Capability for Work Assessment

Everyday living
1

I was wondering whether anyone here has filled in the relevant forms and then had a face to face assessment for the above and what can I expect from it.

The background is this: a few weeks before Christmas I received a letter from the DWP informing me that my Severe Disablement Allowance which I’d been receiving since 1993 was to be terminated and replaced by ESA ( SDA btw was done away with in 2001 but those of us still in receipt were still allowed it ).

It came as a surprise because I didn’t know that this was being replaced and having been on so many information events locally with the MS Soc. I felt I was fully prepared for the PIP thing but not for this.

By now I’ve completed the form and waiting to hear where and when I go for a face to face assessment, or even if I’ll be called up.Forewarned is forearmed as they say - but I do find it ironic that at the age of 61 when all my friends have retired from work and my husband also retired last December to spend more time with helping me around the home and getting me out and about safely, that I’m expected to work for a living.

Thanks in advance :slight_smile:

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Anyone?

3

I could tell you my recent experience but I’m not sure that you’ll want to know to be honest, as the upshot for me is they say I’m capable of doing some work and my ESA’s been stopped forthwith. Your circumstances are different to mine though, so I’m not really sure that my situation’s relevant.

I suppose all I can say is, did you get help filling out the form from the CAB or someone similar to make sure you said the right things (and equally didn’t say the wrong things!)? I didn’t, and that’s why I’m now having to apply for a mandatory reconsideration.

4

Thanks for the reply and would like to to know as a matter of interest about your experience because I heard earlier this evening in my MS Support group of someone in a similar situation.

Yes I did get help filling in my form not from CAB but my husband who helps others with theirs.

5

Great to know you got some help :smiley:

Ok, here goes, let’s see if I can make some sense here…my experience wasn’t good, at least 50% because my brain can’t deal with those kind of important face to face situations. I can’t process questions fast enough, I can’t retrieve the information that I need, I can’t find the words to properly convey the info that I can retrieve, I can’t seem to follow through with answers. I didn’t sit there in silence or anything, I gave answers to the questions I was asked, but, well…

I suppose a good example is the chap asked me if I had problems with fatigue, and my response was, “yes, always”, and that was it. He didn’t ask me to elaborate, maybe if he had I’d actually have been able to though I’m not convinced about that. It wasn’t even as if I couldn’t find the words or manage to get my thoughts into words, there was just nothing else there other than that 2 word response. So I didn’t get to tell him how several days each week I don’t manage to get out of bed until mid afternoon (today being one of those days), how at least half of every week I don’t manage to get washed or dressed, how at least half of every week I don’t manage to cook, how my flat is dirty and messy because weeks go by before I get any housework done. All because of fatigue.

Consequently, in my report it says, and I quote:

“Manages her daily toilet, bathroom and dressing chores, regularly washes and dries her hair”

“…cook meals using slow cooker and other gadgets safely regularly to eat regularly and has no accidents”

“does her household chores like load and unload washing machine, dries clothes on airer, iron clothes and do hoover and make beds using gadgets safely by herself”

All of that makes it sound like I can do this stuff perfectly well on any given day, doesn’t it? Hardly surprising because I didn’t get to tell him that no, I don’t manage these things very well, actually. The other 50% is that I filled the ESA50 form out myself, and it was in Spring of 2014, so I answered stuff badly (flat out wrong for one question I know realise), and as I’ve relapsed 4 times since I filled it out my cognitive problems are worse than they were then too. He didn’t want to know about those. I took notes but he said he didn’t need anything from them, he had all the info he needed on the screen (my out of date form) and those notes were for specialists…

So yeah, things are a bit of a nightmare for me right now! But I’m feeling a bit more positive since talking to the MS Society today :slight_smile:

6

Hello again,

Thanks for the comprehensive reply and sorry to read that you were unsuccessful. However re this:

[quote=jellysundae]

He didn’t ask me to elaborate, maybe if he had I’d actually have been able to though I’m not convinced about that. It wasn’t even as if I couldn’t find the words or manage to get my thoughts into words, there was just nothing else there other than that 2 word response. So I didn’t get to tell him how several days each week I don’t manage to get out of bed until mid afternoon (today being one of those days), how at least half of every week I don’t manage to get washed or dressed, how at least half of every week I don’t manage to cook, how my flat is dirty and messy because weeks go by before I get any housework done. All because of fatigue.]

My husband sat down with me several times over a number of days and went through everything with a toothcomb, so I hope I’ve covered every single bit of the fatigue aspect in the claim form. Fingers crossed that’ll be in my favour - I’ve done the same with each and every section too.

Also think that my position is different in this aspect [quote=jellysundae] does her household chores like load and unload washing machine, dries clothes on airer, iron clothes and do hoover and make beds using gadgets safely by herself ] because my husband reired from work six months earlier than he would have to be at home to do these things for me.

Anyhow, I read your other posting and pleased that you yourself found support from your local MS Soc branch.

I find it frustrating though that I had to give the DWP a number of dates when I won’t be availble for a face to face because it came over the New Year when I still hadn’t had my scheduled appts through with my CA, MS Nurse and other nonMS related Hospital Appts.

So one last question for you or anyone else. How much forewarning do you get? e.g. when the letter arrives, is it approx a week before the face to face, or less?

Thanks again

7

You should get more notice than that. I have my first letter here and that’s dated November 15th, for an assessment on December 12th.

They cancelled at the very last minute - my appointment was 3:45, they cancelled at 1:30 - but that’s a different matter entirely!

8

Thanks once again for such a prompt reply and such is my own cog fog that I managed to mess up the formatting :wink:

I’d also forgotten to add that filling out that form was the most demoralising thing I’ve ever had to do. I’ve been dx for such a long time that each time another ‘bit’ of my body or brain has let me down, I’ve dealt with it in an appropriate manner and pulled out the positives each time. I’m known to have a positive outlook on life, but writing out, “I cannot” “I cannot” so many times over almost ruined that, but I’m already back on track in relation to it.

I did a charity firewalk several years ago and during the brief training beforehand, the group learned that you only have to say something negative five times and you’re in that negative zone. Conversely if you say “I can” “I can” etc five times over you get yourself into a positive frame of mind. I think my family are tiring of a determined grimace on my face whilst I’m saying it over and over in mind lol!

Good to know that when the letter arrives that you get a fair warning because another cognitive aspect is lack of spontaneity, and I’d be in a flat panic with only a few days notice.

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Hey you’re welcome, and don’t worry about them foggy cogs! I could see where my quotes ended so I figured it out.

I totally empathise with the demoralisation, it’s one of the reasons why I stopped keeping notes of my problems, it was just too depressing having every little thing shoved in my face in that way, I couldn’t deal with it. When it comes right down to it I’m an optimistic person, but MS does its level best to grind that down, doesn’t it?

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Apologies for coming back to this several months later but I finally had my ESA face to face assessment yesterday.

It was assessed by a very young male doctor in a Job Centre a fair distance away from where I live. On arrival my husband was asked for bank details in order for him to be reimbursed travelling costs.

I was surprised to find that Capability for Work was in my case based solely on mobility and toiletting needs, with little regard given to Fatigue and major Cognitive Impairment. I was asked by him what my former employment was and educational qualifications were, I’m guessing it’s for the DWP to place me in a suitable job. However with my last mode of employment being drawing plans by hand in HM Land Registry before it became computer drawn and prior to that, I trained as a Teacher (BA. Cert Ed ) I’m at a loss to figure which kind of employment I’m fit for, especially given my age (62 almost ) .

I feel that the assessor was sympathetic to my claim but I now await that verdict from the DWP coupled with a home assessment for PIP in months time.

#treatmeright

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Give PIP/DWP all the data they need so there is no point meeting you. It can be done.

Both of my claims [ESA and PIP] were paper-based assessments only.

My medical assessments were done by others, and I supplied their documents to support my claims. GP letter and MS Nurse Care plan.

Have you been to:

a) the continence advisor and had an assessment for pads;

b) the NHS Wheelchair Services and had an assessed for a wheelchair??

You need to mention this info.

So, it depends on how much of a picture you painted in your application. You must have left out info on continence and mobility and they wanted to fill these boxes.

Here the info on the report they will write on us for PIP

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/547146/pip-assessment-guide.pdf#page79

Requirements of a justified report

2.8.23. A properly justified report should contain the following:

• A brief summary of the individual’s health conditions or impairment and their severity

• A clear explanation of the reasons for the advice contained in the report including areas such as, but not limited to:

o Referencing evidence used to support descriptor choice.

o Explanations where the HP’s opinion differs from those of the claimant, carers or other healthcare professionals.

o Clarification of any contradictions, including those arising from the claimant’s view of their needs o Explanation of the HP’s choice of evidence.

• The evidence that underpins the advice and balances:

o History.

o Formal examination.

o Informal observations.

o The HP’s knowledge of the disabling effects of the medical conditions.

o Treatment that the claimant receives.

o Any other evidence available.

All the best PJ

(Knowledge is power)

12

Many thanks PJ for such a comprehensive reply :slight_smile:

Re the PIP - little I can do now because they have my 40 page booklet duly filled in on my behalf by a lady from my local Carers Association.

However re your advice on evidence i.e. Documents to support my claim : yes all that with bells on, to use the modern idiom :wink:

Due to the misfortune of having a severe reaction to a drug called Levofloxacin mentioned in this thread…

https://community.mssociety.org.uk/forums/everyday-living/warning-about-side-effects-ciprofloxcin-and-levofloxacin​

I also have a comprehensive print out from my GP going back to 1991 to add to my evidence .

Just to go back to your point about my ESA claim (which is what this thread is about ) …

1.Have never used Wheelchair Services even though I’m a casual wheelchair user (full evidence about that provided in my ESA claim )

  1. Have no need of Continence Pads as have self catheterised since 1996 (full evidence provided in my ESA claim.

In fact during my ESA assessment the lovely young doctor complimented me on providing so much evidence - far more than many do, apparently.

Thanks once again for your reply - I hope other users facing PIP have taken note of it :slight_smile:

#treatmeright

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13

So one year later and after a face to face assessment at a Jobcentre 20 miles away from home last October, I’ve been granted ESA until retirement age - only four years away. The stress of that plus my two face to face PIP home assessments two months before Christmas 2016 has led my condition to deteriorate mobility-wise . Not wishing to sound so negative when as as rule I’m full of positivism, a message to all going through these processes - please attend if you can, every MS Society event near you regarding PIP. Huge thanks to MS Cymru for their own advice and information events in my own case. :slight_smile:

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14

I expect I will have to have a reassessment at some stage but I hate all of those stupid forms.

Xxx Don