IB50 => Medical

[Awesome Wells]

A bit like asking how long is a piece of string, but anyone have any clue as to how long one has to wait for their inexorable medical after filling in and returning their IB50 (not any other form, as some people have to fill in a newer version) form? I wouldn't ask but for the fact that my note expires at the end of December. I doubt I'll get another, which is something I'm prepared for, but it seems petulant to get mucked around in the meantime just to end up losing my benefit a couple of weeks earlier (I can't see myself passing these ATOS medicals).

 

[Greebo]

At worst, I'd say a few months.

However, given the postal situation, if I were you, first thing on Monday (or as early as you can manage it) I'd ring the place you sent the form to "just check you've received my form" (if not, send a copy of it "signed for"). If they have received it, just casually ask if they could possibly give you a rough idea of when to expect the medical eg before or after christmas?

 

[Awesome Wells]

My point is that the sick note expires around xmas. I would rather they gave me a medical later if i must have one - given that circumstance (I don't mind having to go through it per se, and I don't intend to lie) - but it all seems rather fruitless if it only means that the period I end up claiming for is a month or so beyond the date of any medical.

I haven't sent the form in yet. I plan on doing it a week before it's due (that date being the 22nd). I also plan on getting a proof of postage (which I do for everything these days anyway). If it gets lost by the mail or the RM decide to go tits up, well I can't be held responsible for that. They said send the IB50 in by the 22nd so they can't complain if I don't send it earlier - so long as it's sent in good time i suppose.

They also say that a medical will be arranged within 3 or so months, so it could be the following week after they process the form, or it could be the day after my note expires. Frankly I don't think I'll pass the medical anyway and, given that this is the last sick note I'm likley to get (all things considered), it all seems rather pointless even attending.

Do you see?

 

[Psychonaut]

not wanting to get your expectations up, but are you certain it'll be a new-style ATOS medical?

If you fill the form in well, coupled with support from your dr theres a possibility they'll let it slide, and forego the medical - especially if their snowed under with a huge backlog.

 

[Awesome Wells]

I don't think it's a new style medical at all, though I can't know for sure. The form IB50 is the old form and I claim IS in lieu of having enough credits for IB proper so I don't think I'm part of the new system. They could let it slide, but I sincerely doubt I'm that lucky. Either way the note expires in late December so it won't matter - that's the point I'm making.

It's just weird: if you leave a job you can reasonably expect to be paid redundancy money or at least paid up until the end of the week/month. But if you fail a medical or whatever for benefit your claim will end there and then, on the date the decision is made. You don't get the benefit up and until a certain point (within reason) thereafter, even though that's your only source of income and you kinda need some leeway with regard to sorting out some alternative or making a claim for jsa or whatever. But our system doesn't allow that.