What happens after the work capability assessment?

_Jem_

I went to a work capability assessment and now a have a appointment with my work coach for a work commitment review. Is this normal to go in for a commitment review?

Newcad

Have you had a decision following your WCA?

Presumably this is UC?

_Jem_

Yes this is UC.

No i haven't had a decision yet, I had a phone call just asking if I had any new health problem since I went to the assessment, I said no. But then about 30 minutes later I had a text message saying about going in to the job centre for a commitment review.

Newcad

Sounds a bit odd then, you'd expect them to wait for that decision.

But from what you say about 30 mins then it's possibly/probably something that the computer has automatically spat out in response to the WC entering something during/after the phone call?

All you can do is keep the appointment, if it isn't cancelled first.

_Jem_

My fit note doesn't run out until the end of October, I do remember the work coach saying she will make a appointment closer to the time. This appointment is in a couple of weeks. Maybe it's a automatic appointment generated by their system.

Do they send you a letter about the decision they have made?

Edit: The letter was added to my journal. Saying I do not have limited capability for work and maybe able to do some type of work.

Newcad

There should be a note put on the Journal when the decision is made, but I'm not sure if they also send a letter.

I'm a migration from ESA to UC myself and haven't yet had a WCA under UC.

_Jem_

_Jem_ said:

My fit note doesn't run out until the end of October, I do remember the work coach saying she will make a appointment closer to the time. This appointment is in a couple of weeks. Maybe it's a automatic appointment generated by their system.

Do they send you a letter about the decision they have made?

Edit: The letter was added to my journal. Saying I do not have limited capability for work and maybe able to do some type of work.

Thanks you replied before I finished of my edit lol

It's going to be hard to try and find some work I can do at the moment. I hope the work coach will be patient and understanding as i have no clue on what job I could do. It's going to feel strange because I have had a fit note since April.

Spoonie_Turtle

_Jem_ said:

My fit note doesn't run out until the end of October, I do remember the work coach saying she will make a appointment closer to the time. This appointment is in a couple of weeks. Maybe it's a automatic appointment generated by their system.

Do they send you a letter about the decision they have made?

Edit: The letter was added to my journal. Saying I do not have limited capability for work and maybe able to do some type of work.

In which case they've deemed you fit for work and will treat you as an ordinary jobseeker.

If you don't agree with the decision you can challenge it, and if you do then you have to make sure you keep getting fit notes to cover the whole time.

To challenge it you need to request a Mandatory Reconsideration, telling them why you think the decision is wrong and what descriptor(s) you think you meet.  (And if that all sounds like gobbledygook, I would suggest trying to get some help with it.  Find help local to you https://advicelocal.uk/find-an-adviser )

These are the criteria https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/esa_criteria
There is also the issue of 'substantial risk' - if it would put you (or anyone else, e.g. due to exacerbating mental health issues that make a person dangerous to others) at substantial risk if you were found fit for work, or found to have LCW and have to engage in some activities, then you should be deemed to have LCW or LCWRA, respectively (see https://wcainfo.net/issues/substantial-risk-lcw
And https://wcainfo.net/issues/substantial-risk-lcwra )

So you need to know whether you think you should have met the criteria for LCW or LCWRA, and if so you need to request an MR https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/problems-with-your-payment/challenging-a-universal-credit-decision-mandatory-consideration/

_Jem_

You know it was the work coach who kept on telling me to get a fit note, I just kept on saying I need to think about what other jobs I can do because I clearly can't do manual work anyvmore. I actually don't won't to be sitting around at home any longer it's just that I'm not sure what I can do. I think i will see what the work coach will expect from me. I'm on a waiting list for the respiratory clinic I have been told it's a 12 Month waiting list.  Ontop of that I have a voice problem and have been told I need to buy a voice amplifier.

Spoonie_Turtle

_Jem_ said:

You know it was the work coach who kept on telling me to get a fit note, I just kept on saying I need to think about what other jobs I can do because I clearly can't do manual work anyvmore. I actually don't won't to be sitting around at home any longer it's just that I'm not sure what I can do. I think i will see what the work coach will expect from me. I'm on a waiting list for the respiratory clinic I have been told it's a 12 Month waiting list.  Ontop of that I have a voice problem and have been told I need to buy a voice amplifier.

Having LCW/RA doesn't mean you're not allowed to work, it means there is no pressure for you to find work, should be less frequent appointments (unless you want them) and you shouldn't be put on mandatory schemes if you takes you a while to find anything.  It also means that if you find a job and it doesn't work out, there would be no sanction for stopping it.

Basically it's a safety net, and the financial advantage even of LCW is you get the work allowance, an amount of earnings that's disregarded before they start taking deductions so you get to keep more of what you earn.

If you don't meet the criteria, fair enough, but if you do it could be worth pursuing.

Muttleythefrog

_Jem_ said:

You know it was the work coach who kept on telling me to get a fit note, I just kept on saying I need to think about what other jobs I can do because I clearly can't do manual work anyvmore. I actually don't won't to be sitting around at home any longer it's just that I'm not sure what I can do. I think i will see what the work coach will expect from me. I'm on a waiting list for the respiratory clinic I have been told it's a 12 Month waiting list.  Ontop of that I have a voice problem and have been told I need to buy a voice amplifier.

Agree with Spoonie's advice... given you've now got a decision letter saying you have been found fit for work I would have a good look again over the activities and descriptors that qualify for LCW (limited capability for work) and LCWRA (limited capability for work related activity). See if you think you should qualify and look to getting help to challenge the decision if so with a mandatory reconsideration (and later appeal is likely then necessary). Hopefully you can also be given some support to try to find suitable work otherwise.