Have passed the "Works Capability Forms."

[Daxiemad]

Those awful brown envelopes dropped through the door yesterday, and before I even opened them felt my heart sinking. First the tax credits, what is this going to be I ask myself? Well they have been halved Then that dreaded DWP envelope regarding the "Works Capability Forms," that awful sinking feeling combined with butterflies was there in the back ground, slowly as if peaking around a corner scared of what I might meet, I opened the envelope. The first part of the answer was half way down the page, and then the rest three quarters down. Had to read it twice before I actually saw that I had passed and would not be required to undergo further testing with ATOS. Cannot believe I had passed, okay I had included 23 pages of medical evidence to support everything I had written in my form, which I had completed without any support from outside agencies. With all the media input via the papers and television I had really doubted myself. Some of you might remember several weeks ago I wrote that I was really concerned.

Such a relief, okay with Tax Credits being reduced our income has been affected, but compared to many people with careful management we will be fine!

So for someone who has just completed those dreadful Works Capability Forms, I offer the following advice, first of all don't show yourself as being too independent on your forms (It is not lying, just think of a bad day and who you require help from to get through) and second on the forms they ask for details of specialist nurses, doctors and GP's, rather than waiting (and hoping) they write to those people, get them to write the necessary documentation to support your forms and send it to you prior. I also included all my consultant letters for the last 3 years. But I did check every single letter before I included it in my evidence to make sure that DWP could use nothing contained within them against me.

I count myself lucky in having a good acquaintance who gave me the valued advice above, it helped me so much, and now I wish to pay the help and information forward to those others who require it.