UC Fit Note WCA

KxMx

I'd never fill out these forms without outside input, or at least reviewing the descriptors so you know how to tailor answers.

https://advicefinder.turn2us.org.uk/

https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/universal-credit-uc/uc-faq/limited-capability-for-work-related-activity

If you haven't sent it back already, a new copy can be downloaded

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wca50-form-capability-for-work-questionnaire

itsthelittlethings

Dave1UK said:

Just wanted to update that my mother received the WCA50 form last week, helped her fill it in. However it's surprising that there isn't much in relation to depression/anxiety which would come under mental health?

There is a specific section for mental health on the form. However the questions are very specifically defined and situational? Which makes it difficult describing/explaining ones depression/anxiety if it doesn't directly tie in with those situations.

There’s no mental health section as far as I know. Make of that what you will.

huckster

itsthelittlethings said:

Dave1UK said:

Just wanted to update that my mother received the WCA50 form last week, helped her fill it in. However it's surprising that there isn't much in relation to depression/anxiety which would come under mental health?

There is a specific section for mental health on the form. However the questions are very specifically defined and situational? Which makes it difficult describing/explaining ones depression/anxiety if it doesn't directly tie in with those situations.

There’s no mental health section as far as I know. Make of that what you will.

Yes there is. Starts on page 15 and continues on the next few pages of the WCA form. See link to form below.

wca_50.pdf https://share.google/Nbbe3pDIgZuz2dZC4

Muttleythefrog

Dave1UK said:

Just wanted to update that my mother received the WCA50 form last week, helped her fill it in. However it's surprising that there isn't much in relation to depression/anxiety which would come under mental health?

There is a specific section for mental health on the form. However the questions are very specifically defined and situational? Which makes it difficult describing/explaining ones depression/anxiety if it doesn't directly tie in with those situations.

Qualification via the WCA (just like similarly for PIP) is through statements of disabilities (descriptors) which apply to the claimant. With some exceptions ('non functional descriptors') they surround activities which are looked at.. and those activities are looked at on the form. The form definitely covers those activities where people with cognitive or mental health problems can be affected. If someone's health problems do not easily apply to the activities and descriptors then that is an issue. But follow guidance out there including on CAB website for how their mental health problems relate to the activities and can be described if applicable.

Crucial in all this is to honestly appraise claimant against the descriptors and decide which ones apply from each activity and if any non functional descriptors apply - the activities and descriptors (WCA criteria) are widely available out there but ask for link if cannot find. Make a case through the form and with any additional evidence for the relevance of those descriptors and give examples where possible of how the claimant is affected or fails to complete activities and any help needed.

itsthelittlethings

huckster said:

itsthelittlethings said:

Dave1UK said:

Just wanted to update that my mother received the WCA50 form last week, helped her fill it in. However it's surprising that there isn't much in relation to depression/anxiety which would come under mental health?

There is a specific section for mental health on the form. However the questions are very specifically defined and situational? Which makes it difficult describing/explaining ones depression/anxiety if it doesn't directly tie in with those situations.

There’s no mental health section as far as I know. Make of that what you will.

Yes there is. Starts on page 15 and continues on the next few pages of the WCA form. See link to form below.

wca_50.pdf https://share.google/Nbbe3pDIgZuz2dZC4

Forgot that joke of a section.

itsthelittlethings

You don't have to explain why things are difficult if your walking is impaired. If you have a mental health condition you have to do mental gymnastics to prove you're not faking.

Spoonie_Turtle

itsthelittlethings said:

You don't have to explain why things are difficult if your walking is impaired. If you have a mental health condition you have to do mental gymnastics to prove you're not faking.

That's very untrue, if you are at all ambulatory you have to prove you have difficulties (and for the WCA, that you can't self-propel a manual wheelchair).

Fatigue and pain and similar symptoms that don't show up on tests and can't be quantifiably proven are very often disbelieved, then you have to prove they're physiological not hypochondria or laziness.

These medical assessments are adversarial and dehumanising for all of us, no need to unfairly pit different types of disabilities against each other - there will never be any winners with that.

Muttleythefrog

itsthelittlethings said:

huckster said:

itsthelittlethings said:

Dave1UK said:

Just wanted to update that my mother received the WCA50 form last week, helped her fill it in. However it's surprising that there isn't much in relation to depression/anxiety which would come under mental health?

There is a specific section for mental health on the form. However the questions are very specifically defined and situational? Which makes it difficult describing/explaining ones depression/anxiety if it doesn't directly tie in with those situations.

There’s no mental health section as far as I know. Make of that what you will.

Yes there is. Starts on page 15 and continues on the next few pages of the WCA form. See link to form below.

wca_50.pdf https://share.google/Nbbe3pDIgZuz2dZC4

Forgot that joke of a section.

The form covers all the activities... of which several relate to mental health and cognitive impairments. 

"You don't have to explain why things are difficult if your walking is impaired. If you have a mental health condition you have to do mental gymnastics to prove you're not faking." - this kind of advice is not true and not helpful. Demonstrating disablements through evidence and possibly in person is a requirement regardless of underlying conditions. It is certainly true that conditions or disablements that can't be seen invite more scrutiny or scepticism. 

itsthelittlethings

The section for mental health is written as though the person is stupid, the physical health section is not.

itsthelittlethings

Also a mental health section would say, do you feel suicidal, do you believe things that aren't true etc etc. Can you set an alarm clock is not really related to mental health.