Atos Medicals - Questions, Answers and Support

[ViolentPanda]

I noticed this today.
Cost effective to have GPs do assessments ?
Disability benefit tests have doubled in cost, says NAO - BBC News

The DWP would never go for it, the reasons being:
1) It wouldn't feed money to their corporate friends, and
2) As far as the DWP are concerned, GPs are dangerous subversives who are likely to actually support patients.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Appointment letter for PIP "assessment" came through the door today. 12th Feb. Will be phoning them up on Monday to warn them that I'll be recording the assessment - I bought two portable cassette recorders, and a dozen cassettes, plus batteries, last year - and that I'll need to take a taxi there and back. Not looking forward to it, but I've at least got some extra medical evidence since I submitted my claim form, so I can get that on the record, at least.

 

[equationgirl]

Wishing you the best of luck with this, hope it goes OK. Two weeks isn't a lot of notice though.

Appointment letter for PIP "assessment" came through the door today. 12th Feb. Will be phoning them up on Monday to warn them that I'll be recording the assessment - I bought two portable cassette recorders, and a dozen cassettes, plus batteries, last year - and that I'll need to take a taxi there and back. Not looking forward to it, but I've at least got some extra medical evidence since I submitted my claim form, so I can get that on the record, at least.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Wishing you the best of luck with this, hope it goes OK. Two weeks isn't a lot of notice though.

No, it isn't. It's the same amount of time I had to submit my PIP claim, though. The 28 days was somewhat eroded by the 13 days (from the date of the letter saying "you have to submit your application by...") that it took the form to arrive - one reason that I couldn't include everything at the time - a fortnight to root out decades-worth of evidence isn't quick, not even if you're as anal about filing as I am! I had to make such a rush job of the form, that I'm sure it's less coherent than it could have been, given the full 28 days. I did write to my MP (and e-mail him) about the ridiculous policy of sending stuff out 2nd class, but haven't heard a thing from the Blue Labour fuckwad.

 

[equationgirl]

Well, looking on the bright side, a less coherent form could work in your favour ViolentPanda

 

[ViolentPanda]

Well, looking on the bright side, a less coherent form could work in your favour ViolentPanda

I have my fingers and toes crossed!

 

[friendofdorothy]

Wishing you all the best VP.

 

[teqniq]

and from me

 

[StoneRoad]

best of wishes for Feb 12 ViolentPanda

 

[chainsawjob]

Good luck ViolentPanda, hope it goes as smoothly as it can.

 

[Hocus Eye.]

VioletPanda, good luck with that assessment.

 

[spirals]

Bugger, got a letter today telling me I need to claim PIP. Does anyone know how long the waiting time is for them to make the decision, I was told 12 to 16 weeks to get a medical assessment

 

[Greebo]

Bugger, got a letter today telling me I need to claim PIP. Does anyone know how long the waiting time is for them to make the decision <snip>

No idea, sorry.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Bugger, got a letter today telling me I need to claim PIP. Does anyone know how long the waiting time is for them to make the decision, I was told 12 to 16 weeks to get a medical assessment

I got the letter on 13th November. I phoned them as requested, and apparently couldn't do a phone claim because they only have space for 2 different ailments on their programme. They said "we'll send you a form, but it has to be returned in 28 days".
What they didn't say was "that's 28 days from your telephone call, sucker!"
Imagine my consternation when the form turned up on 27th November, with the words "return by 14th December or you may lose your DLA" printed on it. Yep, had to fill out the entire fucking thing and send it back in 2 bloody weeks!

As for waiting time, here in south London, my assessment date is mid-Feb, so roughly 8 weeks from return of form to Atos appointment. They then reckon that a result takes 4-8 weeks.

 

[spirals]

Thanks ViolentPanda, I'm in Surrey so I'm guessing it will be around the same.

 

[redcogs]

You have my total solidarity and very best wishes for the 12th ViolentPanda.

 

[redcogs]

Here is my brief situation. i've been on a DLA 'lifetime award' since the late 1980's. Medical condition is a mangled leg walking disability (which resulted from a RTA in the 1960s), and a heart condition (heart attack and bi pass surgery) since 2000.

i'm 64, and pensionable in July this year (ie 5 months away).

The PIP people seem to be leaving my assessment until the very last moment. i'm hoping beyond hope that i've got under the wire by some accident, but i'm also panicking in case i lose my vehicle.

Anyone care to comment or offer advice?

 

[friendofdorothy]

Nothing practical to offer - but I wish you well and hope they delay bothering you. What a waste of tax payers money it would be to put you through a stressful process when you only have 5 months of claim left. Lets hope they don't bother.

 

[toggle]

I got the letter on 13th November. I phoned them as requested, and apparently couldn't do a phone claim because they only have space for 2 different ailments on their programme. They said "we'll send you a form, but it has to be returned in 28 days".
What they didn't say was "that's 28 days from your telephone call, sucker!"
Imagine my consternation when the form turned up on 27th November, with the words "return by 14th December or you may lose your DLA" printed on it. Yep, had to fill out the entire fucking thing and send it back in 2 bloody weeks!

As for waiting time, here in south London, my assessment date is mid-Feb, so roughly 8 weeks from return of form to Atos appointment. They then reckon that a result takes 4-8 weeks.

i'll bare that in mind and make sure we have the folder ready for when his happens.

hopefully our fucking awesome gp will repeat sending out the letter that they took one look at and gave up on the idea of reasessing him for his dla

 

[toggle]

Here is my brief situation. i've been on a DLA 'lifetime award' since the late 1980's. Medical condition is a mangled leg walking disability (which resulted from a RTA in the 1960s), and a heart condition (heart attack and bi pass surgery) since 2000.

i'm 64, and pensionable in July this year (ie 5 months away).

The PIP people seem to be leaving my assessment until the very last moment. i'm hoping beyond hope that i've got under the wire by some accident, but i'm also panicking in case i lose my vehicle.

Anyone care to comment or offer advice?

don't get upset about anything until it happens.

but do be prepared. make sure you have all the stuff you will need to do the application together.

 

[ViolentPanda]

That was not much fun, physically. 40 minutes in south London rush-hour traffic, over seemingly every pothole and speedbump in Lambeth, then two hours being "assessed" by a nice enough bloke - but whose medical skills were obviously either theoretical or well-atrophied - while sitting on a chair that was about as conducive to someone with lower back problems sitting comfortably, as a sack full of rocks. He "tested" my memory by asking me to recall three items he showed me, and had me name (doing it properly, like at the memory clinic I attended, takes half a dozen different tests, each one including about 50 "questions"/puzzles). He then did manual resistance tests on my muscles, but did them in a "meh" sort of manner. A 30 minute journey home, over most of the same bumps and potholes, followed.
The saving grace of it all was Greebo, who didn't let him get away with anything, even when I was flagging.

Oh yeah, latest euphemism for an Atos assessor is "disability analyst". He flinched and dissembled when Greebo asked his actual medical qualification/field right at the end of the assessment.

So, supposedly I'll hear in "4 to 8 weeks" whether I get spit-roasted or not.

 

[teqniq]

Blimey well best wishes with it all.

 

[superfly101]

He "tested" my memory by asking me to recall three items he showed me, and had me name (doing it properly, like at the memory clinic I attended, takes half a dozen different tests, each one including about 50 "questions"/puzzles

The CMHT @ 332 Brixton Road test for me 2 years ago was counting down in 11s from 120..... speaks volumes that service cuts now mean that the good old ATOS/Maximus assessment criteria is being adopted through out...... thank fuck for UNUM (satire)

Hope you don't have to appeal but win rates are 60%+ for PIP so... although nothing to celibate....

Also watch out for a periodic review when on PIP. For whatever fucking reason they want outside of the "proposed" length before review date of your award.

Like ESA reviews these seam to be occuring right after a HMCTS appeal win!

 

[equationgirl]

Blimey. Hope you and Greebo are OK after that marathon of an assessment ViolentPanda.

 

[Greebo]

Blimey. Hope you and Greebo are OK after that marathon of an assessment ViolentPanda.

Thanks, just knackered, which is why neither of us were online much yesterday. And VP's relapsed a bit, as can be expected after a ridiculously early morning start (had to leave here shortly after 8am to be in Vauxhall for 9am) followed by that ordeal.

Now comes the waiting...

 

[redcogs]

That was not much fun, physically. 40 minutes in south London rush-hour traffic, over seemingly every pothole and speedbump in Lambeth, then two hours being "assessed" by a nice enough bloke - but whose medical skills were obviously either theoretical or well-atrophied - while sitting on a chair that was about as conducive to someone with lower back problems sitting comfortably, as a sack full of rocks. He "tested" my memory by asking me to recall three items he showed me, and had me name (doing it properly, like at the memory clinic I attended, takes half a dozen different tests, each one including about 50 "questions"/puzzles). He then did manual resistance tests on my muscles, but did them in a "meh" sort of manner. A 30 minute journey home, over most of the same bumps and potholes, followed.
The saving grace of it all was Greebo, who didn't let him get away with anything, even when I was flagging.

Oh yeah, latest euphemism for an Atos assessor is "disability analyst". He flinched and dissembled when Greebo asked his actual medical qualification/field right at the end of the assessment.

So, supposedly I'll hear in "4 to 8 weeks" whether I get spit-roasted or not.

In my most vivid dreams we turn the tables on the scum who are engaged in harassing the less fortunate. i see all the best Urbanites controlling the spotlights, formulating the questions, and then posing them:

"Can you remember when you decided to become a bullying intimidator of people with disabilities and illnesses"??

"Can you tell us whose interests you thought you were serving as you actively engaged in punishing people for being poor, or ill, or less abled, or probably all three"??

"Will you explain to the panel how you became so devoid of basic humanity"??

"Any failure to offer satisfactorily convincing answers will result in an appropriate term of penal servitude (with hard labour)".

i know dreaming alters nothing, but sometimes it can seem that there is little else to hold on to. Still, its fantastic that there are so many decent people here who are prepared to offer practical support and encouragement - brilliant comrades all. i'm hoping for a good outcome for you VP.

 

[superfly101]

In my most vivid dreams we turn the tables on the scum who are engaged in harassing the less fortunate. i see all the best Urbanites controlling the spotlights, formulating the questions, and then posing them:

"Can you remember when you decided to become a bullying intimidator of people with disabilities and illnesses"??

"Can you tell us whose interests you thought you were serving as you actively engaged in punishing people for being poor, or ill, or less abled, or probably all three"??

"Will you explain to the panel how you became so devoid of basic humanity"??

"Any failure to offer satisfactorily convincing answers will result in an appropriate term of penal servitude (with hard labour)".

i know dreaming alters nothing, but sometimes it can seem that there is little else to hold on to. Still, its fantastic that there are so many decent people here who are prepared to offer practical support and encouragement - brilliant comrades all. i'm hoping for a good outcome for you VP.

MegaDeath

Like Whitesnake but on heavy metal acid

 

[Greebo]

In my most vivid dreams we turn the tables on the scum who are engaged in harassing the less fortunate. i see all the best Urbanites controlling the spotlights, formulating the questions, and then posing them <snip>

Reposting this postcard in a moment of frivolity:

 

[dynamicbaddog]

Fed up
After my last medical in November 2014 I was awarded contributory based ESA as a full time student. This only lasts for a year , so on Nov 12th of last year I filled in the required form and sent them all the evidence of my income in order to get income based ESA. Its now nearly March and I still haven't had my claim processed.Last time I chased them up I was told it had been approved by a decision maker but they couldn't activate it as it has been send to another office for processing due to a backlog at their end, they don't know when this will be sorted. I probably won't get much anyway because they now take my student maintenance grant into account, but I still need to be in receipt of it because it has an effect on my housing benefit.
And today I got an ESA50 in the post so I have another medical looming....

 

[ViolentPanda]

So, supposedly I'll hear in "4 to 8 weeks" whether I get spit-roasted or not.

In reality, less than 3 weeks.

I've been awarded standard rate "Daily Living" component, and enhanced rate "Mobility" component. The award is until 2020.
It's less than my DLA (£28pw lower), which was high rate Care and high rate Mobility components, but Greebo can still claim Carer's Allowance/Carer Premium (which protects her from JobcentrePlus's tender mercies, thank fuck!
Now I need to decide whether to appeal or not.