Health Assessment

Adrian_T_B

I had a health assessment yesterday via video call. My ailment is depression and anxiety. I also have alcohol dependency. Never once have I claimed that I have physical issues. They only have to look at my CV to see that. The whole assessment focused on my ability to do things like get dressed, walk up stairs, or walk to the shop etc. Nothing regarding my mental state. It was blatantly focused on me answering the questions they wanted the answers to. I was clearly led up the garden path. I have a long history of this (about 40 years) and have the medical history to back it up. The thing that really annoys me is, my GP knows me and has put me on the necessary treatment and my counsellor has backed it up, as she has dealt with me before. How can some young guy in a body warmer get the casting vote over the people who are the qualified health professionals? Imagine doing all those courses to get your dream job, just for a box ticker to say they know better than you? It doesn't surprise me in the slightest that GP's don't want to do it anymore.

Spoonie_Turtle

You don't specify what exactly the questions are but anxiety, depression, and alcohol dependency can all affect those activities - your motivation to do them, how long it takes you, your ability to do them safely (especially using stairs or going out), etc.

You can request a copy of the report if you want to know what the decision is likely to be, although if this was for UC/ESA, sometimes WCA decisions can be quick.  PIP decisions tend to take a bit longer, but not always.

poppy12345

Those that have anxiety may not feel like getting dressed because they can't be bothered (nothing meant by that) or they may just not feel like getting dressed so they just stay in their PJ's all day. This isn't just aimed at those with physical conditions.

Same as walking or "going" to the shop, someone with severe anxiety or other severe mental health issues may not be able to go out by their self, some need someone with them and some may not be able to go out at all, even with another person. Again, this isn't just aimed at those with physical conditions.

It's unlikely the assessor had access to any CV that you may have. I've never known GPs have any part in the work capability assessments. Or a PIP assessment.

In all honesty, my GP wouldn't have a clue exactly how my conditions affect me exactly because they don't spend any time with me to know this. It would be the same for everyone else.

I think it's impossible to speculate anything at this point. Once the report is returned to DWP a decision can take anything up to 12 weeks. Once you have the decision if you're not happy you can request the Mandatory Reconsideration (MR)

bluemoomoo1

My last assessment for PIP, the assessor decided because I didn't take pain meds, or anything for my osteoarthritis pain, I couldn't be that much affected, and also decided I could walk perfectly well without pain if I didn't take medication.

It was completely ignored the fact I explained in depth why I didn't opt to be prescribed pain meds, and this was backed up in a letter by my GP, and the additional medical report they sent to the surgery to fill out.

I don't take pain meds, due to the overdose risk it poses to me.

Adrian_T_B

poppy12345 said:

Those that have anxiety may not feel like getting dressed because they can't be bothered (nothing meant by that) or they may just not feel like getting dressed so they just stay in their PJ's all day. This isn't just aimed at those with physical conditions.

Same as walking or "going" to the shop, someone with severe anxiety or other severe mental health issues may not be able to go out by their self, some need someone with them and some may not be able to go out at all, even with another person. Again, this isn't just aimed at those with physical conditions.

It's unlikely the assessor had access to any CV that you may have. I've never known GPs have any part in the work capability assessments. In all honesty, my GP wouldn't have a clue exactly how my conditions affect me exactly because they don't spend any time with me to know this. It would be the same for everyone else.

I think it's impossible to speculate anything at this point. Once the report is returned to DWP a decision can take anything up to 12 weeks. Once you have the decision if you're not happy you can request the Mandatory Reconsideration (MR)

At the end of it, he said he would write a report and I should receive a letter in about a week. I know it's speculation, but it was obvious where it was going. My biggest issue is anxiety. My counsellor even bought me a fidget spinner, as she noticed I would dig my thumb nail in to the palm of my hand to distract me. it's a coping mechanism that works for me. As for going to the shop or anywhere in general, I try to arrange for everything to get done in one outing. My stress levels go through the roof, so it's go out and get back again asap. If I have alcohol, I actually don't feel that bad. To me, that's a solution. To everyone else, that's the problem. Without alcohol, my day consists of silence and just lying on the couch and trying to sleep as much as possible. My assessment didn't touch on any of that. I thought maybe I should push that point, but I decided there wouldn't be any point as it was obvious where it was heading. I've been banging my head off brick walls for a lot of years, so this is just another chapter in the book. It just gets more and more tiresome. I think they're trying to phase out the NHS and replace them with the DWP.

Spoonie_Turtle

Adrian_T_B said:

poppy12345 said:

Those that have anxiety may not feel like getting dressed because they can't be bothered (nothing meant by that) or they may just not feel like getting dressed so they just stay in their PJ's all day. This isn't just aimed at those with physical conditions.

Same as walking or "going" to the shop, someone with severe anxiety or other severe mental health issues may not be able to go out by their self, some need someone with them and some may not be able to go out at all, even with another person. Again, this isn't just aimed at those with physical conditions.

It's unlikely the assessor had access to any CV that you may have. I've never known GPs have any part in the work capability assessments. In all honesty, my GP wouldn't have a clue exactly how my conditions affect me exactly because they don't spend any time with me to know this. It would be the same for everyone else.

I think it's impossible to speculate anything at this point. Once the report is returned to DWP a decision can take anything up to 12 weeks. Once you have the decision if you're not happy you can request the Mandatory Reconsideration (MR)

At the end of it, he said he would write a report and I should receive a letter in about a week. I know it's speculation, but it was obvious where it was going. My biggest issue is anxiety. My counsellor even bought me a fidget spinner, as she noticed I would dig my thumb nail in to the palm of my hand to distract me. it's a coping mechanism that works for me. As for going to the shop or anywhere in general, I try to arrange for everything to get done in one outing. My stress levels go through the roof, so it's go out and get back again asap. If I have alcohol, I actually don't feel that bad. To me, that's a solution. To everyone else, that's the problem. Without alcohol, my day consists of silence and just lying on the couch and trying to sleep as much as possible. My assessment didn't touch on any of that. I thought maybe I should push that point, but I decided there wouldn't be any point as it was obvious where it was heading.

Unfortunately you didn't do yourself any favours by not telling them.  In all fairness, the system should NOT rely on the claimant having to know it, especially when thinking may be impaired (by any sort of illness), but realistically we have to work with how it is at the moment.

Did you mention everything relevant on your form?  If you don't feel the decision is right and have to challenge it, it will help if you did.  If not, you'll have to make sure to tell them everything - it's not a guarantee you'll get the right decision straight away, but there's no chance if you don't tell them what they need to know.

Adrian_T_B

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Adrian_T_B said:

poppy12345 said:

Those that have anxiety may not feel like getting dressed because they can't be bothered (nothing meant by that) or they may just not feel like getting dressed so they just stay in their PJ's all day. This isn't just aimed at those with physical conditions.

Same as walking or "going" to the shop, someone with severe anxiety or other severe mental health issues may not be able to go out by their self, some need someone with them and some may not be able to go out at all, even with another person. Again, this isn't just aimed at those with physical conditions.

It's unlikely the assessor had access to any CV that you may have. I've never known GPs have any part in the work capability assessments. In all honesty, my GP wouldn't have a clue exactly how my conditions affect me exactly because they don't spend any time with me to know this. It would be the same for everyone else.

I think it's impossible to speculate anything at this point. Once the report is returned to DWP a decision can take anything up to 12 weeks. Once you have the decision if you're not happy you can request the Mandatory Reconsideration (MR)

At the end of it, he said he would write a report and I should receive a letter in about a week. I know it's speculation, but it was obvious where it was going. My biggest issue is anxiety. My counsellor even bought me a fidget spinner, as she noticed I would dig my thumb nail in to the palm of my hand to distract me. it's a coping mechanism that works for me. As for going to the shop or anywhere in general, I try to arrange for everything to get done in one outing. My stress levels go through the roof, so it's go out and get back again asap. If I have alcohol, I actually don't feel that bad. To me, that's a solution. To everyone else, that's the problem. Without alcohol, my day consists of silence and just lying on the couch and trying to sleep as much as possible. My assessment didn't touch on any of that. I thought maybe I should push that point, but I decided there wouldn't be any point as it was obvious where it was heading.

Unfortunately you didn't do yourself any favours by not telling them.  In all fairness, the system should NOT rely on the claimant having to know it, especially when thinking may be impaired (by any sort of illness), but realistically we have to work with how it is at the moment.

Did you mention everything relevant on your form?  If you don't feel the decision is right and have to challenge it, it will help if you did.  If not, you'll have to make sure to tell them everything - it's not a guarantee you'll get the right decision straight away, but there's no chance if you don't tell them what they need to know.

I didn't fill the form in. The Advice Shop did. They just asked me questions over the phone. They sent it out to me to sign and post. 

peteuk

Even if you feel the questions didn’t apply to your situation, they still have to be asked.  The assessor can not assume this.  If N/A was written on the form they still have to check this.

Depression and anxiety have a wide spectrum of symptoms which effect people differently.

As mentioned above the assessor will not have access to your CV/medical records.  So it is down to the info/answers you provide, supporting document and what the assessor writes.

poppy12345

Adrian_T_B said:

At the end of it, he said he would write a report and I should receive a letter in about a week.

The report will be sent to DWP not you. You haven't said what benefit this is related to. If it's the work capability assessment and you're claiming UC then the decision is sometimes made quite quickly but sometimes it takes longer.

If it's PIP then it can be anything up to about 12 weeks.

Adrian_T_B said:

I didn't fill the form in. The Advice Shop did. They just asked me questions over the phone. They sent it out to me to sign and post. 

As they sent the form back to you then surely you read it before you signed it and returned it. Then if all the information wasn't included you could have included more information.

Adrian_T_B

poppy12345 said:

Adrian_T_B said:

At the end of it, he said he would write a report and I should receive a letter in about a week.

The report will be sent to DWP not you. You haven't said what benefit this is related to. If it's the work capability assessment and you're claiming UC then the decision is sometimes made quite quickly but sometimes it takes longer.

If it's PIP then it can be anything up to about 12 weeks.

Adrian_T_B said:

I didn't fill the form in. The Advice Shop did. They just asked me questions over the phone. They sent it out to me to sign and post. 

As they sent the form back to you then surely you read it before you signed it and returned it. Then if all the information wasn't included you could have included more information.

It's for UC. I know I won't get the report. He just said I would get a letter about the outcome. Fair enough.

I didn't read the form. I just signed it and posted it. That is part of my problem. I just can't be annoyed with that stuff. That's why I got them to fill it in in the first place. They are the ones that told me to get the form and send it off to begin with. I just assumed they know what they're doing and went along with it. I asked for help and just assumed that's what I was getting. Now it feels like I'm on trial and getting tricked in to telling them the stuff they just want to hear. It's not helping. If anything, it's just making me feel a lot more anxious. I should have just kept my mouth shut and I wouldn't be dealing with this crap.

poppy12345

The questions you were asked that you mentioned above are definitely not just related to someone with physical health conditions, which has been advised.

I understand the reasons why you asked for help filling out the forms but you should never sign anything without reading it through first.

As it's UC if you have a journal once the decision is made the letter will be uploaded onto there. Sometimes decisions for WCA for UC are made within a few days, sometimes a week and sometimes longer.