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Atos Medicals - Questions, Answers and Support

I've got post again. It's still referring to my 365 days running out (several months ago!). I'm actually waiting for a decision after my recent medical and in theory I should ring them to clarify that this isn't it but I don't trust that I'll get a correct answer (due to previous experience of being told nonsense).

Stupid bollocks.


Sorry, just venting. Carry on. :oops:
 
Bakunin said:
As my esteemed fellow poster and bit of posh Toggle will no doubt tell you, I absolutely hate having to list all the bits of me that don't work properly and the mental aspects of that are particularly upsetting because its a never-ending list of reminders of exactly why I don't and can't fit in with normal people.
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Yep. When Greebo and I did my dad's Attendance Allowance form for him, we had to warn him about it. He ended up being pretty down for a week or so, before he managed to get a handle on it.
 
wtfftw said:
I've got post again. It's still referring to my 365 days running out (several months ago!). I'm actually waiting for a decision after my recent medical and in theory I should ring them to clarify that this isn't it but I don't trust that I'll get a correct answer (due to previous experience of being told nonsense).

Stupid bollocks.


Sorry, just venting. Carry on. :oops:
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Is ESA only supposed to last for 365 days then?
What happens when it is up?
 
kittyP said:
Is ESA only supposed to last for 365 days then?
What happens when it is up?
Click to expand...
Contributions ESA is limited to 365 days and then becomes income assessed or just NI credits. I think the support group doesn't have the 365 days restriction.
 
WouldBe said:
* It's code for someone who was in the scouts or girl guides and got a first aid badge. :eek:. :(
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*punches air* In that case I'm overqualified to assess the whole damn lot of you - certificated and lasped Red Cross, ditto St John's Ambulance, plus (mostly) self-taught aromatherapy, massage, herbal medicine, and immunology.

Not that I would; apart from the ethical side of it, the pay's too low to be worth it.
 
Greebo said:
*punches air* In that case I'm overqualified to assess the whole damn lot of you - certificated and lasped Red Cross, ditto St John's Ambulance, plus (mostly) self-taught aromatherapy, massage, herbal medicine, and immunology.

Not that I would; apart from the ethical side of it, the pay's too low to be worth it.
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I have advanced first aid and am trained as a life guard if that helps? :D
 
toggle said:
congratz.

although it seems horrible to congratulate someone for having to go to appeal to get what they should have been entitled to at the start.
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Thank you toggle. It has not been easy surviving on the reduced rate, especially when having to pay for public transport & taxi's to get to hospital appointments etc. There has been many times I have gone without food thanks to this mess.

equationgirl said:
I am pleased you got there in the end Mindles$. Don't forget about backpay! :)
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Thank You. haha yes the backpay....Apparantly it is re-paid within a month but they first send a letter which tell's you how much it is they owe.

I haven't received this letter or had my full allowance restored:mad: I am too drained to chase them for it in all honesty. I assume they will hold onto it as long as possible to accrue maximum interest. Bah! My back-dated money is going to be spent on getting a car, I hate public transport with a passion!

kittyP said:
Great stuffs :)
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Indeed. Although this entire ordeal has not done my mental health any good at all.
 
Hello I am new here. Today I had my letter to go for Atos interview in May. I have to admit that I am really scared. My story, in 2010, i went through a horrific trauma, it happened when my daughter died, and there was negligence in the hospital. This caused me to have severe chronic PTSD. By October 12, I had to give up work. The nightmares, flashbacks, constant triggers, as well as a delay in my cognitive processing meant that work was impossible.

Anyway - it was only in March/April 2013, that I started to get a connection to the outside world. News reports, I realised that there had been a change of Government. My background was always working with vulnerable people. I worked with homeless people, all of my working life. I feel that i have woken up in an alien, and different world, which I cannot relate to. I feel freaked out and disturbed by what I am reading. After 3 years pretty much walking and talking and being in a coma. Today I got the letter and their leaflet.

I don't know if I will cope at all, with atos assessment. I am suffering with severe chronic ptsd, and am only just realising that the outside world exists. But it isn't the one that I left in 2009.....its a world with foodbanks? Attacks on the poor, and from what I can see a move towards the poor law in 19th Century England. I have sat still for hours today. Too scared to move. What will happen next?

What happens, if you really wouldn't cope with an atos interview, if it would really worsen your mental health, what do they do then? I have been on it for 6 months (ESA) contribution based. I always paid insurance and taxes. I am signed off sick by a GP. I didn't realise I was paying that vast amount of money each month (in tax and nat insurance) for no cover? .... can anyone tell me, what do they do, if to attend an interview would adversly affect your mental health? My PTSD is caused by medical negligence, so I really can struggle in a medical situation. Already I am trying to recover, and deal with changes in my world. Wanting to go back to 2009 when the world was different - which was where i last connected to the outside world. I would really appreciate it if anyone can help me? Thanks :)
 
positiva said:
Hello I am new here. Today I had my letter to go for Atos interview in May. I have to admit that I am really scared. My story, in 2010, i went through a horrific trauma, it happened when my daughter died, and there was negligence in the hospital. This caused me to have severe chronic PTSD. By October 12, I had to give up work. The nightmares, flashbacks, constant triggers, as well as a delay in my cognitive processing meant that work was impossible.

Anyway - it was only in March/April 2013, that I started to get a connection to the outside world. News reports, I realised that there had been a change of Government. My background was always working with vulnerable people. I worked with homeless people, all of my working life. I feel that i have woken up in an alien, and different world, which I cannot relate to. I feel freaked out and disturbed by what I am reading. After 3 years pretty much walking and talking and being in a coma. Today I got the letter and their leaflet.

I don't know if I will cope at all, with atos assessment. I am suffering with severe chronic ptsd, and am only just realising that the outside world exists. But it isn't the one that I left in 2009.....its a world with foodbanks? Attacks on the poor, and from what I can see a move towards the poor law in 19th Century England. I have sat still for hours today. Too scared to move. What will happen next?

What happens, if you really wouldn't cope with an atos interview, if it would really worsen your mental health, what do they do then? I have been on it for 6 months (ESA) contribution based. I always paid insurance and taxes. I am signed off sick by a GP. I didn't realise I was paying that vast amount of money each month (in tax and nat insurance) for no cover? .... can anyone tell me, what do they do, if to attend an interview would adversly affect your mental health? My PTSD is caused by medical negligence, so I really can struggle in a medical situation. Already I am trying to recover, and deal with changes in my world. Wanting to go back to 2009 when the world was different - which was where i last connected to the outside world. I would really appreciate it if anyone can help me? Thanks :)
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More than likely you will have to go to an ATOS interview. Get someone to accompany you if at all possible - Be prepared to fail your initial test - Appeal though, it'll tek 6 months probably though - In the meantime get a sicknote off your GP and claim ESA at the appeal rate.

All the best, kid. Appeal though, I can't stress how important it is not to give up hope - The appeal proccess works. Stay strong XXXX
 
Christ Positiva, that sounds grim as Hell

Re: Attending assessments. There's no getting out of it, but I think you can arrange to be assessed in your own home if it makes the process easier.

Would that be any help?

Not much else to offer, I'm afraid, except my best wishes for your continued recovery.
 
I had thought of that, being assessed in my home. The tricky thing is that because i am only just 'waking up' it could really freak me out. And likely would. As in my mind, things are the same as they were in 2009... am only just - seeing differences. And it is really frightening.

I have serious chronic PTSD - not had mental health before, its all trauma related. I have to go really careful in medical situations. As it can re-trigger me. Depending what it is and the situation. If that happens, I disassociate. I don't really leave the house anymore. If I do, someone comes with me.

I am seeing my GP on Monday. I would imagine that she would say that no way, right now, should I be attending an interview, from what i have read, they seem to have no care for the welfare of people. Considering my daughter is dead, and I have spent 3 years of my life traumatised and in shock - (it was really bad, for a while, I could see someone's lips move but couldn't process sound, tomorrow was a white space, there was nothing but right now, when triggered felt a gaping hole in my stomach, nightmares, insomnia, flashbacks etc)....

So, NHS are aware, that any medical intervention, has to be step by step with me, as I am in recovery and it could damage my recovery. I guess they don't care about that? ....

Has anyone sued Atos yet for personal injury damages?
 
positiva First, don't panic. You can request a home assessment. Give the number on the letter a call on Monday to arrange this. Make sure you have someone with you even if it's a home assessment.

Best of luck, we are here if you need us.

UhOhSeven I recommend you read the thread all through way through rather than jumping it at this point, especially if you are not sure what people can ask of the Atos process. The aim is to give consistent advice and you saying 'I think you can ask for X' dilutes this somewhat.
 
positiva said:
I had thought of that, being assessed in my home. The tricky thing is that because i am only just 'waking up' it could really freak me out. And likely would. As in my mind, things are the same as they were in 2009... am only just - seeing differences. And it is really frightening.

I have serious chronic PTSD - not had mental health before, its all trauma related. I have to go really careful in medical situations. As it can re-trigger me. Depending what it is and the situation. If that happens, I disassociate. I don't really leave the house anymore. If I do, someone comes with me.

I am seeing my GP on Monday. I would imagine that she would say that no way, right now, should I be attending an interview, from what i have read, they seem to have no care for the welfare of people. Considering my daughter is dead, and I have spent 3 years of my life traumatised and in shock - (it was really bad, for a while, I could see someone's lips move but couldn't process sound, tomorrow was a white space, there was nothing but right now, when triggered felt a gaping hole in my stomach, nightmares, insomnia, flashbacks etc)....

So, NHS are aware, that any medical intervention, has to be step by step with me, as I am in recovery and it could damage my recovery. I guess they don't care about that? ....

Has anyone sued Atos yet for personal injury damages?
Click to expand...
Not to my knowledge. But I'm sure it won't be too long before there is a claim. Your GP can write a letter to Atos and send it in, if you haven't done so already. Are you under the care of a consultant? You can ask them to write a letter too, if they haven't already done so.
 
Thank you!! Have been really worried about it. Point is to me, if I wasn't sick, I would be at work. Am not at work, as I can't at the moment.

I am surprised more people haven't served personal injury claims on atos for damage caused to their health. If people did this (you can get no win no fee)... well, they would have to change their shoddy bullying practices at least!
 
Libertad thanks for that link, the case centres around 'reasonable adjustments'.

positiva in your case, going by what you have posted, one reasonable adjustment might be a home assessment. Can you have a think about any others that might be made in order to make it easier for you to attend an assessment?
 
I won my appeal today against being put into ESA Work Related Activity Group last August, which has required attending fortnightly interviews at the Job Centre in addition to the threat of being forced to attend a mandatory scheme. I was lucky to have a very sympathetic job centre advisor who guided me through the appeals procedure. However, I'm up for another Atos review in february and no doubt will have to go through the whole hassle again.
 
RedDragon said:
I won my appeal today against being put into ESA Work Related Activity Group last August, which has required attending fortnightly interviews at the Job Centre in addition to the threat of being forced to attend a mandatory scheme. I was lucky to have a very sympathetic job centre advisor who guided me through the appeals procedure. However, I'm up for another Atos review in february and no doubt will have to go through the whole hassle again.
Click to expand...

Well done on getting through the process :)
 
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