Atos Medicals - Questions, Answers and Support
- Thread starter Zabo
- Start date
It's neither a good nor bad sign - the LIMA software has limited phrases which sort of automatically fill in as the person types. Hence such delights as "a mild amputation". Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.Im not sure if im posting this in the right place but here goes... i went for my first ESA atos medical today. Ive done a bit of research online and im quite concerned because my 'healthcare professional' sat typing loads and loads into his computer, but i thought it was all check box type things? would ths be a good or bad sign? anyone know? i am totally stressing over the decision that will be madeany help would be very much appreciated x
It's a fudge - that person typing makes the decision, but officially it's passed up the chain through ATOS to the DWP and they rubber stamp it.
If you request that the decision is reviewed or appealed, that's when the DWP have to take anything your doctor wrote + what you filled in on the form into account.
Puddy_Tat
happy mew year
so who makes the decision? the guy i saw said he didnt, and that the medical combined with info from my doctor is looked at by the dwp? sorry im new to all this and really confused.
someone will come along and explain in more detail soon, but my understanding is that the ATOS person effectively writes a report (or the technological equivalent of doing so) which goes to DWP.
ATOS themselves do not make a decision on whether someone is entitled to benefits, that's still DWP's job, and is done by a "decision maker" at DWP.
This may be worth a read if you haven't already,
Minnie_the_Minx
someinenhhanding menbag and me ah bollox
Although ATOS would claim they don't make the decision, they just do the assessment. However, it's what they type in or tick that influences the decision (I would think), so if you say you go to the shop occasionally, they'll fill it in to make out you're perfectly able to get out and about
I think anyway, thinking about them makes my brain go numb
What Puddy said may be more accurate
Puddy_Tat
happy mew year
In answer to the first part, regret it can be a damn sight longer than that.
The aforementioned friend - medical was 9 January, letter saying he was in the 'support group' arrived 28 February.
As for the second bit, I am sure they will tell you. I'm not sufficiently expert to say what your next steps are pending an appeal if they do say no.
Minnie_the_Minx
someinenhhanding menbag and me ah bollox
Are you subscribed to the Benefits and Work website? It's well worth the subscription, although if you can't afford it, there's plenty on here with lots of good advice
No they'll tell you first - About 3 weeks sounds right, that's how long it took for me - If you do get kicked off you'll get a letter telling you when your last payment is going to be - it's paid fortnightly in arrears, so that gives you a bit of leeway.
Hope it goes your way though
If you do get latered off you can claim ESA for the duration of your appeal at the lower rate (£71 pw) if you get a sicknote from your doc - I strongly advise you to do this. Hope you don't get kicked off though.
Bakunin
I am Noodle's bitch.
So were a lot of us, when we were where you are now. The unwritten rule of urban is "pass it on".thanks guys, it looks like ive got an uphill struggle whichever way it goes
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
Please try not to stress. This thread and posters on it are here to support you through the process.thanks guys, it looks like ive got an uphill struggle whichever way it goes
Libertad
Sparking up a rollie in the Reichstag
RIP mate, we'll keep slamming the bastards for you
Yes, yes we will. Very sorry to hear about your friend belboid.
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
Also, although the healthcare person typed a lot into the computer, the LIMA software will disregard the text when the automatic report is generated. Do not worry about this. Reports I have seen are usually so atrocious that it is clear they are a work of fiction. Whilst the report is computer-generated, it still relies on menu choices made by the assessor.Im not sure if im posting this in the right place but here goes... i went for my first ESA atos medical today. Ive done a bit of research online and im quite concerned because my 'healthcare professional' sat typing loads and loads into his computer, but i thought it was all check box type things? would ths be a good or bad sign? anyone know? i am totally stressing over the decision that will be made
Hang in there. Once you have a decision, no matter what it is, ask for a copy of the report generated by the assessor and the complete score breakdown of your allocated score.
I have my Atos medical next week and am absolutely terrified. I suffer from various phobias, including agoraphobia and claustrophobia, therefore rarely go out of the house. I have arranged for a friend to take me to the assessment, and will medicate myself in advance, just to get there. Although I wrote on the form that I need to be near an exit and have problems with stairs, corridors, rooms with no windows etc, I'm worried that they will ignore all that and tell me that I will have to deal with exactly that, or lose my benefit. I had a "medical" there some years ago, when I wasn't quite as bad. When told I needed to go upstairs or lose my benefit, I over medicated to get up there, had a horrific experience and was ill for 3 days. If they do this to me again, I will certainly try to go up, but my question is, if I have a panic attack and don't get up there, am I within my rights to ask them to re-schedule another appointment somewhere on ground level, near an exit, or do I immediately score no points and have to appeal? I am worried sick about this issue. I apologize if I've posted this in the wrong place.
Minnie_the_Minx
someinenhhanding menbag and me ah bollox
hm, tough one. I'd be tempted to say don't medicate as it'll show how panicked you are, but then if that's going to prevent you getting to the assessment...
pat1968 get your friend prepared to state firmly but politely on your behalf if need be, that there's no way on earth that you can get to the room because you will have a panic attack (or are already having one).
Don't overmedicate, dosages are set for a reason, and IMHO it's better for any assessor or potential witness (recepionist, security guard etc) to see your unmasked symptoms as they are, or at least when you're only on your everyday dosage.
Puddy_Tat
happy mew year
If you are too ill on the day to go the ATOS medical, then you will not automatically get your benefits stopped, but you will need to make contact and let them know what's happening and then get a doctors note to support that you were too ill to attend.
(friend I referred to above did have to cancel one appointment, and got a doctors note - just got re-scheduled.)
I'm not sure what the position would be if you were taken ill while you're actually on the premises.
Definitely worth having a friend take you there -you will be asked how you got there, and the fact you were not in a position to get there on your own is highly relevant.
you are allowed to have that friend come in to the 'medical' with you (it's not the sort of medical that involves taking any clothes off), and friend can prompt you (e.g. I remembered one or two incidents that friend had that he didn't mention.) I didn't actually make notes while I was there but did jot a few things down afterwards.
Bear in mind that one or two of what appear to be polite, conversational questions are actually part of the assessment - e.g. the 'how did you get here?' / 'did you have any difficulty finding us', and 'what would you have done if we'd rung up first thing this morning to postpone?' is another (for the latter, most people would be very British about it and make non committal noises. If it would cause you either considerable distress, or great difficulty arranging alternative transport another day then damn well say so.)
And in your circumstances, I'd wonder if you'd be better off requesting a home assessment?
This is a difficult one - I can't see them telling (say) a wheelchair user that s/he'd have to go to an upstairs room in a building without a lift or lose their benefit. The system in general isn't so good at dealing with mental health things, but I'd question whether your previous experience complied with equalities legislation in terms of 'reasonable adjustments'
Do you have any support worker / support organisation on side? They will have experience of the whole ESA thing.
Hope all goes well.
Very good points made here. ^
Thank you for the replies to my post.
Other than my GP, I have no support worker or organisation on side presently. I have had various in the past, but only during courses of therapy. Once the courses are over, they pretty much let you get on with things by yourself. In my case, I revert back to dealing with things the way I know best, i.e. not very well. I have an appointment with my GP before my medical regarding all this plus advice on medication. I have asked my friend to speak on my behalf if need be. I didn't know I could have a home assessment, but I have requested for the assessment to be recorded.
Other than my GP, I have no support worker or organisation on side presently. I have had various in the past, but only during courses of therapy. Once the courses are over, they pretty much let you get on with things by yourself. In my case, I revert back to dealing with things the way I know best, i.e. not very well. I have an appointment with my GP before my medical regarding all this plus advice on medication. I have asked my friend to speak on my behalf if need be. I didn't know I could have a home assessment, but I have requested for the assessment to be recorded.
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
Call them on Monday as early as you are able to and make sure that your request for an assessment has been received.
Also, echoing what the others have said if you find that you are not well enough and reschedule it, you could always ask for a home assessment then and you can request the assessment is recorded.
Best of luck for assessment. In some ways, although I would not wish this on you, if you had a panic attack in front of them perhaps they would start to understand what you have to cope with.
Minnie_the_Minx
someinenhhanding menbag and me ah bollox
Would like to say that's true, but unfortunately I've read of people collapsing at assessments and there's been little sympathy
Not really what you want to here Pat, but best to know
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
Even if they are not sympathetic, they would see that the problem is real.Would like to say that's true, but unfortunately I've read of people collapsing at assessments and there's been little sympathy
Not really what you want to here Pat, but best to know
Just do your best, Pat, it's all you can do.
WouldBe
Dislicksick
1. Make sure you secretly record the assessment. Point out for the benefit of the recording what has happened to your friend.Would like to say that's true, but unfortunately I've read of people collapsing at assessments and there's been little sympathy
Not really what you want to here Pat, but best to know
2. Call an ambulance. DWP will have a hard job dismissing the ambulance report if ATOS fail to mention it.
Puddy_Tat
happy mew year
Pat, the very best of luck to you. I've not had to go through the hell of ATOS but I've read this thread and can tell you what will happen:
You will have your assessment and ATOS will pass you fit for work. They will lie, they will fabricate, they will 'forget' the recording equipment or it will be broken, etc. You will then appeal, the DWP will pretend to lose your paperwork, but as long as you persist, you will eventually get a fair hearing. So chin up and make sure you have at least two copies of everything.
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