UC Limited Capability to work

Muttleythefrog

epiphonedot said:

Muttleythefrog said:

epiphonedot said:

Thanks for the responses.

It’s very hard to know what to do, as I’m not sure how easy I’ll find speaking with a GP or ‘work coach’ myself.

I have looked at the criteria for both PIP and UC, I think on the point of interacting with other people I should get maximum points. 

Surely the fact I’ve never been employed would be taken in to consideration?

Not really.... that in itself is not really relevant and indeed many people who have never worked are fit to do so.

But surely it’s unusual for someone like myself, a man in his 30s to have never properly worked? 

I have genuinely had no social contact with anyone in my life but my family.

Unusual perhaps.... but the descriptors (statements of disability) are what is relevant as criteria (for both a WCA and PIP)... it may be that your socially reclusive nature along with inability to be in work environments can be woven together to be consistent with claims of disablement but in themselves are not going to explain the disablement. (Someone may choose not to socialise, someone may have serious problems socialising that explain why they avoid such). You'll need a shift of focus (and evidence) to that of medical content..... can you get conditions diagnosed and possibly treatment in place etc. I do fear without a gear shift to medical intervention and documentation it may just look like you've chosen a particular lifestyle. Things like diagnosis do not qualify you for awards but they can justify and help explain relevant disablements - for example a diagnosis of agoraphobia helpful to claims of social difficulties and difficulties going out. Receiving treatments or therapies for particular problems also does not qualify for awards but it can underline medical professionals consider particular problems exists that need medical interventions. That said sometimes there are no treatments suitable or they can become exhausted. It is possible of course medical professionals may determine you have no medical condition or that symptoms are insufficient to trigger a diagnosis... but this seems an avenue of exploration for you and healthcare professionals to determine what is causing your social exclusion and isolation and any functional defect and how it can be addressed. As this happens the benefits situation can be considered.

I myself had similar issue when I became unable to work due to MH problems.. I completely lacked engagement with the NHS... so I had no diagnosed conditions.. I had received no treatment. Over time that changed... the evidence improved.. the getting the benefits relevant became simpler. It was a bit of a fight.. especially getting diagnosis beyond the bog standard depression (which I don't in any way wish to minimise but I think GPs and the like are resistant to go beyond depression and anxiety as diagnoses and they may be insufficient to give a good understanding of what the patient/claimant faces which could include things like pretty hard wired personality disorders or anxiety disorders of specific triggering feature). I found psychiatrists even asking me why I was interested in getting diagnosis.. 'what would a label do for you'.