Atos Medicals - Questions, Answers and Support

[equationgirl]

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.

on the one hand, of course, but on the other hand, it draws the whole thing out, so I understand you seriously thinking about. Personally I think taking money like this from those who need it most is abhorrent.

 

[yardbird]

I've not been checking here lately.
I didn't realise that they could attack DLA.
ViolentPanda that sucks!
I think that because I'm 68 I may not be effected so badly.
I just had a brown envelope.
It starts in caps -
ABOUT THE GENERAL INCREASES IN BENEFITS.
then an "explanation"
letter ends with " we apologise for any distress caused"!!!
I'm £5.14 per week worse off FFS!

Waiting for the next brown envelope.

 

[passenger]

hi guys just been told by JSA that i might need to sine on every day
or do volunteer work miles away witch i can`t do due my leg. so i have
come of JSA back onto ESA i hope im doing the right thing they need a fit note
witch i will get tomorrow morning, my doctors not been able to see me due to 1/2 day yesterday
and no appointments today any ideas of help thanks troops. a worried passenger

 

[Greebo]

(((yardbird))) and (((passenger))) the system stinks so much that sometimes the biggest possible act of resistance is remaining alive.

 

[StoneRoad]

(((yardbird))) and (((passenger))) the system stinks so much that sometimes the biggest possible act of resistance is remaining alive.

Can't *like* that - but the sentiment I agree with - keep on keeping on and I hope for more strength the shield and sword arms. I wish that there was more I could do to help ...

 

[equationgirl]

hi guys just been told by JSA that i might need to sine on every day
or do volunteer work miles away witch i can`t do due my leg. so i have
come of JSA back onto ESA i hope im doing the right thing they need a fit note
witch i will get tomorrow morning, my doctors not been able to see me due to 1/2 day yesterday
and no appointments today any ideas of help thanks troops. a worried passenger

I think that getting the fit note and submitting it is all you can do at the moment. Can you start a new ESA claim?

 

[passenger]

I think that getting the fit note and submitting it is all you can do at the moment. Can you start a new ESA claim?

thats what the jobcentre said i should do i think it should be ok things have changed more
powerfull medication more pain etc its my only choice... been of ESA for 4 months

 

[yardbird]

Brown envelope a thick one.
Read it all now and on the last page.
If you are 65 years and over you will have no need to claim PIP.
You'll continue to get DLA, as long as your circumstances don't change. (That'll be death then )

I had to let you know that I've now got it in writing and shall sleep better.
The basis of this all goes back to the way I approached my dealings with ATOS.
So a result and no more assessments, just self assessment.
I wanted this thread to know.

 

[equationgirl]

Yay yardbird

 

[yardbird]

I like to think that I've been of help from time to time.
I started the shitstorm about the recording.
They told me that they had to have two techs to "calibrate" the recording gear. I told them that I used to operate a 16 channel mixing desk and you do not have to calibrate any dual recording machine, that's a lie.
Then I sussed that they were charging the gov for bollox.
Then thanks to urban I gave the assessor a "worst day".
" yes I'm yardie. Your name and qualifications please ?" I can't/won't tell you.
Then the long drawn out crap started.
I was a lot younger then.
I shall still be back here to see how everyone is getting on and I might just stick my oar in from time to time.
Thanks for all the help.

 

[equationgirl]

You gave some fab input about recording devices yardbird

 

[yardbird]

Breaking Breaking
Iain Duncan Smith quits over planned disability benefit changes - BBC News

 

[equationgirl]

 

[Libertad]

Breaking Breaking
Iain Duncan Smith quits over planned disability benefit changes - BBC News

Left his job voluntarily eh? No Job Seekers Allowance for him then.

 

[WouldBe]

It's that time of life again. Got the brown envelope the other day to say my DLA was ending and would I like to claim PIP (as if there's any choice )

Where have the last 4 years gone?

 

[yardbird]

Sorry to hear about the brown envelope WouldBe

 

[equationgirl]

It's that time of life again. Got the brown envelope the other day to say my DLA was ending and would I like to claim PIP (as if there's any choice )

Where have the last 4 years gone?

I'd be tempted to just double-check the dates. Just to make sure you really are at the end date they claim. We're here to help if you need it x

 

[WouldBe]

I'd be tempted to just double-check the dates. Just to make sure you really are at the end date they claim. We're here to help if you need it x

Cheers.
I've got to dig out the paperwork from my last DLA claim to help fill this in. The date will be in there somewhere.

I could have sworn the DLA didn't run out until July but I've got a memory like a sieve so who knows

 

[spirals]

I've been told to apply for PIP 5 months before my DLA award runs out, when I queried it I got told they are migrating a lot of people now and the time your DLA award runs out doesn't matter.

 

[equationgirl]

There's also anecdotal evidence that people on long-term awards were being requested to reapply long before they were due to.

 

[ViolentPanda]

There's also anecdotal evidence that people on long-term awards were being requested to reapply long before they were due to.

I had an indefinite DLA award, and was "requested" to apply for PIP in November last year.

 

[equationgirl]

I had an indefinite DLA award, and was "requested" to apply for PIP in November last year.

Let's face it, it's not really a request -it's more of a demand or order.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Let's face it, it's not really a request -it's more of a demand or order.

Yep.
I'm currently burning the tape recordings I made during the "assessment" in January into mp3s, so that I can send a CD along with other evidence for my "Mandatory Reconsideration", as they stiffed me for about £30 a week, and appear to have not actually considered that because I'm able to hear and interact well in a small room with two people talking consecutively, I can do so in other peopled environments. I know there's a risk of them revising the award downward, but letting them get away with rolling me down to the equivalent of medium-rate care when I was on high care and high mobility isn't on the cards!

 

[WouldBe]

Had a letter the other day from the DLA dept to say my DLA expires in late July.

What's that website again that provides info about filling in these forms?

Cheers

 

[Greebo]

<snip>What's that website again that provides info about filling in these forms?

Cheers

Benefits and work. Home Yes, a lot of the stuff can only be got after subscribing, but it really could save you a lot of money if it helps you get the result you need.

 

[WouldBe]

Done. I think. Not sure if payment has been accepted for the subscription though.

 

[Greebo]

Done. I think. Not sure if payment has been accepted for the subscription though.

If you need something from that site urgently, PM ViolentPanda with your email and he'll be able to forward something onto you - his subscription is still current (I think).

 

[WouldBe]

If you need something from that site urgently, PM ViolentPanda with your email and he'll be able to forward something onto you - his subscription is still current (I think).

Cheers. Subscription has gone through so I've now got access. Just need to find the energy to wade through it all and fill the form in.

Some strange point scorings on there. You get 2 points(?) if you can't put your trousers on but 8 points if you can't put your top on. I'd rather go around topless than naked from the waist down.

 

[WouldBe]

Woops. Looks like I've cocked this up before I've even started filling in the form.
Benefits and work say you can get extra time to fill the form in if you have memory loss problems when asked when you phone up to claim PIP. When I phoned up they didn't specifically mention memory problems so I said no to things like dementia, learning problems etc. (as I can take things far too literally these days)

Is it too late to ask for extra time to fill the form in as it's due back by the 14th April?

 

[ShiftyBagLady]

Woops. Looks like I've cocked this up before I've even started filling in the form.
Benefits and work say you can get extra time to fill the form in if you have memory loss problems when asked when you phone up to claim PIP. When I phoned up they didn't specifically mention memory problems so I said no to things like dementia, learning problems etc. (as I can take things far too literally these days)

Is it too late to ask for extra time to fill the form in as it's due back by the 14th April?

It wouldn't hurt to ask. Especially if you say that you underestimated how difficult you would find filling the form in.
Do you have anybody that might be able to help you do it?