Hi, my name is Amberpearl! Waiting for a dwp health assessment

Tori_Scope

Have you spoken to your work coach to explain how difficult it is for you to go outside, and how distressing it is for you to be expected to look for work @Amberpearl? I'm sorry to hear that you're still waiting for your work capability assessment.

Do you mind me asking whether you're currently claiming PIP? 

I know that you've mentioned getting food from a food bank, but are you able to get the other essential items that you might need in, such as medication?

I think I saw you mention on another thread that you've been having some CBT over the phone. Has that been helping you manage your anxiety? I hope that you don't have to wait too long for the specialist trauma therapy.

Is your GP aware of the bladder problems you've been experiencing during the night?

Amberpearl

my medication is delivered to my home
no im not on pip     just uc     my last job centre appointment un person was 1st april  was my 4th work coach too    she was very understanding  as others say i have to attend jc every 2 weeks    during the pandemic all my appointments were via phone     i have restart every 2 weeks  due to my sick note i can do it via phone     just been told any future sick notes, mine runs out 21 july  have to be sent via my work coach and not myself emailing them myself to restart advisor
its like they dont trust me
i still have to apply for jobs everyday and upload onto uc website in order to keep getting uc of 324 a month
ive had 12 cbt phone sessions  instead of the usual 6   no its not helped     i was giving breathing exercises to do

i suffered terrible abuse from my ex husband for over 10 years   and i still get awful nightmares
and i get anxious with affects my bladder, always worse at night    i hate the dark     some nights if very bad i can go pee 18 times during the night     huge ones too and no i dont drink lots at bedtime     makes no difference

i wake up bursting  sweating and in a panic    and so exhausted i cannot function  and have no desire to go out     i have no money

i have been reffered for trauma therapy as the cbt therapist says i have ptsd

yes the gp is aware of my bladder and put me on oxybuytin
doesnt work
im waiting for another liver scan too
i also have lupus


does anyone know if the dwp health assensemnt is in person or phone?
   taking soooo long

i was put on the waiting list for age concerns befreinding service    even though im only 55

Amberpearl

im claiming uc     and even though i have a sick note    im told i musts till apply for jobs

Amberpearl

uc im claiming    i forced to appply for jobs everyday

Amberpearl

yes ive been submitting sick notes long time      im sacred the gp may refuse to give me one as i keep phoning up for one

what is a uc50

i filled in a dwp health questiionaire in feb and posted it

Alex_Alumni

Hello @Amberpearl thanks for explaining, can you tell me when that questionnaire was sent to you originally? 

Citizens Advice explains what the UC50 form is:

The UC50 form is your chance to tell the DWP how your illness or disability affects your ability to work, and why you shouldn't need to look for work as part of your Universal Credit claim. You should also use the form to mention anything you'd need at a medical assessment. 

I think this might be the health questionnaire you mentioned. 

Remember, if you need to contact someone for an update on when your work capability assessment might be you can call the Health Assessment Advisory Service:

Telephone: 0800 288 8777

Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm

Saturday, 9am to 5pm

Let me know if anything is still unclear, or if you have any other questions.

poppy123456

When claiming UC you’re classed as a job seeker until a decision on your WCA says otherwise. 

It’s a work coaches discretion whether they turn off or reduce work commitments. Some do, others don’t.
You can speak to your work coach to explain how your work commitments make your conditions worse and they may reduce them. 

Sue_Alumni

Hi @Amberpearl,

I am so sorry that you're having such a tough time. So I can understand your situation more fully can you please let me know whether you are still waiting for the DWP to send you the capability for work questionnaire (the UC50) or, if you have submitted this, are you waiting for a date for the medical assessment? 

Could you also explain what "Restart" is.  Is this some kind of back to work programme? 

While you are waiting for the work capability assessment decision it is down to the discretion of your work coach whether to lessen your claimant commitment.  I understand that one work coach has been helpful, the others less so. However, it is important that your work commitments take into account your circumstances and I would suggest that you ask, via your online journal, for a review of your claimant commitment.  You will need to be clear of what you are currently expected to do and why you cannot manage those requirements. You have been supplying fit notes for some time now and so the job centre has a consistent picture of your health conditions and has a basis on which to review your claimant commitment.  You mentioned that you have PTSD and have undergone trauma therapy - is this linked to the abusive relationship you were in.  This could possibly be relevant to what conditionality group you are placed for the purpose of your work related requirements and be more evidence that the requirements should be modified in your case.  

If you haven't received a UC50 form to complete you need to chase this up with the DWP via your online journal. 

You should also explain that you are struggling to make ends meet.  Do you have rent arrears or council tax arrears ? Have you been offered an advance payment?  This is an interest free loan and is available to meet immediate essential needs. It will be deducted at 15% of your award . If this causes you hardship, you can contact the Universal Credit Helpline and ask them to refer you to DWP Debt Management. Are you aware of other help that may be available to you ?

Manage debt and rent arrears | Disability charity Scope UK

Finally I understand that you are not claiming PIP. You may find this information helpful regarding how to claim PIP.

Advice and support | Disability charity Scope UK

The online community at Scope is a really supportive group of people. Please do reach out to us if there is any further information you require or just if you want someone friendly to chat to.  Take care

 

Amberpearl

so until i get a health assessment i have to keep on looking for work

Amberpearl

sent 9 th feb   i posted it back 10th feb

yes that sounds like the form i filled in

Alex_Alumni

See if you can speak to your work coach @Amberpearl to explain how having to keep on looking for work is making your conditions worse, and they may reduce them.

Alex_Alumni

Okay @Amberpearl thanks for confirming that for me, that's good to hear.

I am sorry it's taking a while to get an appointment for your work capability assessment. Remember you can chase them up by asking on your journal, or calling the Health Assessment Advisory Service on 0800 288 8777.

Amberpearl

i am waiting for a date for my health assessment    i sent the form back on 10th feb

restart programme is a new government thing to help people who have been out of work for more than 12 months    its run by reed employment agency and its mandatory    you get 2 phone calls a month and you have to attend the agency twice a month for updates on your job hunting   but as i have a fit note mine, are done via phone

i had a claimant committment about 3 months ago

 even though im not up to it i was told to apply for work from home   customer service roles support worker and care
i cant cope with that anymore

im in rented house and get housing ben and council tax discount      still struggle with utlity bills and water tv liecsnce    internet etc

i get food bank delievred

is there anything else i csn claim

i get free meds

poppy123456

If you don't speak to your work coach they won't know anything about your conditions. They aren't always horrible. Some are really understanding.

janer1967

Speak to your work coach I just had phone contact every month with them and not asked to look for work while I was waiting for my wca 

I know it's down to the coach but it's worth asking 

Amberpearl

Not heard from my work coach since 1 April. Odd. But she knows how bad I am  previous work. Coaches had me in every 2 weeks 

Amberpearl

My journal is about uploading jobs I've applied fir. The work. Coaches know nothing about my health assessment appointment date. I asked before.. She just said takes ages don't worry 

L_Volunteer

It sounds like you are going through a really difficult time @Amberpearl. Thank you for sharing this with us and being open with us about what you are currently experiencing. I appreciate how much courage it can take.

How are you currently feeling about having CBT therapy over the phone and being referred to trauma therapy? It sounds frustrating that there is a long waiting list, especially when you are struggling.

Do you have any support in place in the meantime or do you wish there was more support available? We are listening to you but can also signpost you to further resources if you wish that might be able to help.

Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with the restart programme, the job centre or fit notes. This means I can only hope people with more knowledge in this area are able to respond to you soon.

In the meantime, I wanted to respond to let you know we hear you and are here for you. Is there anyone you can raise your concerns with about not being left alone and constant changes and course requests? - for example, your GP? 

Please feel free to keep us in the loop. We are all here for you. You don't have to face this, or anything else, alone if you don't want to 

Amberpearl

I don't feel the cbt therapy has helped.  I have my last session tomorrow 
I'm, told there's a long wait for trauma therapy 

I'm. Not lazy at all, I. Just don't feel able to. Work atm
Yet until I get the dwp assessment I have to apply for jobs in order to keep the low money uc is 

I have nobody in my life, I'm. Alone and I feel vulnerable and alone and scared 

I hate the dark as I get scared of every little noise 

I. Was badly traumatised by my ex and I wake up several times a night. Sweating, always needing the bathroom and I'm. Exhausted 



I'm. A bag of nerves and rarely leave the house unless I have too 

I have a restart appointment tomorrow by phone 
I feel. Under pressure as they keep going on about courses to help me find work

And akways ask Me how my job hunt is going and say don't worry you will get a job soon

I honestly don't think I'm. Well. Enough to work right now 
But I'm. Still waiting for the dwp assessment 

poppy123456

If you don't speak to your work coach to tell them about your health conditions and how they are affected by your claimant commiments then they won't know and they can't help you. In your other thread it was advised then you speak to them, see thread. https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/89970/does-anyone-pass-the-assessment#latest

There's quite long waiting lists for work capability assessments for a lot of people so you could be waiting quite sometime yet, as you only sent the form on 10th Feb. Some people are waiting up to a year for the assessment.

For those reasons your best option really is to speak to your work coach.