freeguides/incapacity_guide.shtml is great at telling you what you need to know. I attended my first medical for IB for depression today and the guide above does really help. I know already for example that if I get turned down then the appeals process chould be a walk in the park as the doctor didn't bother covering half of what he needed to ask.

stazi

Being interviewed by someone you don't know, and who doesn't know you, can be tough - even without your illness.
But one thing you MUST MUST MUST do is to attend- no matter how bad you feel that day. Ask someone now to go with you on the day.
Rememeber- the doctor isn't going to eat you!- but as others have said -they'll ask you about your daily routine.
This is examination is important, it will help decide if you remain on benefit , and the doctor should see you as you are.
If you don't attend without good cause- your benefit could be stopped.

AJB135

Hi Everyone

Many Thanks for your replies, I am just so nervous and am worrying because I am not sure if I will get the right number of points and I deffinitely don't feel strong enough to find work at the moment. The main reason why I am claiming this is due to depression, there is nothing else wrong, (apart from womens problems where I have to go to the loo every 1 - 2 hrs).

What happens if the medical person asks questions that I don't know the answers. What happens if you fail what benefits do you get then?


ajb135

santashelper_2

i have been to a medical and they are very understanding i know how you feel but i think part of the depression is anxiety and your bound to feel anxious about this.

Basically they ask you question and its based on a score of a points system they are very good at understanding what depression is and see many people with this so once they realise your symptoms are the same they will realise you are unfit to work.

I found it hard when i was first ill because i was in total denial thought i was superwoman but now know i was pushing myself to hard and am learning due to the lack of energy depression leaves you with i wont be making that mistake again, i have been unwell for 4 years but i was first diagnosed with a nervous breakdown the trouble is its a frustrating illness because im a go getter and being told i had depression was like having an invisible disability that people around me found hard to understand after all i was the one who took on everything in life i couldnt have a breakdown and depression who would support them all if that was the case

I was a martyr to everyone and after some councelling realised i had to change if i wanted to get better and it has been an uphill struggle because people around me dont like the new person who never used to say no and has now found a new word in her vocabulary.

Hope everything goes well for you and im sure the doctor will be understanding with you.

AJB135

Hi

Eeeek not long now to go .

If they ask you what you do during the day, if I say I need encouragement to get up and get dressed, otherwise I sleep in untill lunchtime and stay in my nightwear all day (does that sound like a lazy slob to you?) I can't really help it as I don't have any motivation if you see what I mean.

Not sure of what to say really, I am just dreading the 6 September, well at least my partner said that he will go with me, at least I will not be going on my own.

ajb135

stazi

Just answers the questions about your daily routine truthfully. If you don't/can't get up until noon- say so.
Here's the PCA guide-
http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/stellent/groups/jcp/documents/websitecontent/dev_012320.pdf
Read pages 19-20, and 30-31.
The doctor won't ask you every single question- they'll ask you general questions around the mental health descriptors such as 'Do you have any hobbies?', 'Do you watch TV?' etc etc.

AJB135

Hi

Sorry being a little bit thick at the moment, how many points do I need to pass the medical? (it is all down to mental health, I have no problems on the phyiscal side of things) is it 15 or 10 points?.

Cheers

AJB135