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New WCA claim 2025

A_Z1961

Hi! I'm new here but have been reading posts for a while.

I'm 63 (64 in August), unemployed since 2020 and on stand alone UC (£393.00 pm + single persons ILA for rent).

I have a few ongoing health issues which are getting worse spondylitis/arthritis, chronic fatigue, gerd, anxiety which I've had since I was late 30s/early 40s. I have managed these conditions as best I can but I am at the point it is getting more difficult as deterioration and age is doing it's job.

My work coaches have doubled down on me to find work. I was volunteering 2 days a week but even that is too much for me. They "insist" I continue as "it is good for my mental health", "will give me an updated reference" and it will improve my customer service skills. I have worked since I was 15 (1977) to management, counsellor and own business level but apparently I need to update these skills Ive had and taught for over 48 years.

My queries now is, I'm going to my doctor on the 18th Feb for tests etc, get Fit Notes and try and go down the wca/lcwra/pip route. I have never done this before and it's desperation that's causing me to take this route now. I am incredibly worried about these new wca changes and the loss of lrwca for new claimants. The thought of being bullied into continuing job searches, courses, volunteering is really sending me into a downward spiral. It is not helping anxiety and depression and I get into a right old state when I have to have video or office appointments every 10-14 days.

My coaches have been unrelenting in reminding me that if I am claiming UC then I have to do as they tell me or I'll be sanctioned and that I have to accept that I have to work for another 4 years (3 and a hf actually) as I cannot retire until I am 67 (these increases make me angry). They are now talking to me like I was a school leaver or never worked in my life, it's humiliating.

So, my question is, how do I handle these changes in moving forward on "my health journey"?. My work coach also told me after insisting that I continue volunteering that if I can volunteer 2 days a week then I can work even with all my health conditions.

I'm at my breaking point and welcome any helpful advise.

Thank you!

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Comments

Kimi87

There are no upcoming changes to PIP or LCWRA.

Labour will be releasing their plans soon, but those plans will take a long time to become law and what does eventually become law, will probably be different to the original proposals.

A_Z1961

Hi Kimmy87, thanks for your response. I have read in multiple places that new claimants for wca and moving forward will be subject to the new changes in 2025 making it more difficult to claim lrwca/pip. The actual assesments themselves will be neigh on impossible to pass unless you are literally at deaths door. Yes I may get lca but I would still have to prepare for work etc . I won't be left alone .

Kimi87

Unfortunately there is a lot of misinformation floating around previous Government proposals being presented as gospel changes imminent, articles which mix up PIP & working etc.

I actually think some of it is written by AI then a journalist takes credit!

A speech by Rachel Reeves was hyped up across the media recently for days as cracking down on benefits, come the day not only did a colleague stand in and give the speech, no plans for benefits were talked about.

It's all a load of rubbish.

I don't read any of it anymore I'm waiting to hear from the horses mouth ie Labour's Green Paper.

conkingout1

My circumstances seem similar to yours. I have been awarded PIP mostly for anxiety related issues. I wasn’t confident of getting it but did. So you’ve got nothing to lose to apply for it. You need to provide as much evidence as you are able, GP notes, specialists letters, reports, medications. All of that helps. I would start getting all that together now because it’ll be less stressful as once you apply, you only have a certain time to send your form and evidence off.

A_Z1961

Yes actually Kimmy87, I bet you are right about AI. I don't tend to take too much notice of the media (I got rid of my TV years ago) or the government but I guess with UC and the way they treat us and where I am now it's affecting me (and many others too of course).

Like I say, they've really clamped down on me (I'm considered long term unemployed) even though I've followed all the rules, been courteous, done everything exactly how they wanted it. It also seems that since Dec beginning of Jan there are new over 50s work coaches and many other newbies and they are really pushing us oldies, with or without health issues. There seems to be very little consideration just bluntness and bordering on rudeness

Kimi87

My recommendation would be getting a local welfare rights organisation to help you fill in the forms for PIP and the UC50.

They know what language to use, and are great at promoting you to put things down you wouldn't have thought of, and making you realise your coping strategies are in fact not normal and need to be written down. https://advicelocal.uk/welfare-benefits

conkingout1

I have just claimed Universal Credit so I am worried about bring hassled to increase my hours when bec of my health and age I need to reduce them. It is morally wrong to keep raising the age for retirement. It was 60 in my parents’ day.

A_Z1961

Hi conkingout1, thanks for your response. Yes, I'm seeing my doctor on Tuesday so I'll start gathering medical evidence and I'm keeping a daily health journal myself. I phoned surgery beginning of Jan to see my own doctor but couldn't get appt until 24th Jan but then the windy storms hit and all appts and surgery was closed that day. I then had to make another appointment for my doctor so another 3 week wait. I'll certainly try and go down the health route and see what happens.

My work coach was sure to point out that it doesn't matter what I say (journal health updates), what they say, not even what my doctor/specialists say. It was all down to the UC medical assesment team. They decide if you are fit or not. I knew all this but she sure made a point of letting me know 🙄

A_Z1961

Yes conkingout1, as a woman retirement age was 60 in my day too. They talk about the waspi generation. Women who were born/worked in 50s and 60s but it has affected those born in the 60s too (1961 for me) and many of us left school just before our 16th birthday after taking all our exams (O levels in those days) and if it fell that way on the calender. I/we went straight out to work. My parents gave me one week off then sent me out to find any job I could get. That's how it was for many school leavers in those days, you had to work and pay your housekeeping money to your parents. Very few stayed into higher education, college, university whereby not starting work till you were at least 22. So yes, it peeves me somewhat that not only could I not retire at 60 but 65 and 66 also. I now have to wait until I turn 67.

A_Z1961

Thankyou for the link and info Kimmy87 😊

conkingout1

I think it does matter what your Dr, and specialists etc say and PIP suggests if you’ve kept a health journal that can be copied and sent as evidence for a PIP claim. I haven’t made a LCWRA claim yet but the same company does the WCA and PIP assessments so I would have thought it will all help as they ask you to send in evidence with the claim form.

A_Z1961

Yes conkingout1, I agree. I think she was just trying to scaremonger me. Shame on her really as she's an older woman too, you'd think she'd have some level of understanding but maybe they are being pushed too and of course they have to follow their script

I hope all goes well for you too .

A_Z1961

conkingout1

A-Z 1961 Thanks and I wish you well with your PIP and WCA. It is a stressful process but worth it if you can get the work coaches off your back.

Kimi87

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/983889#Comment_983889

Bless you 😊

You can be referred for a WCA on day 29 after your first Fit Note.

A_Z1961

Thank you everyone for your kind words and helpful information. I didn't realise I could get a free medical info from my doctor which goes back. I'll certainly do that which I'm sure will help. Even though I've never claimed any type of pip or lrwca that doesn't mean I have not had ongoing health issues for years so having a form that outlines that will help greatly. I'll be sure to mark Day 29 on my calender once I've got my first Fit Note too so I can be referred for WCA.

Thanks again 😊

WhatThe

I now have to wait until I turn 67.

Also furious about this distortion of what equality for women means 🙄

I'll be halfway through my additional 7 years later this year! Yay!

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