Atos Medicals - Questions, Answers and Support

[Libertad]

Thanks Jackobi that's very much appreciated.

 

[WouldBe]

Got a letter from the tribunal service the other day dated Apr 1st thanking me for the CD of the ATOS assessment and the phonecall requesting the assessment be recorded which they have passed to the judge. Judge has asked if a typed (transcript) copy is available. They already have it and have from day fucking 1

Perhaps it's some kind of sick Aprils fool.

 

[equationgirl]

Got a letter from the tribunal service the other day dated Apr 1st thanking me for the CD of the ATOS assessment and the phonecall requesting the assessment be recorded which they have passed to the judge. Judge has asked if a typed (transcript) copy is available. They already have it and have from day fucking 1

Perhaps it's some kind of sick Aprils fool.

It's incredibly frustrating but point out that it's already in pack of stuff sent to them. You can always send another copy because you are nice and helpful

 

[WouldBe]

It's incredibly frustrating but point out that it's already in pack of stuff sent to them. You can always send another copy because you are nice and helpful

I'm sick and tired of doing professionals jobs for them and sorting out their cockups.

To make matters worse I've just received a form to renew my ESA. I just feel like scrawling across it "Fuck off harassing me." and sending it back.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Could I ask for a bit of help here please? I've a friend whose just been awarded 0 points at his WCA. He has long term mental health problems including anxiety and agoraphobia and now has to sign on for JSA.
I've told him that he needs to contact CAB, in the absence of there being any local benefits advice, and that he needs to apply for a mandatory reconsideration and then appeal. I've promised him some links but I'm so completely brain faded atm that I can't seem to get anything together.

This is not laziness on my part it's just that I need to give him some sort of lifeline but find myself incapable of wading through Google results. Has anyone got any links to hand?

this thread from a week or two back may help. friend i started the thread for found rethink's helpline good.

the exact rules may depend on whether your friend lives somewhere that universal clusterfuck has gone live

 

[Libertad]

Thanks Puddy_Tat. That does help, I'll pass the info on.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Thanks Puddy_Tat. That does help, I'll pass the info on.

It's also probably worth, if he's getting housing benefit and / or council tax benefit (or whatever it's called locally) him advising council of a change of circumstances, that he's putting in for reconsideration, but if this doesn't come off, then he wishes to continue his HB claim on nil income while it's being sorted out.

This way, at least (if DWP still say no) he won't end up with his current HB claim being terminated at whatever date ESA ends, and having to make a new claim if and when he starts claiming JSA, and having an uphill struggle to claim backdating for the time between.

I'm also a bit fuzzy about whether any form of 'hardship payment' (less than JSA / ESA but something) is payable in these circumstances. I found something about hardship payments being payable (in some circumstances) if you get sanctioned, but couldn't find anything specific to getting a 0 points.

At one time the unemployment benefit office (as then was) would tell you that you might be eligible for a hardship payment, but i think the current DWP regime won't...

 

[Bakunin]

Got a CAB appointment to do my mandatory reconsideration on the 21st. Got a copy of the ATOS assessment as well. It would be twice as long if it included all the things he was told and didn't include in it. I'm not happy about having had my medical history assessed by a paramedic, either, given its complexity. Nor was I pleased, seeing as they know I'm an Aspie, at their calling me at about 9:30 with no warning as saying they had a cancellation so could I get there as soon as possible. No, I couldn't and it was made abundantly clear to them that this sort of thing isn't something that should be done to people with Asperger's.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Got my ESA renewal form today.

 

[xsunnysuex]

Got my ESA renewal form today.

On a sunday?

 

[ViolentPanda]

On a sunday?

Arrived yesterday, opened it today.

 

[xsunnysuex]

Arrived yesterday, opened it today.

Arh I see. Not a nice envelope to open at any time. Hope it all goes well for you. x

 

[xsunnysuex]

On a sunday?

How long has it been since your last one?

 

[equationgirl]

Best of luck Bakunin and ViolentPanda happy to lend a hand if needed

 

[ViolentPanda]

How long has it been since your last one?

3 years.

 

[friendofdorothy]

Got my ESA renewal form today.

best of luck x

 

[chainsawjob]

Yes, good luck WouldBe, ViolentPanda and Bakunin, and anyone else dealing with this at the moment.

 

[WouldBe]

Still not heard about my PIP tribunal yet my sister who had her PIP assessment 2 months after mine has got a tribunal date for 2 weeks time.

 

[equationgirl]

Still not heard about my PIP tribunal yet my sister who had her PIP assessment 2 months after mine has got a tribunal date for 2 weeks time.

Is it worth emailing or calling them for an update?

 

[WouldBe]

Is it worth emailing or calling them for an update?

Phoned them yesterday they are still waiting for the judge to set the date. It's been 1 year and 2 days since the DWP received my completed form.

 

[Libertad]

Phoned them yesterday they are still waiting for the judge to set the date. It's been 1 year and 2 days since the DWP received my completed form.

 

[equationgirl]

Phoned them yesterday they are still waiting for the judge to set the date. It's been 1 year and 2 days since the DWP received my completed form.

SOunds like a convenient excuse to me.

 

[WouldBe]

My sister has just received an ESA renewal form to fill in less than 18 months after her last one.

What the fuck are the DWP playing at?

 

[equationgirl]

My sister has just received an ESA renewal form to fill in less than 18 months after her last one.

What the fuck are the DWP playing at?

Bullying and harassment. Except they are not playing.

 

[WouldBe]

Phoned DWP yesterday to ask for an extension to allow me to fill in my ESA50 form. I was told They don't do them. I just need to fill in the box on the form to explain why it's late and jobs a good one. Received a letter this morning to say they had not received form back yet (not due until the 9th) and that my benefits may be stopped if they don't get it back by then. cunts

Just as well I recorded the phone call. How do I bring a prosecution for a breach of the disability discrimination act if they stop my benefits?

 

[equationgirl]

Phoned DWP yesterday to ask for an extension to allow me to fill in my ESA50 form. I was told They don't do them. I just need to fill in the box on the form to explain why it's late and jobs a good one. Received a letter this morning to say they had not received form back yet (not due until the 9th) and that my benefits may be stopped if they don't get it back by then. cunts

Just as well I recorded the phone call. How do I bring a prosecution for a breach of the disability discrimination act if they stop my benefits?

You would need to find a lawyer, benefitsandwork website might be able to help. Someone took them to court recently and won, it was in the BBC website.

 

[Ergo Proxy]

Received a letter this morning to say they had not received form back yet (not due until the 9th) and that my benefits may be stopped if they don't get it back by then. cunts

Standard automated computer generated letter to remind you to fill it in and send it back within time limits! Been part of legislation and process since the start of ESA. There's things to get upset about but this?

Why do you need an extension?

 

[chainsawjob]

Is it worth ringing again and asking a different person about the extension WouldBe? It's worrying that they just say fill in the reason on the form. Can you get advice (Benefits & Work, CAB?) on whether what they told you was correct? I got my PIP deadline extended twice (2 weeks, then another 5 days), and was amazed they seemed ok about it, just on my word (that my health had prevented me filling in the form), didn't have any more concrete reason than that, or have to prove anything. You'd think ESA should be the same.

Horrible getting worrying letters though, but I think they do send them out as standard. I got one with the original date on even though an extension had been agreed.

 

[friendofdorothy]

Standard automated computer generated letter to remind you to fill it in and send it back within time limits! Been part of legislation and process since the start of ESA. There's things to get upset about but this?

Why do you need an extension?

Stop being such an unsupportive twat on this thread please.

All ESA letters are upsetting when you are unwell and depend on benefits. Yes we know they are computer generated, but know all, why is the computer generating them so frequently, against all govt guidelines?

 

[Ergo Proxy]

Stop being such an unsupportive twat on this thread please.

All ESA letters are upsetting when you are unwell and depend on benefits. Yes we know they are computer generated, but know all, why is the computer generating them so frequently, against all govt guidelines?

What? Seriously WHAT!

Fuck you fuck this thread! This isn't about helping people its about your own self important bullshit!

Telling somebody not to be upset because it happens to all of us on benefits which you are not!

You're not on benefits let a lone ESA are you?

Since I am and you are not FUCK YOU!