illness benefit medical assesment

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.

mp22

Relax before you do yourself some harm(high blood pressure wise),every case is different if you are unfit the doc will see that.

kami2006

Hi I went on IB in December 2009 and was called for asessment in april last year suffering from muscularskeletal pain and depression, I was cut off and when I appealed it my IB was reinstated. I was desperate to get back to work, but could not do my previous job, I got a job 4 weeks after my IB being reinstated, but found I was unfit to do this work and left after 3 weeks, I was very depressed and in alot of pain so I went back on IB and my gp sent in a letter saying I tried to work but unfortunately I was unable to carry out my duties. I have now been on IB for 9 months and I got a letter a few days ago saying I had to go for an assessment in 2 weeks. Since my last assessment I have stoped taking my antidepressants as my weight ballooned and just take xanax for painic attacks; I also suffer from Panic attacks and I am seeing a psychologist and a counsellor for both the depression and Panic attacks. My regular Gp went on maternity leave and I asked the GP that took over if I could go back on my antidepressants at Christmas, I had been feeling very down and when my dad died I fell apart, and he said it would be better to see a Psychologist as I was grieving for my father who died on Christmas eve and this could be the cause of how I am feeling, he said that the medication masks the problems and so referred me to a psychologist. My counsellor is aware that my depression is very bad since before Christmas and that I had started myself back on my antidepressants, (some I found left over from before) three weeks ago, as I just could not function at all, I hated leaving the house and stay in all the time. So now that I am going to be assessed my Gp is unaware I started back on my meds for depression and so he will not put this on the form he has to fill in, so if they ask me if I am on medication, what am I meant to say to the welfare doctor?? My counsellor is aware I am, but this is confidential, can she tell my Gp that I have done this? if I just tell my doctor I started back on them I am afraid that he will think that I am a fraud and just saying this to help my case for the welfare. I was working with my counsellor on how to get the courage to tell my Gp that I started back on them and need more as they were running out, this was making me very anxious and this was before I got this letter from the social welfare. I really dont know what to do, I am genuinely very anxious and depressed, and now this is making things worse for me, I can't sleep with the worry of going and being asked all those questions again and the situation regarding my medication, as it will only show that I am on pain meds and xanax. Sorry it is so long winded but I am up the walls and feel since my dads passing nothing is going right for me. What am I going to do??

billy the squid

you will need to be completely honest with SW office. if you are found out to be lying to them they will come looking for any money they are owed. and they will come on a day when you hanen't two pennies to rub together.

You should be on disability allowance by the sound of it. one can still look for work if they wish to do so, you just have to sign off of it if you find work. Being on disability means that there are some jobs that you cannot do, so you shouldn't be on jobseekers benefit.

yellowlabrador

i would be totally honest and put your case to the assessor. Put in a claim for disability benefit, they can take a long time to process. If you lose the illness benefit, go to the social welfare office, you will be meanstested and if you have no other means of support , you will get supplementary welfare allowance until your other claim is processed.

GillerzDizzle

I have just been denied disability allowance today and am planning on appealing the decision but was wondering roughly how long that takes? Also if I do get it this time will I be entitled to back pay from the date I first applied (4 months ago) as I have built up quite a debt trying to survive.. Thanks for any replies

GillerzDizzle

GillerzDizzle wrote: »

I have just been denied disability allowance today and am planning on appealing the decision but was wondering roughly how long that takes? Also if I do get it this time will I be entitled to back pay from the date I first applied (4 months ago) as I have built up quite a debt trying to survive.. Thanks for any replies

Sorry... wrong thread, didn't realize this was illness benefit ><

Pearson

I submitted an appeal for my illness benifit review - november 2010 - i am still waiting to hear back - is anyone else waiting this long? i am currently claiming my stamps which are due to finish july or august. and i am still submitting certs.

billiejean123

I went onto Illness Benefit after the birth of my son in August last year. My psoriasis was awful and I was feeling really down. I could not work but I was found capable of work in Feb at a medical assessment with the Dept. Of Social Protection. I was actually suffering from post natal depression but it was not diagnosed until earlier this year. I appealed the decision made and my appeal was successful. I've been on anti-depressants and anxiety tablets from the end of February this year. My GP said that I should be back to myself in a few months. While I am still having some really awful days, I feel like trying to work and applying for an exemption from the Welfare. I am so anxious that I won't b able for it. I am worried that welfare will think I'm fine and ready for work and put me off IB but I want rehab work to get me back to my former self again. Something part-time/rehabilitative to see how I get on. How easy is it to get this kinda work? and if I do get an exemption will I see be called in regularly and assessed by welfare? The thought of that really makes me feel queazy.

Bazideluxe

hi all, i wanna ask for some questions, but the story frist:

i was working for last six years with same employer, but beeing very often sick and having respiration problems, asthma etc. I quit my job 10 months ago for my doctors advice. Went to social welfere sign up for illness benefit, which has been cut off yesterday saying i am "fit for other categories of work".

I went to social welfere today and woman told me i better appeal that decision when i dont feel FULLY fit to work - this is one of the conditions for JB sign-up. So i said alright, will go for appeal then.

Now the question is, will i get any money from anybody during the appeal will be sorted? Where should i go to and what should i ask for? Comunity officer? How much money will i get then? Am single living in rented house, no spouse.

Thanks for help guys!

amtw

You should go the the Community Welfare Officer to apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance while you are waiting for the result of your appeal. When you go to the CWO it might be a good idea to bring a letter from your Doctor stating that in his/her opinion you are unfit to return to work. Basic SWA is €186 per week which is €2 less then Illness Benefit or Jobseekers.