UC Help needed with migration please.

poppy123456

You're welcome. Yes, I thought that maybe the case because I looked at my daughters journal and couldn't change the answers but her claim was started in January 2021 and couldn't remember if they allowed you to change the answers shortly after submitting the claim. Thanks for confirming that you can't.

This is a difficult one to advise on because you don't want to go through the WCA. Usually you would report your health condition and provide fit notes. You answered the question with a no when it asked if you had a health condition. I just don't want them to come back to you to ask why you said "no" to having health conditions.

I think to be sure you should each put a message onto your journal and tell them you both have health conditions but prefer not to go through the WCA.

For anyone else reading this I'd be happy to have a 2nd opinion on this. Actually, I think I'm going to flag this and ask a member of the scope team for their opinion. Hopefully, they will get back to you and respond sometime tomorrow.

poppy123456

Just to let you know I've gone ahead and contacted one of the team for some further advice instead of flagging your thread.

Bobb

Thanks poppy, we just got our telephone appointments through which are in the next few days so I'm not sure how to answer these issues now which is scary. I am sorry to ask more questions and be a nuisance, we have had less than helpful experiences with the local resources of help which is very frustrating, we have found that the advice we got was bad advice and tended to assist DWP not us which leaves us with no local support so we are very grateful for all help and advice.

poppy123456

Sorry for the delay, been out with my family all day today and not long got home. You are not a nuisance at all and I'm happy to help.

I had a response from the scope team and this was their reply.

Selecting "no" shouldn’t negatively impact their PIP. However, we recommend selecting "yes" because it's always beneficial to have documented evidence that Universal Credit is aware of their health condition or disability. This could be followed by the question, "Does your health condition or disability impact your ability to work?" This question is more open to interpretation, and they could choose "no" at that point.

Regardless of your choice as you are both carers you have no commitments anyway so it doesn't really matter.

Bobb

Thanks poppy, I thought you might be out enjoying the sun if you had it where you are, we had a stunning day ourselves. So as I understand it, we can disclose our health conditions but can also answer no to whether it affects our ability to work because it is a very grey area. We think we are going to report our illnesses and answer 'no' when asked if the illnesses affect our ability to work, would this mean we wouldn't have to get fit notes or do a WCA?

poppy123456

No problem. It's my daughter's birthday today so was out with her and my grandchildren all day. Yes, it's been sunny here too.

That's correct, if you answer no to that following questions then no fit notes would be needed.

Bobb

Glad you had a nice day too! Thanks again, so please forgive me but anxiety dictates I must ask that if we write something along the lines of "I made a mistake in the form, I said I do not have an illness/disability because I read the question wrong, I would like to report that I do have an illness/disability which is......... but it does not impact my ability to work". So if we write that then we don't have to worry about fit notes and we won't have to go through the WCA?

poppy123456

Thank you. You should log into your journal (both of you) and report a change of circumstances and then click "report a health condition" and report it this way, rather than put a message onto your journal. Once you report it, it should then ask if your health conditions affect your ability to work and you answer no. You are carers so have no commitments anyway once the disability benefits have been confirmed. Fit notes won't be needed and you won't have a WCA.

Bobb

Thank you so very much, that has been done now and its time for a cup of tea! My girlfriend is very grateful also, she gets very anxious and you have helped a lot. We hope you have a nice evening.

poppy123456

You're both very welcome, happy I could help. If you need further help or advice please do just ask and I'll be happy to advise you both.

Have a lovely evening both of you.