UC/incapacity unreasonable hurdles- stick with it and then can we help more?

Hello - I joined recently and want to thank you. Even being here means I can face the next challenges. I can't be alone in taking like years (yes) to be able to get well enough to do a claim let alone deal with the obstacles,, let alone get enough to pay the bills at the end of it. Well. - I have made it. This week is the first time in 3 years I can not worry about paying the bills and move on to dealing with the backlog of health things (cancer biopsy, bipolar, adhd and more - all in various stages of NHS treatment, in the long queues but at last I am getting treatment and I have money to pay bills.). so that's the good news - for anyone who like me thought they could never get treatment or the support to get you through this period you can do it and I am hoping that I am going to do more than just survive from now on.

Bad news - I go in for the biopsy and the same day there is a message in my journal about a compliance interview. Leaving aside how bad phone calls are for me and lots of people with stammers and a bad signal, the timing could not be worse really. So - I have a risk plan in place this year, been in touch with GP, got a carer as back up and feel ready for the next challenges re health and dwp which seems to do the most it can to get in the way of helping me get better. It costs the NHS a lot and DWP just makes it harder and costlier.

So - question: there are lots of arguments against the phone interview but one reason for ie it gets it over with and if it is quick and I do it with my carer so I don't have a melt down and he can help me if my stammer gets too bad and help me after etc should I just go ahead tomorrow and get it done or can I put it off till a better time? In fact I have huge debts I need to sort out and HMRC but one thing at a time given I don't want my health to tank badly while I am managing OK so far this year.

Wrinkle - I have asked for reasonable adjustments etc x number of times and I haven't got far with DWP. I have it in mind that like a lot of others and certainly my mother, they can't claim or face the DWP hurdles so while I have the voice and chance I really should put a note in the journal to cover the point as otherwise I feel I am at worse endorsing the process that just isn't fair.


Thanks so much for being here - it's a bit of light in what has as is a long dark tunnel. Very much appreciated.

This is my first posting so I hope I am doing this OK.


Tj

Super - that's so good to know as I go into the next phase of all this.


So - shall I do a brief note in the Journal saying that I can only do my best in a phone meeting, I have explained so many times how it affects me, I refer to anxiety rather than Tourette's but its not good all round if I can't handle the pressure of a call, and then I do the call and have my risk plan in place to handle it .... and if it isn't going well I will end it and we circle back to reasonable adjustments? They seem wilfully to turn the other way no matter how many medical reports they get covering this and how the adjustments are so much better for them and me!

Thank in advance


TJ

Hello - this is a follow on from the last post and I took the compliance interview having done a risk assessment and had my carer there and per last message from David I did post in the journal all the problems with my communication capacity.

They have come back - in a day -- with a list of requests for detailed letters from my pension firms (I have worked since the 70s, contracted out - even I can't track down the pensions and those that I have take years to reply, literally in the case of Aviva).

That's bad. I have been trying to get the paperwork together myself for a few years and health things along with DWP things take up all my efforts. I reckon if I am well enough - but even today I've got referred for more tests, most of my days taken just with the NHS appointments - I can get the paperwork in a year. That's doing well. I actually think the pensions firms won't do a letter for DWP with info on given dates and statement that I cannot access anything. They refer all queries when I ask to Moneywise or an advisor. DWP look to be asking for something that is unreasonable. And they want it in a week.


The request and the timing are so unreasonable (extreme) I still can't believe its real.

I have held back from doing anything stupid or rash - what is the sensible thing to do?

I don't want to overdo the cancer side as it plays down the fact I am not on meds for the ADHD and my depression is already kicking in with this stress and it makes me very ill if it takes hold - I have GP support and a plan but the reality is I am not strong enough to handle DWP, paperwork and the health challenges.

I can do a bit on each fronts each day - if I take it carefully. I don't think I can just say all that to them can I? It's the complete picture. Is there a better way to say it? Is there a better way to proceed?

I have engaged my MP and DWP complaints already as it's taken 18 months to get paid and the assessments were grim. As they can be for many I know. I don't know any more avenues.

Apologies for this being so long.

With thanks


TJ