Atos Medicals - Questions, Answers and Support

[Treacle Toes]

Toggle, please tell B to look at his PMs

 

[audiotech]

do you know any more detail about this?

Not much, but the reference contains the letters ESA within, so one can presume.

 

[equationgirl]

See, I wonder if they're going to change that one day to reflect the fact that a person needing help from a partner doesn't actually incur extra costs etc. whereas someone in a wheelchair may need money for new wheels etc.

Having said that, my b/f often gives me money for my Oyster Card etc. as most of it is spent doing stuff for him

I've been thinking about this. I think that in some cases that wouldn't be true, for example if neither person could drive and they both got public transport, but the person on DLA might need to get a taxi to/from work sometimes. That would be extra costs. Or have I got things muddled?

 

[toggle]

I've been thinking about this. I think that in some cases that wouldn't be true, for example if neither person could drive and they both got public transport, but the person on DLA might need to get a taxi to/from work sometimes. That would be extra costs. Or have I got things muddled?

hmmmm, guess they could ignore the times i've taken time off work to do things like get him to apintments

 

[equationgirl]

hmmmm, guess they could ignore the times i've taken time off work to do things like get him to apintments

So that's an extra cost to you, because of the loss of pay.

 

[Greebo]

So that's an extra cost to you, because of the loss of pay.

Indeed.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

So that's an extra cost to you, because of the loss of pay.

but not to us carers who are already underpaid

 

[equationgirl]

but not to us carers who are already underpaid

You're underwriting the NHS.

Is there a carer's allowance? Don't see why carers can't get at least the mimimum wage plus a supplement because of the out of hours elements.

 

[Celt]

i heard an amazing tale today. After my experience with the ATOS medical, service users for the charity I volunteer for have also been called.

"Jane" told me of her interview for ESA a week ago, where 10 mins into it, the ATOS bod stopped the medical and said she would recommend Jane be granted support group status, without further phsyical check and would be recommended that she shouldn't be further examined for benefit. The interviewer said she may work for ATOS but it doesn't mean she agrees with them."

"Jane" lives in a residential home, has asthma and bi-polar disorder.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

i heard an amazing tale today. After my experience with the ATOS medical, service users for the charity I volunteer for have also been called.

"Jane" told me of her interview for ESA a week ago, where 10 mins into it, the ATOS bod stopped the medical and said she would recommend Jane be granted support group status, without further phsyical check and would be recommended that she shouldn't be further examined for benefit. The interviewer said she may work for ATOS but it doesn't mean she agrees with them."

"Jane" lives in a residential home, has asthma and bi-polar disorder.

It's also a tactic for just getting you your 15 points but not going any further with assessment and getting your full set of points (or so I read)

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

You're underwriting the NHS.

Is there a carer's allowance? Don't see why carers can't get at least the mimimum wage plus a supplement because of the out of hours elements.

Yeah right

 

[existentialist]

You're underwriting the NHS.

Is there a carer's allowance? Don't see why carers can't get at least the mimimum wage plus a supplement because of the out of hours elements.

Ah, but remember that they've got to Make Work Pay. Start paying a living wage to carers, and everybody will want to be one instead of having a proper (Mc) job!

 

[Greebo]

Ah, but remember that they've got to Make Work Pay. Start paying a living wage to carers, and everybody will want to be one instead of having a proper (Mc) job!

Only a few months ago, I worked out that if I (as a carer) were paid even the minimum wage rate for every hour that I'm on call as well as doing anything, I'd earn enough money for both VP and I to live well enough (even in London) with no other income. However, I'm not sure how being permanently on call would fit with current work regulations - probably not at all!

 

[equationgirl]

You can opt out of the working time regulations so they don't apply.

 

[Greebo]

You can opt out of the working time regulations so they don't apply.

What about the stuff about pensions and sick leave?

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

What about the stuff about pensions and sick leave?

and holidays!

 

[Greebo]

and holidays!

You mean the thing where you and I almost always end up taking our work with us, and just doing the work in a different place?

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

You mean the thing where you and I almost always end up taking our work with us, just in a different place?

Yes, but at least we get to do it somewhere hot and exotic and with good beaches

 

[Bakunin]

i heard an amazing tale today. After my experience with the ATOS medical, service users for the charity I volunteer for have also been called.

"Jane" told me of her interview for ESA a week ago, where 10 mins into it, the ATOS bod stopped the medical and said she would recommend Jane be granted support group status, without further phsyical check and would be recommended that she shouldn't be further examined for benefit. The interviewer said she may work for ATOS but it doesn't mean she agrees with them."

"Jane" lives in a residential home, has asthma and bi-polar disorder.

VICTORY!

I had my GP call me at about 6pm a couple of nights ago. He was going to refer me unofficially to one of his pther GP colleagues (a former neurologist in a previous life) to check out my ansence seizures. Apparently his colleague recommends that I be referred to Treliske for a full set of tests, probably starting with an EEG rather than checking me out unofficially. Result is that I now have a full-on hospital referral to wave at them if I have to appeal.

 

[Greebo]

Yes, but at least we get to do it somewhere hot and exotic and with good beaches

I wish.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I wish.

Same as.

Even for me, taking him on holiday was a holiday for me as he'd just swim for hours and hours, because at least that way his feet didn't have to touch the ground, so a lot less pain for him.

 

[equationgirl]

What about the stuff about pensions and sick leave?

Of course you should both get those.

It makes me so angry because people like both of you do underwrite the NHS, and you should be entitled to so much more, including pensions, holidays (more than an office worker) and sick pay.

 

[equationgirl]

VICTORY!

I had my GP call me at about 6pm a couple of nights ago. He was going to refer me unofficially to one of his pther GP colleagues (a former neurologist in a previous life) to check out my ansence seizures. Apparently his colleague recommends that I be referred to Treliske for a full set of tests, probably starting with an EEG rather than checking me out unofficially. Result is that I now have a full-on hospital referral to wave at them if I have to appeal.

Well done to both you and toggle, this is an excellent step forwards.

 

[toggle]

Well done to both you and toggle, this is an excellent step forwards.

it's also indicative of how much above and beyond the gp is prepared to go. he indicated supprise that bakunin had been given the home visit, which means he was willing to spend his time offering assistance on something he thought was unlikely, but was willing to try anyway.

also got the referal through to community psych in a few days, they aren't wasting time either.

 

[equationgirl]

it's also indicative of how much above and beyond the gp is prepared to go. he indicated supprise that bakunin had been given the home visit, which means he was willing to spend his time offering assistance on something he thought was unlikely, but was willing to try anyway.

also got the referal through to community psych in a few days, they aren't wasting time either.

It's good when they're willing to try.

Hope this means you're feeling a little less stressed.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Of course you should both get those.

It makes me so angry because people like both of you do underwrite the NHS, and you should be entitled to so much more, including pensions, holidays (more than an office worker) and sick pay.

and discounted travel! Scottish carers get it

 

[toggle]

It's good when they're willing to try.

Hope this means you're feeling a little less stressed.

yes.

one less thing on a long list to worry about.

only thing now is to insist on the asessment being when i can be there without having to miss sessions of my courses.

 

[equationgirl]

and discounted travel! Scottish carers get it

You don't

ffs

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

You don't

ffs

No. Republic of Ireland carers get it as well. Although both in Scotland and Ireland, you're supposed to be travelling with the person you're caring for, which seems a bit illogical if they're housebound through illness/disability etc.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

You also get credits for your phone and help with your fuel in Ireland if you're disabled