Limited capability for work

penfactor

Hello there!
This is what ATOS found me to have as a result of my medical & then work assessment & I have been placed in this group but I'm still not really clear about what it means & what happens next.
I have attended 2 Pathways to Work interviews & the advisor is really nice & very helpful. I have remained on ESA.
I've looked everywhere on the reports & literature they've sent me but I still don't really understand what it all means as far as being able to find a new & more suitable job. Surely employers will dismiss my application when they find out.
I know there are some of you out there who are really up on all these things & would be so grateful if you could clarify it all for me.
I am 51 years old & have OA in hip & knee & had right THR last October.
love Pennie X

airwave

Hi,
What we should all remember is that the system is completely artificial and put in place by able politicians and civil servants so that we can fit into their categories.

Bad experiences are easy to come by, sanity isn't.

8) Its a grin, honest!

nearlybionic

Hi Pennie
I`m not really well up on these things but wondered if CAB could help to explain things for you. Hope it works out well for you xx
NB

speedalong

Hi Pennie,

I'm not at all up on these matters either. Maybe you should write a list of what you could do ie a job where you are not sitting for more than X mins because of getting stiff, where you only have to walk X amount, where you don't have to carry heavy things etc ... How many hours would you be able to work a day without aggravating the OA? Then hand this information to the bureacrats ... with so many people out of work .. I don't know where all these extra jobs are going to come from.

What did you do before arther struck?
How long have you been out of work?

Speedy

dorcas

Hi Pennie

You are in exactly the same position as me. Maybe I can help with the awful bureaucracy of it all and mind numbing literature that surrounds ESA. Forgive me if I tell you what you already know. :oops: but it's easier to explain the whole process than just one bit of it!

so.. here's a beginner's Guide to understanding ESA & Atos

1. When you first apply... if you meet the initial criteria for ESA then you are awarded ESA at the 'Assessment Rate'.. this is what we are all placed on while the dwp assess our medium to long term eligibility for ESA. The assessment period is 14 weeks.(I think?)

2. You then attend a 'Pathways to Work' Interview within 6weeks of being granted ESA ....and told at that interview that you will be called to attend a Medical Assessment in the near future. (some people don't have to attend a medical if they are terminally ill for example)

3. You will also be sent a Self Assessment Questionnaire to complete and send in to ATOS.

4. You attend the medical assessment at one of the ATOS medical centres. The medical assessment has to be done prior to the end of the assessment period of 14 weeks to determine whether you continue on one of the two levels of ESA ....OR are refused and told you are fit for work & to apply for jobseeker's allowance instead.

5. You then receive the decision letter from DWP.(can take 2weeks to get the decision letter)

There are 3 possible outcomes to an ATOS medical

5.1. That you do not fit the criteria for ESA (people who score less than 15 points in the medical assessment) and are 'Fit For work' and should apply for Jobseeker's Allowance or get a job.

5.2.that you have been assessed as having 'Limited Capability for Work' and will receive ESA at the 'Limited Capability 'Rate. (people who score at least 15 points in the medical assessment) The letter will tell you you have been placed in the 'Work Capability Group' and will be obliged to attend and to 'fully participate' in further 'Pathways To Work' interviews where you will have to show how you're managing your condition so as to work towards a return to the workplace. You do not have to hand in any more medical certificates.

5.3. that you have been assessed as having 'Limited Capability for Work' but it is of such significance that you cannot be reasonable expected to work in the longer term and so are placed in the 'Support Group. People who are placed in the 'Support Group'will receive ESA at the highest rate and do not have to attend any further interviews or hand in any more medical certificates.

People in the Support Group are those with a terminal illness or 'significant mental impairment or physical disability'

---

So... Pennie, you are in the middle group! You will continue to receive ESA at the middle rate , do not need any more doc certificates but will have to attend and participate in the Pathways to work interviews etc...in the 'hope' that you will one day be fit to work through ...your own efforts to manage your condition... and the support offered by the Pathways Team.

Big question is do you agree with the decision? If you do.. then that's fine; you'll attend the Pathways Interviews and continue to receive ESA until/ if/ when you can work again.

I did not agree with my 'Limited Capability' decision and am asking dwp to reconsider their decision as I strongly believe I should be in the Support Group. It's all detailed in my post 'ATOS, DWP and ESA if you want to know more.

This is a hugely long winded answer Pennie.... but maybe it'll help others who like me and you get caught up in the terrible bureaucratic nightmare they call ESA.

Iris xxx

frogmorton

Hi pennie

aint Iris clever :shock:

Are you happy with their decision??

Do you agree? Is it about right?

Hope you are well today

love

Toni xx

penfactor

Yes, Toni - Iris is brilliant! Iris I was hoping you would see this thread as I knew you would be able to help. I so wish the DWP peeps could explain everything so clearly & thoroughly as you.
I do agree with the decision & I would really love to be able to find something I could do, but to be honest, as you said, I think thats going to be tough. I am really scared of facing the rejection when I start applying as it is so bad for the confidence, isn't it?
Speedy, my last job for last ten years was running a beauty counter for Max Factor in a busy shop. I was a single girl account so totally responsible for everything . Obviously, no sitting allowed at any time & had to be able to run about as quickly as possible & lug all the stock downstairs, counter updates - won't bore you with it all. I really miss doing the make overs & some of my lovely customers ...
Anyway, rambling now but I guess I am just going to have to see what I can do
love Pennie XX

lavenderlady

having numerous illness's I really cannot see a way in which I can ever work again so will not claim ESA,
I cannot sit for long stand or walk far with out pain cannot use my right arm its far to weak cannot lift or hold my arm up ( SMA) my left wrist is about to have a TWR, my back is damaged by spondelothesis and arthritis have nerve pain in my right leg and lower back, have diabetes stomach ulcers SMA, high BP under active thyroid, and chest pains with breathlessness even having a shower makes me breathless, am waiting for my 2nd heart scan next week to see whats up, so with all these problems wonder what I would be told at one of these appointments you attended oh forgot OA in practicaly all of my joints including toes which makes it hard to walk far with out severe pain as they are fusing, would be interesting ?????

dorcas

Hi Pennie

glad the 'beginner's guide' was helpful..... I found it all so confusing too and your Post helped me to get my head around it all by putting it down in black & white..

I'm pleased for you that you agree with the dwp decision ... but please do not put yourself under too much pressure :roll: dwp do not expect you to jump straight back into the workplace.... they have accepted you have a limiting condition.... so please give yourself time.

Your job must have been so glamorous! (as well as physically demanding)... were/ are you glamorous too? I've never been good at make up :roll:

Anyway Pennie... I do wish you well with your next steps.. please let us know how you get on with Pathways? do you have your next appointment?...
mine's the 27th ...what a laugh that's going to be. :shock: :?
not

....lavenderlady,
I do hope your next appointment comes in soon flower... you sound in so much pain. am thinking about you and wishing you good luck with your op.

(((hugs)))

Iris xxx

woodbon

Hi Its all so confusing isn't it? I'm 'fit for work' although, I was found unfit by the County Council and awarded my pension at the same amount as I'd have had if I'd worked to 65, which is the top award of 3 levels. Its only small, not enough to live on but not enough to interfer with ESA. I feel lucky for getting that as I don't think I'll win the appeal the way things seem to be going with work and pensions and getting all us lazy people back to the 'work place'. Which I'd love, but they won't have me!

I'm glad that your getting things sorted as its all so difficult. Makes me wonder how some people cope. Love Suexxx

penfactor

Thank you so much for your replies.
My 3rd Pathways interview is on 1st Oct but I wasn't asked to supply evidence of anything. My advisor gave me contact details for the local Shaw Trust, also a special letter for me to get counselling to help deal with what happened. But I have been too worried so far to contact either yet as I still don't know what the next stage of my treatment is to be. My advisor said his brother-in-law had similar result from his op so he was more understanding of the problems in walking involved.
He hasn't been pushy or making me try to do anything I can't so far so please don't worry, Iris.
Yes there was glamour in my job, especially at the yearly conferences where we were treated really well but that was counter-acted by the dreadful bitchiness & huge competitiveness against other brands!
One had to try & find a medium of working every day next to a girl from another house & keeping it friendly & pinching her sales when she had day off!
I have lapsed into TLDR category now so enough from me for time being!
love Pennie X

dorcas

Hi Pennie

I'm glad you've got an understanding pathways adviser... maybe I'm just a bit too cynical!

I loved reading that brief insight into what it was like being in the beauty industry :shock: WoW :shock: quite a viciously competitive environment eh?... but glamorous too!

good luck with your next interview lovely... will be really interested to hear how you get on.

Iris xxx

penfactor

Will let you know, Iris - let us know how yours goes too.
Pennie X