Atos Medicals - Questions, Answers and Support

[equationgirl]

Send a written request by recorded delivery, and keep a copy.

Cheers VP

 

[equationgirl]

Nope, only the one that said he was in Support Group due to walking difficulties. Zilch about his brain damage

 

[angusmcfangus]

Hi angus
You should be told how long you have received the support group for - and congratulations on your results, fab news

I do not know if they are obliged to give you a reason for overturning the atos medical, however, under the terms of the Data Protection Act you are entitled to receive all information held about you. You can do usually do this by making a request in writing to the DWP.

Hope that helps

ViolentPanda may have some additional information, if he is able.

 

[equationgirl]

Good Lass, thanks for that.

Keep copies of all information submitted, in case you need it again for future forms.

 

[angusmcfangus]

Hi angus
You should be told how long you have received the support group for - and congratulations on your results, fab news

I do not know if they are obliged to give you a reason for overturning the atos medical, however, under the terms of the Data Protection Act you are entitled to receive all information held about you. You can do usually do this by making a request in writing to the DWP.

Hope that helps

ViolentPanda may have some additional information, if he is able.

Hi equationgirl, is the quilted design in your avatar a clue to where you come from. angus.

 

[equationgirl]

Hi equationgirl, is the quilted design in your avatar a clue to where you come from. angus.

Hi angus - no, it's just a pattern that I like

 

[Bakunin]

I've still heard nothing from either the DWP or ATOS about either my assessment (originally scheduled for November 21 last year) or any decision on my claim. Trouble is, I don't really want to tempt fate by calling them up and making enquiries.

 

[toggle]

fuck em.

 

[Frances Lengel]

I've still heard nothing from either the DWP or ATOS about either my assessment (originally scheduled for November 21 last year) or any decision on my claim. Trouble is, I don't really want to tempt fate by calling them up and making enquiries.

If you're still getting paid I'd be inclined to leave well alone.

 

[equationgirl]

I've still heard nothing from either the DWP or ATOS about either my assessment (originally scheduled for November 21 last year) or any decision on my claim. Trouble is, I don't really want to tempt fate by calling them up and making enquiries.

I'd leave it be. Chances are your paperwork is in a pile of 'don't know what to do with this' files. Let them sort it out. Claimants are chasing far too much as it is.

 

[ViolentPanda]

fuck em.

In the face, with a billhook.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

If you're still getting paid I'd be inclined to leave well alone.

^ that.

the friend I referred to a few pages back should have had his assessment several months ago - he missed one (September I think) due to not being well enough (his GP backed this up) and it took ages to get this one.

Another silly question (that may already have been answered somewhere) - how long does it normally take from having an ATOS assessment to getting any communication from DWP? (I just want to be ready for the crisis if it's a "sod off" letter...)

 

[wtfftw]

Also, how long does it take to get a decision or be called to a medical? I've heard nothing since sending the questionnaire back at the end of November. I guess that's only 6 weeks (with Christmas) but it feels like forever.

 

[Bakunin]

In the face, with a billhook.

Too humane.

If my grandfather were still alive I'd hand them over to him to use as live punchbags for demonstrating his hand-to-hand and unarmed skills.

'So, gramps, exactly what facial expression would someone get if you really did rip their knackers off while crushing their windpipe at the same time..?'

 

[equationgirl]

^ that.

the friend I referred to a few pages back should have had his assessment several months ago - he missed one (September I think) due to not being well enough (his GP backed this up) and it took ages to get this one.

Another silly question (that may already have been answered somewhere) - how long does it normally take from having an ATOS assessment to getting any communication from DWP? (I just want to be ready for the crisis if it's a "sod off" letter...)

Ages. VP mentioned his views on it earlier in the thread, and he thought it was the DWP just being petty about losing so many cases (I summarise) by taking it out on the claimants. Also there is a backlog building up because the tribunal service has just been swamped by a tidal wave of appeals thanks to Atos's behaviour.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Ages. VP mentioned his views on it earlier in the thread, and he thought it was the DWP just being petty about losing so many cases (I summarise) by taking it out on the claimants. Also there is a backlog building up because the tribunal service has just been swamped by a tidal wave of appeals thanks to Atos's behaviour.

I guess that means friend will continue getting his ESA until such time as the decision is made

We'll cross the appeal bridge if and when we get there

 

[equationgirl]

I guess that means friend will continue getting his ESA until such time as the decision is made

We'll cross the appeal bridge if and when we get there

He should do, I think.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

WORK CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT DEBATE LIVE NOW

THINK IT STARTED AROUND 11.00 so probably missed most of it​

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

hm, so did I hear that correctly? Work and Pensions Secretary claiming only 15% of appeals are won?

 

[Mephitic]

Article in todays Independant, sorry if its already been posted here.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Article in todays Independant, sorry if its already been posted here.

I watched the whole debate and loads of MPs quoted loads of sad stories

 

[equationgirl]

From the Article:

A spokeswoman for Atos Healthcare said: “We know that this can be a difficult process for people and we do all we can to make sure the service we provide is as professional and compassionate as possible. We have been doing this work...for over a decade and our doctors, nurses and physiotherapists are fully trained and experienced, with many coming directly from the NHS.”

They wouldn't know the meaning of compassion

 

[toggle]

From the Article:


They wouldn't know the meaning of compassion

with many coming from the nhs- presumably this would be the people the nhs sacked?

 

[Bakunin]

with many coming from the nhs- presumably this would be the people the nhs sacked?

Oh, the ones the NHS sacked for varying froms and degrees of malpractice and incompetency, those ones?

Or are they still hiring in fairly large numbers the ones who've already been struck off in other countries, while turning a blind eye to the fact that their fellow medical professionals already consider them unfit to practice?

 

[Quartz]

Money quote:

Kevan Jones, a former Labour minister, said suicides of claimants who were found fit to work by Atos had been reported. “There are...a number of well-publicised cases where people have taken their own lives because of this system,” he said. “It is not too strong to say that this Coalition Government has blood on their hands for the deaths of those individuals.”

The Coalition have the power to fire ATOS and haven't.

 

[existentialist]

Money quote:



The Coalition have the power to fire ATOS and haven't.

Do you have any views on why you think that might be?

 

[Bakunin]

Do you have any views on why you think that might be?

Probably the same reason the plod haven't looked at ATOS filing tender documents falsely claiming they were in consultation with a half-dozen major disability organisations without having actually mentioned this to the organisations in question. If anybody at ATOS ended up facing a long stretch, or the Coalition tried to terminate the Work Capability Assessment contract, I wonder whether all manner of interesting tidbits might suddenly find their way into the public domain.

In either situation, I doubt strongly that it would be just ATOS leaving blood on the carpet.

 

[ViolentPanda]

with many coming from the nhs- presumably this would be the people the nhs sacked?

Wrong emphasis, IMO. Often not sacked per se but, like the Old Bill, encouraged to leave. Sacking would mean a black mark on the employee's CV, and costly administration for the former employer.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Money quote:



The Coalition have the power to fire ATOS and haven't.

Nope, they don't. They have no power to fire ATOS in the normal sense of the word "fire". What they have the power to do is void the contract. Unfortunately, voiding the contract without providing cast-iron evidence of failure of service (you know, the stuff that the coalition have been turning a blind eye to and shifting the goalposts on?), the cost to the UK public will be massive in terms of termination clauses etc.

So, the coalition have no power to "fire" ATOS, and no political will whatsoever to void their contract.

 

[Quartz]

So, the coalition have no power to "fire" ATOS,

Pedantically, you are, of course, correct. But speaking colloquially, I very much doubt this is true. Contracts work both ways. The real issue is, as you rightly point out:

and no political will whatsoever to void their contract.

This, however, is very true.