Fibromyalgia and ibs

nervousnellie

Will be having my first reassessment at some stage and I've heard it's changing. Has anyone been successful with fibromyalgia and ibs? If so could you please let me know what type of evidence you used and what if anything it stated ?

Thanks

huckster

As you know it is your assessment and about how your personal health affects you. So you can't use what other people may have stated. You just have to be honest about how your health affects you being able to complete daily activities.

You don't state whether this is a PIP assessment or Universal Credit Work Capability Assessment.

TimeLord1

Check the previous posts.

huckster

So reassessment process was started under ESA and you are now on Universal Credit with LCWRA.

Reassessments are taking over a year before they take place. In fact I have seen some that have reached 2 year anniversary of the date the work capability form was completed for reassessment.

DWP are prioritising assessments for new claimants and reassessments are being fed through very gradually.

nervousnellie

Apologies

It's pip and CB ESA I'm asking about.

Im concerned mostly as is all talk of late about how they're moving towards more evidence going forward and I'm curious as to other people evidence re IBS and fibromyalgia

TimeLord1

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/690cabeb276dd02bc451ab30/wca_50.pdf

That's the WCA50

huckster

I would say don't be too curious that you might copy what someone else has said, where they received support group, when you have your own individual health information to inform the assessor of. You, your Doctors, friends and family are the ones who know your health the best.

Reassessments are taking such a long time to go through at the moment, that by the time it gets around to yours the points system may have been revised.

nervousnellie

I don't want to copy anyone I am only asking what evidence they used ie a doctor's note with the diagnosis etc and what detail it went into

TimeLord1

If you received a form in the distant future, you would add copies of any treatment, doctor's notes or specialist treatment and any past history that basically builds a profile on you. So new medicine and any new symptoms. I have always advised everyone to copy anything you have sent them; that way, if any issues arise, you will have a copy to compare. Or it goes astray. Most people on ESA won't have completed a form in 8-10 years they don't have the manpower to cover the backlog. Chances are they've probably looked at your claim using the information available to extend a prognosis date.

peteuk

For PIP you will need to evidence that both conditions affect you the majority of the time. The move evidence you have the stronger the claim.

As an example you may answer that the cramping pain caused by IBS is severe and occurs daily. To back this a prescription of smooth muscle relaxants and analgesia would help. Equally a letter from a consultant which states daily cramps and the effects of these, along with a letter from a dietician noting exclusion diet failed to note a significant change, supplements provided.

This would be strong than just writing I have IBS, when it’s bad the cramp means I can’t walk, with no evidence to back it.

(Please note this is an example and I’ve used the extremes to widen the gap between the two)

Spoonie_Turtle

Just treat them as new claims like you did before, explain fully the effects they have on your ability to do the assessed activities, and use whatever evidence you have (like you did before, presumably). There's not much else you can do.