Atos Medicals - Questions, Answers and Support

[panpete]

Thanks.

Not long to go. I am absolutely shitting myself. No two ways about it. I feel like a kid being called in front of the bloody headmaster to explain himself!

Ever since the appeal was sent to the tribunal i've been dreading the arrival of the brown envelope telling me when, and then, when it did appear 3 weeks ago, I've not stopped worrying about it. This is no way to be.

I picked up the other letter my GP agreed to write after I told him his first effort wasn't great (even though I didn't know the CAB had already submitted it). It is actually a bit better, but according to the tribunal bumph submitting evidence late (i couldn't get the letter any quicker because they'd forgot to print it out in time) could lead to an adjournment! Gods, I can't go through another period of waiting. I will explode!

Keeping fingers crossed for you that you get the right result.

 

[Awesome Wells]

Getting through it is reward enough I think. Anything after that is a bonus.

The final decision could go either way. I can't second guess it at all. Time will tell I guess

 

[Quartz]

Just got back. No verdict made then, they said i would hear in the next couple iof days as they don't want to rush their decision.

Fingers crossed for you. But it sounds that unlike ATOS etc they gave you a fair hearing.

 

[Awesome Wells]

I suppose they did. They were friendly enough and were interested in letting me have my say. Of course one cannot divine anything from that since that's their job. Still stressful experience though. But at least it's good to know, through experience, they aren't evil monsters.

I guess I'll hear one way or the other by the end of the week. I think it all depends on how they relate the law to my case and whether what i say tallies with what the law allows, if that makes any sense.

 

[Awesome Wells]

Also, whether or not the decision goes my way, my thanks to everyone that has offered help and support

 

[geminisnake]

Fingers crossed here too. I thought you got told on the day. Feck! End of January for me.

 

[Awesome Wells]

Fingers crossed here too. I thought you got told on the day. Feck! End of January for me.

Judge said they like to take a bit more time with all their peeps. I guess that's their prerogative.

 

[panpete]

Fingers crossed here too. I thought you got told on the day. Feck! End of January for me.

Aww fingers crossed for you too. x

 

[Celt]

panpete Glad your decision came through and was the right one.

Awesome Wells I hope you get the right decision, well done on getting through your tribunal.

 

[panpete]

Thank you Celt.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Judge said they like to take a bit more time with all their peeps. I guess that's their prerogative.

Sometimes means they need to check a point of law, too.
Which makes sense - best to check first and issue a legally-sound decision, than issue one that's contestable.

 

[Awesome Wells]

I'm due my next - last? - ESA payment (at pre assessment rate) this friday. It normally goes in on the tueday so it presume it went through yesterday because of the bank holiday. If the full rate doesn't go through then I'll know the answer. Failing that it'll arrive around the same time anyway I expect.

 

[toggle]

I'm due my next - last? - ESA payment (at pre assessment rate) this friday. It normally goes in on the tueday so it presume it went through yesterday because of the bank holiday. If the full rate doesn't go through then I'll know the answer. Failing that it'll arrive around the same time anyway I expect.

that might not be the answer.

and you might be fuicked for a short while.

even if you get a positive result from the tribunal, dwp can take 6 weeks to respond.

call up housing office regularly and make sure that the dwp isn't messing with your HB/CTB.

 

[Awesome Wells]

le sigh.

it's never simple is it.

So that's why the judge asked me if i had a current fit note. Mine ends sometime in January, mid to late iirc. Presumably the DWP will keep making payments until they hear otherwise from the tribunal people. or do they just stop people's payments as soon as they hear the claimant is off to see them - that doesn't make sense?!?

HB isn't an issue for me, but good avice otherwise.

 

[toggle]

le sigh.

it's never simple is it.

So that's why the judge asked me if i had a current fit note. Mine ends sometime in January, mid to late iirc. Presumably the DWP will keep making payments until they hear otherwise from the tribunal people. or do they just stop people's payments as soon as they hear the claimant is off to see them - that doesn't make sense?!?

HB isn't an issue for me, but good avice otherwise.

if you are entitled to continue recieving payment at the assessment rate, that will continue until the dwp get their arse in gear. i'm not sure from your posts whether you were expecting the change to happen before the week after's payment, or whether there wasn't going to be a payment the week after unless you win the tribunal.

basically, there will be no change to the payment schedule that was in place already, for about 6 weeks.

 

[Awesome Wells]

if you are entitled to continue recieving payment at the assessment rate, that will continue until the dwp get their arse in gear. i'm not sure from your posts whether you were expecting the change to happen before the week after's payment, or whether there wasn't going to be a payment the week after unless you win the tribunal.

basically, there will be no change to the payment schedule that was in place already, for about 6 weeks.

Well, I was expecting that, pending a favourable outcome, the tribunal would notify the DWP and they would amend the payment system accordingly. I certainly, naively, didn't anticipate a massive delay for something that is largely already in place. Maybe I could ring them, again pending a favourable outcome, and ask them to clarify and then get another 'fit' note meanwhile. Thanks for the heads up.

There's always a sting in teh tail with the DWP.

 

[geminisnake]

What is a fit note? Is it a new name for a sick note?

 

[equationgirl]

What is a fit note? Is it a new name for a sick note?

Aye, they were renamed and redeisgned somewhat.

Basically, it spells out what you can do in the opinion of the GP, instead of a blanket 'you're signed off until X date'. It's made no difference to me as when I have a kidney infection I can't do anything apart from throw up, I need to rest and let the meds work.

 

[geminisnake]

liking the explanation, not the puky bit!

 

[equationgirl]

Well, I was expecting that, pending a favourable outcome, the tribunal would notify the DWP and they would amend the payment system accordingly. I certainly, naively, didn't anticipate a massive delay for something that is largely already in place. Maybe I could ring them, again pending a favourable outcome, and ask them to clarify and then get another 'fit' note meanwhile. Thanks for the heads up.

There's always a sting in teh tail with the DWP.

There are a number of posts on the thread talking about DWP delays. It certainly never hurts to be prepared for any delay with the DWP (sods law coming into play) so I would make sure there are no gaps between your fit notes - not even a day.

WouldBe certainly had delays, but that may have been just the backpayment they were due.

 

[equationgirl]

liking the explanation, not the puky bit!

That's ok

They're not fun, kidney infections.

I'd be interested to know if the fit note has made any difference, because to my mind there can't be many medical conditions that mean you're fit to do some work (excluding pregnancy, of course). Can anyone think of an example?

 

[Quartz]

I'd be interested to know if the fit note has made any difference, because to my mind there can't be many medical conditions that mean you're fit to do some work (excluding pregnancy, of course). Can anyone think of an example?

Problems with your legs need not affect your upper body, so you could type or play a cello having a broken leg, for instance.

 

[toggle]

i've gone into do cleaning work with the rampaging snots, but not done bar work that night.

but more what quartz has said, is i'm sure there are people who can do the sedentary part of a role with an injury, but not the more active parts. or maybee someone returning to work after surgery, able to sit and type but barred from lifting. there are some employers for whom I would want the paperwork spelling out that they can't just ask me to do a little bit, or risk my long term health by ignoring medical advice.

 

[Awesome Wells]

There are a number of posts on the thread talking about DWP delays. It certainly never hurts to be prepared for any delay with the DWP (sods law coming into play) so I would make sure there are no gaps between your fit notes - not even a day.

WouldBe certainly had delays, but that may have been just the backpayment they were due.

First things first, I have to be awarded ESA! I hope they aren't going to take too long in getting a letter to me, but I remain skeptical. I did the best I could at the tribunal, but as with anything there's always a moment afterwards where you think perhaps you could have been clearer, said more, done something. I think I covered evertyhing, and they have all the paperwork which puts the case forward thanks to the CAB. Beyond that, it's in the hands of the flying spaghetti monster, but the thought of having to sign on again doesn't inspire me (much like today's weather, it's filthy outside).

Naively, but why on earth does this system have to be such a load of bullshit. Having to go to a court and convince an actula judge and a doctor i've never met before. This could easily be resolved by having a DWP meeting, at the local surgery, with you and your GP and then come to a mutual and informed decision. Instead you deal with faceless and target driven decision makers, a french insurance company that, locally, hides itself away on the top floor of a municipal building like the eye of sauron, and at no point do you really seem to have any say in your own future. All to save some Tory millioinaires a few quid in payouts to people.

Rant over.

For now

 

[Awesome Wells]

What is a fit note? Is it a new name for a sick note?

Yes, the GP is meant to say what you can do, not what you can't.

In practice it's a silly idea. My GP wrote down what she thought was wrong with me and that was sent off. The notion that one can just ignore what's wrong with them and use the parts that do work is, at best, dangerous IMO. It's also hopeless, predictably, with respect to mental health.

 

[WouldBe]

There are a number of posts on the thread talking about DWP delays. It certainly never hurts to be prepared for any delay with the DWP (sods law coming into play) so I would make sure there are no gaps between your fit notes - not even a day.

WouldBe certainly had delays, but that may have been just the backpayment they were due.

It took several weeks for the DWP to sort out the payments. Got the DLA backpayment through fairly quickly after that but still waiting for the backpayment of ESA and not heard anything about backpayment of severe disability while on JSA yet.

 

[equationgirl]

It took several weeks for the DWP to sort out the payments. Got the DLA backpayment through fairly quickly after that but still waiting for the backpayment of ESA and not heard anything about backpayment of severe disability while on JSA yet.

useless fucks

 

[geminisnake]

Yes, the GP is meant to say what you can do, not what you can't.

That's an interesting concept. How are you meant to be able to do anything if your mental state doesn't want to leave the house?

 

[Awesome Wells]

That's an interesting concept. How are you meant to be able to do anything if your mental state doesn't want to leave the house?

It's all part of the paradigm of whitewashing illness. Probably straight out of the Unum playbook.

If we ignore what's wrong with a person, then there's nothing wrong with them!

 

[equationgirl]

That's an interesting concept. How are you meant to be able to do anything if your mental state doesn't want to leave the house?

Exactly - and the main problem with the descriptors used for these tests are that are in the main physical descriptors, mental health is not really covered by them, and various organisations such as MIND have pointed this out.

It does even really cover the mental health effects of medicines or physical illnesses. I can barely concentrate when I have a relapse due to effects of the meds and the infection on my mind yet such effects are ignored.

The fit note is all part of this culture - when people are unable to work they need rest and support, not being made to feel lazy.