equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
I think that's unlikely to be honest.
Atos Medicals - Questions, Answers and Support
- Thread starter Zabo
- Start date
I think that's unlikely to be honest.
I reckon equationgirl's right that's quite unlikely - The ones who answer the phones aren't the ones who do your assessment.
panpete if you're still worried about the phoning up, is there anyone you could get to phone on your behalf? And make it known at the assessment & also on your ESA50 that you're having to get someone to phone for you etc & that, coupled with all the other stress involved has excaserbated your condition?
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
On the phone last week, got told everything was sorted, JSA claim shut down, ESA claim set up, backdated pay would be in the bank by Monday. It was & all the ESA paperwork came through the post today 
Mind you, it took long enough & they haven't said when I'm due for my next review - Is that normal about the review? On Incap they always gave me a date when I'd next be up for a PCA, do they not do that with ESA, can they just have me in on a whim?
Mind you, it took long enough & they haven't said when I'm due for my next review - Is that normal about the review? On Incap they always gave me a date when I'd next be up for a PCA, do they not do that with ESA, can they just have me in on a whim?
On the phone last week, got told everything was sorted, JSA claim shut down, ESA claim set up, backdated pay would be in the bank by Monday. It was & all the ESA paperwork came through the post today
Yay!
One victory at a time!
WouldBe
Dislicksick
On p2 or 3 of the form it asks about special requirements, put on there "The assessment will be recorded". The Atosser is supposed to read the form before you are assessed so there is no chance of the message not being passed on.
Just in case the Atosser can't be arsed to read your form take a dictaphone along with you and record it yourself.
Last time I did this ATOS refused to do the assessment so the DWP based their decision on my previous assessment, which is alright as long as your previous assessment went in your favour.
WouldBe
Dislicksick
It will probably go against you. Althought the assessor may not know the contents of the phone calls they may have a record that you phoned x times over y days and this will be assumed that you can use the phone.
If you can't get anyone to make the phone calls for you then get a cheap dictaphone and a telephone adaptor and record the calls yourself. If the Atossers then use your calls against you, you then have the proof to use against them when you do them for fraud by misrepresentation.
WouldBe
Dislicksick
Have a word with a solicitor. I think this amounts to harassment. How the hell they think your medical condition can change that fast is beyond a joke.The dreaded Atos brown envelope has landed. Against the set two year limit recommended by the Tribunal Service at my last appeal, I'm being re-assessed for the third time. This, after less than a year. I despair.
audiotech
wav, aiff, mp3, ogg, flac
Have a word with a solicitor. I think this amounts to harassment. How the hell they think your medical condition can change that fast is beyond a joke.
Tell me about it amd my medical condition has worsened. I've written to Atos and meanwhile been in touch with my MP yet again. Also, both the Equality and Human Rights Commission and Job Centre Plus. The former advised that "reasonable adjustment" could be expected here. The latter, after going through notes said that the 24 months limit set by the tribunal hadn't been recorded. This, when I specifically asked the decision maker 12 months ago to do just that, who assured me then she had. They've said they will email the Benefits Agency to check the 24 months and notify me in writing. What's the odds of putting me through the wringer further?
WouldBe
Dislicksick
Well something in my last letter has worked in my favour. Not sure if it's using the DWP work psychologist report to back my claim or the " more depressed, more suicidal, losing the will to live" closing line.
I phoned DWP yesterday to check if they had received my letter and they had.
1. Decision maker had accepted my reason for ESA form to be late.
Normally you have to go through a cab etc to get them to change their mind.
2. I was told someone would call me back today between 9 and 1. I was called back within an hour. Normally they phone you back late or don't bother calling back at all.
3. I was told my ESA claim had been re-opened and as soon as the computer glitch was sorted out they would make an immediate payment for the missing 2 weeks money into my account. Normally they just wait until your next due date and stick it all into your account in 1 go.
Hopefully the tide is turning but I won't be holding my breath.
I phoned DWP yesterday to check if they had received my letter and they had.
1. Decision maker had accepted my reason for ESA form to be late.
Normally you have to go through a cab etc to get them to change their mind.2. I was told someone would call me back today between 9 and 1. I was called back within an hour.
Normally they phone you back late or don't bother calling back at all.3. I was told my ESA claim had been re-opened and as soon as the computer glitch was sorted out they would make an immediate payment for the missing 2 weeks money into my account.
Normally they just wait until your next due date and stick it all into your account in 1 go.Hopefully the tide is turning but I won't be holding my breath.
spirals
Something uber witty here.
FFS! I could cry
Update to this;
I sent them the marriage certificate and 10 days later phoned to check they had got it and were processing my form ok. "Oh no Mrs Spirals we haven't recieved a copy of a marriage certificate and we don't have a DLA renewal claim form from you either!" Spoke to 3 different people where they acknowledged they must of had my form to phone me about it being filled in under a different surname. 2 hrs later they phone me back and have managed to find both missing pieces of paperwork and today I heard that it's higher rate of both care and mobility for 3 years! Thank you so much ViolentPanda for your help
<snip>2 hrs later they phone me back and have managed to find both missing pieces of paperwork and today I heard that it's higher rate of both care and mobility for 3 years! Thank you so much ViolentPanda for your help
At last! 3 years at the higher rate too - that might make things a bit easier for you and mr spirals.
BTW well done for persisting with the calls and paperwork - it really is worth it in the end.
ViolentPanda
Hardly getting over it.
Update to this;
I sent them the marriage certificate and 10 days later phoned to check they had got it and were processing my form ok. "Oh no Mrs Spirals we haven't recieved a copy of a marriage certificate and we don't have a DLA renewal claim form from you either!" Spoke to 3 different people where they acknowledged they must of had my form to phone me about it being filled in under a different surname. 2 hrs later they phone me back and have managed to find both missing pieces of paperwork and today I heard that it's higher rate of both care and mobility for 3 years! Thank you so much ViolentPanda for your help
Fantastic!!
I'm absolutely chuffed for you!!! That's a couple of years where you won't have to worry about the bastards!! 
spirals
Something uber witty here.
When I spoke to them and they said they'd lost everything I told mr S that I was done with it all and couldn't cope with the stress of going through it all but I'm so glad that I didn't quit. It's an odd feeling though, it's yay we can breathe easy for a bit and meh because it reaffirms that I'm still not well and it sucks to need DLA.At last! 3 years at the higher rate too - that might make things a bit easier for you and mr spirals.
BTW well done for persisting with the calls and paperwork - it really is worth it in the end.
VP got that too. With any luck, less stress plus a bit more money might improve your chances of recovering, or at least make your bad days fewer and more bearable.
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
geminisnake
a complex mass of conflicting ideas
I have had to stop watching that before I get really annoyed!!!
Minnie_the_Minx
someinenhhanding menbag and me ah bollox
The dreaded Atos brown envelope has landed. Against the set two year limit recommended by the Tribunal Service at my last appeal, I'm being re-assessed for the third time. This, after less than a year. I despair.
That's just
Minnie_the_Minx
someinenhhanding menbag and me ah bollox
On the phone last week, got told everything was sorted, JSA claim shut down, ESA claim set up, backdated pay would be in the bank by Monday. It was & all the ESA paperwork came through the post today
Mind you, it took long enough & they haven't said when I'm due for my next review - Is that normal about the review? On Incap they always gave me a date when I'd next be up for a PCA, do they not do that with ESA, can they just have me in on a whim?
They didn't with the one I did. I had to ring them up and ask and they sent form back stating they didn't expect himself to be fit for work for at least 2 years, so I'm guessing I'll get another form before then. If it's not the ESA one, no doubt I'll get DLA one before then
Minnie_the_Minx
someinenhhanding menbag and me ah bollox
Update to this;
I sent them the marriage certificate and 10 days later phoned to check they had got it and were processing my form ok. "Oh no Mrs Spirals we haven't recieved a copy of a marriage certificate and we don't have a DLA renewal claim form from you either!" Spoke to 3 different people where they acknowledged they must of had my form to phone me about it being filled in under a different surname. 2 hrs later they phone me back and have managed to find both missing pieces of paperwork and today I heard that it's higher rate of both care and mobility for 3 years! Thank you so much ViolentPanda for your help
Congratulations spirals. Must be a huge relief
Libertad
Sparking up a rollie in the Reichstag
My wife, who is my "carer", had a phone call from the DWP about our claim for DLA this morning. The caller informed her that because the DLA form didn't have a "return by" date on it they would only pay from the date they received the form which was in April.
The form was given to me by the Job Centre before I started chemo last September. I've been so ill that we didn't return the form until April though we made it clear that I was ill even before I started chemo.
The lack of a "return by" date was not down to us, that was a mistake made by the issuing Job Centre. Do you think we would have grounds for appeal in asking for our claim to be backdated till the beginning of chemotherapy treatment?
The form was given to me by the Job Centre before I started chemo last September. I've been so ill that we didn't return the form until April though we made it clear that I was ill even before I started chemo.
The lack of a "return by" date was not down to us, that was a mistake made by the issuing Job Centre. Do you think we would have grounds for appeal in asking for our claim to be backdated till the beginning of chemotherapy treatment?
panpete
Blokes name, birds body.
I know precious little, but will give my opinion fwiw.
First of all, sorry you have to go through this horrible process.
Reading your post made it hit home how sadistic these people are.
I think you should be able to appeal. It was their error. You were too ill to even fill it out.
"The caller informed her that because the DLA form didn't have a "return by" date on it they would only pay from the date they received the form which was in April".
I would be getting myself to (or phoning if unwell) the CAB and ask their advice. They are great.
Oh, and I would get your doctor/consultant involved too.
Best of luck and hope someone else is more help.
Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
I can't see that it would do you any harm to claim backdating, I mean it's not going to lose you money even if they say no.
Having said that, anything other than the standard form (and sometimes even then) is best handled with some experienced advice - CAB, local welfare rights unit, any other support organisation you've got on side.
According to this, ESA can be backdated for a maximum of 3 months.
It may also be worth claiming backdating on any other benefits that you'd have been entitled to (or entitled to more than you were getting) e.g. housing / council tax benefit. Again, experienced help is useful here.
Similar threads
- Poll
