nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

We want to hear from you: please tell us about your experience of the online community.

Help evidence

middali

Hello, I sent my uc50 form back 5 weeks ago on this coming Monday but I didn’t send any evidence as I didn’t have any and needed to send the form back asap. Is it possible to send it this coming week? On the letter it send only send the evidence you have, and not to pay for any, but now I’m getting worried. I still haven’t been given and assessment date. Thank you 🙂 I’m really worried x

Find more posts tagged with

Comments

poppy123456

If you have relevant evidence then yes send it but if you don't then don't send anything. Please do not pay for evidence, especially if you're thinking of asking your GP. A GP isn't the best person to ask because they don't really know how your health conditions affect you. If they know it's because you told them.

Some people find it helpful to write a diary for 7 days. You only returned the form 5 weeks ago so it's early days yet. You could be waiting several months for an assessment date.

middali

Hello,

I don’t have any evidence at home as I’ve lost all my letters about previous hospital appointments and I’m still waiting on therapy for my mental health, I have messages however about this on text could I screens shot and send that? And add my prescription list? I’m worried incase they don’t believe me as I didn’t send any at all x

poppy123456

Evidence will be the form you sent in, providing the information you gave in there was relevant. I've had paper based assessments for my ESA twice and sent no medical evidence, the only evidence I sent was the form I filled in along with extra information on sheets of A4 paper.

For the text messages, I can't imagine that they would go into any details relevant to how your conditions affect you. You can send a repeat prescription list.

You can also ask your GP to view your medical records and see if there's anything on there that you could send.

middali

Hello,

thank you, I sent the UC50 form and extra notes I added but no actual evidence supporting what I say. It said only send what you have but I didn’t have any, I was waiting on my doctors but I can’t see them until this week. I’m worried they will think what I’m saying isn’t true x

poppy123456

You can't send what you don't have. Many people are found to have LCWRA without supporting medical evidence. Please do not pay for a letter from your GP because it's not the best medical evidence to send.

middali

What do you think I should do? I’m really worried :( my anxiety is through the roof right now x

poppy123456

I'm sorry you're feeling this way. Although it's perfectly normal and the majority of people feel exactly the same way. The whole process is extremely stressful.

How about writing a diary for the next week? Or ask someone that knows you well to write a letter of support. Not everyone has medical evidence, it's not such a bad thing.

Have you had a look at the descriptors for LCW or LCWRA? if you haven't you can see them. both below.

LCW here

https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/universal-credit-uc/uc-faq/limited-capability-for-work

LCWRA here.

https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/universal-credit-uc/uc-faq/limited-capability-for-work-related-activity

Take a look to see which one you think applies to you. For LCW you need to score at least 15 points but there's no extra money for this.

For LCWRA you just need one descriptor to apply and then you'll receive extra money from the 4th month after you provided your first fit note. You must continue to provide fit notes without any gaps until a decision is made.

JonnycJonny

I would argue that evidence is of paramount help with your claim. Yes, as Poppy suggests - what YOU state on the Form is essential but they cannot - should not - just take your word for it. Otherwise it would - in my opinion - make a mockery of those who do supply clinical evidence based on profoundly disabling or debilitating health conditions.

Try your best to gather something to help support the claim - be it just a diary as Poppy suggests or a prescription list and send it in quoting your NI Number on everything submitted.

Very best wishes.

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/931074#Comment_931074

Many people are found to have LCWRA without medical evidence. Same for PIP. Not everyone has medical evidence to support their claim.

JonnycJonny

I am aware that entitlement is not based on medical evidence but the preamble to both the PIP1 and UC50 make it clear that evidence should be submitted in order to support claims. The evidence need not be clinical as we have both suggested to the OP.

I think you would agree that in order for a health assessment to be done with due diligence supporting evidence is more than helpful - moreover, it gives it some measure of credence to the claim in the eyes of the DWP decision maker.

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/931358#Comment_931358

It could be helpful yes but it's not vital that you send it. Some people have no supporting evidence to send other than the form they fill in.

There's no getting away from the fact that a successful claim is possible on just the form alone. Myself and many other members are proof of that.

middali

Hello, thank you both, I am going to hopefully get a list of my medication I take, and try to talk to my therapist on writing a cover letter if I can, if not I’ll just have to not send any as that’s all I can do I think. I’m just worried Incase they don’t believe me x

JonnycJonny

Well done. A claim will stand a much better chance with some form of supporting documentation - that is common sense.

Very best wishes

chiarieds

I agree with poppy here. If you have relevant evidence, then send it; if you haven't, then don't worry, as it's not essential. You are only asked to send any evidence you have; nowhere does it say either for UC or PIP that it's needed.

You know about your own disabilities - even a kindly GP doesn't know all the problems you face, unless you've told them…

As a long-retired physio I have often said on here, if you had a dozen or more people with the same disability in a room, they'd all very likely be affected differently. A diagnosis therefore means comparatively little; what you say about your disability does.

middali

Thank you so much! Do you think they’ll believe me though without any evidence as I’m so worried :(

WhatThe

Supporting medical evidence is always requested on the forms. I can read and write but couldn't write a short essay on each descriptor to qualify that way. Others are unable to read or write well enough to be understood.

I think we've touched on why reform is under consideration.

middali

my question was is it too late to send any evidence after 5 weeks ?

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/931470#Comment_931470

The forms do not specifically say that either medical evidence or any evidence is needed. What it actually says is.. Only send copies of medical evidence or other evidence if you already have them. Meaning if you don't have any then don't send anything. It also asks not to pay for evidence.

Not everyone has medical evidence or any other evidence to send so if you don't have it, you can't send it.

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/931471#Comment_931471

No, it is not.

middali

thank you poppy, I did not send any as I never had any and was waiting on the doctors, they should be seeing my this week so hopefully I can get some. If I have to pay I won’t send any as I don’t have the money to buy any x

JonnycJonny

My thoughts exactly WhatThe.

A claim is being made for public funds. There should be a burden of proof tied to such a claim - be it clinical or otherwise.

No wonder we are facing impending cuts to our benefits - if the rumours are true, that is.