Atos Medicals - Questions, Answers and Support

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I honestly think that, based on the posts you've made, he should be getting the middle rate of the care component due to the level of supervision needed to keep out of danger. I think there's a real difference between supervision for 'keeping out of danger' and because he can't do things for himself. It is about what he can do - and he can do a lot - but equally if there is help you can get to make your lives easier than you should get it.

his appeal in january made it clear he couldn't qualify for middle rate care under the new rules, because he can cope with minimal daily supervision, 20 quid is supposed to cover minimal daily supervision. they chose not to look at his mobility. i don't think he qualifies for that, but they chose not to look at whether he did. I think this was tactical.

he can do everything that he needs to do, as long as he's not on his own doing this, he does the majority of the housework as long as i tell him what needs doing. what he can't do is live on his own or hold a regular job.

but i just destressed by telling a disability denier elsewhere that he was a prick. i got censored, cause it's that sort of place, but i felt a lot better.

 

[Bakunin]

I'm prepared to fight them over this now that I've had time to consider it more calmly. The best likely outcome is that I lose the mobility component but keep the care, but I might get more than that and while I'd say it's a case of a slim chance versus none at all it's better than simply rolling over for them. Basically I'll be working on the basis that they'll use whatever sharp practices they think they can get away with to take away what little I still get and with the firm belief that they'll do their best to make it as drawn out and difficult as possible, but that's nothing about ATOS and the DWP that I didn't already know.

I will fight them again. Not because I want to, but because I'm going to have to.

 

[equationgirl]

In some ways, letting him do the assessment in this way demonstrates exactly the point you are trying to make.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I honestly think that, based on the posts you've made, he should be getting the middle rate of the care component due to the level of supervision needed to keep out of danger. I think there's a real difference between supervision for 'keeping out of danger' and because he can't do things for himself. It is about what he can do - and he can do a lot - but equally if there is help you can get to make your lives easier than you should get it.

Sounds like it, and if his memory is that bad, that if he's distracted (eg. with a phone call), he'll forget he's cooking, or running a bath, then it should be mentioned.

 

[equationgirl]

I'm prepared to fight them over this now that I've had time to consider it more calmly. The best likely outcome is that I lose the mobility component but keep the care, but I might get more than that and while I'd say it's a case of a slim chance versus none at all it's better than simply rolling over for them. Basically I'll be working on the basis that they'll use whatever sharp practices they think they can get away with to take away what little I still get and with the firm belief that they'll do their best to make it as drawn out and difficult as possible, but that's nothing about ATOS and the DWP that I didn't already know.

I will fight them again. Not because I want to, but because I'm going to have to.

They fight dirty, and they don't expect you to fight back. Mwah hah hah

 

[Bakunin]

They fight dirty, and they don't expect you to fight back. Mwah hah hah

The words 'Come back John Bellingham, your country needs you' do spring to mind.

 

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I'm prepared to fight them over this now that I've had time to consider it more calmly. The best likely outcome is that I lose the mobility component but keep the care, but I might get more than that and while I'd say it's a case of a slim chance versus none at all it's better than simply rolling over for them. Basically I'll be working on the basis that they'll use whatever sharp practices they think they can get away with to take away what little I still get and with the firm belief that they'll do their best to make it as drawn out and difficult as possible, but that's nothing about ATOS and the DWP that I didn't already know.

I will fight them again. Not because I want to, but because I'm going to have to.

what you will get is the lower rate care at the absolute minimum. we may need to appeal to get this, but we will get it. if we had got advice before filling in the forms and before the medical you would probably be in a better position now. but now we are here and now we fight with what we have. you told me stuff tonight i didn't know before. i need to know it all. cause i need to be able to fight this for you as well. write it for me while i'm doing the agency shuffle tomorrow.

 

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Sounds like it, and if his memory is that bad, that if he's distracted (eg. with a phone call), he'll forget he's cooking, or running a bath, then it should be mentioned.

i said at the appeal he was getting absence seizures up to 6 times a day while i saw them. this wans't enough for middle rate care.

 

[Bakunin]

what you will get is the lower rate care at the absolute minimum. we may need to appeal to get this, but we will get it. if we had got advice before filling in the forms and before the medical you would probably be in a better position now. but now we are here and now we fight with what we have. you told me stuff tonight i didn't know before. i need to know it all. cause i need to be able to fight this for you as well. write it for me while i'm doing the agency shuffle tomorrow.

Will I be writing that before, after or during the dentist from marathon Man has had his fun with me?

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

i said at the appeal he was getting absence seizures up to 6 times a day while i saw them. this wans't enough for middle rate care.

Does he have any consultants that he sees about any of his conditions? If so, did you get any letters off them?

 

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Does he have any consultants that he sees about any of his conditions? If so, did you get any letters off them?

not anymore. gp handles his meds, not often. gp wasn't all that inteested in the seizures. he is altering that situation this week.

Will I be writing that before, after or during the dentist from marathon Man has had his fun with me?

that is entirely up to you. i do expect the full script though

 

[ViolentPanda]

I'm prepared to fight them over this now that I've had time to consider it more calmly. The best likely outcome is that I lose the mobility component but keep the care, but I might get more than that and while I'd say it's a case of a slim chance versus none at all it's better than simply rolling over for them...

The best likely outcome is retaining your current award.

Basically I'll be working on the basis that they'll use whatever sharp practices they think they can get away with to take away what little I still get and with the firm belief that they'll do their best to make it as drawn out and difficult as possible, but that's nothing about ATOS and the DWP that I didn't already know.

I will fight them again. Not because I want to, but because I'm going to have to.

Realistically, everyone has to and should, because G-d knows that they throw these impediments in front of anyone and everyone. Unfortunately, some people still believe that the state is benign, while others are so crushed by the sheer bureaucratic hell that they (just as the DWP want) stop claiming. I wouldn't mind a system where the decisions and administration were disinterested, but when they're actively malign, then every person fighting back is a drain on their resources, and it kind of becomes an imperative to do so, however difficult.
What a fucking world, eh?

 

[ViolentPanda]

i said at the appeal he was getting absence seizures up to 6 times a day while i saw them. this wans't enough for middle rate care.

Probably because without a consultant's opinion backing you up/making a diagnosis, they just treat it as anecdote.
Basically, nowadays you're epected to present definitive evidence for each impairment you have, never mind that with the changes to the NHS, PCTs (or whatever the hell they're currently called) are prioritising spending (here, referrals appear to have to be approved by the PCT before you're referred) so unless you've shown your GP substantive and substantial evidence of a problem, it's now harder to even get a referral

 

[ViolentPanda]

Will I be writing that before, after or during the dentist from marathon Man has had his fun with me?

Most of them nowadays have a more generous hand with the anaesthesia.

 

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Probably because without a consultant's opinion backing you up/making a diagnosis, they just treat it as anecdote.
Basically, nowadays you're epected to present definitive evidence for each impairment you have, never mind that with the changes to the NHS, PCTs (or whatever the hell they're currently called) are prioritising spending (here, referrals appear to have to be approved by the PCT before you're referred) so unless you've shown your GP substantive and substantial evidence of a problem, it's now harder to even get a referral

i'm going to insist he gets a referal for that. it will not be in place by the time of the assessment, but should be there by appeal. I'm also going to see if the doctor will dignose on symptoms if it won't show up in tests.

 

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Most of them nowadays have a more generous hand with the anaesthesia.

he['s fine. grumpy but fine. i'm here for another couple of hours, then i've got a fatory shift this afternoon

 

[Treacle Toes]

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I have a copy of this if anyone needs it and doesn't want to pay. PM me your email address and I will
send it.

 

[ViolentPanda]

i'm going to insist he gets a referal for that. it will not be in place by the time of the assessment, but should be there by appeal. I'm also going to see if the doctor will dignose on symptoms if it won't show up in tests.

He's already got a BPD diagnosis, IIRC, so having fugue states, although "rare" in medical terms, isn't unheard-of. It certainly occurs as an extra problem for a minority of people with BPD who are prone to stress. It's all there in DSM IV, if your GP gets ornery.

 

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afaik, one of his meds is used to treat both bpd and epilepsy.

but thankyou. i'll look that up, print it out nd he can take it to the docs with him.

 

[equationgirl]

afaik, one of his meds is used to treat both bpd and epilepsy.

but thankyou. i'll look that up, print it out nd he can take it to the docs with him.

I'll have a look for supporting information too, seeing as how you've got work.

 

[Meltingpot]

he['s fine. grumpy but fine. i'm here for another couple of hours, then i've got a fatory shift this afternoon

Good luck with that (and the shift too).

 

[equationgirl]

afaik, one of his meds is used to treat both bpd and epilepsy.

but thankyou. i'll look that up, print it out nd he can take it to the docs with him.

This paper summary might be helpful:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=bipolar disorder aspergers epilepsy

 

[teqniq]

This has actually started today:

DISABLED PROTESTOR TO STAGE VIGIL & HUNGER STRIKE OUTSIDE OF ATOS OFFICES IN CARDIFF

STARTS
A disabled person in his 30s will lead a five day hunger strike and vigil outside the ATOS office on St Agnes Road, Gabalfa, Cardiff to protest a letter from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) declaring him fit for work and cutting his benefits.
Christos Palmer, who has both mental and physical health problems, including depression, self-harm and mobility issues, hopes the protest will highlight the suffering of disabled people caused by current government policies.....

fot those with Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/events/430345053681756/

E2A this has made it to the Independent and Huffington Post:

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices...strike-just-to-get-heard-by-atos-8282368.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/201...isability-rights_n_2076218.html?utm_hp_ref=uk

 

[Frances Lengel]

Well, I got my letter this morning about the results of my medical & that's me out of the eurovision. Nul points.

I do consider myself quite appealing, but I doubt I'll bother appealing against this decision, I'm just going to sign on for JSA. I know by doing that I'm doing exactly what the system wants, but I simply can't be arsed with it all - You know how it is. Anyway, I'd more or less reconciled myself to this happening - It's the way things are going, you can't appeal against the zeitgiest.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Well, I got my letter this morning about the results of my medical & that's me out of the eurovision. Nul points.

I do consider myself quite appealing, but I doubt I'll bother appealing against this decision, I'm just going to sign on for JSA. I know by doing that I'm doing exactly what the system wants, but I simply can't be arsed with it all - You know how it is. Anyway, I'd more or less reconciled myself to this happening - It's the way things are going, you can't appeal against the zeitgiest.

Frances, if you think you're entitled to it, you really shouldn't let them do this to you.

 

[equationgirl]

Well, I got my letter this morning about the results of my medical & that's me out of the eurovision. Nul points.

I do consider myself quite appealing, but I doubt I'll bother appealing against this decision, I'm just going to sign on for JSA. I know by doing that I'm doing exactly what the system wants, but I simply can't be arsed with it all - You know how it is. Anyway, I'd more or less reconciled myself to this happening - It's the way things are going, you can't appeal against the zeitgiest.

I urge you to reconsider. You are entitled to support. If you would like some help with the appeal paperwork I will help you.

Stick it to the man, Frances, fight for what is yours. Don't let those fat cat fuckers steal from you

 

[Mephitic]

I urge you to reconsider. You are entitled to support. If you would like some help with the appeal paperwork I will help you.

Stick it to the man, Frances, fight for what is yours. Don't let those fat cat fuckers steal from you

This.

 

[Quartz]

Well, I got my letter this morning about the results of my medical & that's me out of the eurovision. Nul points.

I do consider myself quite appealing, but I doubt I'll bother appealing against this decision, I'm just going to sign on for JSA.

Please do appeal. We pay taxes and NI in part so that the State can support us when we're in need. You're in need. Don't let the buggers grind you down and get away with it.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Well, I got my letter this morning about the results of my medical & that's me out of the eurovision. Nul points.

I do consider myself quite appealing, but I doubt I'll bother appealing against this decision, I'm just going to sign on for JSA. I know by doing that I'm doing exactly what the system wants, but I simply can't be arsed with it all - You know how it is. Anyway, I'd more or less reconciled myself to this happening - It's the way things are going, you can't appeal against the zeitgiest.

I can understand why you feel like that, but it isn't the zeitgeist, mate. It's just a discourse some rich fuckers are trying to impose so that they can carry on robbing. The reason so many decisions get overturned on appeal is because the Social Security Commissioners (on whose work the Tribunals base how they make their decisions with regard to individual cases) deal with law and precedent, not with zeitgeiste or discourse.
I'm not sure whether the process has changed yet, but IIRC you have to request a review of the decision first. Why not mail them asking for a review, and requesting a copy of your assessment? That way you can see whether they've cocked the assessment, and whether they've done it enough to warrant going for an appeal.

 

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appeal tribunal for dla was less interested in the assessment than in making their own assessment of whether someone fits the criteria IME. would think esa appeal works the same way.