Health Journey - WTC to UC

DayDreamerBeliever

when I moved from WTC to UC I told my case manager I was struggling to do my 16 hours due to ill health. He asked about all the health issues I’d listed and knew I was on DLA - he said he could perhaps put me on a health journey and he would get back to me if that was possible. Nothing more happened until recently when I’ve struggled even more and had to limit work. Currently have a fit note with limited work and employer giving me next 3 months to see if I can continue. I don’t think I will be able to the way things are progressing. So I’ve just filled out uc50 and sent it back awaiting WCA. My local job centre coach said if I was still managing to work I probably wouldn’t get anything so not hopeful.

My question is - should I have been on a health journey straight away when I migrated over from WTC? Should I have had a WCA earlier due to the fact I was struggling and on DLA when I migrated over and the case manager knew this?

Thanks for any help / advice.

poppy123456

What date did you first claim UC? In a previous thread back in May I asked if you had provided a fit note, which you should have done within 7 days of reporting a health condition.

Once a fit note is provided then usually it’s about 29 days after that you are referred for a work capability assessment.

If there was a delay in providing your first fit note then this will delay them referring you.

DayDreamerBeliever

hi Poppy. Thanks for your help again.

I migrated over from WTC in December and reported all my health issues. Had a couple of phone calls with my case manager at the time. He was sympathetic and said he would look to see if there was anything he could do. Mentioned a health journey. Nothing happened. I reported another new health condition back in May and following your advice, my doctor gave me a fit note for limited hours as I said I wanted to try to do some work if I could as it’s better for my mental health. My first fit note was for 4 weeks. To be fair I got the UC50 within a few weeks of this and I sent it back 3 weeks ago so I’m awaiting a WCA next. My next fit note lasts for 3 months on limited hours if I can manage it although doctor was willing to sign me off completely if I wanted. I’m right down on hours this month as things have been really bad. I’m back at doctors next week. I’m getting quite stressed about being so unwell, finances and the WCA. This month is the first assessment period where I’ve haven’t been paid my 16hrs per week as obviously my employer reported less hours.

But what I’m enquiring about ( sorry for waffling above) is should I not have been advised when I first transferred over from WTC with 5 or 6 long term health conditions already reported that I should have either been giving in fit notes from day 1 ( or given a UC50 sooner as already on DLA ) or been put on a health journey given that the case manager knew I was already struggling to do my hours and having to take time off work ( thankfully paid back then). If I’d been made aware about fit notes then I’d be further along by now if you know what I mean.

Thanks again for any insight.

poppy123456

When you reported your health conditions at the start of your claim it should have then prompted an action on your "to do list" to provide a fit note. Did this happen? If you had reported it by just putting a message on your journal then it will not prompt the action to provide a fit note.

As your work coach mentioned a health journey then yes they could have advised you that a fit note would be needed for this.

DayDreamerBeliever

I filled all the sections out as requested on transfer but nothing flagged up about providing a fit note. As I previously said I had a couple of phone calls with a case manager the week I transferred over who was fully aware of my health situation. I presume because I was still being paid 16 hours min wage that was enough back then. He just said I wouldn’t be required to look for work or attend the job centre and turned off commitments/ work plan. Nothing until May on journal and then questions about income for last year and then told to go to job centre to look for additional work when I added another health condition/ diagnosis and fit note.