Latest WCA Handbook for Health Professionals, Version 7, 9th Feb 2015

[stu007]

Latest WCA Handbook for Health Professionals, Version 7, 9th Feb 2015

 

This guidance is for healthcare professionals who undertake Work Capability Assessments on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

 

This document tells you how health professionals are supposed to assess you.

 

It can be downloaded at this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/work-capability-assessment-handbook-for-healthcare-professionals

[tommy456]

One thing i noted reading that was their allowed/encouraged to assume things like this example

The report must contain sufficient detail. It is not enough to state "sat comfortably at interview"; better is to state "sat comfortably for 25 minutes in an armless chair without fidgeting, and this indicates that there would be little likelihood of any problem with sitting for longer than 30 minutes".

How can they assume things like this do they have a crystal ball or something ? that assumption is meaningless ,but clearly is one such method they use to cheat people out of a benefit that they should be entitled to

[estellyn]

for me, I may be in pain, but if I don't sit absolutely still the pain intensifies dramatically. These one size fits all criteria are really silly.

[Nystagmite]

I've just had a quick nose at some of the stuff that affects me. Unless the law has changed (and DVLA and RNIB have kept this quiet, which I doubt!) they've given completely wrong information regarding the eye chart and holding a driving licence.

 

Well, if I do end up being assessed in the future, that's going to be fun! Because according to that handbook, I could actually legally drive. (my situation is rather more complex, so I actually can't) But at the same time, can't read anything smaller than font size 20. (and that's on e agood day!)

[worried33]

for me, I may be in pain, but if I don't sit absolutely still the pain intensifies dramatically. These one size fits all criteria are really silly.

 

Yeah but the clear issue I have with what tommy quoted is that the DWP think its still ok to decide things on assumptions instead of facts.

 

If someone sits still for 25 minutes, its a pure speculative assumption that they not in pain and they can do it for over 30 minutes. Its definitely not a fact. Yet they encouraging HCP's to make these assumptions.

[suziebear67]

The paperwork they sent me the writing was so small I had trouble reading it maybe they saving on ink

[estellyn]

Yeah but the clear issue I have with what tommy quoted is that the DWP think its still ok to decide things on assumptions instead of facts.

 

If someone sits still for 25 minutes, its a pure speculative assumption that they not in pain and they can do it for over 30 minutes. Its definitely not a fact. Yet they encouraging HCP's to make these assumptions.

 

The whole wca is assumptions - you are being......facilitated to answer questions in a certain way, so that certain assumptions can be made to lead to the lowest possible score. It's just how it works.

[tommy456]

And that's why it is flawed,Any real HCP does not assume that a patient in their care can or can't do something, imagine the consequences if they did, This test is meaningless and should be scrapped,

Shame we couldn't play the assumption based on nothing game on them, i didn't turn up because i thought with all the evidence that i submitted that i would be awarded enough points