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Fit to work note issues and benefits

Hi please can you advise. I am 64 years old due to retire in November. I have been on universal credit for a year but I have had regular sick notes from my go. I have bulging discs diagnosed sciatica diagnosed. IBS diagnosed. Depression stress and anxiety diagnosed. Shortness of breath when walking etc.I have just been awarded pip and a full time carer my ex partner. I went for my work capability and I scored 0 points. I have asked for a Mandatory Reconsideration as the majority of the information is either untrue or incorrect. No approach was made to my gp for medical records to confirm my diagonisis. The assessment quite frankly is full of holes. I will appeal if I lose the mandatory reconsideration as i have bren treated disgracefully. My question to you is whete do I stand i have a cutrent not fit to work medical certificate up until 30th June but iam now told that its irrelevant as i have failed my work capability. I am not well hence why i have a sick note i disagree with their findings and i can back this up with medical evidence.does this mean they can force me back to work against doctors orders? I am really not well enough anyway please advise.
Replies
And DWP aren’t ignoring anything. You’ve been found fit for work. If/when that decision changes your fit notes will be relevant as evidence. Until then they’re not.
Follow your logic through and there are literally no circumstances anyone could ever be found fit as long as their GP was onside. It’s a dangerous game. GPS are happy to be manipulated by some people if it gets them out the door quicker/if it’s the only positive thing they think they can do for them and for many other reasons.
Just want to express how sorry I am to hear that your GP's opinion has not been accepted, as far as your benefit claim is concerned.
I appreciate that many people feel that their GP knows them well and understands their medical condition, so that if their GP says they are unfit for work, then that should be accepted by the DWP. Unfortunately that isn't how our system currently works.
For many years now, the DWP has arranged assessments with private companies that employ "Healthcare Professionals" who meet the claimant for half an hour and then write a report. On the basis of that report, the DWP decision maker makes a decision about whether or not benefit is payable.
Scope makes regular statements that these and Personal Independence Payment assessments are not fit for purpose, however it is taking a great deal of time for the government to make the necessary improvements.
https://www.scope.org.uk/About-Us/Media/Press-releases/March-2017/PIP-statistics-reveal-an-assessment-process-that-i
https://www.scope.org.uk/press-releases/response-pip-second-review
https://www.scope.org.uk/press-releases/pip-fix-fundamentally-broken-assessment-processhttps://www.scope.org.uk/press-releases/pip-esa-assessments-riddled-with-errors
https://blog.scope.org.uk/2012/07/30/scope-ceo-blog-watching-the-dispatches-undercover-footage/
Meanwhile, individuals who are affected by these decisions of the DWP have the difficult task of challenging them, where they feel that they are inappropriate - by researching the descriptor points and in the case of ESA, the exceptional conditions (Regulation 29) for being accepted as not well enough or too disabled to look for work.
Don't give up if you believe that a mistake has been made, in that a very high proportion of individuals eventually win, very often at appeal hearing stage. Good luck with challenging the decision that's been made and do get in touch maybe with the helpline, if there is only limited advice available locally, or if you would like to discuss further.
Best wishes
Gill_Scope
Finance and Benefits Specialist
Scope Helpline
Tel: 0808 800 3333