Work capability assessment

[NotQuiteUsual]

So I've been signed off for two months and have no return date as yet due to severe mental health issues. I've filled out the forms for my assessment and sent them back well ahead of the deadline. It was tough, but I broke it down into chunks and got it done.

What is likely to happen? I have no idea what happens now. It's so confusing. I don't know if I can't apply for PIP because we're still hoping this is a temporary thing and I'll recover within the next few months. But at what point do I consider putting a claim in? The whole thing is so stressful and is making me worse.

Does this help?

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/employment-and-support-allowance/help-with-your-esa-claim/esa-medical-assessment/

You can still claim.PIP regardless of whether you work or not

Maybe make an appt with your local Citizens Advice. They can help you with a claim for PIP if that's the way you decide to go

Next step is an assessment, most are still being done on the phone , some face to face I think. They are assessing whether you are fit for any type of work. There are 3 possible outcomes. You are found not fit for any kind of work and work related activity ( LCWRA), you are found not fit for work currently but able to take some steps to getting back to work ( LCW ) or you are found fit for work. Is the form for UC or ESA ?
For PIP, you need to have had difficulties with daily living activities and/ or mobility for 3 months before you can apply and you need to realistically expect the difficulties to last another nine months. It is a difficult benefit to claim and you will stand the best chance if you have relevant medical evidence to show why you can't do the things that they look at ( washing, dressings, communicating, mobilising) safely and reliably on the majority of days.

There's a qualifying period for PIP - as someone else said 3 months before date of claim and likely to have the issue 9 months into the future. If you think you'll have recovered within a few months (which is what you seem to be saying) there's no point.

I had a work Assesment a few months ago when I was on crutches and leg in walking boot due to ankle op and leg in plaster

I was told a few weeks later that esa would be stopped (I'm se) and I had to go back to work

Tho was as I could hold a pen - talk to people - not wet myself - walk 100m with crutches or wheelchair - type one fingered on keyboard - raises arms to shoulder level

And a few other silly things

Therefore I scored o points and had to go back to work

Even tho leg in huge walking boot, struggling with crutches to walk and I couldn't drive

The Assesment was madness

Yes the thing is they are assessing whether you can do any type of work, so if you can sit and use a computer etc then you are considered fit for work. They don't really consider whether you can do the job you actually have and are employed to do !

Seems not

I earn good money in a job I've trained for and which I will go back to on a more regular basis

It wouldn't have made sense to say work in sain on a till. Would have to be a sitting job - to be trained and leave in 2/3mths tops to go back to my career

If you know that you're going to have care or mobility needs for at least 12 months, you can submit the claim before the 3 month period. It takes ages for the claim to be processed anyway, and they just won't award the PIP before the date that is 3 months after the needs started. So, for example, if you submit a claim after one month and they assess the claim after two months, they would put a start date of one month's time for the award to begin.

I'm hoping it won't go on for 12 months, but realistically I can't know. Some professionals tell me this is life and it might never get better. Others tell me I'll be back to normal in a few months. I can't even remember what normal means now.

The whole system is so confusing, especially when I'm struggling to know what's real and what's fake anyway. I'm hoping it comes through soo. As it looming over me is so scary. I'm mostly concerned about the staff doing it and whether they're a proper human or not. I've been targeted a lot by certain things and this seems like another way to get at me.

Is it likely my DH can come with me? I forget where I'm going sometimes. I can't understand when people talk much either, it just sounds like noise.

@NotQuiteUsual it sounds like you should definitely apply for PIP but you'll need someone who knows what they're doing to fill the form in.

Sorry you're so unwell, @NotQuiteUsual , and yes, your husband can go with you. You may find the assessment is done over the phone. He can be present during the call, too and you can put your phone on speaker so he can hear the questions.

When you can't understand the question, tell them you can't understand, and be very clear about your thoughts about things like people not being real, and how difficult it makes it for you to communicate. If your thoughts are worse when you're stressed, tell them that too.

Thank you for the advice. Today is a good day, so I've been able to do an errand. Should I tell them how it varies? I put on the form that I'd like to only have a proper human do the phone call, so at least they should honour that. I'll use speaker phone because too much noise and I shut down and won't be able to answer any questions. Will they give me all the time I need or will they get fed up and rush me? I tend to see hallucinations when I get stressed and they're very distracting.