IB50 Page 3 Question.

On page 3 of the IB50 i have been sent there is a Question which reads

"Do you think your health problems are linked to drug or alcohol abuse ?
By drugs we mean drugs you get from your doctor and other drugs.
There are 2 boxes. Yes/No.

How can the drugs i get from my doctor be linked to my health problems ?

They affect my ability to Drive, Operate Machinery and concentrate on anything for most of the time.
12 very strong Painkillers for my Degenerate Disc Disease and 4 pills for my Hypertension all of which my Doctor told me i will have to take "till the end of your day's" and pills to alleviate my Tinnitus and pills for my Depression. Then there are the Statin's and Vitamin D and Digestive capsules and the Ointment that i have to put on my legs 3 times a day to keep the Virilunt rash due to having had severe Cellulitus under control.

No. I don't think they are linked to my health problems but i am a recovering Alcoholic and that is linked to my Health problems. 30 Years of Alcohol abuse has done a lot of damage.

Do i tick Yes or No ?

Hi Deedubyaf

The question makes sense, the explanation of what drugs are is rather stupid.

The question refers to drug 'abuse', so with regards to drugs you get from your doctor, it is referring to overdosing or taking more than you should.

However, if the years of alcohol abuse is still taking it's toll and affects your health, I think the correct answer to the question would be Yes. Make sure you give detailed information of how this affects your functional ability, particularly in relation to the descriptors, in the box provided.

I think 'other drugs' refer to illegal drugs but they don't want to frighten claimants!

Good luck with your application.

Derek

Thanks for your reply Derek.
I see what you mean now.
I still don't know why i have to fill in this form anyway. I get my pension in 10 months anyway. I'm on Long term IB.The last letter i got from Jobcentre plus reads
"People with certain disabilities or severe illnesses are treated as meeting the threshold of incapacity and do not have to undergo the assessment.
Because you have one of these disabilities, you can be treated as meeting the threshold of incapacity.
This means we will carry on paying your benefit or awarding you NI credits for as long as you continue to satisfy the conditions for getting benefits or credits."

As my condition is "Degenerative" i can only assume that Atos (who sent me this IB50- not Jobcentreplus ) either have no grasp of the English language or believe in miracles.
I feel as though i have just become part of someones wages.
Thanks again for your reply
Deedubyaf