UC - how long does it take to close a claim?

smh2005

Just wondering if anyone can give a bit of advise please? Can anyone say how long it takes for a case manager to close down your account when claiming UC? I've sent several messages on my journal under the various options. I've tried calling the service centre several times and keep being told different things. Each advisor insists the previous one has given the wrong information.

A bit of background informtion. Last year September/October I was in hospital with double pnemonia. Whilst I was in hospital, I was diagnosed with a problem heart valve / mitral regurgitation. Since then, I've been in and out of hopsital for 2-3 days at a time with various lung/chest infections. Presently, I am taking 18 tablets a day, alongside insulin 4 x daily due to being diabetic.

I do want to work. However, given the situation, until I get better, I have been applying for roles such as call centre, office, admin work etc. A lot of the time though, potential employers have been put off due to my health conditions at the moment. My GP has said they are unwilling to give me a fit note as I am able to work and should be given a job that has amended duties, reduced hours and work from home when possible. 

I was at an appointment last week with the respiratory consultant. He has advised he is referring me to do pulmonary respiratory physio for 6-8 weeks. I am due back at the hospital at the end of the week with regards to starting the phsysio, but it clashes with a job fair / appointment with work coach at my local job centre. Obviously, I want my health to come first and have asked the job centre to change my appointment. I have sent them a letter from the hospital which I received via email and have copied and pasted the letter on my UC journal. 

The job centre have said, because the dates for  the physio or the appointment aren't stated on the letter (it's basically a summary letter stating what was discussed in last weeks appointment), they wont change it. So I've said, if they can't be flexible with me, despite sending a letter from the hospital and declaring all my health conditions, I need my claim to be closed whilst I attend physio for the 6-8 week period. The last advisor I spoke to in the call centre said she'd get in touch with a decision maker / case manager to chase it up. She also advised to leave messages on my journal for my work coach regarding non-attendance of Fridays appointment. As yet, I've had no response to that or advising me my claim has been closed. 

Could anyone share any advise please?

Sorry for the long post. Thanks in advance

Spoonie_Turtle

I can't answer your question but this bit concerns me:

smh2005 said:

… My GP has said they are unwilling to give me a fit note as I am able to work and should be given a job that has amended duties, reduced hours and work from home when possible. 

That is exactly what a fit note is for!  A fit note can be to say you can't work, or it can be to say you can work but only with certain restrictions - this certainly seems to be the latter.

If you end your UC claim what will you live on?

I would advise trying to get a fit note stating the health restrictions you have, and go from there.

tomtom256

Just request the claim to close via your journal, it should give you the option.
I would just wait until you know both the UC appointment date and time and the physio date and time and just request them to rebook it. It shouldn't be a problem, but they may ask for evidence.

smh2005

tomtom256 said:

Just request the claim to close via your journal, it should give you the option.
I would just wait until you know both the UC appointment date and time and the physio date and time and just request them to rebook it. It shouldn't be a problem, but they may ask for evidence.

Hi TomTom256

Have requested it via the journal. My UC appointment is Friday, which clashes with the physio referral. I've copied and pasted a letter on my journal from the hospital confirming I've been referred for physio, unfortunately on the letter it doesn't state the dates/times, just that I've been referred by the consultant. All I have in an appointment card, but I've been told this isn't sufficient. I've asked if I can rebook the appointment with the job centre, but they've said no unless I get another letter confirming the dates/times, as appointment card is no good? 

I guess I am just venting as I am trying to get my health back on track and would like a little support from the job centre, but it just seems they are a little inflexible at times. Or maybe it's just me being a little bit sensitive

JonVarnas

Don't bother closing the claim, the Jobcentre are just being awkward as usual. So long as you have notified them beforehand of your physio appointment you should be fine.

Robbie64

I also agree that you shouldn't cancel your UC claim. It seems to me that a combination of your GP and the Work Coach are both being unhelpful.

You have a good reason to miss your JC appointment. Do you not have an appointment letter from the physio?

Also if your health is impacting on your ability to fulfill your claimant committment for UC then that is good enough reason for your GP to consider issuing a fit note. Could you speak again to your GP and get a fit note?

tomtom256

Ask the physio for an appointment card and make sure all appointments are on it. That way should it go to a decision maker, you can provide it as evidence.