Tips for completing the IB50 Form

" Take some time to list ALL the problems you have, looking at physical AND mental health issues. It can help to keep this in front of you as you work through the form - e.g.. someone who loses control of their bladder during epileptic fits should complete the section for fits AND for incontinence.
" Where the form asks for the name of your doctor, you could put your psychiatrist if you feel they know more about you than your GP does.
" Do a quick ‘score’ using a list of descriptors. If it all adds up to less than 10/ 15 points, think again! Have you underestimated any of the problems?
" Consider whether something can be completed safely, reliably and repeatedly. Consider activities in an ‘in work’ context.
" Think of all the reasons you might be unable to do something - e.g. your ability to bend may be limited by giddiness as well as a bad back.
" Tick the HIGHEST SCORING box appropriate on each page, qualifying your response if needs be. - e.g. while you might be able walk for 400 yards once, you might not be able to do so repeatedly, regularly and without pain. Might the 50 yard box be more appropriate?
" Use the big box to put any limitations into words and to describe pain, distress or tiredness felt when trying to accomplish a task. If something could not be done reliably or repeatedly, say so.
" Use the box on page 16 of the form to address any mental health issues. Add pages if needs be! Do this with a list of the mental health descriptors in front of you, and try to make points relevant to them - e.g.. “Because of my anxiety and depression, I often sit for a long time not doing anything much. Perhaps the telly will be on but I won’t really be watching it because I can’t concentrate...”. Seek or provide supporting evidence and enclose it with the form if possible.
" Remember to include any examples of jobs that have been lost or given up because of health problems. In the context of the mental health ‘descriptors’, caselaw says that if you have to give up unpaid work - e.g. - looking after your children - because of your mental health, that counts too.
" If appropriate, explain how therapeutic/ permitted work is manageable - e.g.. ‘They know at the office that I’ve not been well so I don’t have to answer the phone and they don’t ask me to do things that I feel will be too much for me.’

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