Work Capability Assessment

CJHunter

Hibee, it sounds as if you should be getting ESA to me and need to get signed off by g.p
Do apply for dla and be honest about how everything effects you.
If you do get turned down appeal, it is pretty standard to get turned down first time now.

If you wanna talk bout it further pm me.

Take care.x

jez

Hi,
I was classed as fit to work and returned to work . . . .
I was heading up the M6 on the front end of a 65 tonner feeling a "little" tired when i was rudely awoken by a loud crash, I looked up to see grass ahead of me "oh-oh" i thought this should be tarmac not grass.
Yes i had nodded off, hardly surprising when on 10mg morphine.
Apparently i had drifted off the motorway and struck an overbridge almost demolishing it, 2 cars were badly damaged by falling debris 32 others by lesser falling debris,(well it was rush hour, 5.35pm) It cost the government just short of 1.5 million pounds not too mention umpteen thousand on the truck companies insurance.
Guess what???
The DWP are trying to assess me fit for work again all i can say is "LOOK OUT" here i may come again.
Jez (still waiting for new joints)
PS going to atos medical 10th feb, I hope they don't expect too much co-operation AND i will be asking what qualifications the assessor has

joannab73

I have been on ESA for osteoarthritis and fibromyalgeia for a while now but they made me do another medical assessment this year. I was on the work related component of ESA and had 21 points. However after my last assessment they just sent me a letter to say I have nil points this time. Even though my arthritis is worse and cause me some difficulties every day especially with stiffness and walking and stairs it is not taken into account. I have to pay for a cleaner to help around the house. The ESA was my only income and I am not eligible for any DLA as I fall into a grey area. I will appeal but the whole system is very difficult. It is not like the media portrays all the time.

joannab73

It is encouraging to know that other people are going through similar problems but also frustrating! I have to get a taxi often because I can only walk one way; I avoid stairs. I could do with an automatic car but can't afford one and get no mobility allowance. If I am too stiff to walk I don't go out most days except when I have to. They assessed me for work based on the fact that I can pick up a pen - not to take into account that I have stiff finger and wrist joints for long term work and that I can put my hands above my head for five seconds. They don't ask anything relevant to your condition and even if they do they don't record it. They don't understand the significant effect having arthritis has on your day to day living. I didn't ask for this condition - life threw me a curve ball but there is no help. I have also been told I am too young for a knee operation and I am 55!! I had to fight to get my xrays and original diagnosis when I couldn't walk a few years ago by saying that no one should have to feel like this. It has always been an uphill struggle with GPS and benefits. I felt my ESA - which is my only income - was being used to pay these so called 'examiners'. I hope I was worth his 'fifty pieces of silver'.

jez

I have decided to take all the folders of hospital letters with me when i attend my assessment, that's all 4 of them, 4 because i go to 4 different hospitals for all my complaints with each folder carefully subdivided.
I think it fair to say if you see a nuclear type mushroom above leicester on 7th feb it's me going off.
Jez

joannab73

It doesn't matter what information you take to ATOS; the doctor discussed all my conditions and none were on the form that came back - only that I could life a pen up! It annoys me - a dog can lift a pen up - doesn't mean he is able to go to work! They did not take into account any of my problems at all so I am forced to appeal again - this is the second time; I had to appeal a year ago from my first ATOS medical. I see now that the doctor was just making time; he had no intention of writing anything down to my condition and they said the zero points included everything I had written on my medical form. It was just a formality the interview. It is waste of everyone's time and money. They save £15.00 a week if I go on to job seekers allowance (ESA is my only income) and that goes to pay these doctors (I use the term loosely) to say we have no points. Even though I had points before which they have taken away, yet my conditions are worse! Makes no sense at all.

margareth64

I have to go for an assessment on Feb 20th I think its a work capabilty one Im on ESA I get £135 a fortnight. What kind of things will I be asked to do or will they do to me?
Margaret

justinbarrow

Have they asked to fill in any forms prior to asking you to attend a medical as they should ask you to fill in a form first.

samdorres

I am 40 years old and am suffering from RA in my right Knee. Lately, it is really giving unbearable pain. I am advised to take rest. I wonder how the disability benefits are applied internationally especially someone with international medical insurance.

dander

Hi everyone, i am new to this forum, so please bear with me. I have been reading everyones experience with the new medical assesment...may i tell my story also....I am coming up to 55yrs old, worked all my life up until 8 years ago. I was a medical rep (laughable really as my disease area was muscularsketal), however, my path changed big time when i had to undergo spinal surgery 3 times, none worked and have now been told i have the spine of an 70 year old...ok, learn to deal with it....also had two surgeries on my shoulder and have been diagnosed with OA in my finger joints and base of thumb...again...work with it, never pain free and have been up since 4.00am which is pretty usual. Had to go for a medical to assess my capility to work, bearing in mind like others it takes me approx 2/3 hours to 'come round' in the mornings, hubbie has to help me shower and i can not bend with ease to put on simple things like socks and underwear ( how degrading is that!!). I went for the medical and the Doctor there was really pleasant etc.....4 weeks later a letter thumps down on the mat to tell me i have to go for interviews now, i am in some group or other to prepare me for work...yeah right...who is going to employ an 55 yr old ( and yes i know about age discrimination as i have a masters in employment law)who cant get into work on time, cant stand for extended periods of time and can barely use her hands...must be some employer who will put up with that!!! I rang them as i have a letter from my consultant who said i would never (sadly) be able to work again. I had posted this letter after the medical but it had somehow gone astray. The first person i spoke to was totally and utterly disgraceful, the manner was just terrible and when i put the phone down i felt the tears come into my eyes....he had given me another number to call (the 'old' IB unit), what a difference, lovely girl who told me to send the letter to them and say i wanted a reassesment done...so, am now waiting for that. Believe me, if i was able to work, i would, i am only 54 (55 in May), young in mind and loathe boredom, but i am scared stupid now. I just had another injection in my thumb and probably will end up having surgery on it, so where does this leave me????? I am on morphine 2x weekly, take Kapake, and new drug to work on nervous system !!! Sorry this is so long, but it is just fab to find a forum where others are trying to cope like me...thank you for reading this

justinbarrow

I think its outrageous that genuine people are failing these assesments and the ones that put it on will get passed to stay on benefits so they can spend it in the pub.

Then in 2013 the cull starts on everyone claiming DLA with the abolishment of Mobility allowance and Carers allowance to be replaced with the all new more stricter Personal Independence Payment (p.i.p) and those who are on D.L.A will be subjected to further medicals. :roll:

My mother in law went for one of these assessments and they asked her all sorts of stuff like did she watch last nights episode of EastEnders if she said yes they would assume that she can sit comfortably for half an hour They also asked her if she has hobbies and if she can use a microwave.

She also said there are cameras as you go in and also in the waiting area and coat hangers placed slightly higher than usual so you have to stretch a little.

Terrible and yet if you are in prison you get everything provided free with no questions asked.

jez

There's a thought, Lets all do an armed robbery then we can get a nice comfy cell with sky the lack of freedom will not be such a problem as most are not so mobile anyway.
In prison every requirement for a prisoners needs are met. Am we on the wrong side of the wall ??

oldies

Hi Jez,how did it go with your assesmentreading some of the things on this forum is a disgrace,none of them so called "doctors" doing the assesments and medicals have'nt got a clue what everyday living is like with arthritis.I am convinced the reasons most are being taken off esa on to jobseekers is because its less money for them to pay out.
There is going to become a time when someone is seriously injured through them saying people are fit to work.

jez

Hi all,
The assessment was a farce, it was cold in there so i left my coat on I kept my coat on - it limited my ability to lift my arms severely, my left knee popped it's cartlidge out on the squat which left me on the floor, I had a major sense of humour failure as the person doing the test was only an auxillary nurse not a qualified practioner.
So i am now classed as fit and able to return to work despite using 15mg morphine a day at present.
I am going to a conference on health and well being on the 27th and an other on the 28th where members of the dwp will be present i intend to acll them some pretty abrasive things from the microphone whrn it is my turn,
i will be writing to mr cameron tomorrow to tell him i will be actively campiagning against his government next election i will be contacting the equalities and human rights commission with regard to the governments stance.
Watch this space

jez

Hi all,
I was so piss** off with the dwp i wrote to cameron at downing street, My case for ESA is suddenly being "urgently" reviewed may i suggest a flurry of letters??
Keep the B****rs on the hop after all we have "just" given the greeks "another" 6 billion pounds
Jez

JuliaHod12

I'm with you Jez..........! Flurries of letters ........Cameron & his cronies....any MP in my area too! ;-)

As a "new" suffererI am in limbo.......too young at 52 for TKR surgery, yet in constant pain which has ruined my everyday (and sleeping) life. I'm struggling to get up each day for work, making it through a full day,then collapsing when I get home.
I havent even started claimimg any help...........not holding out much hope..........but am still gonna try!
If I did a bank job I would be in the nick for a few years with no bills to pay and 3 square meals a day.............what's the bet my surgery would get higher priority too..............how many prisons are Disabled accessible? ;-)

dander

Just reading through all the posts after my (very) extended post!!! There was an excellent idea re writing to the PM, I think i just might do that. I had the injection in my thumb, but here i am 3 weeks down the line about to head for an MRI to see excatly what is going on in there...not a lot!!! One thing is distrubing me more now is how i have noticed that i am finding it harder and harder to actually get up from a seat Whats that all about!!! I do know i have OA, so in a way am not so bad as those who suffer RA, I am still waiting for 'the big interview' at my job center, wherever that may be as i have not set foot on one of those place ever. I did get sent my report from the assessment by the 'big Doctor' and it does say for the next two years i am unable to be considered for work....so why the interview..confused :? I have been up since 3.30am and it is now 6.00am, going to try and rest which is a joke in itself!!! Hope folks are coping x

PollySid

Squatting? you must be joking!
I just did an experiment - no way can I squat using both legs, even when holding on to something. I managed to get down (with difficulty) using the side of the bath and toilet to a one knee bent, one kneeling position.
With the right knee bent I could get up using the bath and toilet. With the left knee bent - no chance, I had to switch knees to do it.
I think I would fail that test
Now my knees hurt