Medical records

do1987

Hi there!

I am starting the health journey on UC as I believe I should be entitled to LCWRA.

As part of this I have obtained my full health record to help with my case.

One of my conditions is a stutter. On some of my therapy sessions it says I stutter on every word or have prolonged a word for up to 15 seconds, on others it says the flow of conversation was good. But this was in the context of therapy and it’s much more difficult in the ‘real world’.

My concern is that I have no doubt UC will point out the ‘good’ days I’ve had in therapy to dismiss my claim. So I’m thinking of redacting a lot of stuff. Some of it being with regards to the stutter and some stuff that just isn’t relevant such as a broken nose. Would this go down well? Could they request my full un-redacted record?

Thank you

do1987

Can anyone advise on this?

Thanks

noonebelieves

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/132883/medical-records

Hi @do1987

First of all, I’m really sorry to hear about what you’re going through - especially the challenges around your stutter. It’s completely valid to feel anxious about how things might be interpreted.

I’m not a benefits expert, but I just wanted to share my own experience with the WCA (Work Capability Assessment). When I submitted my GP records, I redacted certain sections -mostly unrelated or highly personal content that wasn’t relevant to my claim. I didn’t have any issues because what I submitted still clearly supported the conditions I was applying under. In my case, DWP also contacted my GP directly with the UC113 form, which is a fairly standard part of the process.

I did once read on the Scope forum (though I can’t recall where exactly) that excessive redaction can sometimes lead to further scrutiny. But from what you’ve described, your concern is more about how your stutter is recorded -the “good days” being used to undermine your difficulties. That’s completely understandable, and you’re not alone in worrying about that.

But if you don’t mind me asking -is there a specific reason you’re considering redacting the parts about the stutter? From my perspective, those notes, even if mixed, actually validate your condition. Variability is common in many conditions, and having some better days doesn’t cancel out the barriers you experience most of the time, especially in real-world settings outside of a therapy room.

In fact, showing that contrast might actually help highlight just how much more difficult daily life is for you, compared to a structured therapy environment. Redacting that info might unintentionally remove key evidence of the struggles you’re facing.🤔

That said, I completely understand wanting to leave out things that seem irrelevant, like a broken nose -that makes perfect sense. However, if the injury happened due to a fall, losing balance, or even hitting a wall or door, then It could actually be a key detail worth including. In that context, it helps paint a fuller picture of how your condition affects your safety and daily life, which could strengthen your case.

I really hope you get the support you deserve and that your WCA journey goes as smoothly as possible. Please do keep us updated. There are lots of people here who’ve been through similar things and can offer support.

Take care

do1987

Really nice response @noonebelieves - thank you!

The reason is because I know how the DWP operate really, through experience and from others experiences. I have no doubt that they’d push the narrative that my stutter isn’t that bad because of any improvement in a therapy environment.

Last time I went through this process the assessor blatantly lied several times in her report, saying I said I have no problems with my speech when seeing family. When I actually just said it’s less severe. This time I’ll be recording the assessment.

I’ve been awarded PIP since then and gained 8 points for communicating verbally so hopefully that will help. This was awarded before I was set to take them to Tribunal.

Thanks again

noonebelieves

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1018188#Comment_1018188

Thank you 🙏🏽 , @do1987.

Just to say upfront-these are purely my personal views based on experience, and I’m sharing them in good faith, having been through similar challenges.

You’re absolutely right to be concerned. The way the DWP sometimes interprets medical evidence-especially when it reflects “better days”-can be deeply frustrating. But what I’ve learned, both from my own journey and from listening to others, is that while medical documents matter, your personal narrative(in application and assessment)-how you clearly and specifically explain how your condition affects you in relation to each descriptor-is often the most powerful part of your claim.

A key point worth highlighting: many long-term conditions (“stutter” included) can show temporary improvement in structured, supportive environments like therapy, but that improvement doesn’t always translate into real-world situations. For example, people with mental health conditions may show progress in CBT sessions, or someone like me with hand weakness might perform slightly better in physiotherapy-but those gains often don’t carry over into everyday life and complex activities , especially when multiple real-life challenges are at play.

Therapy environments are controlled and focused. Real life isn’t. Whether it’s work, social settings, or navigating day-to-day pressures, the barriers people face can resurface or worsen. So even if your notes say “speech flow was good,” (just guessing!)that doesn’t mean your condition doesn’t still cause significant difficulty elsewhere in real life scenarios . That’s why variability must be clearly explained, and why your narrative is key.

There are some excellent Scope members here with lots of knowledge about how to frame things in line with DWP assessment guidance (I believe it’s captured in the DWP’s PIP assessment guides and WCA  handbooks-worth having a look). These documents outline how assessors are supposed to interpret function-not just diagnosis. Your narrative helps them (and the tribunal if it gets there) understand how your condition actually affects you day to day.

Also, as you mentioned-therapy itself is time-limited. Whether NHS or private, it’s rarely lifelong unless you’re in a very privileged position  financially. Often, people are discharged before they feel ready(due to service commissions/red tape/bureacracies), and most services leave people doing home-based therapy afterward, where success rates and compliance are understandably lower due to lack of the support(therapy), progress or motivation. That’s another reason why “improvement” in a therapy room shouldn’t be taken at face value.

So in short, I’d suggest this:

   •   Be as clear and specific as possible in explaining how your stammer affects you in real-world scenarios-work, socialising, phone calls, etc-.

   •   Emphasise the variability and how therapy gains haven’t translated reliably into daily life.

   •   Where possible, link your difficulties to specific descriptors in the WCA or PIP criteria.

   •   Try not to over-rely on medical documents. Use them to support your case, not define it.

Sadly, many people (myself included) only get what they deserve after a tribunal. But some of that can be prevented by putting forward a thorough and honest account of daily struggles along the descriptors, backed by clear examples and consistency between your form and assessment-even if the assessors challenge or twist the questions.

I hope all this makes sense. It’s not easy navigating the DWP health assessment systems, but you’re not alone. I really do wish you the very best with your application and hope it goes as smoothly as possible.

Take care and keep us updated.

Best Wishes