Medical Evidence
Spoonie_Turtle
Forumite 5.6K Posts
Hi, I've applied for UC and I will need to fill in a medical questionnaire; after the WCA etc I'll also be applying for PIP.
I haven't seen my GP since sometime last year; I've been off work since November and he supplies fit notes but doesn't know much about how ill I am day-to-day - I've deteriorated massively since whenever it was I last saw him. I have a diagnosis from a specialist service, but the letter they gave me at the time of diagnosis is extremely generic and says nothing about how it actually affects me (there's even a 'insert this as appropriate' field left in the letter!!) I do have an Occupational Health report from before I lost my job, thankfully, but that's all.
I've explained the situation to the specialist service, asking whether they write reports and asking to see a copy of my notes. They've written back saying they don't write reports, but at the end of treatment they write a letter saying how many sessions and what treatments you've had, amd they could write one of those earlier if need be. There was mention of making what they do write "as succinct as possible", which we all know is useless for benefits.
So, short of phoning my Dr and asking to see him with my form when I've completed it, is there anything else I can do? Can I do a subject access request for the specialist service - how does that work?
I'm not panicking just yet as my initial appointment for UC isn't until next Friday, and then they have to refer me and the form has to come, but I do need to have some robust evidence I can send when I have to return the form and right now that's severely lacking.
I haven't seen my GP since sometime last year; I've been off work since November and he supplies fit notes but doesn't know much about how ill I am day-to-day - I've deteriorated massively since whenever it was I last saw him. I have a diagnosis from a specialist service, but the letter they gave me at the time of diagnosis is extremely generic and says nothing about how it actually affects me (there's even a 'insert this as appropriate' field left in the letter!!) I do have an Occupational Health report from before I lost my job, thankfully, but that's all.
I've explained the situation to the specialist service, asking whether they write reports and asking to see a copy of my notes. They've written back saying they don't write reports, but at the end of treatment they write a letter saying how many sessions and what treatments you've had, amd they could write one of those earlier if need be. There was mention of making what they do write "as succinct as possible", which we all know is useless for benefits.
So, short of phoning my Dr and asking to see him with my form when I've completed it, is there anything else I can do? Can I do a subject access request for the specialist service - how does that work?
I'm not panicking just yet as my initial appointment for UC isn't until next Friday, and then they have to refer me and the form has to come, but I do need to have some robust evidence I can send when I have to return the form and right now that's severely lacking.
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You can explain the difficulties you now face, and see if there is any more that your GP can do for you.
This should be noted on your medical records.
You can then request a copy of your medical records under GDPR:
https://digital.nhs.uk/about-nhs-digital/corporate-information-and-documents/publication-scheme/how-to-make-a-subject-access-request
You could send a copy of this with your UC50 form.
[Our GP surgery don't allow you to view records online and despite specifically requesting copies twice a couple of years ago when I was really starting to struggle and thinking about applying for PIP, they've never responded. Hopefully they'll have to comply this time, with an official request based on legislation!]
Not sure whether to ask for a copy of my records anyway, but it went far better today than I could have hoped for (he sorted a few other issues out as well) and overall it was very reassuring!
I don't have the mental energy to go through both at the same time. I might be up to applying for PIP once I've recovered from filling in the WCA form, as I know that can often take even longer than a correct LCW/RA decision.
I'm sorry but that's not correct, they very rarely contact anyone for any evidence. Just goes to prove how little a GP or any other medical professional knows about benefits.
I know, I'm not expecting them to so when they haven't contacted him after x amount of time I'll ask for a letter anyway
[On the other hand, my council clearly contacted someone when dealing with my Blue Badge application because they didn't even call me in for an assessment! All I had for evidence to send them was my vague, generic diagnosis letter, nothing else, so miracles can happen.]
If that's the case (and they never check any medical evidence) - what's to stop an applicant from lying "through their teeth" ?
(Not that I am advocating anyone to lie on any DWP form)
Nothing really, it seems, other than being caught out because their lies are inconsistent (which might explain why people with variable disabilities have to fight so hard for their entitlement).
The best bit? I've read several bits of case law in which even the first-tier tribunal favoured assessors' evidence over evidence from medical professionals. Perhaps that's why DWP don't bother contacting health professionals - they don't plan to take any notice of what they might say anyway :think: