Peoples experience with the Universal Credit Capability for Work process.

SaitenMar

Hello folks, 

At the moment I'm in the process of filling in the Universal Credit Capability for Work questionnaire and finding it rather difficult. I'm interested in finding out peoples experience with the whole process of Universal Credit Capability for Work. I noticed that it's being processed by Capita which I dealt with when I claimed PIP about a year and a half back and had an absolute nightmare with. I have no faith in them whatsoever and had to take it to a tribunal before I won my case for PIP. The idea of going through that all again makes me feel sick because it made me feel worthless. It took me nearly ten months before I got a chance to win my case at a tribunal and the stress of going through that all again might be too much. Now I'm trying to provide all the information required in the form and all the medical evidence but it's like I'm already stressed out expecting they'll be no help whatsoever. 

So I'm curious to know how others who've gone through the process got on and if they can offer any advice on how to cope with all the stress? 

Spoonie_Turtle

My experience was late 2019/early 2020 and keep in mind it is just one experience, but aside from the stress and the inherent awfulness of trying to accurately convey just how limited you are, it was actually kind of fine.  I had requested my appointment be recorded which they claimed to know nothing about when I got there, but I was so ill and had been sitting waiting for about 45mins by then feeling worse and worse by the minute needing to lay down, and ended up in tears when the assessor finally came out to call me in.  We still did the assessment even though it wasn't going to be recorded because it would have been such a waste of all the effort just to get there if we postponed it and potentially have to go through all that again, and the actual assessment lasted about 10mins just confirming things I'd said on the form.  The assessor said there's no way I should have been called in for a face-to-face assessment because it was obvious how ill I was, and the report although with slight inaccuracies (misunderstanding a couple of things of my history, not outright lies which are common in PIP) was pretty good.  The correct decision was made quite quickly.  I do understand how fortunate I am that it went SO well, really, and I'm grateful for that.  It was CHDA, for reference, whether they still exist or have a different name now.

However I do wonder what would have happened if I'd gone through the process after the pandemic started; while a telephone call would have been much less demanding physically, the assessor wouldn't have been able to see the physical manifestation of what had written on my form.


[In contrast, my PIP assessment in 2020 ended up with a somewhat accurate report but the assessor simply didn't believe me, so I had to challenge the decision which made me extra ill.  As did doing the form for my review in Jan/Feb last year, and I've not recovered from that decline.  So I certainly empathise!  The initial assessment was by IAS, I think.  Again, don't know if that's changed or not since.]


I think the main thing for me was that at the time I had nothing to lose financially, it was my first claim (for both UC and PIP) so it wasn't like they were going to stop my money even if the outcome was wrong.  So that was one layer of pressure I didn't have. 

And I kept telling myself, I knew what I qualified for and why, which descriptors I met, and that even if it had to go to tribunal I was confident that I would be awarded what I was entitled to eventually.  Because no matter how awful the assessors or DWP might be, tribunals have a good track record of just focusing on the facts and making sure people get the correct decision, whatever that may be.  So that's what I kept telling myself, and knowing that going through the process would be worth it both financially and, for UC, in terms of taking off any pressure of work commitments because I would have none once the right decision was made.

It's still stressful and horrible, but holding onto *knowing* I qualified, according to the law, helped to focus on the end result rather than becoming completely overwhelmed and giving up.

tacpot12

Please don't focus on your previous experience. Awful though it was, thinking about it is just going to make it harder fro you to complete the form properly. 

Take you time over completing the form. Make some notes, then leave them for a day or so to consider whether you have forgotten anything and allow time for you to think aout additional points you want to mention. Sometimes making a diary over a week is a good idea as it forces you to recognise all the different ways in which your condition(s) affects you. Work on assembling the evidence over a number of days, if necessary. You don't have to do it all in on go.

Indie_Kid

I personally have never found the LCWRA to be that bad. It's in my experience, nowhere near as bad as the assessment for pip 

born_again

Pretty simple & easy process when doing Mrs.

22-11-22 letter received & returned. Had already downloaded online version & filled in on PC. So went back same day.
20-12-22 successful claim letter received.

Will agree with above. PIP is far more stressful.

poppy12345

I've been claiming ESA since 2012/13 and have always been in the Support Group (LCWRA for UC) and never had any issues. The WCA is exactly the same for both benefits. 

I claimed UC on behalf of my daughter back in 2021 as her appointee. I reported her health condition and provided a fit note on the same date I submitted her claim. I was able to answer all the questions during her telephone assessment which last about 20 minutes, if I remember correctly. About 6 days later I received a letter on her journal saying she had been found to have LCWRA and she's been claiming it ever since. Never had any issues. 

TimeLord1

Take copies of everything you submit on the form, as Poppy says above the ESA50 and UC50 are the same form. Submit as much medical information copies you have they will hold this on record and any doctors statements. Send it back with proof of postage free at the post office that's your proof of returning the forms. As for how long they'll take to process it maybe months. Depending if they require further information or can complete your form as paper based only you may not need to attend a face to face appointment. 

SaitenMar

Thanks for all the replies, some genuinely useful insight. I really wish there was more help in filling out these forms other than online but at least we have that and I know a lot of others have to go through the same struggles. I always find it difficult to describe the challenges I face with my rheumatoid arthritis in simple words but trying to provide all the information I can. I'm trying to fill the form via online PDF due to having difficulties with a pen, I just hope they will be okay with that. 

Thanks again, and if I have any questions I'd really appreciate any help. 

poppy12345

I wouldn't worry about filling in the form online, I always do it that way and print it off. Make sure to add your name and NI number to everything you send and keep copies for yourself. 

born_again

SaitenMar said:

Thanks for all the replies, some genuinely useful insight. I really wish there was more help in filling out these forms other than online but at least we have that and I know a lot of others have to go through the same struggles. I always find it difficult to describe the challenges I face with my rheumatoid arthritis in simple words but trying to provide all the information I can. I'm trying to fill the form via online PDF due to having difficulties with a pen, I just hope they will be okay with that. 

Thanks again, and if I have any questions I'd really appreciate any help. 

Sadly any help would be via Citizen Advice or a local support group. Trouble all staffed by volunteers, so the quality of help can be hit or miss.
Echo the above. The ability to get a online copy of the form & save to computer & then fill in make it a lot easier, as you can edit them over time, & mull over what you have entered. 

dp1

Hi My most recent experience of LCWRA has been positive, but it has taken a while  to get here!
I have Long Covid and was advised by job centre a couple of years ago to apply for LCWRA which I didn't get....I had a video assessment and one of the comments on the report was that 'I didn't look ill enough!' The interviewer didn't show any interest in my or how I felt and wasn't pleasant to talk to.
Then applied for PIP and went as far as tribunal which I still lost, one lady on the panel said she didn't believe I could possibly  feel as bad as I said I did, and still go to work for a few hours a day. I felt awful after it, like they hadn't believed me.
Anyways, at the beginning of last year I applied to LCWRA again, had a phone assessment in November and found out I'd been awarded it less than a week later. I spoke to a lovely lady, who said she wouldn't need to ask much as I'd given them so much information about how Long Covid affects me and how I try to manage. She asked a few questions and seemed genuinely interested.
It has made such a difference to me to feel believed, as well as lifted the financial pressures of managing to work only a few hours a week.
My advice would be to go into detail about how your condition affects you, using extra paper if necessary. If you are working, explain clearly how you can only manage to work under certain condition and adaptations, and how it affects you if you try to do more.
Best of luck -  you'll get excellent advice on here