I thought UC LCWRA re-assessments were on hold (for people already getting LCWRA)? But...

StillIRise

JonnycJonny said:

What I have learned reading the comments on this forum is that there appears to be a strong tendancy for those with mental health conditions to have the most concern regarding the start up of reassessments. Whether this is down to there being an unfair and deliberate targeting of those in this group by the DWP - a disproportionate number having their reassessments done first - I cannot say. With hindsight I can see that the activities in the ESA/UC50 and PIP1 forms barely touch the issues faced by people in the mental health group as opposed to those with a physical impairment.

Additionally, it seems the DWP are still playing catch up following the pandemic when many cases went through without proper scrutiny or due dilegence. Is it these cases that are being relooked at first ? Or is it just a random algorithm ?

Whatever the situation, very best wishes to those going through the reassessment anguish. 

My last review was done before the lockdown so it's not the case with me. Their report mentioned that a further review was recommended in 2022.  It's now 2023 so my review was really due over a year ago.

StillIRise

paries1 said:

I’m wondering if this is why they asked for my GPs contact telephone number too, maybe to call them and ask rather than sending the UC113 form to fill in . It’s been almost 1 week since they left the journal message for so I’ll probably hear something next week. My pessimism still thinks I’ll be getting the UC50 form but let’s see . 

Yes, the previous poster who said she's had her LCWRA renewed without even needing a form or assessment didn't yet specify whether the DWP sent the 113 form to the GP, or just rang the GP.  Given that she mentions all they wanted to know was whether the person is still on antipsychotics, it does sound like possibly it was just a phone call.

calcotti

JonnycJonny said:

...With hindsight I can see that the activities in the ESA/UC50 and PIP1 forms barely touch the issues faced by people in the mental health group as opposed to those with a physical impairment.

It don't think that is true, it's the ability to carry out activities to the requirement standard that is assessed - but I think it is harder to explain the impact that mental health has.

JonnycJonny

You are absolutely right - so maybe a different set of 'activities' might be more appropriate for those with a mental condition - particularly when it comes to PIP. Then again, as is oft repeated here, it is never about a specific diagnosis.

Ray212

JonnycJonny said:

Additionally, it seems the DWP are still playing catch up following the pandemic when many cases went through without proper scrutiny or due dilegence. Is it these cases that are being relooked at first ? Or is it just a random algorithm ?

I don't think that's the case. For many it seems there renewals would have been in 2020. For me I was getting ESA since around 2015

calcotti

paries1 said:
Would be great if they included a section for MH and how that affects daily tasks . 

All of the activities can be affected by mental health (often requiring prompting, supervision or assistance to carry them out to the required standard) and this information can be provided when answering. I'm not convinced that changing the activities would make much difference.

poppy123456

JonnycJonny said:

With hindsight I can see that the activities in the ESA/UC50 and PIP1 forms barely touch the issues faced by people in the mental health group as opposed to those with a physical impairment.

I disagree with that. At a quick glance of the descriptors for LCWRA/Support Group there's at least 9 that could potentially apply to someone with mental health/cognitive capabilites.

paries1 said:

JonnycJonny said:

You are absolutely right - so maybe a different set of 'activities' might be more appropriate for those with a mental condition - particularly when it comes to PIP. Then again, as is oft repeated here, it is never about a specific diagnosis.

Would be great if they included a section for MH and how that affects daily tasks . 

There is a section (part 2) for mental, cognitive and intellectual capabilities in ESA/UC50 form. You can also include additional sheets of paper when filling out both those and the PIP form.

JonnycJonny

I thought the disability benefits system - be it in the form of PIP or ESA - poorly served those with mental health conditions - setting them up to fail, as it were - but clearly I was wrong.  Forgive me, but my opinion was skewed by the near incessant criticism of the current system by mental health claimants on this very site.

StillIRise

JonnycJonny said:

I thought the disability benefits system - be it in the form of PIP or ESA - poorly served those with mental health conditions - setting them up to fail, as it were - but clearly I was wrong.  Forgive me, but my opinion was skewed by the near incessant criticism of the current system by mental health claimants on this very site.

You're not wrong at all.  It very poorly serves people with mental health conditions.  I don't know why anyone would say otherwise.

poppy123456

paries1 said:

poppy123456 said:

JonnycJonny said:

With hindsight I can see that the activities in the ESA/UC50 and PIP1 forms barely touch the issues faced by people in the mental health group as opposed to those with a physical impairment.

I disagree with that. At a quick glance of the descriptors for LCWRA/Support Group there's at least 9 that could potentially apply to someone with mental health/cognitive capabilites.

paries1 said:

JonnycJonny said:

You are absolutely right - so maybe a different set of 'activities' might be more appropriate for those with a mental condition - particularly when it comes to PIP. Then again, as is oft repeated here, it is never about a specific diagnosis.

Would be great if they included a section for MH and how that affects daily tasks . 

There is a section (part 2) for mental, cognitive and intellectual capabilities in ESA/UC50 form. You can also include additional sheets of paper when filling out both those and the PIP form.

Oh I can’t even remember this section 

See link and scroll to part 2. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uc50-form-universal-credit-capability-for-work-questionnaire

StillIRise

Kimmy87 said:

StillIRise said:

Kimmy87 said:

I had the message requesting my GP contact details two weeks ago. I responded the next day, and am yet to hear anything further. 

Thanks for sharing Kimmy!  So no UC50, no referral letter for an assessment at all?  This is so interesting.
Are you on LCWRA or LCW?

No nothing at all yet apart from that message two weeks ago. 
I am on LCWRA. 

Have you still not heard anything from them Kimmy?

StillIRise

JBS2022 said:

My cousin received a journal entry about contacting his GP a week ago, and today was told he was staying LCWRA, he hasn't even seen his GP in 3 years so the info off the GP would be out of date, they asked if he was still taking antipsychotics and that was that. The DWP are trying to review as many people without needing a phone or face to face assessment as possible. 

Could you clarify who they asked whether your cousin is still taking antipsychotics?  Is this a question they asked his doctor or they asked him directly?

JBS2022

StillIRise said:

JBS2022 said:

My cousin received a journal entry about contacting his GP a week ago, and today was told he was staying LCWRA, he hasn't even seen his GP in 3 years so the info off the GP would be out of date, they asked if he was still taking antipsychotics and that was that. The DWP are trying to review as many people without needing a phone or face to face assessment as possible. 

Wow!  That is actually very encouraging to hear.

So when you say they asked if he is still taking antipsychotics -- did they ask your cousin himself or that's what they asked the doctor?  Did they send the doctor the UC113 form to fill in?

I'm really praying this is what they are doing with me, just confirming that my health condition remains the same. 

They asked the Dr about his meds(it was a phone call), that seems to confirm he still had issues, my cousin was phoned by DWP or someone working for them and asked if he was asked if he had improved, he said no and he was kept LCWRA. They didn't even call him in for a review or send any forms out.

StillIRise

JBS2022 said:

StillIRise said:

JBS2022 said:

My cousin received a journal entry about contacting his GP a week ago, and today was told he was staying LCWRA, he hasn't even seen his GP in 3 years so the info off the GP would be out of date, they asked if he was still taking antipsychotics and that was that. The DWP are trying to review as many people without needing a phone or face to face assessment as possible. 

Wow!  That is actually very encouraging to hear.

So when you say they asked if he is still taking antipsychotics -- did they ask your cousin himself or that's what they asked the doctor?  Did they send the doctor the UC113 form to fill in?

I'm really praying this is what they are doing with me, just confirming that my health condition remains the same. 

They asked the Dr about his meds(it was a phone call), that seems to confirm he still had issues, he was asked if he had improved, he said no and he was kept LCWRA. They didn't even call him in for a review or send any forms out.

Thanks so much for clarifying.

JBS2022

Just to point out my earlier post was reedited to make it clear my cousin was contacted by DWP about whether his health had improved, it wasn't the GP that said anything since the GP would not of known.

StillIRise

JBS2022 said:

Just to point out my earlier post was reedited to make it clear my cousin was contacted by DWP about whether his health had improved, it wasn't the GP that said anything since the GP would not of known.

I pray that I will have a similar experience.  DWP messaged me asking for consent to speak to my doctor.  I gave consent and asked them if they need me to fill out a UC50 or send in medical evidence and they said no. 

Kimmy87

StillIRise said:

Kimmy87 said:

StillIRise said:

Kimmy87 said:

I had the message requesting my GP contact details two weeks ago. I responded the next day, and am yet to hear anything further. 

Thanks for sharing Kimmy!  So no UC50, no referral letter for an assessment at all?  This is so interesting.
Are you on LCWRA or LCW?

No nothing at all yet apart from that message two weeks ago. 
I am on LCWRA. 

Have you still not heard anything from them Kimmy?

Nothing yet and I did check my journal again today. 
It's been about 3 weeks now. 

StillIRise

Kimmy87 said:

StillIRise said:

Kimmy87 said:

StillIRise said:

Kimmy87 said:

I had the message requesting my GP contact details two weeks ago. I responded the next day, and am yet to hear anything further. 

Thanks for sharing Kimmy!  So no UC50, no referral letter for an assessment at all?  This is so interesting.
Are you on LCWRA or LCW?

No nothing at all yet apart from that message two weeks ago. 
I am on LCWRA. 

Have you still not heard anything from them Kimmy?

Nothing yet and I did check my journal again today. 
It's been about 3 weeks now. 

Great.  Good luck. 

Kimmy87

I'm aware both others that have been discussing this have now gotten a UC50- so sorry it wasn't a better outcome, I'm still in limbo.
Heard nothing further and I'm checking my journal & online GP notes every few days. 

StillIRise

paries1 said:

poppy123456 said:

JonnycJonny said:

With hindsight I can see that the activities in the ESA/UC50 and PIP1 forms barely touch the issues faced by people in the mental health group as opposed to those with a physical impairment.

I disagree with that. At a quick glance of the descriptors for LCWRA/Support Group there's at least 9 that could potentially apply to someone with mental health/cognitive capabilites.

paries1 said:

JonnycJonny said:

You are absolutely right - so maybe a different set of 'activities' might be more appropriate for those with a mental condition - particularly when it comes to PIP. Then again, as is oft repeated here, it is never about a specific diagnosis.

Would be great if they included a section for MH and how that affects daily tasks . 

There is a section (part 2) for mental, cognitive and intellectual capabilities in ESA/UC50 form. You can also include additional sheets of paper when filling out both those and the PIP form.

Oh I can’t even remember this section 

How’s everything going?. Have @paries1 Not heard from you for a while.

Have you had your UC and PIP assessments?