Atos Medicals - Questions, Answers and Support

[ViolentPanda]

So the guidelines are outdated as well. They do have June 2011 on them, but that is not good enough. Giving incorrect info on the DWP website is only more dishonest, and shows they don't care. Oh, well. Maybe I'll have to go to appeal this time, and my case is convincing. I hate to think what other people have to go through. Still, it depends on the doctor you get as well.

ESA "medicals" aren't necessarily conducted by a doctor, Mikey. ATOS employs "medical professionals". Basically this means that your assessor could be a physiotherapist or a nurse, with only passing knowledge of the effects of long-term sickness or disabilities. They're just button-pushers ticking software boxes, who're generally even less inclined to give a fuck what happens to the people they process than the (mostly superannuated or incompetent) doctors that the DWP used to do Disability Living Allowance and Incapacity Benefit medicals.

 

[Mikey77]

Yeah, that's right. I almost forgot. I was lucky enough to get a very understanding doctor when I went to an assessment centre the last time, but who knows who I might get this time. Yeah, I know someone who had a DLA medical recently and the doctor was more than willing to state on the form that the person was "unlikely" to have any of the issues they claimed to have. It seems that docs sometimes like to get involved in the decision making rather than the assessments.

 

[culder]

Well, they do retain copies and refer to previous forms when it suits them...

Oh yes, I can believe that!

Sometimes (or perhaps I should say 'often' or 'it varies'!) there seems to be so much to take in that I just don't want to think about it anymore, it gets so confusing. Which is probably the intention, of course.

My most recent problem resulting from it all is that I had letters telling me I needed to pay 1p per week in rent, and 10p for the year's Council Tax. They spent more than that just on the postage. It's been sorted out since, though of course it cost me yet another phone call.

 

[culder]

Re the doctors/nurses doing the assessments - mine was a Registered Nurse. I'd trust her to give me an injection or check my bloody pressure etc, but her knowledge of mental health was zero.

 

[audiotech]

The 'quiet man' has been accused of breaking the law. Meanwhile:

...GPs in Scotland have called for an immediate end to the controversial ATOS work capability assessments on the grounds that they could have a devastating impact on patients’ health.

http://politicalscrapbook.net/2012/03/maria-miller-letter-dwp-human-rights-committee/

 

[audiotech]

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

A few days ago I got this year's Council Tax bill, and they want 10p for the whole year (although my income has dropped by around 30%).

Then a day or so later I got two letters from Housing (I'm a Council tenant). The first one said that from the beginning of April I need to pay rent of 1p per week. The second letter was exactly the same.

So they've already spent more than my annual rent and CT combined, just by sending the letters.

Were they sent 1st or 2nd class?

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Or, if anyone can afford it, become a paid-up member (about £20 a year) of the Benefits and Work website, and download a copy of one of their ESA form-filling guides. They're top-notch, and compiled from advice from welfare and legal professionals who scrutinise the legislation and the legal precedents.

Yep, very helpful site. They even had a discount earlier in the year

 

[yardbird]

I just thought that I'd check my score re my ESA50 that I sent off some time ago.
Silly me, it relates to form ESA something else.
That means that ATOS will be checking/scoring two different forms with subtle (not) differences, at the same time.
Nightmare.

 

[culder]

Were they sent 1st or 2nd class?

Second, as far as I remember. That's 28p each, times three = 84p. The annual rent they were asking for was 52p, and then another 10p for CT!

 

[yardbird]

I've just spoken to ATOS again and I was wrong, they are still only doing ESA50 forms.
THE RECORDING THING:
Once again confirmed, but it's vital that the recording is requested as soon as you first hear about your appointment.
They will have big problems if everybody requests a recording of their assessment, because they won't have the gear. Several people all having asked, then they'll be juggling like crazy, if everybody asks/demands then ATOS medical centres will come to a grinding halt!!

 

[equationgirl]

I've just spoken to ATOS again and I was wrong, they are still only doing ESA50 forms.
THE RECORDING THING:
Once again confirmed, but it's vital that the recording is requested as soon as you first hear about your appointment.
They will have big problems if everybody requests a recording of their assessment, because they won't have the gear. Several people all having asked, then they'll be juggling like crazy, if everybody asks/demands then ATOS medical centres will come to a grinding halt!!

Anything that throws a spanner in the works, so long as people's payments aren't delayed, is good

 

[Quartz]

They will have big problems if everybody requests a recording of their assessment, because they won't have the gear. Several people all having asked, then they'll be juggling like crazy, if everybody asks/demands then ATOS medical centres will come to a grinding halt!!

Surely it would be a boost for industry as ATOS would have to purchase extra kit?

 

[tufty79]

not ATOS related, but an ESA question - is anyone else on contributions based esa and affected by the new time limitation clause? they've told me my claim will automatically close on april 30th, but they'll automatically send me a form to fill out to apply for income based before then (my faith in them managing to do this isn't high) - anyone got any experience of this/how problematic it's likely to be? i also had an ATOS assessment in january, which has kept me in the WRG - anyone know whether (if it's accepted) changing over to income based will mean another assessment straight off? ta x

 

[ViolentPanda]

Yeah, that's right. I almost forgot. I was lucky enough to get a very understanding doctor when I went to an assessment centre the last time, but who knows who I might get this time. Yeah, I know someone who had a DLA medical recently and the doctor was more than willing to state on the form that the person was "unlikely" to have any of the issues they claimed to have. It seems that docs sometimes like to get involved in the decision making rather than the assessments.

Had one medical exam for DLA where the bloke did much the same. Had another where the doctor told fibs and signed off the form where I was supposed to. The last two I had, I was lucky enough that the doctor I saw was a former partner of my GP, who actually phoned him and spoke to him (with my permission) before submitting the form. At my last renewal, they didn't bother to send a doctor to examine me, just gave me an "indefinite" award for high rate mobility and high rate care.

 

[audiotech]

Telephone call from Atos a week, or so ago: 'Will you be available for a WCA?'
Me: Yes, but I'm requesting a home visit?
Atos: 'You will need a letter from your GP. Send this to us.'
Me: 'I'll do that, even though you already have a letter from my GP from the last time, when I was assessed at my home.'
A few days later appointment made with GP, who supplied me with said letter, duly sent to Atos.
Letter arrived this morning from Atos: "Please attend the medical centre at blah, blah, blah..."

 

[equationgirl]

Telephone call from Atos a week, or so ago: 'Will you be available for a WCA?'
Me: Yes, but I'm requesting a home visit?
Atos: 'You will need a letter from your GP. Send this to us.'
Me: 'I'll do that, even though you already have a letter from my GP from the last time, when I was assessed at my home.'
A few days later appointment made with GP, who supplied me with said letter, duly sent to Atos.
Letter arrived this morning from Atos: "Please attend the medical centre at blah, blah, blah..."

How frustrating

Calling yardbird!

Can you write to them, pointing out a home visit has been requested? Hopefully you'll get somebody half-competent who'll put you down for the home visit this time.

 

[audiotech]

I'll be ringing them Monday in a calm but assertive manner.

 

[equationgirl]

I'll be ringing them Monday in a calm but assertive manner.

Hope it goes well

 

[yardbird]

I'll be ringing them Monday in a calm but assertive manner.

Who would you be calling?
You can cross check by using the 0800 2888777 number - they can tell you if GP's letter was received.
Good luck Monday and I like calm and assertive

 

[audiotech]

Thanks for that tip and number yardbird, but I see it's the exact same on the letter they sent.

 

[equationgirl]

Thanks for that tip and number yardbird, but I see it's the exact same on the letter they sent.

At least they can type their own phone number correctly - there's hope yet!

 

[yardbird]

Paul Falmer, chief exec for Mind has resigned due to his feelings about Work Capability Assessment.
He doesn't like ATOS, although didn't name them.

 

[culder]

Hope it all goes well, Audio.

 

[audiotech]

Rang number, told to ring an other number, then told they will ring me in a few days to tell me if a home visit has been "approved". A surreal moment, as it felt like I was communicating with robots, bereft of any humanity.

This tune is dedicated to their masters:

 

[equationgirl]

Paul Falmer, chief exec for Mind has resigned due to his feelings about Work Capability Assessment.
He doesn't like ATOS, although didn't name them.

Interesting, although will that help MIND, or is it a protest resignation?

 

[yardbird]

Interesting, although will that help MIND, or is it a protest resignation?

I think I misheard.
He has resigned from a gov group and not Mind.
Chris Grayling says that he fired him and he didn't resign.

 

[equationgirl]

I think I misheard.
He has resigned from a gov group and not Mind.
Chris Grayling says that he fired him and he didn't resign.

Well Grayling would say, wouldn't he? Can't stand the tosser.

 

[Meltingpot]

I had my own experience with Chris Grayling once, about a year ago. I wrote to my MP about the time I was four weeks with no benefits or money coming in at all, in the depths of winter, and she sent a copy of my letter to Mr. Grayling.

He replied with a letter which got pretty much all the salient points of the case wrong, even including the address of the benefits office which was dealing with my claim.

I replied politely, but frankly I wasn't impressed; it was very sloppy of him IMO. Detail doesn't seem to be his strong point.

 

[audiotech]

Informed today that a decision has been made to overrule my GP with regards to a home visit for a second WCA. I couldn't speak after I was told this over the phone. At my wits end now. The appointment is in just three days. What should I do?