Universal credit if unable to work

Miss_Annmarie

Hi, i am a single person with a disability (Spondylitis and Arthritis in the neck), I was on Job seekers allowance, which included a disability premium and sever disability premium, on top this i received the basic care component for pip, Foolishly i took a full-time job in a call centre which lasted just six weeks and i had to finish work, when i consulted my GP she said a shouldn't have gone back to work, as in her opinion i wasn't fit due to the pain and deterioration it would cause in my neck. when i resigned i had to apply for UC (date awarded 15/12/2018), because in that six weeks my area had switched from Job Seekers to UC. The amount of benefit that i now get has drastically reduced, because as my work coach said, UC is only meant to be for short term unemployment. I am currently waiting for a F2F to see if the DWP agree with my doctor.

So my question is, if i am deemed permanently unfit for work, is the any more help i can get through UC, as the letter i got says i may be entitled to more money through UC if i am deemed unfit for work, however i am finding all the different rules and conditions confusing.

Please can someone help, because living on this amount untill i retire is a scary prospect.

poppy123456

Hi,

All areas were a full UC from mid December so from that time it wouldn't have been possible for anyone to claim Income related JSA/ESA.

The advice your work coach gave you that UC is only meant for short term unemployment is not correct for those that have a limited capability for work.

Once you've had your face to face assessment and a decision is made on your claim if you're given LCWRA  you'll receive an extra £328 per month from the 4th month of your claim start from when you sent in your first fit/sick note. This is because of the "waiting period" This means that if you sent in a sick note when you first started your UC claim then the extra money will be paid from mid April providing a decision's been made by that time. If it hasn't then you'll be backdated any money owed.

If the decision is LCW then you won't receive any extra money and your money will remain the same as it is now. The same if you're found fit for work.

When you're sent the work capability assessment form you'll need to send evidence with that to support your claim.

Miss_Annmarie

what sort of evidence will i need, i have had x-ray's, and two lots of physio and ultra sound treatment (none of which made any improvement) however i have asked my doctor to send me to a specialist, they have refused this on more than one occasion as they say there is nothing that can be done to help my condition.

poppy123456

Evidence that proves how your conditions affect you. Future appointment dates are classed as evidence.

Have you been referred for a work capability assessment and received the work capability assessment form yet?

Here's the descriptors for LCW and LCWRA. For LCWRA to apply then at least one of the descriptors must apply the majority of the time.

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Your-Situation/Ill-Injured-or-Disabled/Universal-Credit-Capability-for-work-assessment

Miss_Annmarie

I have the work assessment form, which i have almost filled out using my PIP form that i copied, including a list of medications, a list of aids i have to use for cooking dressing and washing etc.., and adding things in that affect me now, which didn't before, such as the spread of the condition into my hips. my doctor did say that the fact they sign me off for three months at a time should tell them that i'm not fit for work, however i know this is not reality with the DWP

poppy123456

A sick note from your GP doesn't automatically entitle you to LCW. You need to have a look at the descriptors in the link i put up for you. If it's the mobiliising one then they will look at your ability to use a self propel wheelchair.

Miss_Annmarie

Thankyou, I know that a sick note is practically worthless to the DWP, as you will see from my description of my medical history,most of my problems are around my neck and shoulders, which would preclude me from using a self propelled wheelchair, but thankyou for your advice

poppy123456

You will need to make sure you add everything on the form about how your conditions affect you. You also need to make sure it's returned no later than the date stated. Failure to return it will see you being found fit for work for failing to return the form.

There's no extra time given for returning those forms like there is for the PIP ones. Good luck.