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Atos Medicals - Questions, Answers and Support

Have you had a gp letter done before by this gp? If so, could they update that one and leave a signed copy for you to pick up from reception? If you got it Monday then you could send it special delivery.
Unfortunately not. I need to see a GP that knows me, not a locum. The earliest appointment I could get is for 23rd.
 
Unfortunately not. I need to see a GP that knows me, not a locum. The earliest appointment I could get is for 23rd.

Is it because your GP isn't available or because they're booked up? If the latter, maybe go in and say you'll wait as an emergency appointment until they have a few minutes for you?

If you send it recorded or registered delivery by the deadline it will be counted. I'll chuck you the money for that if you need it.

I had a similar problem in that I have recently changed GP so she's only seen me twice. Due to the recent IT hack she didn't even have access to my records last time I saw her. And when I requested my letters from my rheumatologist, because for no known reason they hadn't been sent to me, the most recent one was in error and about someone else who had a bad back, plantar fascitis and two small children. FFS. It had my name and NHS number but was not about me. Those are two of the diagnoses I actually lack! :D So I might well have to appeal (eventually) due to these fuck ups. Doubt that would come through before my blue badge etc are due for renewal in September.
 
So after the 6 shitty brown envelopes I've had recently that made out my benefits weren't changing I check my bank account this morning to check the payment had gone in and it's ~£120 short :mad: not sure f that's because they have finally realised my DLA has stopped (until my PIP tribunal) or whether they have just cocked things up as usual. :mad: :(
 
Fucksake WouldBe :mad: whatever the reason turns out to be, I hope it's easily resolvable.

Hope things go as well as possible for any other urbs going through form filling or assessments or appeals atm too.

I received a "Thanks for sending us your 'how your disability affects you' form" text two days ago. Today I got a letter reminding me to send my form back coz I hadn't yet :rolleyes:
 
Ffs Wouldbe, they're so shit :(

I'm saying Ffs at myself too. They sent it back in the party because I'd forgotten to sign it. :oops: I did tell them I'm forgetful! More evidence. Anyway, I have over a week to send it back and there's nothing stopping me adding extra info if I had any, so fishfinger maybe that could be a way to buy time!
 
Had the mandatory reconsideration - I'm on to the appeal stage now. Panicking, as I haven't been able to get an appointment see my GP (for a letter to provide evidence), and CAB haven't got back to me yet.
The appeal application has to get there by 22nd. I am fucked :mad::(

Just get your SSCS1 form sent back as soon as you can, if necessary, contact Citizens Advice again to hurry them up. There is space on the form to explain why the appeal is submitted late if necessary, waiting for advice should be a good enough reason. You can submit further evidence up to the date of the tribunal hearing. The tribunal service will give the DWP 28 days to respond to your appeal request so you have at least 28 days after HMCTS receive your form to submit further evidence .
 
Is it because your GP isn't available or because they're booked up? If the latter, maybe go in and say you'll wait as an emergency appointment until they have a few minutes for you?

If you send it recorded or registered delivery by the deadline it will be counted. I'll chuck you the money for that if you need it.

I had a similar problem in that I have recently changed GP so she's only seen me twice. Due to the recent IT hack she didn't even have access to my records last time I saw her. And when I requested my letters from my rheumatologist, because for no known reason they hadn't been sent to me, the most recent one was in error and about someone else who had a bad back, plantar fascitis and two small children. FFS. It had my name and NHS number but was not about me. Those are two of the diagnoses I actually lack! :D So I might well have to appeal (eventually) due to these fuck ups. Doubt that would come through before my blue badge etc are due for renewal in September.
Thanks for the kind offer of postage fees but I can afford that. Sorry to hear of the cock-up re: your medical letter.

Just get your SSCS1 form sent back as soon as you can, if necessary, contact Citizens Advice again to hurry them up. There is space on the form to explain why the appeal is submitted late if necessary, waiting for advice should be a good enough reason. You can submit further evidence up to the date of the tribunal hearing. The tribunal service will give the DWP 28 days to respond to your appeal request so you have at least 28 days after HMCTS receive your form to submit further evidence .
CAB have got back to me today, and I have an appointment on Wednesday morning. Hopefully, I'll be sending the appeal form after that.

Thanks again to all, and commiserations to those going through the process.
 
Quick question for those 'in the know' - can the PIP assessor ask to look at your social media if you've got it set to private? Not that there'd be anything on it that shows anything but the truth - I worry about perceptions and know they're not averse to twisting facts to suit themselves.

I've not yet had the letter to go for a PIP assessment, but I know it's imminent :(

Edit: typo
 
The only thing I've heard of in relation to social media was an assessor caught making very unpleasant comments about a claimant on her Facebook page. She was found out and lost her job.
 
Suspect it would be a breach of privacy/data protection for them to do so.

Unless it was a fraud related issue maybe ??
Ain't sure what powers benefits depts have on such issues these days.

I used to work in HB and one of my colleagues used to bring local paper cuttings in (before the interweb) and check all the details, bingo winners, minor criminal offences and what address they used.
Can you imagine how easy it is for them to trawl through Facebook etc now to get info whether valid or not.

All I say is if you are on disability benefits of any kind be mindful of these potential intrusions. Yeah you might have had a great day with your grandkids but to those evil lot all it means is you must be super fit every day of your life and thus not entitled to your rightful benefits.
 
I've rung ATOS to say I won't be attending, and put it in writing as a back up. They said they thought the DWP'd likely accept my reason as valid, although they can't promise obv.

Oh, all fingers and toes crossed. If ATOS thinks DWP will be OK, I'd think it will be, ATOS not being known for excessive optimism.

Nope. Claim closed for not attending. Balls.

I can still tell them more about the reason why I didn't attend and they'll look at their decision again. I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't get either of the letters I sent, or the information I passed on via ATOS, and just made the decision on the basis on me not showing, but with no background info as to why. At least, that's the most optimistic way I can look at it.

If they hadn't given me the first appointment so far away from where I live I wouldn't be in this position :mad:
 
Nope. Claim closed for not attending. Balls.

I can still tell them more about the reason why I didn't attend and they'll look at their decision again. I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't get either of the letters I sent, or the information I passed on via ATOS, and just made the decision on the basis on me not showing, but with no background info as to why. At least, that's the most optimistic way I can look at it.

If they hadn't given me the first appointment so far away from where I live I wouldn't be in this position :mad:
They really are wankers.

ViolentPanda Jackobi do you have any advice on how best to proceed in this situation?
 
They really are wankers.

ViolentPanda Jackobi do you have any advice on how best to proceed in this situation?
chainsawjob


It's the usual mandatory reconsideration within one month of the date of the decision letter, and then an appeal to HMCTS for independent tribunal if necessary.

The mandatory reconsideration will be looked at by a DWP decision maker who will assess 'good reason' for missing the appointment. Although good reason is not particularly well defined, the decision maker's guidance explains in some detail:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/473399/admp6.pdf
 
Also send all your "medical evidence" to the Decision Maker at the DWP (cant remember the ad) along with the reason you didnt attend. It has been known for the DM to make a paper evidenced based assessment (ask if he/she would kindly consider doing this) without the need to attend any face to face assessments, its worth a shot, it worked for me after ATOS tried to sabotage my face to face.
 
Thanks Pac man, that's a good idea. A paper based assessment would be a marvellous relief (I have asked, and given my reasons when I returned the form, and again when I wrote about not being able to attend the assessment), worth a shot as you say.

I'll have to sort this next week now as I'm busy for the next few days, I've got about another 3 weeks which is 4 weeks from the date of the letter, but thanks for the advice folks.
 
.
I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't get either of the letters I sent, or the information I passed on via ATOS

This bit chainsaw. I'm not sure if you've already been asked/ advised but it it is worth reiterating on here that when sending them any correspondence try and do it as "signed for " at the other end. Keep the receipt and you can track date time and person who signed for it (albeit a vague Kevin or Donna etc). It costs about £1.70 which I know when you are struggling is the difference between a bit of food on the table or starve but if you can afford it do it as they have a smug and horrendous record of not receiving things.

Bit of good advice from Who PhD above as well by the way.
 
The CAB do a fantastic job, but local offices depend on volunteers and some may be better than others, however worth a shot.
 
Well my friend who has been on ESA for a while and had a second medical in November, with the first medical having run out some time before (like 18 months before) had his decision "revised" rather than them go to the appeal. Unfortunately they are only backdating him to when they made the decision to put him in WRAG (late January I think?), not even as far back as the medical in November, and certainly not as far back as when the last decision ran out.

He was hoping for a fair old bit of back pay, but will only be getting about £155.

Has anyone else had experience of getting more out of them in this sort of situation?
 
Well my friend who has been on ESA for a while and had a second medical in November, with the first medical having run out some time before (like 18 months before) had his decision "revised" rather than them go to the appeal. Unfortunately they are only backdating him to when they made the decision to put him in WRAG (late January I think?), not even as far back as the medical in November, and certainly not as far back as when the last decision ran out.

He was hoping for a fair old bit of back pay, but will only be getting about £155.

Has anyone else had experience of getting more out of them in this sort of situation?

I'm not sure but doesn't that decision itself ( to pay only from January) carry a right of appeal. It should say on the decision to revise letter your friend received.
 
Had a letter from the Tribunal service this morning. Thought it might have been a date for the tribunal or better still a decision. Nope. Turns out to be copies of my med records that they received 6 weeks ago; :eek: :(
 
Just got a PIP letter. Thought it would be an appointment, but it says "We need some more information before we can progress your claim" - there's a page for me to fill in where it asks if I've ever been in hospital or residential care. Presumably it just means medical kind of residential care?

Why would I be getting sent this now? I imagine they need this information from everybody... Can't remember exactly what I was asked when I phoned up to start my claim, but surely it would/should have been asked then?

:confused:
 
Just got a PIP letter. Thought it would be an appointment, but it says "We need some more information before we can progress your claim" - there's a page for me to fill in where it asks if I've ever been in hospital or residential care. Presumably it just means medical kind of residential care?

Why would I be getting sent this now? I imagine they need this information from everybody... Can't remember exactly what I was asked when I phoned up to start my claim, but surely it would/should have been asked then?

:confused:

It should have been, if you filled in the form over the phone, and yes, they mean medical-type residential care, not whether you've been living in a hostel.
 
It should have been, if you filled in the form over the phone, and yes, they mean medical-type residential care, not whether you've been living in a hostel.

I did the initial application over the phone (is there a form for that too? I didn't know that...). Filled in the "how your disability affects you" form on paper and posted it in.
 
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