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ATOS being difficult advice please...

kalidarkone

kalidarkone

Bringing YOU round.....
My partner's brother has advanced ms and has an interview on Monday for PIP. He works from home, although is in the process of being made redundant by Hewlard Packard.
He wants to record the interview, they turned up and refused to conduct the interview as apparently a specific Recording device has to be used so they can have an unedited copy, which is proving hard to get hold of. Added to this they failed to turn up for two appointments Or send an information pack. Ombudsman? Any info would be greatfully received x
 
kalidarkone said:
My partner's brother has advanced ms and has an interview on Monday for PIP. He works from home, although is in the process of being made redundant by Hewlard Packard.
He wants to record the interview, they turned up and refused to conduct the interview as apparently a specific Recording device has to be used so they can have an unedited copy, which is proving hard to get hold of. Added to this they failed to turn up for two appointments Or send an information pack. Ombudsman? Any info would be greatfully received x
Click to expand...

the recording thing is policy.

it's shit, but that's the way they do things.

when they rebook the apointment, demand it is recorded by them. no guarantee, but this has on occasion made them give awards without needing an assessment
 
kalidarkone said:
My partner's brother has advanced ms and has an interview on Monday for PIP. He works from home, although is in the process of being made redundant by Hewlard Packard.
He wants to record the interview, they turned up and refused to conduct the interview as apparently a specific Recording device has to be used so they can have an unedited copy, which is proving hard to get hold of. Added to this they failed to turn up for two appointments Or send an information pack. Ombudsman? Any info would be greatfully received x
Click to expand...

As long as he has contacted them and let them know he wants his interview recorded, then they have to do their best to oblige. The "specific recording device" they use is a dual CD recorder, so that both parties have a copy of the interview (as happens in copshops). There seems to be very few of these machines allocated to each area, and I'm still awaiting a new appt for my ESA assessment after they borked up having a recorder on-site for my assessment. Basically, as long as you've requested it, and they've confirmed, they have to do it, especially if you can reasonably claim that memory issues are part of your impairment and/or a consequence of medication you take (so basically, if you take most analgesics, then!).
 
ViolentPanda said:
As long as he has contacted them and let them know he wants his interview recorded, then they have to do their best to oblige. The "specific recording device" they use is a dual CD recorder, so that both parties have a copy of the interview (as happens in copshops). There seems to be very few of these machines allocated to each area, and I'm still awaiting a new appt for my ESA assessment after they borked up having a recorder on-site for my assessment. Basically, as long as you've requested it, and they've confirmed, they have to do it, especially if you can reasonably claim that memory issues are part of your impairment and/or a consequence of medication you take (so basically, if you take most analgesics, then!).
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This is still accurate as far as I'm aware. Provided you've asked for recording in advance then they're supposed to provide it if at all possible. If they've confirmed your request then you shouldn't have to have the assessment without recording. They don't allow people to record assessments at their centres because they don't trust claimants not to edit them (ironic, considering they have a nasty habit of claiming and denying things when it suits them) and usually refuse to continue an assessment if you insist on recording it yourself.
 
Might I suggest you record it yourself as well regardless. The recording of my ESA assessment was corrupted and useless which was a real shame given the number of cock-ups, misrepresentations and misunderstandings the were in the report (I'm being charitable with that by not saying outright lies).

If they are bringing their own gear they can hardly complain about there being a third copy can they?
 
longdog said:
Might I suggest you record it yourself as well regardless. The recording of my ESA assessment was corrupted and useless which was a real shame given the number of cock-ups, misrepresentations and misunderstandings the were in the report (I'm being charitable with that by not saying outright lies). <snip>
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Not only record it, but it's also a good idea to have the person with you (for moral support etc) taking notes. Not just briefly noting what was said, but also the general demeanour and behaviour of the person conducting the assessment, including lateness, amount of time taken etc.
 
Oh, and don't forget that you will be observed from entering the building .......
......... a bit like job interviews. As I found out - I was asked my opinion of someone who being interviewed, from my observations of them when they were being shown around, including my domain, which I suppose would have been "OK" if I was doing all the conducted tours ! /not a derail but an associated observation.
 
I have phoned him to let him know that they should bring their own equipment. They have refused to do the interview unless recorded on the authorised device. My partner will be there making notes.
Thanks for the info! X
 
Greebo said:
Not only record it, but it's also a good idea to have the person with you (for moral support etc) taking notes. Not just briefly noting what was said, but also the general demeanour and behaviour of the person conducting the assessment, including lateness, amount of time taken etc.
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Indeed.

There have been some suggestions that the ATOS 'health care professionals' tend to scale back the general level of twuntitude if there's a witness.

Also, depending on the disability / health condition involved, being able (physically or psychologically) to get to the assessment independently is likely to be seen as an indicator of health.
 
longdog said:
Might I suggest you record it yourself as well regardless. The recording of my ESA assessment was corrupted and useless which was a real shame given the number of cock-ups, misrepresentations and misunderstandings the were in the report (I'm being charitable with that by not saying outright lies).

If they are bringing their own gear they can hardly complain about there being a third copy can they?
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I'll be taking my trusty Olympus digital dictaphone along, once ATOS actually get round to sending me a new appointment, the dicks.
 
Puddy_Tat said:
Indeed.

There have been some suggestions that the ATOS 'health care professionals' tend to scale back the general level of twuntitude if there's a witness.

Also, depending on the disability / health condition involved, being able (physically or psychologically) to get to the assessment independently is likely to be seen as an indicator of health.
Click to expand...

Although "independence" is a bit of a moveable feast. I got to my appt "independently", but that was independence assisted by Greebo, a minicab and a brace of walking sticks, the walking bits of which I covered slowly and painfully.
 
ViolentPanda said:
Although "independence" is a bit of a moveable feast. I got to my appt "independently", but that was independence assisted by Greebo, a minicab and a brace of walking sticks, the walking bits of which I covered slowly and painfully.
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indeed.

similarly, you may have bad days and days that are merely indifferent. ATOS and the like may not see things like that.

If the assessor asks what may seem like a casual question about how you got there, it's not a casual question...
 
always report answers as "worst case" with all complications - otherwise the twunts will assume best case at all times, which is intended to knock your claim back.
 
Puddy_Tat said:
indeed.

similarly, you may have bad days and days that are merely indifferent. ATOS and the like may not see things like that.

If the assessor asks what may seem like a casual question about how you got there, it's not a casual question...
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In the 15-ish years I've been "on the scrapheap", I've never taken any question an assessor asks as "casual" (having been a former bureaucrat myself, I was somewhat wise to their tactics, thank fuck!). Unfortunately, Greebo and I know quite a few people who do/did, at least in the first instance, and generally they paid for it through getting their claim knocked back. it's a hard lesson to learn, but people still give these functionaries the benefit of the doubt, and while they do, people will continue to get kebabed. :(
 
StoneRoad said:
always report answers as "worst case" with all complications - otherwise the twunts will assume best case at all times, which is intended to knock your claim back.
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When Greebo and I did my dad's Attendance Allowance claim for him, he asked why we were writing all the worst issues down as the most important ones, even when they were mostly intermittent, and we had to explain exactly that to him.
I'm fully expecting, at my ESA assessment, for them to call my faecal incontinence into question - i.e. how come I can turn up there not worrying about shitting myself? The answer to that being that I won't have eaten solids for about 24 hours beforehand, and even then I'll be carrying (as I do everywhere I go) a full change of clothes, some strong airtight plastic bags, and a pack of wet-wipes. They'll try and knock you down on anything and everything, so when filling out the forms, as when answering questions, we do always relay the worst case scenario. It's ridiculous and humiliating that we should have to, but the likes of Iain Dunked-in Shit doesn't give a fuck about humiliating us, and he never will, unless he's made to.
 
Puddy_Tat said:
Indeed.

There have been some suggestions that the ATOS 'health care professionals' tend to scale back the general level of twuntitude if there's a witness.

Also, depending on the disability / health condition involved, being able (physically or psychologically) to get to the assessment independently is likely to be seen as an indicator of health.
Click to expand...

They are coming to his house, which is better, they can see the stanna stair lift, see how he can hardly get to the front door to open it.
Will give him the heads up regarding continence....
 
Puddy_Tat said:
If the assessor asks what may seem like a casual question about how you got there, it's not a casual question...
Click to expand...

Yep... The medical report from my assessment made repeated cut-and-paste references (including in totally irrelevant sections) to the fact I know how to drive a car but can't afford one and own a bass guitar which I never play both of which were mentioned in passing. Apparently this was "careful questioning" which gave a picture of my "day to day activities" but quite how things I don't do give any picture of what I do do I have no idea. I'm glad I never mentioned the fact I used to be a pretty mean shot with a 12 bore or the silly cunt would probably have put it down as evidence in the section about bowel control.
 
Sounds like a stupid thing kalidarkone but make sure he isn't looking his best. If he's looking clean, tidy, presentable and in a good shirt and trousers, no matter what his health issues, then the effort he's made to look nice is used against him as evidence that he is capable of preparing himself for work. If he has ms he should be seen by an actual doctor rather than the 'healthcare professional' which could be anybody from a physio to a chiropractor, although I note that the DWP have 'revised' their own guidelines to remove this requirement (the fuckers).

If someone can take notes for him so much the better, there is evidence to suggest that assessors behave better if an independent note-taker is present during the assessment.

As others have said, make sure he knows to give his answers based on his worst day, and avoid saying 'it depend' wherever possible.
 
kalidarkone said:
They are coming to his house, which is better, they can see the stanna stair lift, see how he can hardly get to the front door to open it.
Will give him the heads up regarding continence....
Click to expand...
And make sure the house is not spotless and completely tidy (would I be very :hmm: bad by suggesting a borrowed but hidden used / full cat litter tray for added aroma :hmm: !) - in the same way of thought as EG was explaining about his personal presentation !
 
StoneRoad said:
And make sure the house is not spotless and completely tidy (would I be very :hmm: bad by suggesting a borrowed but hidden used / full cat litter tray for added aroma :hmm: !) - in the same way of thought as EG was explaining about his personal presentation !
Click to expand...
Can't hurt :D
 
Remember above all that this person is not your friend, not matter how nice they appear to be.
 
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