Illness Benefit - Medical Assessment worries?

SarahBPD

Okay so I created a new account to post this question. I'm looking for some advice regarding being called for a medical assessment in a few weeks time.
My story is that I've suffered mental illness problems from quite a young age and have been on and off medication since I was 19 (I'm 26 now). I was able to handle things okay regardless of the problems I had, I got through college and held down jobs without much issue. I have been in my current job 6 years now (in the IT industry). I was out of work last year for 2 months when I had a very bad spout of depression but I returned (under pressure from others) even though I didn't feel 100%. For a couple of months I got on with things and pretended to be fine.
Unfortunately, in December last year I made my first suicide attempt to the shock and horror of my family and boyfriend (now ex boyfriend). Since then, I have been out of work and seeking a way to properly be able to get a handle on my mental health issues. I have been diagnosed with BPD and starting to understand my moods and thinking patterns a little better. Since coming out of work, I have been on illness benefit (my doctor simply writes "depression" on the sick certs as the reason for being out of work).
Just today, I received a letter from the Dept. of Social Protection stating I'm required to attend a medical assessment because of how long I've been out of work (I just recently had a medical assessment from a psychiatrist for my company's insurance too). This has me worried as I'm not sure what the procedure is or what kind of questions they'll ask. Or whether they'll think little of my illness because it's not a physical issue.
I guess I'm looking for info on what these assessments involve and whether I should be worried or not? The letter does say I can bring any "medical evidence" with me? But I'm not sure what medical evidence I could bring if any? Could anyone help or enlighten me on this sort of thing, I'm feeling very anxious about it...

Cushie Butterfield

Firstly, the assessment is fairly non obtrusive in the sense that it's carried out in a very professional manner & is not intended to 'catch you out' in any way. You will be treated with the utmost of respect. The aim of the assessment is basically to find out how your illness affects your ability to work. The assessor(s) are not there to judge you - just to ask questions based on the medical information that they currently have on file for you & then offer an opinion to social welfare on whether or not you are currently able to work, & when they feel you might be able to return to work. This is why it's important to make sure that they have up to date medical information on your illness, in case your situation has changed since

You will be in a room with at least one (but don't be surprised if it's two or three) doctor plus a nurse attendant who will be sitting at another desk.

You will be asked straightforward questions regarding your illness such as how long you have suffered with it, whether or not you're on medications & about your general health. Then you will be asked in more detail about how your illness affects your day to day life, & more specifically your day to day working life.

With illnesses that are less physical in nature & less obvious as regards having undergone treatment or surgery for a specific illness it is probably worthwhile gathering as much additional support for your claim as possible. Your GP will be able to tell you if he been asked to supply any additional or more detailed information regarding your illness since you first applied for illness benefit, or more recently. If he hasn't, or if he has but your situation has changed since, you should ask him to write a report outlining the exact circumstances that you now find yourself in, including your suicide attempt if this hasn't been already included in any previous report & his opinion on what your present up to date situation is, as he may have been asked some time ago in which case there might be details that were not originally communicated that are now relevant.

If you are or have been attending a counsellor, psychologist/psychiatrist, or a social worker you should request the same information from them. It's very important that the medical assessor has all relevant up to date information regarding your illness from as many professionals as possible who have been involved in your diagnosis & ongoing care.

It might be a good idea to bring someone along with you purely for support on the day. Maybe your social worker (if you have one) or a family member or friend could accompany you, if for no other reason than you might be slightly overawed by the situation resulting in you forgetting to mention something important, so I think it would be a good idea for you. That way, if you do the other person can remind you. It's surprising what you can forget when you are put on the spot, even at the best of times.

Speak to your GP & relay your worries to him about the assessment. He will be well used to patients' concerns & will be able to advise you further as regards any further evidence you may or may not need.


Try not to worry too much about it. Always remember that you have done nothing wrong. You have nothing to hide so there is nothing to fear. Your GP feels you're not able to work so be of the opinion & mindset that the medical assessor will be of the same opinion.

I hope everything goes well for you.

SarahBPD

Thank you very much for your detailed reply Cushie, I really appreciate it. I am still feeling very anxious about the assessment. I have had an assessment from a psychiatrist for insurance reasons not too long ago but I feel like this one is going to be a lot more nerve wracking. Do you know how long the assessment lasts??

With this sort of thing, I think it's hard to know when someone is or isn't ready to try returning to work. Recently I've felt I would like to return but obviously I'm worried about it in case I find that I can't handle it and I do something "silly". I see a psychiatrist each month (who prescribes my medication), I see a counselor weekly and I had been attending CBT weekly with a psychologist. I have been taken out of CBT now but I have been referred to another psychologist. So I feel that I am making every effort to solve this problem, I'm trying my best. I'm getting very worried that I'll end up losing my job and everything over this thing. Feeling a little stressed as you can tell!

Cushie Butterfield

SarahBPD wrote: »

Thank you very much for your detailed reply Cushie, I really appreciate it. I am still feeling very anxious about the assessment. I have had an assessment from a psychiatrist for insurance reasons not too long ago but I feel like this one is going to be a lot more nerve wracking. Do you know how long the assessment lasts??

With this sort of thing, I think it's hard to know when someone is or isn't ready to try returning to work. Recently I've felt I would like to return but obviously I'm worried about it in case I find that I can't handle it and I do something "silly". I see a psychiatrist each month (who prescribes my medication), I see a counselor weekly and I had been attending CBT weekly with a psychologist. I have been taken out of CBT now but I have been referred to another psychologist. So I feel that I am making every effort to solve this problem, I'm trying my best. I'm getting very worried that I'll end up losing my job and everything over this thing. Feeling a little stressed as you can tell!

Hi Sarah,

It won't last very long - probably 15 or 20 mins. It's understandable that you feel anxious, but I can almost guarantee you that after it's over you will be kicking yourself for worrying so much about it. The assessor will have read your notes before you go in, so don't feel as if it's going to be a full on interrogation. They will politely ask you some questions which you just answer truthfully - it will be more of a conversation-like affair rather than anything else.

This is why it's so important that they have all up to date information & if they don't that you supply them with anything that they don't have. It wouldn't be unusual for additional supporting evidence to be sent directly to them in situations like yours, purely because of the nature of your illness, so your best be would be to speak to your GP, counsellor & psychologist & ask them if they feel you need any further supporting documentation.

I really wouldn't worry about timeframes as regards returning to work as far as your upcoming assessment is concerned. Your case is just being reviewed for administration purposes. Just deal with one thing at a time. The most important thing is your recovery, so try to concentrate on that for now. I know it can't be easy for you.

Just to repeat - you have nothing to hide so you have nothing to fear as regards the assessment. Your doctors consider you presently unfit for work, so there's absolutely no reason to think that another doctor will think otherwise. The chances are it will be less nerve wracking than your insurance assessment.

SarahBPD

People seem to be of differing opinions on a return to work or not, that's the trouble I have with it. The counselor I have been seeing has always been pushing me to go back to work and asking things like "don't you feel useless being off work?" etc. Then again, the lady I seen for CBT was of the opinion that I go back when I'm in a more stable place in myself. The psychiatrists never seem to give much advice on this, they are neither for or against the idea of going back - almost as if the ball is being left in my court if you know what I mean? So I'm finding it difficult to know how I know it's the right time to return. I don't want to return and then a few months later have another meltdown and suicide attempt like last time. Suppose it's just a fear of history repeating. I am keen to return to work even though my sleep is crazy and moods are crazy lol.

I will try not to stress too much about it and just go with the flow and see what happens! Thanks so much for the reassurance and information, really do appreciate it