Work coach has asked me to think of things I like so I can do an online course for possible work

T28

hi, just us my call with work coach and I’m currently waiting for my LCWRA to be assessed as I have spondylolesthesis, chronic pain chronic migraines, ddd, spinal bifida, anxiety and depression and fibromyalgia, also I am being referred back to spinal team as I have chronic anteriolisthesis. I’m in pain everyday my husband cares for me, I use a crutch or crutches to get around I can’t walk far, a lot of days I can’t get out of bed.. I’m on mst and oral morf and diazepam naproxen amitriptyline and venlafaxine. My work coach has just said I need to think what I’m interested in so I can do an online course to slowly try get me back to work. They have not long received my LCWRA form and the evidence I could give from my nhs. I go to bed not knowing how I’m going to be and my pain is bad I can’t sit or stand for long, my meds make me drowsy and more forgetful than I already am. I’m now panicking they’re going to make me go back to work which I haven’t in 10-11 years cs of my disabilities I’m on high pip care and mobility. I’m unreliable how can I work if I can’t physically do things and with pain and fatigue. I’m scared they’ll stop my payments but how can they expect someone to hire me when I won’t be able to go in more often than not. Anyone else had this what happened?

Kimi87

As the WCA process has started you'll need to wait and see what the outcome is.

Work coaches do have some discretion in terms of work commitments while capability to work is being assessed.

beegirl90s

I am in a very similar situation. I keep asking to explain my conditions but the work coach keeps saying she doesnt need details! She has me on work focsed interviews by phone, she also said to me it was to slowly get me back into work, but she has now insisted i come in in person for a review - I have only just migrated and have 12 months capital disregard and told her about a pip back pay and she then messaged and said she has initiated a face to face review. i can't manage that but she is not being at all helpful or listening.

I am sure they can use more discretion when people are awaiting outcome of UC50. Has your work coach understood your conditions? Mine hasn;t and asked me to go on 2 hour course - i can't sit up for that long! I wonder how we can communicate our needs to them? perhaps if we put it in writing and ask it if it is taken int account? I am not sure if that is the way it is done but they just dont seem to understand.

i have asked at an independent advice centre about what to do if i am being asked to do soemthing i can't do - they said not to agree to anything as it then becomes part of my commitments. But they insist - i've been able to push back against going on courses a bit, but it is really taking my mental health back, feel i've lost the progress I made.

T28

my work coach was really good at the beginning I told her what I have wrong with me and she said she’d turn off my work related things cs I can’t work on the medication and with my problems.. so I thought she’s lovely, then took my call Tuesday and she said about a course and over the next two weeks think about things I’m interested in to do and maybe one day I can get back into work. I said how can I when I don’t know how I’m going to be day to day, a lot of the time I’m in bed for days dosed up and and sleep, I can’t sit or stand for long lieing down helps with my back pain, I get numbness in my hands so I can’t type when that happens. But she said I can do one hour a day. Even my husband said that’s ridiculous because a lot of days I’m unable to stay awake. This has set off massive anxiety, I’ve not long sent back my uc50 she just seemed off not like the woman I have been talking to but was same women. Do you know how long it takes to hear about uc50? I did ask her she said no idea.

Kimi87

Unfortunately the WCA process can take many months to complete.

You can ask the health assessment agency about waiting times:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-your-health-assessment-provider