** HELP! I need to provide more evidence for a WCA/UC/DWP Assessment! **

[HelpMeObiWanKenobi]

Hello MN,

Hoping someone can advise ... not sure where to post this either ...

This is for UC/DWP.

I have Severe (Stage 4) Osteoarthritis and my doctor has signed me off work.

The pain due to OA is now just so unbearable it is increasingly more and more difficult for me to walk.

I am managing and trying to find solutions to heal and get stronger and find 'working' solutions via self employment options and WFH/Hybrid solutions, mostly WFH though.

Just for clarity I was made redundant and since then have been diagnosed officially with OA. I have been in denial about my mobility issues for a while but now I know what it is I can move forward.

I have to provide even more evidence after having TWO Work Capability Assessments (WCA) with TWO non-medical agents/assessors at DWP/MAXIMUS now called INGEUS.

I just do not know what more I can give them, I was in tears when I spoke with the second one as I was in so much pain that day.

I have asked for a copy of my assessment/report so I can give it to my doctor but they have still not provided me with this as no one seems to know who is responsible for letting me actually see a copy! I have been going round in circles trying to find out!

I was not impressed that the 1st agent I was speaking with was obviously in their bedroom as I could see their bed and lots of things on it. Should they not be using some sort of background filter if they are working from home. I do as I do not want complete strangers seeing my bedroom!

I have now had TWO assessments and the results are in and these assessors have decided that I have a few minor 'health and MH issues' but I am more than capable of commuting to and from a place of work despite the daily pain I am in ... did they actually listen to anything I told them in the interviews!

I really do try and make myself go out once a day when I can but the pain is just so crippling when I walk.

And just to confirm I am looking at many self-employment opportunities and WFH/Hybrid positions and I have explained all this to UC/DWP.

Apologies just feeling stressful as I am not sure where to go next with this ...

Any advice MN?

Thank you!

TLDR

What other 'evidence' should I provide to UC/DWP re Stage 4/Severe Osteoarthritis after TWO interviews with non-medical assessors?

Thanks MN!

Have you had an occupational therapist assessment at any point? They tend to provide the best evidence. Or a council care needs assessment? Or have you seen a physio recently?

Written evidence I provided:

Letters from consultants (about ten letters from three different consultants)
Physio referrals
Hospital notes from surgeries
Current prescriptions
Occupational health referral from work
PEEP (personal emergency evacuation plan) from work (this is first people who have mobility difficulties and need help to evacuate the building in the event of fire)
Blue badge
GP printout of diagnoses

Do you have any of these? Have you given them access to your medical records?

Thank you so much for your speedy replies, so very much appreciated!

I am on the waiting list for Physio and have requested an MRI too but have to wait for the Physio first and then a decision will be made on surgery but it is my understanding that knee replacements you have to be at least 60/65 ... my doctor is totally on board and is wonderful.

He is more than happy to talk to UC/DWP but they have yet to contact him.

I am on it and you have given me so much great advice already!

Onwards!

Usually DWP don't contact your doctor (though they can). If your GP is supportive, could you ask them to write a letter stating how youre affected by your disability?

Again a very big THANK YOU for all your replies and advice, so very appreciated.

I am STILL trying to get a copy of my FULL REPORT and this seems to be a problem as NO ONE is able to actually email it or post it to me and they are not sure where it is!

MAXIMUS have now, as of last week, changed to INGEUS so it is all up in the air.

I have been chasing for a MONTH now and my deadline to provide further evidence is on Sunday.

I have asked, several times now, for an extension but again this is still to be decided!

I want to give UC/DWP feedback on this whole experience as they really need to do so much better.

Any reports should be sent to each client/customer in the first place!

Anyway, onwards we go!

So with advanced OA they are likely expecting you to have been "in the system" for some time.
So they're probably looking for you to submit consultants and physios reports.
Remember the work capability assessment looks at whether you can do ANY job eg call centre work

* UPDATE + UPDATE + UPDATE + UPDATE + UPDATE *

My assessment/report has just arrived, finally after chasing for 4 weeks, and I can see that the assessor was actually a Doctor!

They did not make that clear to me at any point and I would have answered some of the questions they asked differently if I had known I was speaking with someone who was medically qualified!

They also commented on the fact that I took notes and would not be able to use them at any point!

Why? What? Anyone work for UC/DWP/Maximus/Ingeus that can expand on that at all?

They do not really stress in the report how the pain is really affecting me on a daily basis though ... I need to read through it and I will also be sending it to my Doctor for comments too.

Onwards!