wca and fit note troubles

Philonline

Hi, Had a phone call from my local UC office the other day after putting in a complaint about my treatment by that office? not very impartial but never mind, the person who made the call to me tried to explain the way the UC handles WAC and fit notes as my doctor supplied me with a different reason for me being unfit for work on a fit note after the wca found me fit for work, I was told to do this by my work coach when my previous fit note was classed as invalid, just to clarify even restart said I should be reassessed. since then one of my congenital birth defects or abnormalities has worsened and they say they require yet another different fit note from the second reason given to be reassessed as only two medical reasons can be considered by the wac even though I have three congenital birth defects my right leg and foot, my hips and my spine which are all exasperated by each other as they are connected to each other, he would not accept this and said I must provide a fit note for the one that has worsened and it cannot be one already declared! is this really how it is worked as I find this farcical and have said this in my journal, I am considering grouping them all together and declare as lower body congenital defects and abnormalities just to see what they say? I am at a loss at all this wac assessment stuff my commitments still say I do not have to look for work but I have not been accredited with any workgroup thing? Lost 

poppy123456

When you’re found fit for work they will only accept further fit notes if it’s for a significant worsening of an existing condition. 

Or it’s for a completely different condition. The rules were always the same for ESA too. 

Philonline

Yes that's similar to what he said but the bit about only two conditions would be considered for the wac? So my how do I or they choose between my deformed and significantly smaller right leg and foot with no ankle, my congenital abnormal laterally deformed hips and my kinked spine with a torn disk, is it a lucky dip? and yes my right hip has significantly worsened due to chronic bursitis causing chronic intractable pain (they wont operate due to right leg deformities) my doctor believes that should suffice but they want a different fit note.

poppy123456

Sorry i missed this part.

Philonline said:

as only two medical reasons can be considered by the wac

I have never heard of such rule!

Philonline

Thanks poppy I've been lying here in bed searching for any mention of it for two days and have not found a thing? I'm really starting to think they are making things up to try and get me to drop it as there has been nothing but problems and mistakes since I went on UC and the time travel bit as I was seemingly assessed some time in the future according to my journal messages may have pushed them on the defensive?

poppy123456

You're welcome. Sometimes they do "make up" some very strange rules. All part of the poorly trained staff, unfortunately and i'm not making up any excuses for them.

Once you are finally reassessed if you're not happy with the decision then i strongly urge you to challenge that decision.

Philonline

Do you know who decides if a reassessment gets done, is it the local office or the service centre?

chiarieds

Hi @Philonline - I don't know if this will be helpful, but I do sometimes wonder if things are down to others not really understanding medical terminology. With my first PIP assessment the assessor (a midwife) queried how long I'd had a genetic disorder(!), & looked askance at me when I said, 'since birth.'

I can appreciate that one problematic joint can also affect those above & below; this is just commonsense. So, perhaps spell things out that you have had a problems since birth, which have now become even more problematic (the significant worsening of an existing condition that poppy has mentioned).

poppy123456

It will be your work coach and they will need to send a referal to the Health Assessment Advisory Service.

Philonline

chiarieds said:

Hi @Philonline - I don't know if this will be helpful, but I do sometimes wonder if things are down to others not really understanding medical terminology. With my first PIP assessment the assessor (a midwife) queried how long I'd had a genetic disorder(!), & looked askance at me when I said, 'since birth.'

I can appreciate that one problematic joint can also affect those above & below; this is just commonsense. So, perhaps spell things out that you have had a problems since birth, which have now become even more problematic (the significant worsening of an existing condition that poppy has mentioned).

Thanks for your input Chiarieds I have been doing that for a long time now as I found that people didn't understand or were able to pronounce congenital talipes equinovarius and same here how long have you had this congenital condition of your right leg?  even a medical professional at a pip assessment so now I always put in brackets since birth. I am really starting to think that the main problem is the government keeps changing the procedures and guidelines before the relevant offices have got to grips with the ones that came before.

chiarieds

Hi again @Philonline - I do so understand more about your situation. My family is affected by a genetic disorder (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome), but my son additionally was born with bilateral talipes equinovarus, & his niece with unilateral talipes equinovarus! Whatever disorders we have, you'd at least hope that both the terms 'congenital' & 'genetic' ought to be understood, especially by a health care professional. As a now long-retired physio, one begins to wonder what some of them are now taught!

I'm sure poppy's advice will continue to help, but know I'm also in your corner, & would appreciate hearing how you get on. 

Philonline

It's such a strange system when they wont accept a fit note with chronic intractable pain so my doctor has to issue another with bursitis which is the cause of the pain? I cannot be the only one having these problems and doctors must be finding this so frustrating.

trb10

I genuinely believe they make things awkward in the hope people will just give up.  Don't be one of those, fight them all the way!  We're all here to support you.