Medical for social welfare illness benefit

LegacyUser

Hi,

Where to start.....

I've been off work for over a year now in receipt of illness benefit and an insurance policy.
I've just been summoned to a medical with the regional healthboard.

Now, the reason I've been out of work is moderate depression and severe anxiety.
I've recently started smoking marijuana to help with the anxiety and so far it seems to be working very well (in moderation) I'm more creative, productive and less anxious, more patience with everything and just overall better.

I appreciate this isn't a permanent solution however for the moment a relief from the symptoms is very welcome.

I have spoken about this to my psychiatrist who told me more or less that as a HSE employee could he in no way condone 'recreational' drug use however as a medical practitioner he would find it hard not to admit that certain 'herbal' drugs certainly have 'beneficial side effects' that might have a place in modern medical science and are certainly far less harmful than some of the other drugs prescribed for anxiety (benzodiazepines).

So, all's well so far. I'm doing much better, no more panic attacks, but now I've received a letter saying I need to go for a medical for my illness benefit.

Are they likely to be looking for urine samples? I've had several other assessments which were all oral (haha) and all agreed that due to my anxiety and the nature of my work I'm currently unfit to return to work.

How worried should I be?

(oh and by the way, I'm not really interested in 'the aul' drugs are bad for ya dude' argument thanks)

etymon

"I have spoken about this to my psychiatrist who told me more or less that as a HSE employee could he in no way condone 'recreational' drug use however as a medical practitioner he would find it hard not to admit that certain 'herbal' drugs certainly have 'beneficial side effects' that might have a place in modern medical science and are certainly far less harmful than some of the other drugs prescribed for anxiety (benzodiazepines)."

I find this hard to believe. Psychiatrists think of cannabis as the scourge of mental health problems, up there with benzos for sure. The herbal medicine St John's Wort can completely f*&k up other medications also and is discouraged as preparations vary so much. I would always ask young men especially to provide a routine urine and the occupational health Dr might also, might not. If you regularly smoke cannabis the urine will be positive for longer by the way so I wouldn't rely on any Google based assumptions on how to do a clean one.

Also, you haven't given any reasons why your anxiety and depression are stopping you from working in any field - probably 15% of the population suffer with these issues at some stage - you sound like quite a jovial and laid back person from the tone of your post and your 'oral' jokes etc! If you gave more about your history with depression and anxiety and how disabling they are and if you have tried SSRIs and psychology etc that might help. What does your psychiatrist think about your treatment so far, for example?

LegacyUser

Etymon, you obviously do not suffer from anxiety or depression. It can crippling,making it difficult to even leave the house at times,let alone to hold down a full time job.

To op, they may ask you for a urine sample but I have never heard of someone actually having to do it. My friend went for a medical recently and it was more of a chat and interview type scenerio

I wouldn't be surprised if a urine test is included in the medical case - is this not the case with all of them?

Gatling

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I wouldn't be surprised if a urine test is included in the medical case - is this not the case with all of them?

No I've been to three and was never urine tested ,
There wouldnt be a need to do urine tests for welfare assessments

LegacyUser

Gatling wrote: »

No I've been to three and was never urine tested ,
There wouldnt be a need to do urine tests for welfare assessments

Are you really sure about this? Like to the extent of advising the OP?

I've worked in insurance companies for years. They routinely send people for medicals if their answers are even a tiny bit outside the norm (prob just the people who are honest about their lifestyle!). That's just in order to take them on and take their money!

Insurance companies have all sorts of hoops they'll make you jump through in order to get a claim paid out. I don't know the full extent of it, but I do know that they've caught people thru social media. And people claiming that they couldn't work, yet were offering their services to clients or online.

I don't know what approach the HSE take. I'd be very very careful though. I know my friend went for a big mortgage, and was v careful to not even casually smoke for a few months - he was afraid of how the insurance co might test him, and charge him loads if they knew he smoked occasionally. And yes, they can test that. Tbh I can only imagine the HSE wld b even more stringent.

I think you should seriously give up the weed before your assessment. Like two months clean. All depends on which you value more - if you value the relaxing properties of weed > the chance that you won't be signed off for working, then fair enough. If you are terminally upset/stressed by the the thoughts of being in work, then give up the weed. At the mo, you just seem to want to have your weed and eat it!

Toots

I went through a whole battery of tests for social welfare and insurance company, literally I'd say I was seen by at least 10 different doctors, and I was never once asked for a urine or blood sample.

I suffer from mental health problems, however, and every doctor/therapist/nurse/shrink/you name it and all have told me to avoid mood altering substances (not that I used them before) these included alcohol, prescription drugs other than what I was prescribed, and especially recreational drugs. My concern for you OP would be that if they do a urine test and it comes up positive for weed, it could affect your claim. There's a link between weed and mental health problems, so they could argue that using it is exacerbating your condition (I'm not saying it is BTW, but they may well take that tack). Could you ask your shrink if there's anything he could recommend as an alternative?

Gatling

Remember op these assessments aren't to diagnose anything they only want to see if your condition gives you continued entitlement to your illness benefit or if you may be for fit to return to work / or be put on Jobseekers

arayess

Deleted User wrote: »

I wouldn't be surprised if a urine test is included in the medical case - is this not the case with all of them?

no it is not.
most likely it will like an interview by a HSE employee.
with no medical exam at all

LegacyUser

etymon wrote: »

I find this hard to believe. Psychiatrists think of cannabis as the scourge of mental health problems, up there with benzos for sure.

They seem happy enough to prescribe benzos though. I've had to argue with them that I specifically didn't want to take benzos.

etymon wrote: »

Also, you haven't given any reasons why your anxiety and depression are stopping you from working in any field - probably 15% of the population suffer with these issues at some stage -

Short notice travel, weeks away from home, long days, high stress and high stakes environment....panic attacks, insomnia, blackouts while driving. Sure what could possibly go wrong?

etymon wrote: »

you sound like quite a jovial and laid back person from the tone of your post and your 'oral' jokes etc!

With enough practice depression and anxiety get really easy to hide. And I know what you're thinking but hiding it isn't exactly a cure.

etymon wrote: »

If you gave more about your history with depression and anxiety and how disabling they are and if you have tried SSRIs and psychology etc that might help.

Ehm......tried 4 different SSRI's so far (one gave me a complete nervous breakdown) over the course of the last 18 months, Xanax for a while and such a high dose of Lyrica (the only alternative to benzos apparently?) that I suffered random sleep attacks where I simply couldn't stay awake. Any time of day.....

etymon wrote: »

What does your psychiatrist think about your treatment so far, for example?

Fuctifino.....he seems to only be interested in keeping his head above water, most of the time I get to see a reg and they tend to ask do I think my meds need to be de- or increased and then write down what I tell them.....