As an aside though, if you've got someone in with you in your assesment - That person is allowed to take notes? Without asking prior permission? Is that definite?
Atos Medicals - Questions, Answers and Support
- Thread starter Zabo
- Start date
Yes. They're definitely allowed to do so, although it's a social nicety that they'll at least tell the assessor on the day that they'll be taking notes. Anything about "you've got to ask for my permission" is IMHO bullying tactics, and no more than that.
Thanks - Just for future reference.
The reason is that note taking is a reasonable adjustment (under the DDA) for anyone whose memory or ability to think straight under pressure might be impaired - I'd expect that to be most people.
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
They don't have enough machines to have one per assessment centre, let alone one working per assessment centre. Even if recording is requested in advance, people have reported turning up on the day to find that hasn't been communicated to the centre, or the allocated machine isn't working, and that they can insist on a recording but the assessment will have to be rescheduled (and this will make things worse for the claimant has been implied by some).
If anyone's in doubt as to how much worse rescheduling can make some people who have to go through the assessment, I'll give a concrete example of what exertion and stress on one day followed by more of the same the next day can do.
Most of you are aware of how ViolentPanda posts here - he usually sounds mentally sharp enough, doesn't he? He had exams at home on two consecutive days, adequate revision was done for both, more or less identical exam conditions for both. He got a high mark for the first, but failed the second. The only difference was that on the second day he was already relapsing because of the exam the day before.
Physical exertion and greater stress from a so-called medical (let's call it what it is - an ordeal which pushes the legal limits of what is permissible to do to a long term sick and/or disabled person) is likely to have far worse and noticeable effects on people who go through it. The journey to the centre and the associated stress can be more than bad enough without having to do so again.
kittyP
Pluviophile
Still not heard anything from ATOS but my ESA didn't come through this week.
I have had a million appointments (obviously that is an exaggeration) this week and have been too stressed to cope with phoning them.
I am worried that ATOS have allegedly contacted me about an assessment, I have not received it and they have stopped my ESA
I know I have to phone them on Monday but just needed to vent.
This is all soooo fucking stressful!
I have had a million appointments (obviously that is an exaggeration) this week and have been too stressed to cope with phoning them.
I am worried that ATOS have allegedly contacted me about an assessment, I have not received it and they have stopped my ESA
I know I have to phone them on Monday but just needed to vent.
This is all soooo fucking stressful!
Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
It's also worth bearing in mind (I'm pretty sure I've said this before, but worth adding for the context) that one of the questions you get asked at the 'medical' is how you'd have reacted if they had rung up that morning to re-schedule it.
They expect you to be very british and polite about it, but it's really a trick question that's part of the assessment (i.e. the 'being able to cope with being pissed about' factor.) Absolutely nothing that the Atos 'medical professional' says is 'polite conversation'.
I'm glad that you mentioned that, because it means that in my capacity as carer, the gloves can be well and truly removed. No sticking to taking notes and biting my tongue.
Still not heard anything from ATOS but my ESA didn't come through this week.
I have had a million appointments (obviously that is an exaggeration) this week and have been too stressed to cope with phoning them.
I am worried that ATOS have allegedly contacted me about an assessment, I have not received it and they have stopped my ESA
I know I have to phone them on Monday but just needed to vent.
This is all soooo fucking stressful!
You do need to deal with this ASAP. The last thing I want to do is peck your head but you do need to find out what's going on sooner rather than later. Is there any way Badgers could phone for you - If someone else has all your details they can ring on your behalf. Though I'd rather bell them myself, me if at all possible.
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
Actually, I meant that the claimant's wish to reschedule has been implied by ATOS to be a very bad thing and could negatively impact their claim.
kittyP
Pluviophile
I will get Badgers to call them on Monday. It is a joint ESA claim so it is fine for him to call.
Yeah, I'll endorse that - Some people seem to think "If I phone them on the morning of the assessment and say Oh shit I'm having a panic attack even as we speak on the bus on the way down, I'm gonna have to cancel", that'll somehow be taken down and used in their favour as evidence of their illness. It won't. And, if you do that, don't assume you'll keep getting paid in the interim between the appointment you cancelled and the rescheduled appointment. You should do, but you might not, it may throw things into a temporary flux or whatever.
audiotech
wav, aiff, mp3, ogg, flac
Had a enjoyable visit to A&E today, Around four hours wait and treated like a leper, as I desperately needed a muscle relaxant for the muscle that decided to go into spasm, with the excruciating pain that goes along with it. They must think excruciating back pain and waiting around for four hours in A&E is the NHS equivalent of 'happy hour', but with three extra hours on top and no alcohol. One Doctor greeted me with: "Do you visit A&E whenever you have back pain?". I replied: "No this is the first times, it's normally iritis when I rush to A&E, as I'm at risk of losing my eyesight." I thought of saying out loudly: "Anything else to add you arrogant prick." but decided against it. The ward sister wasn't much gracious either when I asked the dosage of the one pill she handed me? "There the same" came the curt reply. I'm no pharmacist, but even I know that to be utter bollocks. The governments "managed consent" and "demonetisation" of the sick and disabled has crawled its way into the medical profession now it seems. "Chav" syndrome perhaps?
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
I find they really don't like expert patients - those of us that are well informed about our conditions. I know that about once every five or six years I get a really bad infection and need to have IV antibiotics. But my condition doesn't present like the normal textbook case of a kidney infection and most doctors refuse to believe that I have an infection because the textbook evidence isn't there.
Libertad
Sparking up a rollie in the Reichstag
Very true, it intimidates them.
audiotech
wav, aiff, mp3, ogg, flac
The annoying thing is they had a supply of muscle relaxants on hand and I managed to prise two of the lowest dosage out of their hands, but the pharmacist was shut and they knew that, so I'm having a very painful evening, which if I get some sleep tonight, tomorrow morning is very likely to be hard-work getting to the pharmacist at the hospital when it opens.
Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
Not convinced.
Having said that, if you do fail to attend a 'medical' you will need to get a note from your GP (or hospital, if you've been admitted to hospital) pretty damn quick to avoid having your benefit stopped for failing to attend.
ETA - having said that, I doubt that it will score any extra points for being ill if you do fail to attend one appointment because you're too ill...
audiotech
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Having to repeat myself, I have written to Atos, my MP and spoken to someone who represents the DWP. Atos and my MP have yet to reply. The DWP said they would check with the Benefits Agency to confirm as to whether the 24 months recommended by the Tribunal Service not to be reassessed within this time limit stands, or not? I requested the DWP to confirm this in writing (I hold the original, Atos have a copy), The DWP have also not as yet replied.
So, I've approached three representative bodies, three weeks ago and none have had the common courtesy to reply to my concerns. I have in the back of my mind that this is a ruse to have my benefits stopped. I'm not yet done with this as three more letters, with recently acquired supporting evidence, will be winging their way to all three bodies mentioned above. I've jumped through so many hoops now it's becoming second nature.
So, I've approached three representative bodies, three weeks ago and none have had the common courtesy to reply to my concerns. I have in the back of my mind that this is a ruse to have my benefits stopped. I'm not yet done with this as three more letters, with recently acquired supporting evidence, will be winging their way to all three bodies mentioned above. I've jumped through so many hoops now it's becoming second nature.
People on here kindly supported me in my filling in the ESA form and my medical and the outcome, which during a phone call from the DWP I went from no points to 15 after she asked me about pain, I was told I had made it into the WRAG and sometime later I was seen by the job centre, I have been told it only lasts for 12 months, I was grateful I had made ESA and only this last week finally got the courage to go to the benefits advice shop who tell me that WRAG (Contribution based) lasts for 12 months, which kept me on the same benefit I was receiving from Incapacity, but at the end of 12 months I would have to reapply and if granted ESA at that point becomes means tested, which means I will loose the small pension I am paid. The benefits advice shop say I need to appeal that decision, because had I made it to support group I would stay on the amount of benefit I was receiving (and am currently getting ) , I've partly been pushed to get this sorted out as panpete has been talking about their claim, I have known I didn't understand my benefit situation since my decision in November last, but just haven't been able to face it. I can't go back so its pointless talking about "should have's", I have another appointment with benefits advice (local welfare rights org) So do I appeal or do I accept that I am going to and maybe should loose that part of my income. I suspect I have made this as clear as mud, but I have tried to write it a couple of times without success. I feel as though I am that benefit scrounger that is referred to, however the likelhood of me realistically returning to employment is really unlikely. I feel I am in my own moral dilemma.
Jackobi
swallows anything
If you feel that you should be in the support group, by matching the descriptors, you may be able to make a late appeal, which would require some justification. Perhaps you were not coping well with your symptoms at the time and could not face the rigmarole of an appeal, but feel that you were placed in the wrong group. A loss of income is irrelevant to the appeal process.
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
You may as well appeal - you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I'm here to help you if you like x x
equationgirl
Respect my existence or expect my resistance
Appeal - It is your right, use that right. When I got kicked off the sick, I thought "fuck it" and just accepted it with the sick calm of a condemned man waking on the morning of the day of his execution. But, largely thanks to people on here, I got it together to appeal and, much to my surprise, won. Whether or not you win your appeal, you're generating paperwork for some dickhead to deal with, so motivate yourself to do it on that basis alone.
And what's all this talk of "maybe should lose this part of my income"? No, you shouldn't. You're not a scrounger, please don't allow all this anti-claimant nonsense that's doing the rounds ATM to penetrate your consciousness and make you feel bad about yourself. Chin up, lady - There's no moral dilemma about it - Honest to god, don't be made to feel bad for not being well, the only way morals come into it is the moral obligation for a civilised society to look after those who, for whatever reason, can't work.
All the best anyway. Please do keep us posted coz (as I know) you'll get decent advice on here, and much support as well.
WouldBe
Dislicksick
Take a dictaphone along and say "Well I'll record it then." No negative impact on you and puts the examiner in an awkward position.
Take a dictaphone along and say "Well I'll record it then." No negative impact on you and puts the examiner in an awkward position.
As I said a bit up-thread, I remember hearing reports of examiners replying "I'm not going to be recorded and I'm writing that you've refused to be interviewed."
But where?
cesare
shady's dreams ♥
Another poster and I were ejected from her assessment because of starting to overtly photograph/record. The assessor said it was because permission had to be sought in advance. We made a fuss/complained and at the rescheduled assessment had a decent assessor. We covertly recorded rather than seeking permission in advance, and I overtly took handwritten notes.
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