Will my chemo affect need for benefit medical assessment?
Q. I am claiming New Style ESA and understand I will require a medical assessment after 13 weeks. I have heard of people failing these and I am concerned I may fail my medical. I am currently receiving treatment for cancer and this includes ongoing chemotherapy. Will this make any difference when it comes to my assessment?
A.Priortoattendinganymedical assessment you will be sent an ESA 50 form by the DWP asking about difficulties you may have due to your health conditions.
Thereisalsoasectionthatspecifically
asks if you are undergoingtreatmentforcancerincluding chemo along with a section that can be completed by your GP, oncologist or specialist nurse.
Generally speaking if you are undergoing treatment for cancer then you are normally exempt from the Work Capability Assessment process, you will not normally be required to attend an examination and the DWP will normally accept you have limited capability for work and your ESA will continue.
In this situation you will also not have any additional requirements in order to continue to receive ESA and will be automaticallyplacedintheSupportGroup.
These particular exemptions will only apply during the period you are getting chemotherapy as well as any additional recovery treatment or therapy after your chemotherapy ends.
This will obviously vary from persontopersonandnormallybe basedoninformationprovidedby your GP and/or other person involved in your treatment.
Thereafter your entitlement to ESA will be dealt with as normal and if you wish to continue receiving the benefit you will be assessedunderthenormalassessment rules and undergo a Work Capability Assessment.
In passing, it is worth pointing out that as well as treatment for cancer there are also a number of other conditions and circumstances in which you will not be requiredtoundergotheusualprocessforESAmedicalassessments so if you do receive a form always seek specialist advice to see if you fallwithinoneofthesecategories.
If you are claiming Universal Credit on grounds of ill health the process is essentially the same but we would advise any new claimants to let their work coach know as soon as possible about proposed treatment so they will reduce or even remove any job seeking requirements you need to undertake before the 13 week period is reached.