Universal Credit Receiving Medical Treatments Section

TimeLord1

Has anyone had to use this section while making a new claim or migrating from ESA ?

Is this section looked at by any different department of UC, or is it just part of an individual's claim, and the person reading it is none the wiser to the treatment being given?

Anyone with further information on this section is appreciated.

huckster

Individual claim record only

There are a few reasons for this information.

1) Job Centre and UC Service Centre aware that the claimant may not be available for contact. Could avoid situations where appointment non attendance leads to sanction decision being made, where this information is missing.

2) information helps with conversations regarding health journey. I.e. is the health issue temporary  where operation/recovery will enable return to working within relevant timescale or is the medical treatment part of a longer series of treatments, where the claimant may have a long period of not being able to work.

3) When the work capability assessment is arranged, the assessment companies records can be noted to indicate period where the claimant is not available to attend an assessment.

TimeLord1

Thanks, @huckster

So just a notification that the client may not be available if required to attend an appointment. And the advisor has no medical training or understanding of the situation apart from reading what the claimant has written on an application.

So basically medical treatment could potentially be anything the claimant submitted, etc.

huckster

Yes it is just so Job Centre and UC are aware.

If the claimant attends a Work Capability Assessment that is when the claimant would discuss health with a health professional.

TimeLord1

huckster said:

Yes it is just so Job Centre and UC are aware.

If the claimant attends a Work Capability Assessment that is when the claimant would discuss health with a health professional.

That makes sense if an individual was seeking training or help to find employment. But also, this section asks for when you started this treatment, so that is also pointless if someone has been receiving treatment for years. No wonder it states this is a new service; your responses are helping us improve the process. Maybe they should explain these sections better and add additional extra sections and options.

huckster

Sometimes the more that is explained, the less some people actually understand and it may just lead to confusion.  

It is easier to just answer the questions asked on a UC claim. People claiming UC have thousands of varying circumstances, particularly health. Even people suffering the exact same health conditions, will have differing positions. 

TimeLord1

Focusing on the specific questions asked in the UC claim is often the most direct and effective way for claimants to provide the necessary information relevant to their individual circumstances. The questions are designed (in theory, at least) to gather the details needed for an assessment but must be very frustrating to some people who want to input the information but are unable to because of the standard processing route. Like the employment questions, nothing to say' a person is deemed unable to work because of illness or disability.