illness benefit medical assesment

missfrilly

Due to severe aniety and depression I have been on illness benefit and off work for the past 6 weeks. Much of my illness was due to work and with my counsellor I realised that my work place was making me worse, so I handed in my notice last week. I am genuinely ill and have had to move back home to my mums house to sort myself out. Today I received a letter from the social welfare people telling me to attend a medical exam in order to get a second opinion about my entitlement to the illness benefit. I fully intend seeking employment as soon as I am ready and able to go a week with feeling this way. I am very anxious about this test.
Has anyone here any experience of this ? What if the new doctor thinks I am ok for work when I'm not? Do they suspect I am pretending about being sick? Please any advice would be greatly appreciated

Victor

This is fairly routine, they assess alll such claims from time to time. You mention a counsellor, but have you certification from a doctor also?

missfrilly

Victor wrote: »

This is fairly routine, they assess alll such claims from time to time. You mention a counsellor, but have you certification from a doctor also?

Yes I do , I was diagnosed by a doctor who has been giving me the medical certs .She also gave me some antidepressants. Would a doctor supply me with a letter describing my symptoms and diagnosis? I supposed she would. Thanks for your reply Victor, I was panicking there , cheers again

GER12

As Victor say's this exam is part of normal review and audit procedures for continued eligibility. The DSFA doctor will assess the extent to which you are not able to work due to your certified cause of illness. This will be a comprehensive assessment on your level of functioning and the extent to which your depression affects your ability to do your usual job. While doctors in the DSFA do have a professional duty of care toward you in the context of not harming you - and for decisions to be informed - they do not prescribe treatment. They are not disputing the presence of the illness they are just assessing whether it prevents you from being in employment.

As part of their duty for informed clinical decision-making the DSFA doctor should ensure that they have made contact your medical certifier in relation to requesting an up-to-date medical report relating to your condition, medication, other treatment, consultants, hospitalisation. I have heard scenarios from clients where the Department has failed to do this - so check whether your medical certifier has received this and then contact the DSFA in writing keeping copies of all letters.

Within this exam make sure to tell these doctors how your illness affects you - in relation to your job did you have problems with other people, can you cope with stress, did you have problems with concentration or completion of tasks or jobs assigned, does your depression cause you anxiety, are you distressed, tearful, can you get out of bed, has your ability to socialize or participate in significant activities been affected, are you isolating yourself. In other words any information that will explain your case.

Also remember that its possible that the doctor that is examining you may not have any specialist knowledge of your specific condition - ie. they are not psychiatrists. Most of the doctors working in the DSFA are former GP's.

I would also advise that you bring another person into the exam with you - who can keep track of what goes on in the exam - incase it has to go to appeal. You are entitled under Medical Council Guidelines to have another person present with you for intimate exams - those can be a friend or relative.

The examining doctor will fill out a medical report during the exam. He will form an opinion within that exam on whether you are fit for work. He will send the report to the Chief Medical Advisor for approval. The file will then be sent back to the illness benefit sections and the deciding officer will then make a decision on your claim based on this medical opinion. You have the right to ask the doctor in the DSFA what his opinion is on your fitness to work - and you have the right to an answer like you would with any other doctor.

You can get access to the medical report that this DSFA doctor completes and associated records/files under FOI. I would definately recommend that you get make an application for this report and records if the DSFA refuses your entitlement as it will tell you how they made their decision and all records/files considered. You can use what's in these reports as the basis for an appeal.

GER12

As Victor say's this exam is part of normal review and audit procedures for continued eligibility. The DSFA doctor will assess the extent to which you are not able to work due to your certified cause of illness. This will be a comprehensive assessment on your level of functioning and the extent to which your depression affects your ability to do your usual job. While doctors in the DSFA do have a professional duty of care toward you in the context of not harming you - and for decisions to be informed - they do not prescribe treatment. They are not disputing the presence of the illness they are just assessing whether it prevents you from being in employment.

As part of their duty for informed clinical decision-making the DSFA doctor should ensure that they have made contact your medical certifier in relation to requesting an up-to-date medical report relating to your condition, medication, other treatment, consultants, hospitalisation. I have heard scenarios from clients where the Department has failed to do this - so check whether your medical certifier has received this and then contact the DSFA in writing keeping copies of all letters.

Within this exam make sure to tell these doctors how your illness affects you - in relation to your job did you have problems with other people, can you cope with stress, did you have problems with concentration or completion of tasks or jobs assigned, does your depression cause you anxiety, are you distressed, tearful, can you get out of bed, has your ability to socialize or participate in significant activities been affected, are you isolating yourself. In other words any information that will explain your case.

Also remember that its possible that the doctor that is examining you may not have any specialist knowledge of your specific condition - ie. they are not psychiatrists. Most of the doctors working in the DSFA are former GP's.

I would also advise that you bring another person into the exam with you - who can keep track of what goes on in the exam - incase it has to go to appeal. You are entitled under Medical Council Guidelines to have another person present with you for intimate exams - those can be a friend or relative.

The examining doctor will fill out a medical report during the exam. He will form an opinion within that exam on whether you are fit for work. He will send the report to the Chief Medical Advisor for approval. The file will then be sent back to the illness benefit sections and the deciding officer will then make a decision on your claim based on this medical opinion. You have the right to ask the doctor in the DSFA what his opinion is on your fitness to work - and you have the right to an answer like you would with any other doctor.

You can get access to the medical report that this DSFA doctor completes and associated records/files under FOI. I would definately recommend that you get make an application for this report and records if the DSFA refuses your entitlement as it will tell you how they made their decision and all records/files considered. You can use what's in these reports as the basis for an appeal.

BeatNikDub

Hi missfrilly,

How did this go for you?

bridan90

I went for a medical exam on Thursday last, an extremely stressful and very unpleasant experience. I have been claiming illness benefit since 2003 and have several chronic conditions. I was examined back in 2006 as I had requested that I be able to work part time. I was refused on the grounds that I was unfit to work. While waiting for my examination I spoke to someone who said that they too had applied to do a course and were told that they were unfit. About six months later they were called back for another examination and on that occasion their benefit was disallowed.

I have also heard that it is standard procedure for them to disallow benefit and that they always force people into appeal. I know I had to appeal the first time I applied. Does anyone know if this is true?

I have also applied for invalidity benefit and was told by that dept that I should inform the doctor of this at my examination. I told him and he said it would be noted but that it was basically the same exam anyway. I am just wondering if this will now be passed back to Invalidity pension dept or the illness benefit dept? The woman from invalidity told me my claim could take up to 9 weeks but if I have already had a medical would that still be the case?

Mr. Presentable

missfrilly wrote: »

Due to severe aniety and depression I have been on illness benefit and off work for the past 6 weeks. Much of my illness was due to work and with my counsellor I realised that my work place was making me worse, so I handed in my notice last week. I am genuinely ill and have had to move back home to my mums house to sort myself out. Today I received a letter from the social welfare people telling me to attend a medical exam in order to get a second opinion about my entitlement to the illness benefit. I fully intend seeking employment as soon as I am ready and able to go a week with feeling this way. I am very anxious about this test.
Has anyone here any experience of this ? What if the new doctor thinks I am ok for work when I'm not? Do they suspect I am pretending about being sick? Please any advice would be greatly appreciated

It's routine, OP. Surely you wouldn't want every applicant for disability etc to be simply taken at their word........You'll be fine

bridan90

I was informed today by telephone that my illness benefit has been disallowed. I had applied to the FOI for the documents pertaining to my previous reviews and this included the most recent one. From comparing them it seems that I have more things wrong with me now than I did at my last review! I had applied back then for an exemption to do a FAS CE scheme and was refused on the grounds that I was unfit for work.

This time round the doctor's review states that I am capable of the very work I was denied previously even though I have been diagnosed by a consultant with yet another illness and there has been no significant change in my other conditions. This does not make any sense to me. I intend to appeal this decision and I would advise anyone in a similar situation to do the same. In particular apply for your previous medical reports as it seems they are riddled with inconsistencies!

The doctor's writing is also pretty illegible most of it just scribbles and it seems to me that the deciding officers don't even bother to read the reports and merely look for the tick in the eligibility box.

Mr. Presentable

Out of curiosity, what are your illnesses? That you could be OK for work but not a FAS scheme

bridan90

Osteoarthritis
Hypothyroidism
Depression
Recurrent UTI's kidney and bladder problems
Erythema nodosum
Fybrocystic breast disease

Taking a whole cocktail of prescription drugs without which I probably wouldn't function at all. I have been on illness benefit for almost 7 years and in that time I have been an inpatient at least once a year and have been a regular visitor to outpatient clinics.

bridan90

Just to say all of my conditions have been diagnosed by consultant physicians and surgeons but apparently the DFSA doctor who takes less than 10 mins to examine you and can't even be bothered to write a legible report has more clout!

katie james

what was the outcome of your medical. i have completed one medical for illness benefit and the doctor from the DSCFA stated i was fit for some types of work. i appealed the decision and was examined by a second doctor and again they claimed i was capable of work. I now have to contact the appeals officer setting out my up to grounds for my appeal. has anyone else done this. i have found the whole process very upsetting as iam a genuine person with a genuine illness. please help me

P.A.C

Hi all, iv been through this many times. And each time iv been deened fit for work and iv had to appeal. Im on invalidity payment after been on illness benifit previous.
Anyway on my last assessment back in september i was deemed fit, i appealed and saw another medical assessment again i was deemed fit. I was then afforded the "opertunity" to give updated grounds for my appeal. I did this and enclosed a letter from my consultant, who clearly stated i was unfit for work as did my gp, social worker, councilor.
This was handed into their office on the 2nd of december. After 3 phonecalls and speacking to 3 different people and getting 3 different replies i was informed " they didnt receive it" even though i had been told in january different.
The guy was very rude i told him there was no way they didnt receive it and did i have copies, when i said no he then said that he didnt know why the case was still open and that i should write a letter in asap or he would close it. I sent everything in again and registered post it.
And then the tell me that they dont have the one that was registered but omg while i was kept waiting on the phone they found the december one.
And im still waiting 5 months on.

So i would defo say to anyone who is genuine to appeal and dont give up, it seems that everybody is being knocked of.
Sorry for the long post!!!

Pearson

i am due to attend an social welfare thsi week as i appealled their decision to have my illness benifit stopped, I have since been placed on stronger medicines and am attending a consultant for depression. worried that my appeal is rejected as i have heard that they are stopping every second person

Victor

If your situation is genuine, I don't think you'll have any problem. If you are depressed, you may be over-worrying.

Pearson

thanks, i am genuine and over-worrying is my middle name, had assessment today, this doctor was very nice and un-nerving.

Hi Pearson, I'm very glad the doc was sympathetic. I too suffer from a lot of pointless, unnecessary fretting and worrying, it's all part of anxiety!

yellowlabrador

I was called in today for a medical assessment. I've been on sickness benefit since january and haven't got a definite diagnosis yet. I'm not allowed to drive either until things are sorted. It was very hard trying to remember all symptoms and there are quite a few I forgot or underplayed. Ie do you get headaches?
The doctor was friendly. I'm back and forth to outpatients appointments and also waiting to see various consultants, but it all takes sooo long on a medical card. If I've got what they suspect I have, a scan would help diagnose, but the waiting list is an eternity. If you get turned down, can the welfare officer pay you while you appeal or do you need to sign on?

Pearson

if you get turned down or in my case, i appealled the decision , i have to sign on. apparently there is a 4 week turnaround for a reply of an appeal. so fingers crossed.

Pearson

Deleted User wrote: »

Hi Pearson, I'm very glad the doc was sympathetic. I too suffer from a lot of pointless, unnecessary fretting and worrying, it's all part of anxiety!

I KNOW IS IS POINTLESS FRETTING ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN BUT IS EASIER SAID THAN DONE TO STEP OUT OF THAT PATTERN OF THINKING.

hawthorne

Have been on DB since early 2004. Passed four assessments over the years without any problems. Until I had another assessment last August and the 5th doctor declared me fit for work.
Came as a surprise to me and my GP.
They cut me of at once- by the time I got the letter I was just a week away from my last payment.
I appealed the decision and I am waiting for another medical review towards the end of the month.
I know that I am not a fake- and so does my doctor and the specialists I had to consult.
The medical tests by the assessors are a joke. You are asked a few questions and you have to show if you can stretch out your arms, sit straight, bend down, etc. The whole assessment has nothing to do with your real problems- it is impossible to do certain tests without a proper test equipment. The assessor is in a normal room with a nurse. There is a desk, three chairs and an examination bed. As equipment your man/woman has a metre to read your blood pressure and a little stick to hit you at certain points to test your reflexes. The rest is just a pen and paper.
The assessor can have- at best- only a good guess wether you are for real or a fake.
I also think that the doctor judges you also on the basis wether he finds you sympathtic or not. It is a chemistry thing.
It depends on whom you meet- you need luck !
My experience over the years- and that of others I met.
I had to sign on to JA for "administrative purposes" and have to travel once a month to a SWO 25 kilometres away. The whole thing has been a nightmare for me so far. For health reasons I find it very hard to do all the necessary steps- like going several times on long journeys through the county, filling out loads of paperwork and being partly treated like a criminal.
So far I have not seen a cent since the beginning of September.
We are living on what we have saved ... The CWO would be one place to go to to get some money to tie us over. But that means more travel, paperwork, etc.
We will get our money in the end- probably early in the new year. If there is still something left- the banks seem to get the cash all the time these days...
We have to soldier on, folks. Don't give in to the pressure....
Good luck to everybody in the same situation- and there are many like us out there!
CU
M

Victor

Talk to the CWO. Explain you have difficulty with paper work and some assistnace may be forthcoming.

hawthorne

I do not like to go to the CWO- unfortunately he is one of them who like to hit at people. Life can be very miserable from time to time- but I definetly do not need somebody on top of the usual difficulties throwing **** at me.
Got a phonecall from the DoSP 2 weeks ago. We were asked of what we had lived on the last 9 weeks since I handed in my paperwork for JA.
I told the lady that we had lived of what we had in the house- money and food wise.
She told me that there will be a check in the post at the end of the week.
Three days later I got a letter confirming that a DO had decided that I am entitled to JA. Have to collect it every Friday in the local PO.
Went to the PO last Friday and handed in my swipe card at the counter. The clerk looked at the computer screen, then around the whole PO and told me in a low voice " It is 3550 Euro and something ". I asked the girl back if that will be my weekly payment from now on. She laughed and wanted a tip for every time I come in to collect my money.
So she handed me a big pile of 100 Euro notes- my weekly dole and the back payment from the last 9 weeks.
Finally I have a weekly payment again.
I also had my reassessment for the IB some days ago.
Hopefully it went ok. This time the assessor seemed to be much more professional then the other doctor at the last time.
I will be told about the result in due course and keep you informed as well.
Good luck to all in a similar situation....

Pearson

i just sent off my second appeal review to the Appeals office, the first assessment and second assessment were with two different doctors, same nurse, -both asked SAME questions, re my depression - gave different answers at each appeal ( all correct and relevant updates at particular time). felt more prepared second time round. did'nt feel 2 inches small the second time round. both refused. just wondering if i am refused again i currently claiming dole - what happens next August when my stamps run out and i am still certified unfit by my gp / still on meds, - what do i fill in the "box " Are you available for work..." - ?

hawthorne

If you loose your appeal, your IB case will be closed. You are not entitled to any more payments under your present claim.
However- you can open a new claim- and start the procedure all over again.
If you don't do that, you are either on JB or JA. To get any of these payments you must fulfill certain conditions- like being fit for work. If your GP certifies that you are not fit for work- you do not qualify for JB or JA. It doesn't matter if you have enough stamps or not- you do not qualify for these payments because you do not fulfill the condition " I am fit for work".
This leaves you in a limbo- the IB people say you are fit for work and you are therefore not eligible for IB. But your GP declares you sick. The JB/JA people jump on that and use it as an excuse to get rid of you as well.Being not fit for work disqualifies you from JB/JA as well.
A real "Catch-22" situation and a very bad situation...
You still can go to the CWO and ask for money there. But in the medium term that is no solution either.
I was thinking that contacting any of the Irish depression self-help groups could be of benefit to you. Check out www.aware.ie . There are probably other groups as well.
At the moment I am- like you- signing on for "administrative purposes " only. When I get my doleform, I cross out the terms " I am fit for work, available for work and genuinely...bla bla bla " both in English and Irish. I sign the form and hand it in. So far there was no objection from the dole office clerks.
I will continue this procedure until my appeal is settled- whatever way- to demonstrate my position ...

cee_jay

When you have an IB claim under appeal, you can claim JSB/JSA while awaiting the outcome of the appeal, and you don't have to be fit for or looking for work during this period. However if you lose your appeal, and then wish to claim JSB/JSA, you do need to be fit for and looking for work then.

ipodrocker

im applying, back to work now, am i best to post off my forms asap or wait till i can get to the welfare office on friday??

hawthorne

Got a letter from the appeals office today telling me that I was found unfit for work in my recent assessment.
I was put back on IB and will get all missing payments as well.
As a result of this I had to sign off from JA.
Good luck to all of you !

UrbanFox

If you have a claim likely to go on for a long time it is always a good idea to apply for copies of your records - including the doctors report of the examination - under the Freedom of Information Acts.

This allows you see what they are thinking and why and can be very useful information if you are having trouble.

Information received on yourself under the Freedom of Information Acts costs nothing to obtain.

ElleEm

I found all this info very helpful but it hasn't helped my nerves.
I got that form last week and got a GP from my surgery to fill it out, she wasn't very sympathetic, seemed like she may have been having an off day! Hope I'm not called for assessment.
I'm on illness benefit since Oct, I was diagnosed with MS. I have a job, but am just off sick til the medication gets sorted and my symptoms clear up.

hawthorne

Sorry- but you WILL be called for an assessment.
Everybody is- it is part of the procedure. No way around it. They will also call you for re-assessments in regular intervalls as long as you claim illness benefit.

ElleEm

Oh okay. I'll prepare myself for that,so.

billiejean123

:(Hi,

I would appreciate some advice. PLEASE bear with me and read through. It's pretty long. I went to my GP in August last year, four months after giving birth to my son. I'd bad psoriasis which got worse in pregnancy, I felt tired, run down and down in general. She suggested signing on for illness benefit and I did. She said not to be in a hurry back to work and that she'd write a long letter about my psoriasis if social needed her too.

I went back to her for a repeat script and I told her that I'd been weepy and feeling low and explained a couple of things on my mind. She suggested seeing a counsellor but I wasn't diagnosed with anything like anxiety, pnd etc... I thought I'd manage without talking to a stranger and I continued on just seeing the dermatology nurse re: my psoriasis and just getting on with my life even though I've been experiencing panic attacks, lack of sleep, eating problems, nervousness over stupid things, sadness and happiness close together. Strange feelings that I've never had before and that I've never told anyone about until now.

I got a letter in November to state that social welfare wanted info from my GP about my illness. I sent it to my doc with a note saying that I felt low and I was going to see a counsellor. I called a voluntary counselling service and they still haven't sent for me. I called them in January and they offered me a date that I couldn't attend and I've had nothing since.

I went to an illness benefit assessment doctor and they assessed me on what was on my certs i.e. psoriasis and nothing else. They never even asked me how it impacted on my mental functioning, never mind how low I've been feeling and that made me think my doc didn't mention it to them, even though she wrote a letter to my bank stating I was on illness benefit for psoriasis plus I was experiencing some pnd. I just mentioned at the end of my assessment that I was waiting to see a counsellor and the welfare doctor said 'for what, anxiety'. I said 'yes, I don't really know what's wrong with me' and that was it. My psoriasis is quite good now but my mental health isn't and I've been found capable for work but not the work I'd been doing. I'm baffled! I have given this thought and I really don't think anyone would employ me. I wouldn't be reliable and I couldn't sell myself in an interview plus I wouldn't know where to start now that I'm not suitable for my previous line of work. I wanted to do rehab work (and get an exemption for this) and train in something new in baby steps but I can't now.

Is there any point in appealing this? I mean if psoriasis was on my certs only and nothing was mentioned with regards to my mental health what can I do? Would social not just say that my mental health is another illness and therefore a new claim or can it be linked to the claim I was on for IB for psoriasis. Please help! I'm stuck now. I've been told to sign on for jobseekers but I'm not up to jobseeking and I'm paranoid now about seeing my doctor incase she thinks I'm a phony. Help please!

hawthorne

It is up to you to decide if you want to appeal against the assessment's result.
You find all the details for an appeal here:
http://www.socialwelfareappeals.ie/
You have twenty-one days to send in your appeal- starting from the date of the letter telling you that a SW doctor found you fit for work.
Nobody can tell what questions will be asked to you during a second assessment or during an appeal hearing. It depends on too many things- and on whom you will meet.
Do not complain that you was not asked about certain health problems during your assessment. The doctor does not know until you tell him. It is up to you to tell what is wrong with you and how it affects your daily life. If you do not tell on your own- all these things will not be known by the examining doctor and not taken into account in the final decision. You should know what is wrong with you, how it affects you. Describe what you cannot do anymore. Tell the difference between "before" and "after".Tell what is crippling you. Do not wait until somebody makes a suggestion what could be wrong with you- only you yourself know exactly how life treats you.
So open your mouth in the re-assessment- in case you appeal.
It is perfectly normal that a physical disease will have a mental secondary disease as a twin when it goes on for a long time or is as severe as in certain cases. Most cancer victims get depressions sooner or later.
Psoriasis has depression as a secondary disease as well. So don't worry if you tell the assessing doctor about this problem. It is another aspect of your health problem- not an entirely new one.
The assessing doctor always looks at the whole picture presented to him...
I would contact some sort of councelling service about your mental health problems and look for guidance.
It also helps to have some written paperwork from doctors/specialists you can present at the assessment. Examination results from hospitals/consultants proove your health problems further.
Regarding JA you also have to act fast. You get no money if you do not start a claim- and you cannot back- date your claim.
If you appeal your case and sign on for JA you do not have to look for work until your appeal has been decided. If you win your appeal- you get all your unclaimed days paid back as well.
Good luck to you- and don't worry too much.

billiejean123

Thanks for the advice Hawthorne. I'm just a bit nervous now that they will say that I didn't tell them about my mental health last time and now I am. ???

I went to my GP yesterday and she diagnosed me with mild to moderate depression saying I wasn't ready for work just yet, not too worry about SW doctors and that she'd write a snotty letter to them. She said the government has no money and they are cutting everyone of IB as a result of this.

She remembered that I was down last year, so perhaps she told them that, I don't know but I wasn't being treated for anything. I know the SW doctor wrote down that I was waiting to see a counsellor so perhaps this will go in my favour. Although psoriasis has depression as a secondary illness and I know it has a big impact on my mental health I have other issues and counselling will help this. I might even feel better before the appeal comes up. Who knows.

hawthorne

At the re-assessment during your appeal the first assessment will never be mentioned.
It will be done by a different doctor. He has no paperwork from the previous assessment. You will not be asked why you did not mentioned your mental health. The second doctor is just assessing you again- not judging you or trying to get you. He knows that this assessment is a second run- so he will be very attentive and carefull. He understands the importance of the result for your life.Tell him everything how you are affected by all these health problems. Even things which might embarrass you to tell. It might be these small things which show the doctor how you are affected.
Don't forget to bring your doctor's letter and other stuff in writing.

billiejean123

Hi again Hawthorne,

I appreciate the advice but will he be assessing me on psoriasis or depression now. I'm really confused because I heard that I need to keep sending in my certs but do I ask my doc to write psoriaisis and depression on them now when they used to be psoriasis only?

I'm assuming that they are still assessing me on my initial claim for psoriasis but with new info they may look at it differently now. Would that be right? Although I've heard people getting turned down for IB on appeals because they've got a new condition/illness different to the one from before. I'm hoping they don't think that about me. I think I'm getting very nervous about it all...

hawthorne

Keep sending in the certs as required. You do not have to change the reason from psoriasis to depression or put both diseases in the cert.
You will be assessed on the basis of all available information being presented to the assessing doctor as I mentioned before.
I would not look anymore into all the reports of people being turned down or being cut off IB. This will drive you only insane.
Just let things happen and get on with your live.

billiejean123

Hi again,

Thanks for all the advice. Do I keep needed to send in the IB certs weekly then? Will I still get my jobseekers if I forget to send in the IB certs?

Also, I really would like to get back to work again but my goal would be to get something part-time and rehabilitative especially now I've been unsuitable for my usual work. If I tell them this in the assessment will they just dismiss me as suitable for work and cut me off. I'm afraid of this...

Graces7

So sorry all of you are going through this. I went through so much in the UK and was heartily glad when I reached pension age there. My age is something they cannot argue with so no issues there. ( it was 60 there then too)

They make illness worse of course with the stress and uncertainty and the exhaustion of tribunals etc.

Glad there is so much advice and support here; in the time I was in all this there was nothing like this.

billiejean123

The government certainly doesn't make it easy for us. I want to get back into work but I cannot do it right now. I know I wouldn't have the concentration levels and I'd likely get sacked for being unreliable. I will hopefully be ok through time.

I hear that people can engage in rehab work while on Illness benefit? How does this 'rehab' work? What types of rehab work will help me. I will need this work eventually cos I do not qualify for doing what I used to do. Any advice is welcomed.

hawthorne

You still have to send in your doctor's cert every week- or in whatever timeframe the department want it from you.
If you stop sending your certificates you will loose your illness benefit back payments in case you win your appeal.You will not loose your JB/JA when you do not send in your certs- strictly technical speaking the medical cert has nothing to do with JA/JB.Although the JA/JB people are aware that you are having an appeal, they do not control wether you are sending in the certs or not. It is not their job to control that- that's the IBs administration's job.
I am not 100% sure about this now- but I think you will loose your IB altogether when you do not send in your certs during your appeal time.
To get jobseeker's benefit/allowance you have to sign on and keep signing on the way they want it- probably once a month in person at the SW office.
Unfortunately this leaves you with two tasks now:
Keep sending in your certs- means you have to visit your doctor every week.
Sign on for the dole.
A lot of paperwork, a lot of travelling, a lot of hassle.
Not a great way to live for a person who is sick.It is a nightmare when you are physically and mentally not fit at all.You need a lot of strenth to crawl through this all.
About a rehab job. Yes- it could happen that you will be seen fit for work other than your former job. I would stay away from any rehab work for a while. As you say yourself as well- you are not fit at all for any work.
You find the rules for rehab work under the department's guidelines for IB:
http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Publications/sw119/Pages/1WhatisIllnessBenefit.aspx
Paragraph 20 tells you something about it.

billiejean123

I got the information regarding my medical assessment today under the Freedom Of Information Act. The assessor was told that I was suffering from psoriasis and depression. I could see that my doctor had put this down on the form she sent to the DoSP but the DoSP doctor didn't asked me about my mental health. They asked me about my psoriasis and built up an opinion on my depression from the look of me and the way I spoke. On the part where it states clinical findings they wrote a bit about my skin and then 'affect (mood) seems normal, relates well, concentrates well, no features of major depression or major anxiety apparent i.e. today'. they stated that I was coping with psoriasis.

I don't think it was fair.

billiejean123

I had my 2nd medical assessment as I appealed the decision from the 1st one. I was seen as fit for some types of work.

Does anyone know how long it takes to hear back?

hawthorne

You have the result in your hands within two weeks if it is positive.
If you was refused a second time you will be told much later...

billiejean123

I found out over the phone today that my appeal was successful. I am incapable for work. Thanks for all the advice.

paddy147

billiejean123 wrote: »

I found out over the phone today that my appeal was successful. I am incapable for work. Thanks for all the advice.

Get that in WRITING too.

Demand an offical letter from them to state that,just incase you need it for anything else in the future.;)

Best of luck.:)

billiejean123

Hi,

I was told that IB would get in touch with me.

I am hoping that when my meds kick in that I might be able to attempt working again. I don't know if IB will allow me to though. Are they tough to get an exemption to work. I won't be doing it for another while yet.

Also what type of work would be rehabilitating for a sufferer of depression?

mp22

billiejean123 wrote: »

Hi,

I was told that IB would get in touch with me.

I am hoping that when my meds kick in that I might be able to attempt working again. I don't know if IB will allow me to though. Are they tough to get an exemption to work. I won't be doing it for another while yet.

Also what type of work would be rehabilitating for a sufferer of depression?

Your GP would be the person to recommend a type of work for you,if I remember correctly you have to be receiving illness benefit for 6 months before you can apply for a exemption.

dell33

I have been on illness benefit for almost 12 years suffering high BP. Taking lots of tablets, had my BP checked this morning and very high.

I have been called for Medical Assessment next Monday and I am beside myself with worry in case I might be knocked off. Just wondering what other people's experience with High BP is.

I have had numerous assessments over the years but this one is really scarying me as I had heard to so many people being knocked off and having to appeal.