Atos Medicals - Questions, Answers and Support

[equationgirl]

Its Friday

Good luck for Friday, I hope it's not too stressful.

 

[equationgirl]

I'm thinking of you BCBlues and hope it goes ok. E kind to yourself afterwards.

 

[treelover]

Just had PIP decision, after 3 months, I got 10 points, and standard care/mobility, so lost a lot, 250 month, care mostly on aids, its interesting that so many people just miss enhanced(targets/), I looked at the decision and in one part he has downright lied, I couldn’t even remember what school I went to, took ages to answer questions, (I think now I was having diabetic hypo) he claims I had no cognitive impairement. He made a point of saying I could grip a walking stick, but it was for five seconds, and then he said you obviously up not to medical/muscualar examination. He made great great play of this, looking down then stright at me, The decision made no ref to having carers, dangers, fatigue, repetition, etc, ,etc with care elements. He asked me could i wash my hair and i said no, but got no points for b/washing, which is ridiculous. The wriiten decision is all over the placer and badly cont constructed.

I am not sure if I will go to appeal, though I am concerned about cross referencing wuith ESA, grip, etc, and if/how if affects my care package. though i should pay less towards my care now, i hope.

 

[red & green]

Tree lover I recently attended a PIP appeal with a friend .My friend has a mental health condition an at the assessment was assessed only with reference to physical disabilities .My friend and I submitted statements and she didn’t reply to the decision as it was too stressful .She didn’t even open it .It arrived a couple of days just before the appeal hearing .

After asking my friend and I questions the Judge allowed her appeal and also reinstated her benefit that was reduced several years ago.

If you have any support try and complete the spell form and get a hearing date. I think those assessments are purely “ cost cuttting “ and they don’t want PIP claimants going to appeal.

I wish you all the best with this it’s really horrible

 

[red & green]

* appeal form

 

[treelover]

Hi, tx, not sure yet, it is incredibly hard to get high mobility, i will also hopefully pay less towards my care, i am concerned about c/ref ESA, grip is a key element with that, no mention of consequences with the PIP decision, though ESA does take cogniscance of back lash, fatigue, speaking to my wel/rights worker next week, but not rushing.

the blatant lying about memory is incredible, he kept chiding me for not answering straight away!

 

[red & green]

Tree lover glad you have wel rights worker . Its a f disgrace because those ATOS people have no expertise at all. Please keeep us updated I’d you go ahead . I’m virtually rooting for you here. sorry you have to go through this

 

[equationgirl]

treelover I don't think there is cross checking between the different benefits because various reports have shown the reports don't match for the same person. Remember they use software to construct these reports which is basically a series of drop down menus of predetermined statements. It's not a report actually written from any notes made during the meeting.

I strongly encourage you to consider an appeal or mandatory consideration of your case. Did you make a recording of the meeting (phone in pocket)?

 

[BCBlues]

Thanks for the messages yesterday equationgirl ,much appreciated. It was cancelled in the end (by them) a couple of hours in advance. I wasnt happy of course but you get used to their snide little tactics in this process. It's only when it gets to the actual appeal itself that their practices can be really exposed as making health matters worse for individuals, and that's why I'll say...

treelover , if you can get help and support or if you can manage yourself I'd definitely appeal ( from what I can gather though you have yet to go through a Mandatory Decision??) It sounds like they're trying to palm you off with a lower rate than you're entitled to.

 

[Kevbad the Bad]

Just had PIP decision, after 3 months,

I am not sure if I will go to appeal, though I am concerned about cross referencing wuith ESA, grip, etc, and if/how if affects my care package. though i should pay less towards my care now, i hope.

In my experience it’s really worth going for the appeal. I helped two relations who both scored zero points at their assessment. We then had to go through the whole process of mandatory reconsideration and then appeal, which in both cases took about a year. BUT, it was worth it. One had his PIP award made equivalent to his old DLA and valid for the next 8 years. The other had a reduced award (still better than nothing) for 3 years. I also know of another relative who had her PIP award go from zero points to a better award than her old DLA, and made indefinite. In case you don’t know about it, there is an outfit called Benefits and Work, who have a really useful guide to all this. You have to be a member to get the full advice, which does cost a few quid, but I found it invaluable. All the best.

 

[chainsawjob]

Yes, Benefits & Work's advice is invaluable, I've used their (member's only) guides for PIP & ESA, with success. Membership is about £20 annually, and they have frequent 'sales' where there's a couple of quid off. I think my membership has lapsed atm.

Another vote for 'appeal if you can' treelover, and get any support with it that's available. I've had answers on the B&W member's forum from their team, which have been helpful during appeal (which was cancelled in the end before I got to it, they reversed their decision, they had broken their own rules after all ).

Sorry they mucked you about BCBlues, as you say, one of their little tactics. Doesn't help the blood pressure though. 2 hrs notice I hope you won't need to get to appeal, but yes, as you say, that's when you can expose them.

 

[equationgirl]

Sorry they're mucking you about BCBlues hopefully they will reschedule it soon.

 

[chainsawjob]

(Sorry this isn't really in the right place... but a quickish answer is needed, deadline tomorrow... oops!)

Can I ask a quick question here? My brain's dancing with numbers & not thinking too clearly...

I'm applying for Universal Credit and I've been asked to provide my monthly income figures for Feb 19 - to Feb 20. From Feb - May 19 I was still on ESA. Then I came off it and started earning wages (not til July).

Do you count ESA, PIP or Child Benefit as income for the purposes of UC when providing past income figures?

I think PIP (which I was on until August 19) and CB are not treated as income, from what I've read.

But is ESA treated as income? I think so, but can anyone confirm please? I haven't been able to find a definite answer.

Thanks!

 

[Kevbad the Bad]

(Sorry this isn't really in the right place... but a quickish answer is needed, deadline tomorrow... oops!)

Can I ask a quick question here? My brain's dancing with numbers & not thinking too clearly...

I'm applying for Universal Credit and I've been asked to provide my monthly income figures for Feb 19 - to Feb 20. From Feb - May 19 I was still on ESA. Then I came off it and started earning wages (not til July).

Do you count ESA, PIP or Child Benefit as income for the purposes of UC when providing past income figures?

I think PIP (which I was on until August 19) and CB are not treated as income, from what I've read.

But is ESA treated as income? I think so, but can anyone confirm please? I haven't been able to find a definite answer.

Thanks!

Yep, you ‘ve got it. PIP, CB, DLA not treated as income. ESA and JSA are.

 

[chainsawjob]

Yep, you ‘ve got it. PIP, CB, DLA not treated as income. ESA and JSA are.

Thanks!

 

[BCBlues]

Yep, you ‘ve got it. PIP, CB, DLA not treated as income. ESA and JSA are.

I've not had much dealings with UC yet thankfully, but I'd go with this.

Perhaps chainsawjob , just confirm which ones you were receiving and when and full earnings details unless you have all the proof and bombard them.
All the best anyway.

 

[chainsawjob]

I've not had much dealings with UC yet thankfully, but I'd go with this.

Perhaps chainsawjob , just confirm which ones you were receiving and when and full earnings details unless you have all the proof and bombard them.
All the best anyway.

Yeah, this is my first experience of UC, and with an all online system. There are no boxes to write detail in, like I'm used to from PIP & ESA. Not sure at what point I get to give them extra info like this, atm they just seem to want a total combined figure of earnings for each month, for me and my partner. But yes, I'll bombard them with info if I get the chance. Thanks

 

[chainsawjob]

Another question if anyone can answer this please.

I answered yes to the question 'Are you disabled?' on the UC form. It said I will need to get fit notes from my GP. I haven't done this for years (didn't need to for ESA, I'd been on it so long). How does it work now? I'm sorta assuming they'll not grant me any ESA-component of UC as I doubt I'd get through all the hoops to qualify (face to face, and a bastard long form to complete I expect).

So what do I do? Do I ring my GP and ask them to sign me off? Are they doing this more readily atm without an in-person appointment? I mean I'm intending to return to work when lockdown ends. I'm not too ill to work. But the sort of work I can do, and how much I can do is affected by my disability, which is what the UC form asked specifically. I guess PIP would be more appropriate here, but the thought of applying for that again, and prob having to go to appeal, is not... appealing! I dunno. I hoped to leave all this behind when I decided to come off PIP and ESA last year, and return to work. Luckily, although I'm poorer since starting work, my OH earns, so I can 'afford' to work part time hours at minimum wage. Except he doesn't now, since corona. Hence the UC application. But we shall struggle on UC, the rent will be hard to pay. So if I got a higher rate for being disabled, that would be welcome.

This all seems hard to think about and get my head round, so if anyone has any helpful experience of this, or suggestions/advice on what I do about a sick note, I'd be very grateful. Thanks.

 

[8115]

Ask the GP for a fit note. I don't know what you do if they won't give you one, because as you say they may say you're well enough to work. Actually I think a fit note can say "yes, but". Have you done the health questionnaire on the UC application? That's the other main thing.

 

[Kevbad the Bad]

Another question if anyone can answer this please.

I answered yes to the question 'Are you disabled?' on the UC form. It said I will need to get fit notes from my GP. I haven't done this for years (didn't need to for ESA, I'd been on it so long). How does it work now? I'm sorta assuming they'll not grant me any ESA-component of UC as I doubt I'd get through all the hoops to qualify (face to face, and a bastard long form to complete I expect).

So what do I do? Do I ring my GP and ask them to sign me off? Are they doing this more readily atm without an in-person appointment? I mean I'm intending to return to work when lockdown ends. I'm not too ill to work. But the sort of work I can do, and how much I can do is affected by my disability, which is what the UC form asked specifically. I guess PIP would be more appropriate here, but the thought of applying for that again, and prob having to go to appeal, is not... appealing! I dunno. I hoped to leave all this behind when I decided to come off PIP and ESA last year, and return to work. Luckily, although I'm poorer since starting work, my OH earns, so I can 'afford' to work part time hours at minimum wage. Except he doesn't now, since corona. Hence the UC application. But we shall struggle on UC, the rent will be hard to pay. So if I got a higher rate for being disabled, that would be welcome.

This all seems hard to think about and get my head round, so if anyone has any helpful experience of this, or suggestions/advice on what I do about a sick note, I'd be very grateful. Thanks.

It’s a shame you came off PIP in a way, cos you can still get it and work at the same time. I’ve no idea how long it takes to re-apply for PIP but if you can stomach it it might be worth it anyway, whatever else you do, even if it means an appeal etc.

 

[chainsawjob]

It’s a shame you came off PIP in a way, cos you can still get it and work at the same time. I’ve no idea how long it takes to re-apply for PIP but if you can stomach it it might be worth it anyway, whatever else you do, even if it means an appeal etc.

Yeah, I always felt like I got PIP by the skin of my teeth, in the face of much opposition from the DWP (then again, can't we all say the same?). But I decided I was going to 'go it alone', I'd really had a gutful with everything, and was in a position, then, to survive financially. I hoped to get something better than a minimum wage p-t zero hrs job (and still aim to), but it was not to be. I was on DLA, followed by PIP for 20 years or so. Jeez, I've been on some disability benefit or other most of my adult life, there's only been a few years when my health's been ok enough to work f/t and earn enough to live on. What is now ESA was called Invalidity Pension when I first went on it aged 21 Maybe I'll apply again. Sigh. Thanks though.

 

[Kevbad the Bad]

Yeah, I always felt like I got PIP by the skin of my teeth, in the face of much opposition from the DWP (then again, can't we all say the same?). But I decided I was going to 'go it alone', I'd really had a gutful with everything, and was in a position, then, to survive financially. I hoped to get something better than a minimum wage p-t zero hrs job (and still aim to), but it was not to be. I was on DLA, followed by PIP for 20 years or so. Jeez, I've been on some disability benefit or other most of my adult life, there's only been a few years when my health's been ok enough to work f/t and earn enough to live on. What is now ESA was called Invalidity Pension when I first went on it aged 21 Maybe I'll apply again. Sigh. Thanks though.

All the best. Perseverance is the key, as I’m sure you know. Don’t let the bastards grind you down.

 

[equationgirl]

Hope everyone on the thread is doing ok. BCBlues did you ever get your assessment in the end?

 

[pogo 10]

Here we go, the dreaded brown envelope has arrived. Been out for a walk to clear my head. Filled in an reassessment form in october. Sod it here goes... Have been awarded the standard rate from now till november 2023. Phew, so glad i dont have to meet them face to face. Got score 11 points.

 

[StoneRoad]

pleased for you pogo 10 - so nice that something has worked in your favour.

 

[equationgirl]

That's excellent news pogo 10 one less thing to worry about.

 

[panpete]

Here we go, the dreaded brown envelope has arrived. Been out for a walk to clear my head. Filled in an reassessment form in october. Sod it here goes... Have been awarded the standard rate from now till november 2023. Phew, so glad i dont have to meet them face to face. Got score 11 points.

Such a nice feeling all that weight off your mind. Weight on minds is the last thing benefit claimants need.

 

[friendofdorothy]

Here we go, the dreaded brown envelope has arrived. Been out for a walk to clear my head. Filled in an reassessment form in october. Sod it here goes... Have been awarded the standard rate from now till november 2023. Phew, so glad i dont have to meet them face to face. Got score 11 points.

phew. glad for you!

 

[iona]

Just a heads-up in case anyone else would find this useful and wasn't already aware - you can get a disabled persons railcard if you get PIP, at either rate and for either component (doesn't need to be mobility!). Costs 20 quid a year and gets you, and another adult traveling with you, ⅓ off most train fares though not season tickets iirc.

 

[Thgsg]

Lee Harvey Oswold