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Original poster

im on universal credit but on sick until nov 30 th so have a question

28 replies

masterofdoomv1 · 09/10/2022 17:04

as well as being on sick on uc until 30th november ive been awarded pip until november 2024 this is because of depression and anxiety. im dreading coming off sick on 30th november on uc however as i dont feel i have been taken seriously and im dreading as soon as that day comes all of a sudden im expected to be better and there will be so much pressure on me to do what they expect without taking my health into account.

i know people will ask why i feel this way first of all at my last signing i was asked how often i left the house i said twice for voluntary work and a group i attend i said that theres some weeks though because of my anxiety i find it difficuilt to leave my home due to my health and this was dismissed i was told oh but we all have days like that i was told that there were plenty of help for people with mental health issues people just had to ask i was told that there were qualified staff i could speak to in at jobcentre and anything i said would be in confidance i asked to be refered for this and that was 6 weeks ago ive heard nothing since i left a note on my uc journal explaining this and got no response so im dreading nov 30th and i dont know what to do has anyone been in a similar situation with uc if so how did you handle it

OP posts:

CrossStichQueen · 09/10/2022 17:11

Have they sent you a UC50 form? If you have a sick note from your GP and your health condition is affecting your ability to look for work/work then they should now be assessing your capability to work/do work related activity.

Ask your work coach about a health assessment in order for UC to decided if you should go in the LCWRA as this removes the rules around job searching and they accept your illness affects you. It may also lead to an extra element being paid due to disability.

Original poster

masterofdoomv1 · 09/10/2022 17:38

i did the uc50 form and was put into the work related activity group until my last appointment i wasnt expected to do anything other than the voluntary work which i was doing a half day a week and going to a group i attend each week for a couple of hours but then at last appointment i was told 30th nov was the date this work related support group ended and between now and then i was expected to be out 4 days a week i got the impression that was this way of telling me to be prepared as when that day comes then id be expected to do so much more thats my point its as if they seem to think because you have anxiety and depression they give you a date and all of a sudden on that day forward your not supposed to have anxiety and deppression and i get the impression there wont be any allowances even though im still on pip until nov 2024 for the same health issues i feel like theres actually been no support just left to my own devices then when this day comes all better get a job

OP posts:

AnotherEmma · 09/10/2022 17:53

Hi, I advise on benefits among other things.
This doesn't make a huge amount of sense; after your have been awarded Limited Capability for Work (LCW) it would be for a fixed period and towards the end of that period, you would do another assessment before they decide whether you still have LCW or whether you are now expected to work. If they decide you can work you can challenge that decision.
You should check your original LCW award notice and see when the review date is.
If you need more advice, contact your local Citizens Advice: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/contact-us/#h-find-your-nearest-citizens-advice

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Benefits

Original poster

masterofdoomv1 · 09/10/2022 17:59

ok thank you ill check on this ill look form out i dont know if its uc just playing mind games or not but i can assure you that i was told 30th nov was cut off date for being in support group as if decision had been made but ill look into things

OP posts:

AnotherEmma · 09/10/2022 18:11

have you logged into your online journal recently and checked for messages?

Original poster

masterofdoomv1 · 09/10/2022 18:40

yeah emma theres been nothing

OP posts:

Original poster

masterofdoomv1 · 09/10/2022 18:45

i just checked journal again on uc nothing from them i think its just mind games on there part maybe hoping ill say im fit for work who knows i dont know how these things work i just feel ive been left to my own devices and dont know whats going on

OP posts:

Babyroobs · 09/10/2022 18:50

masterofdoomv1 · 09/10/2022 17:59

If you were only awarded LCW you are not in the support group.

Babyroobs · 09/10/2022 18:52

Babyroobs · 09/10/2022 18:50

If you were only awarded LCW you are not in the support group.

Show quote history

Sorry I meant to say is it definitely LCWRA you were awarded or LCW ? Do you get extra money on your claim for being unable to work?

Original poster

masterofdoomv1 · 09/10/2022 18:59

hi i looked out letter i got from uc it says ive been put in limited capability for work group i didnt get awarded any extra money and on the letter under what happens next all it says is 'we may ask you to attend another work capabillity assessment in the future, We will contact you at that time to tell you what you need to do.' i did apply for pip after that and was awarded pip until Nov 2024

OP posts:

Babyroobs · 09/10/2022 19:05

masterofdoomv1 · 09/10/2022 18:59

Ok so PIP has no bearing on being capable for work or not as people often work full time whilst claiming PIP. Does it say when your LCW is next up for review- could it be November 30th that it is due for review ? To be honest they are way behind with re-assessments at the moment.

Original poster

masterofdoomv1 · 09/10/2022 19:12

babyroods no date on letter for when to expect a review or assessment the reason i brought up pip is it seems crazy two departments one seems more understanding than the other about anxietty and depression and im concerned im going to be put back on normal uc without my anxiety or deppression being taking into account and its just going to be constant pressure. i had my last appointment with my uc advisor i was told i had been in lcw for several months my next appointment would be 30th nov and i was to start making more effort to leave the house from twice a week to four times a week as if this was to prepare me

OP posts:

CrossStichQueen · 09/10/2022 19:21

Ahhh master Anyone that works in benefits shares your frustration at how various benefit departments don't talk to other benefit departments despite them all being linked in some way and sometimes sat a desk apart!

As roobs said people who work full time claim PIP so it's not an indication as to your capability to work or not. Which is why UC ask for UC 50s to be completed and their own medical assessment.

Original poster

masterofdoomv1 · 09/10/2022 19:23

cross i know what u mean but i feel where uc are concerned its as if on a certain date your supposed to be automatically healed everythings hunkey dorey and thats wrong its not that simple and i dont understand that

OP posts:

TigerRag · 09/10/2022 19:26

I would ask (can you put something in your journal? Not too clued up on UC and how that all works) where November 30th comes from. I would have thought the DWP would have written to you for another assessment if that was the case.

Original poster

masterofdoomv1 · 09/10/2022 19:26

with anxiety i told my advisor at last appointment that some days i couldnt leave house because of anxiet her response was 'well we all have days like that' i dont think thats an appropriate response and to me that says they dont take it seriously

OP posts:

Original poster

masterofdoomv1 · 09/10/2022 19:28

thanks tiger ive left them a couple of messages today wanting to know where i stand with it as im really nervous hopefully somebody will get back to me and tell me whats going on

OP posts:

CrossStichQueen · 09/10/2022 19:29

That's because UC is "date driven" and staff have around 2 weeks training before the become work coaches. So they are told on this date this happens. On X week of claim this happens ....and so on.
UC work on dates. The date you create the claim. Follwed by a 4 week assessment period then a payment date. Everything with UC has to happen by a certain date including when your illness should end or not.

It's bad but at the same time good as at least you have dates for when stuff will or won't happen 😁

Always4Brenner · 09/10/2022 19:33

I feel sick at the thought of UC I’m back on antidepressants as it is I don’t need that lot on my back as well. I’m hanging on my a thread as is it.

Original poster

masterofdoomv1 · 09/10/2022 19:35

i dont think its good at all with the way uc is designed cross so on that well have to agree to disagree in my experience theyre more concerned about theyre own targets and statistics than peoples needs and thats not a good thing

OP posts:

Original poster

masterofdoomv1 · 09/10/2022 19:37

always i feel your pain are you handing in sick notes

OP posts:

CrossStichQueen · 09/10/2022 19:45

Sorry master I meant from a benefit advisors point of view the fact they work around dates does help us as it makes for a good time line when we appeal decisions/sanctions and such.

UC is a terrible benefit. It serves only to financially punish the vulnerable.

WorkerBee83 · 09/10/2022 19:53

I totally understand OP I’m currently off with A & D under UC and I have had an my WCA that agreed I was unfit to work and that I would have a review in Nov. I honestly don’t feel any better/worse than I did when I first had my meeting with them and the work coach felt so matter of fact and heartless to my MH it actually made me feel worse!

lashy · 09/10/2022 20:13

You could send your Work Coach a journal message, ask them to confirm if you're LCW or LWCRA (if you're not certain which it is) and also ask what date that decision is due for review.
Once the review date comes up, a further UC50 will be sent to you, to complete and return by X date, in due course you'll be added to a queue for a (review) Work Capability Assessment and then a further outcome will be given.

The Health Assessment Advisory Service website is easy to follow and contains lots of helpful information:

chdauk.co.uk/

In the meantime; your Work Coach will work with you to create meaningful Commitments - they may certainly require you to prepare for work, but it should take your health condition into account.

AnotherEmma · 09/10/2022 21:28

I don't know why people are still going on about LCWRA when OP said this:
"i looked out letter i got from uc it says ive been put in limited capability for work group i didnt get awarded any extra money"
Plus OP is still having interviews with her work coach and is expected to do "work preparation"; that's LCW and not LCWRA.

OP, when did you get the letter? If it was only a few months ago you won't need to have another assessment yet. It sounds as if it's just your work coach putting pressure on you, and not an official change in your status - you wouldn't be moved from LCW to being expected to work without a reassessment and without knowing about it.

See www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/what-youll-need-to-do-on-universal-credit/claimant-commitment-what-group/#h-you-re-disabled-or-you-have-a-long-term-illness

As I said before I think you should contact your local Citizens Advice; they can look at everything with you and advise you what to do if you feel that your work coach is putting unreasonable pressure on you.

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