LCWRA question?

Jack_bauer24

Hi, I need some advice.

At the moment, I am on LCW with Universal Credit and I got it reviewed just before Christmas due to my mental health, but in March last year, I dislocated my knee cap for the first time and to this day, I still haven't fully recovered. I haven't been outside for a year since it happened.

Now, Job Centre keeps making me phone appointments every fortnight but I made a complaint over the weekend, and they have now cancelled phone fortnightly appointments and my work coach said he won't be making any more appointments for the time being to sort my wellbeing out and my mental health.

Lately, I have been having suicidal thoughts as these fortnightly appointments were not helping.

I have also contacted my GP and they are booking me a telephone appointment in 2 weeks time on (Monday, 22 April).

I am just wondering, what can I do to get put on this other LCWRA as I can't work yet due to my health issues and I just want to be left alone to recover from my dislocated knee cap as I am still struggling to walk. My mental health is really bad as well.

Do I ask for a fit note from my GP to move on to this LCWRA? I don't know how this process works and my mental health has got worse since I had my LCW reviewed before Christmas.

Any advice would be great, thank you in advance.

TimeLord1

You would need to get reassessment form to fill out UC50 to explain that your condition has changed then send it back if you have any new information add that with it copies not original documents and add a note to your journal that you think your condition has changed and require a new assessment. It will not affect your current claim. 

Alice_Holt

You will need to advise a worsening of your mental health, ideally with a documentation from your GP confirming this and identifying contact with the job centre as contributing to your suicidal ideations. 

You will then need to complete a UC50 form and attend a further assessment.

The UC50 should build to a case that engagement with the job centre (even by telephone) causes a substantial risk to your health:
https://wcainfo.net/issues/substantial-risk-lcwra

I would advise getting help from a specialist benefits adviser from your local advice charity with the UC50 form.
The form should fully cover your difficulties with WCA activities including initiating and completing tasks, coping with changes, getting about, social engagement, and possibly appropriateness of behaviour with other people. You should explain why engagement with the job centre causes you such mental distress.  

Note that the knee issue is unlikely to get you into the LCWRA, as the relevant descriptor includes mobilising with the use of a manual wheelchair.

Also be aware that any new WCA assessment could find you fit for work, so you need to be clear that you fit the LCWRA substantial risk criteria before starting the process.

poppy12345

Jack_bauer24 said:

Hi, I need some advice.

At the moment, I am on LCW with Universal Credit and I got it reviewed just before Christmas due to my mental health, 

Have you had a decision on that review?

Jack_bauer24

poppy12345 said:

Jack_bauer24 said:

Hi, I need some advice.

At the moment, I am on LCW with Universal Credit and I got it reviewed just before Christmas due to my mental health, 

Have you had a decision on that review?

Hi, yes, I had the decision in November and it states that I have limited capability for work and It states that I don't have to look for work but will have to meet with work coaches in the future like going on courses etc. 

peteuk

Without sounding stupid, what is stopping you from going out.  Is your mental health or your knee?  Can you get out into the garden or outside just for fresh air?

You say you havent been out, who’s doing the shopping?  How did you do with the follow up with your knee?  Are you getting treatment for your mental health?  

If your decision in November said you are to attend courses, then I assume they were happy you could attend such courses when/where applicable? 

Jack_bauer24

peteuk said:

Without sounding stupid, what is stopping you from going out.  Is your mental health or your knee?  Can you get out into the garden or outside just for fresh air?

You say you havent been out, who’s doing the shopping?  How did you do with the follow up with your knee?  Are you getting treatment for your mental health?  

If your decision in November said you are to attend courses, then I assume they were happy you could attend such courses when/where applicable? 

Job Centre knows about my situation and they have been very understanding, with making phone appointments every 3 months but from last month, they started making fortnightly appointments, but over the weekend, I made a complaint saying I am getting stressed out with these appointments as I am worried that the next appointment will be by going into the job centre so, my work coach phoned me on Monday to discuss my complaint, and he said for the time being till I sorted my wellbeing out and my mental health, I don't have to have fortnightly appointments going forward.

The reason why I am scared of going out is because my leg which dislocated isn't stable enough and I am worried that if I have to go out and trip over something outside, my knee cap will dislocate again and that's my biggest fear, I got to hold on to things like furniture and crutch while in my flat and also when I walk, my legs won't bend. 

I get shopping delivered from Tesco whoosh Delivery and get my shopping through my bedroom window as I am in a block with 3 other flats. 

I am very anxious and nervous at the moment of going out which is making my depression worse. I also struggle getting into the bath to have a shower as I got to be very careful when I get in the bath as my leg won't bend. 

It's just frustrating me out that it's taking ages to heal. I do leg exercises every morning and night every day. 

I usually have physio appointments at the hospital, but was struggling to afford taxis all the time, plus I was scared of going out as well. 

peteuk

My advice to would be to try and get out!  (Easier said than done - I know)  Please dont feel you need to answer my questions, they are there to try to get you to think…

Speak to your doctor, is there any hospital transport or voluntary organisation that can get you to your physio appointment?  You need to build up the muscle to support your knee, I am guessing that a large chunk of the fear of your knee dislocating again is mental health however once you've gained confidence with that knee, hopefully half the battle will be won.    Unless there is an underlying problem then your knee should be expected to have been healed by now (granted if you've not had the physio rehab ect it will delay it) 

Is there anyone who can help you, neighbour, friend or relative.  Just to get you outside, and then slowly walking, not far at first. 

I dont see why your leg wont bend, mechanically, if it’s stiffened up then the only way to undo this is bend it.   I know this sounds very simple advice and believe me I know it’s 100% easier said than done, but getting to physio will do this in a safe environment, passively at first and slowly built up.   When was your last orthopaedic appointment? You may need to be re-referred to get to see them again if you've been discharged.  

Have you got the right treatment for your depression and mental health? is there any extra support your gp can provide?  Explain to them how you feel, it totally understandable and I would say a natural reaction to have given the situation. 

Although you say the Job centre are understanding, fortnightly meetings at weekends and putting pressure on you doesn't sound too understanding to me. 

Hope you’re getting the right treatment and support.   

Jack_bauer24

Update: (Most of you know about my situation, but I will explain it all again, for the people who don't know)

Hi, I need some advice.

On Monday, I applied for PIP, so I am just waiting for the form to arrive, but how hard is it to be award PIP? as I never claimed before.

I am on Universal Credit with LCW, but last year, I dislocated my knee cap for the first time in March, since then I am struggling to walk, my knee won't bend when I walk, I do leg exercises every day, but it's taking ages to recover, I haven't been outside for a whole year, as I am suffering from Agoraphobia as I am scared of going outside just in case my knee cap dislocates outside, as that is my biggest fear, and I also suffer from social anxiety as I don't like being around people.

And for anyone who says, how do I get my shopping, I get it delivered from Tesco Whoosh delivery and get them through my bedroom window as I don't go in the communal as I live in a block with 3 other flats and I don't speak to my neighbours.

I also, struggle getting into the bath to have a shower, it will take me about roughly 3 - 5 minutes to get in the bath as I need to be careful when I get in so my knee cap won't dislocate, but it's harder getting out of the bath as I always have to figure it out, on which is the safest way to get out of the bath.

Job Centre keeps making me appointments by phone now and again every couple of months, but it's stressing me out as I get worried that the next appointment will be face to face which is making me suicidal, as every time Job Centre get's in touch, I have suicidal thoughts as that always flair up every time, as the thought of having to go out, it's getting me so stressed and I can't sleep a lot due to this.

I am also trying to get on this LCWRA so I don't have to have future appointments and also for Job Centre to leave me alone and let me recover from my leg injury and my mental health, I got appointment with my GP on Monday, 22 April by phone and I have been advised to get a 3 month fit note to start the process of LCWRA, is that correct? as I just got my LCW reviewed just before Christmas, but my mental health has got worse.

I have reported my new condition (Agoraphobia) this morning on my UC account.

Any advice, would be great, thank you in advance.