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WCA health assessment HAAS
- liamalta
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1 day 22 minutes ago #312759 by liamalta
WCA health assessment HAAS was created by liamalta
Hi, I am an appointee for my young adult son. I sent the WCA50 form back to DWP and requested a paper decision due to my son's conditions. I sent medical evidence from several professionals, including mobility, autism, anxiety and intrusive thoughts, and I requested a paper decision as it would be detrimental for his mental health if he had to attend an assessment. Today I received a letter inviting him to a face-to-face assessment. They say that the appointee must attend. Questions: 1) Should I try to call them and ask if they "read" the papers and evidence I sent, and my request for a paper form decision, as it seems they didnt? 2) Can I attend and answer the questions on his behalf so he does not attend (so my son is not put under pressure)? 3) I am concerned that they do not understand my son's conditions, as we had this experience before with schools, and just looking at him, they would assume he can deal with the challenges of a work environment, which he definitely can't. 4) Can I ask for a home visit assessment? How does this affect the claim, and how can I base my request on it (guidelines/law/etc)? 5) If there is no other alternative and we have to attend the appointment, I will drive him, and I will be there with him. However, the time he will have to wait and the stress he will endure are a concern. I really need some advice on how to proceed with this, please. Thank you.
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- David
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10 hours 56 minutes ago #312765 by David
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by David on topic WCA health assessment HAAS
Hi liamalta
You will see below the guidance from the WCA handbook ( 2024 ). When you phone HAAS you speak to a telephony agent and not an assessor but you can inform them that your son is not well enough to attend a face to face assessment and you request a Home Consultation. You can tell the agent that you have a copy of the WCA guidance and you would meet the conditions as an Appointee to attend a face to face assessment alone without your son. The agent will pass your message to the assessor and to make life easier for him/herself I expect the assessor will conduct a paper based assessment.
"Where appointees report that a claimant is unable to attend and participate in an assessment, the Supplier should ascertain:
whether this is temporary, and whether the assessment could be rearranged: or
whether an alternative assessment channel would enable claimant attendance and participation.
Where a claimant’s reasons for being unable to attend and participate are not temporary, an assessment may go ahead with the appointee only as long as all of the following conditions are satisfied:
Issue relates to the claimant’s health condition (s) or impairment,
It is medically reasonable.
It is not due to choice or convenience.
If evidence to support non-attendance and non-participation is available, then it should be considered and noted within the advice for the DWP"
Let me know how you get on.
David
You will see below the guidance from the WCA handbook ( 2024 ). When you phone HAAS you speak to a telephony agent and not an assessor but you can inform them that your son is not well enough to attend a face to face assessment and you request a Home Consultation. You can tell the agent that you have a copy of the WCA guidance and you would meet the conditions as an Appointee to attend a face to face assessment alone without your son. The agent will pass your message to the assessor and to make life easier for him/herself I expect the assessor will conduct a paper based assessment.
"Where appointees report that a claimant is unable to attend and participate in an assessment, the Supplier should ascertain:
whether this is temporary, and whether the assessment could be rearranged: or
whether an alternative assessment channel would enable claimant attendance and participation.
Where a claimant’s reasons for being unable to attend and participate are not temporary, an assessment may go ahead with the appointee only as long as all of the following conditions are satisfied:
Issue relates to the claimant’s health condition (s) or impairment,
It is medically reasonable.
It is not due to choice or convenience.
If evidence to support non-attendance and non-participation is available, then it should be considered and noted within the advice for the DWP"
Let me know how you get on.
David
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: Wendy Woo, Sum
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