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Atos appeal - I dont know where to turn

Not an expert on all this like the very helpful folk above, just wanted to say I'm so sorry you're not well and then having to go through all this shit as well. Hang on in there and really hope things start to improve soon.
 
Bumped because this seems to be the most recent thread about ATOS appeals.

First to lor6126 hope you're managing to cope with applying for new benefits etc. You said there isn't a CAB in your town - in case you don't already know, you can also access help from them by phone on 03444 111 444.

After my recent Work Capability Assessment, I've been told I don't qualify for ESA anymore (letter arrived on Xmas Eve :thumbs: ), so I'm now starting the process of appealing that decision.

I've discovered that the Mandatory Reconsideration mentioned in the letter (and I think I've seen it referred to in threads here) involves the opportunity to explain over the phone why you think the decision is wrong (I've done this) and then to be contacted by a "decision maker" over the phone to discuss this further and potentially re-examine the original decision.

I'm now waiting for this next bit to happen, and I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who's been through this process in how it was for them, particularly if they can make suggestions or report any successes.
 
Yup. My medical last week was 15 months after I originally submitted my ESA form even discounting 6 weeks of that caused by their recording cock-up, that's still 13.5 months from submission to "medical assessment", and fuck knows how long a decision will take, as "anything from a week to a year" seems to be a common refrain...

Yeah, mine was also about 15 months after I submitted my ESA form, so waiting times in North and South London are apparently equally shit
 
Bumped because this seems to be the most recent thread about ATOS appeals.

First to lor6126 hope you're managing to cope with applying for new benefits etc. You said there isn't a CAB in your town - in case you don't already know, you can also access help from them by phone on 03444 111 444.

After my recent Work Capability Assessment, I've been told I don't qualify for ESA anymore (letter arrived on Xmas Eve :thumbs: ), so I'm now starting the process of appealing that decision.

I've discovered that the Mandatory Reconsideration mentioned in the letter (and I think I've seen it referred to in threads here) involves the opportunity to explain over the phone why you think the decision is wrong (I've done this) and then to be contacted by a "decision maker" over the phone to discuss this further and potentially re-examine the original decision.

I'm now waiting for this next bit to happen, and I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who's been through this process in how it was for them, particularly if they can make suggestions or report any successes.

Sorry to hear that they're trying to kebab you.
That "mandatory reconsideration by phone" appears to be yet another method to reduce the number of people who appeal. I can't do this shit by phone because of my short-term memory problems and hearing difficulties. Others can't for other physical and mental health reasons. What a load of wank.
 
Sorry to hear that they're trying to kebab you.
That "mandatory reconsideration by phone" appears to be yet another method to reduce the number of people who appeal. I can't do this shit by phone because of my short-term memory problems and hearing difficulties. Others can't for other physical and mental health reasons. What a load of wank.

They're trying to kebab everyone, so I'm not taking it personally. I'm also lucky enough to have the cushion of some savings, so I'm not going to be plunged into immediate poverty while I go through whatever process is necessary.

So how, as far as you know, do they normally do Mandatory Reconsiderations? Do they give you some other means to question the details on your WCA? I assumed it would simply be a different "decision maker" looking again at the report from the "health care professional" who did the face-to-face interview, with no opportunity for the claimant to have any input.

And while I can see that doing it over the phone might not be possible for everyone, they give you a summary of the report and a breakdown of where points were (and weren't) awarded, so you can say, for instance, that while the report says you can do x, y and z on a typical day, it's actually correct to say that you can do each of them on occasional days, but if you've already done x on a given day, you can't then do y or z as well and those have to be left for another day, so I was able to prepare my answers to some extent and make a point of focussing on things which it was clear had been overlooked or misinterpreted.

Of course, it remains to be seen if this will be accepted and if it makes any difference to the decision reached...
 
hi everyone, as the title says. I dont know where to turn. its nine days to christmas and iv never felt more ill or alone.
A year ago i was a manager for a well known bookmaker. I was paid off through ill health in January, i have Fibromyalgia and Depression. In August I was assessed for PIP and got the care part. In September i was found fit to work by Atos. My appeal was two days ago and the decision was upheld. I cannot claim JSA. i tried after the atos medical and had to cancel the claim as they said i wasnt fit to work.
So now i have £50 a week to live on,i dont know how i am going to survive. I am told i cant reapply until six months have passed, nearly ten weeks away.At the moment i dont even know if i want to live that long. I have nowhere left to turn.
I appreciate if you read this, i feel slightly better for having put things into words
I'm late on this thread, my heart goes out to you.

If you cannot speak on the phone about this, (I couldn't) could you enquire about corresponding by letter at whoever is advising you, given the lack of CAB.
 
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