UC - Fit Notes and LCW assessments

Hello there,
I’m nervous about asking questions in case I’m not doing it correctly, and because I find it difficult to be concise, but I really struggle with understanding UC.

I have neurodevelopmental disorders that make my life difficult (hence me having to turn to UC in first place in 2019). I’ve been self employed for over 20 years. My question is: am I supposed to ask for work capability assessment?

I have been on back to back fit notes for over a year and I receive PIP (3rd time applying - received it in July 2024). My Drs are supportive of me and my circumstances. I was told last summer by job centre on the phone that I should be sent one - but nothing has arrived and I keep forgetting to ask when I have a job centre work call.

I ask my work coach for reasonable adjustments - like a phone call or zoom - so that’s usually how I communicate. I have differing work coaches who seems empathic and helping me signpost to charities etc.

Then yesterday, a few hours later, I got a message in my journal and text to say a face to face meeting next week in the job centre (though it was clear I got upset and was distressed on my phone call - I have a lot of personal things going on such as the aftermath of death of my father I cared for in Dec 2023- and I’m struggling with the paperwork as an executor but have no money for a solicitor to help me ).

I wrote a note in my journal reminding them of my situation - but I always feel vulnerable writing that down in my journal - I don’t know who sees my personal health information.

I’m just very confused and worried I will be sanctioned if I can’t make it - which is inevitable because leaving the house is hard for me at the moment. Being sanctioned would be the straw that breaks the camels back for me right now.

Any advice, or whether i have understood work capability assessments incorrectly - I would greatly appreciate it as I don’t have any familial support or friends I can turn to.

Hello MCatherine, sorry to hear of your difficulties.

Just re the executor thing, having had similar stuff recently... if you need to engage a solicitor, as long as there will eventually be enough money in your late father's Estate, it should pay for the solicitors' work. They will be able to give you a quote so you can see how affordable it might be.
You don't have to pay for it yourself and solicitors are used to only getting paid when all is settled. And you shouldn't need to leave the house for much if anything. The estate I am dealing with is five hours drive away, everything is done by email, and occasionally my printing, signing and scanning some document. Then emailing back the signed one. If you didn't have a printer and scanner they would post you anything that needed signing, and you could post it back. That just adds a little to the cost. But your mental wellbeing is worth spending money to be kind to. Any other beneficiaries should not object.
Hope this helps,
Denby