I'm Simpleminded.... suffering pain and depression, and fighting UC decision

simpleminded
simpleminded Community Member Posts: 2 Listener
in Start here and say hello!
Hi I'm Simpleminded 🤣🥰
I suffer with various back problems and need a spinal fusion. I also get frequent debilitating migraines. And intermittent TMJ. And have depression 
And I'm having big trouble with appealing my UC work capability assessment 

Comments

  • Alex_Alumni
    Alex_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,535 Championing
    edited April 2022
    Hello there @simpleminded thanks for joining the online community, and for reaching out today. 

    Thanks also for telling us a bit about yourself, do you have enough support to help manage all your conditions day to day? Are you getting any support for your mental health at the moment?

    And can I just check that TMJ is Temporomandibular joint dysfunction? I'm not too familiar with that condition myself, so I wasn't sure if that's what you meant.

    I'm sorry to hear you're having trouble appealing your UC work capability assessment. Turn2Us has some information you might find helpful:
    If you disagree with the decision, you can request a reconsideration of the decision.
    See:
    Challenging an Employment and Support Allowance decision  

    How do I challenge a Universal Credit decision?

    Please feel free to explore the forum if you'd like, you can use the categories page to browse topics, or visit the coffee lounge to get to know our members better.

    If you have any questions, please do ask and I hope you find the community welcoming and supportive :)

    Alex
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community Member Posts: 64,456 Championing
    For expert advice you can also speak to an advice agency near you. Start here. https://advicelocal.uk/



  • simpleminded
    simpleminded Community Member Posts: 2 Listener
    Thank you for your kind comments 
    I'm lucky enough that my daughter gets carers allowance for helping me with the stuff I can't do or struggle to do,and my other children and husband (seperated from) are all very good.
    My current doctor has been great,but unfortunately the one who knew everything about me, my family and our situation and history had retired. And the newer one has only met me once because of lockdown. He has referred me back to the hospital, as I was offered a spinal fusion in 2018,but I was reluctant to have it then. But because UC are hounding me to get a job, I feel I have no option but to have it. I certainly can't work with the pain I'm in presently.
    I have also Been referred to a pain clinic.
    And you are right about the TMJ.
    I have the back up of Citizens Advice, who have also said they will represent me if it gets to having a tribunal. But this stress has caused me so much trouble I have had to go antidepressants and have flare ups of IBS and more frequent migraines. I was so down that I didn't leave my home for a month,I couldn't eat or couldn't stop eating. I didn't want to talk to anyone.
    I can't get  the UC etc to realise that whilst I have pain all the time,  I have days when I can do things but they are getting less and less. 
    They took me off ESA for the same reason, and because they said I hadn't presented any extra reports on my health during lockdown !!! 

Categories