Atos Medicals - Questions, Answers and Support

[StoneRoad]

Why is it that the "DWP" seem to specialise in sending letters to arrive on a Saturday ?

They are not the only ones - a few years ago some friends were having trouble with their landlord. He (& his "legal representative" seemed to only send letters so they would arrive on Saturday - and local post delivery is always delivered after places for advice are shut / already fully booked for the first part of the next week.

 

[equationgirl]

They're like my employer who also specialises in sending letters containing information of little consequence during a redundancy exercise. Usually these letters are a reprint of the information sent to all staff via email. These also often arrive on Saturday morning.

Here's hoping you get a good result passenger. Whatever the result, ask them to confirm it in writing (sent to the right address).

 

[passenger]

well its the weekend so i will have a beer and my neighbour just dropped me a joint off
so will self medicate and pray Monday morning is good news day, its mad they give me PIP but have to fight like a dog to get ESA well its been 8 weeks so surely it can`t be a no your
back on JSA mate ..... can it ?

 

[chainsawjob]

Hope it's the right result passenger, no fun having to wait through the weekend.

 

[passenger]

Hope it's the right result passenger, no fun having to wait through the weekend.

It's like waiting for the jury to make there mind up ,but less fair I am looking thinking
the worse case scenario, as they have been trying to call me to discuss the outcome...

 

[friendofdorothy]

It's like waiting for the jury to make there mind up ,but less fair I am looking thinking
the worse case scenario, as they have been trying to call me to discuss the outcome...

fingers crossed x

 

[passenger]

well i rang them the (DWP) I spoke to a lady who said someone will call
me regarding the decision Wednesday between 9 and 5 talk about taking your time ffs this is mad

 

[chainsawjob]

how maddening passenger

 

[Bakunin]

Called the DWP about an hour ago regarding my migration from DLA to PIP. They said I'm on the list for an appointment with ATOS. I'll try to get a home visit, but if I do end up at one of their assessment centres (Truro has two, apparently) I'm looking at getting a dual tape or CD recorder to take with me.

Any advice as to what kind, other than something that will record two cassettes or CD's at the same time? ATOS website says:

• Your recording equipment must be able to produce two identical copies of the recording at the end of the consultation, either in audio cassette or CD format. You will need to give one copy of the recording to the Health Professional undertaking your consultation, at the end of the consultation. Devices like PCs, laptops, tablets, smartphones or MP3 players are not acceptable recording devices.

• You will need to sign an agreement that sets out what you are and are not allowed to do with the recording.

Regarding this agreement, does it mean I'd be unable to use the recording or a transcript as pat of an appeal or mandatory reconsideration?

 

[equationgirl]

Called the DWP about an hour ago regarding my migration from DLA to PIP. They said I'm on the list for an appointment with ATOS. I'll try to get a home visit, but if I do end up at one of their assessment centres (Truro has two, apparently) I'm looking at getting a dual tape or CD recorder to take with me.

Any advice as to what kind, other than something that will record two cassettes or CD's at the same time? ATOS website says:

• Your recording equipment must be able to produce two identical copies of the recording at the end of the consultation, either in audio cassette or CD format. You will need to give one copy of the recording to the Health Professional undertaking your consultation, at the end of the consultation. Devices like PCs, laptops, tablets, smartphones or MP3 players are not acceptable recording devices.

• You will need to sign an agreement that sets out what you are and are not allowed to do with the recording.

Regarding this agreement, does it mean I'd be unable to use the recording or a transcript as pat of an appeal or mandatory reconsideration?

As far as I know, that's fine, especially if you're having memory problems. I think it's more they're worried about stuff being leaked to the media.

 

[Bakunin]

As far as I know, that's fine, especially if you're having memory problems. I think it's more they're worried about stuff being leaked to the media.

Would it help or hinder my case if they asked about employment and I said I'm a freelancer?

 

[WouldBe]

As far as I know, that's fine, especially if you're having memory problems. I think it's more they're worried about stuff being leaked to the media.

They forgot to ask me to sign anything. Can I leak the tape to the media?

 

[passenger]

how maddening passenger

Yeah it`s doing my head in, there (DWP) ringing me tomorrow I really need to stop looking up
ESA decision maker calling on the internet it's not good reading it looks like
there only ringing to tell you bad news i.e back to JSA no points etc I am chain smoking, can not eat, this is truly awful no one should go through this.

 

[friendofdorothy]

Yeah it`s doing my head in, there (DWP) ringing me tomorrow I really need to stop looking up
ESA decision maker calling on the internet it's not good reading it looks like
there only ringing to tell you bad news i.e back to JSA no points etc I am chain smoking, can not eat, this is truly awful no one should go through this.

Waiting sounds awful. Do try to keep calm. Not easy, I know. Try to eat something, Try to do something before hand to distract yourself (film? music? chat?)

If they are telling you difficult stuff - a good trick to help remember and make it clearer, it is echo it/repeat it back to them eg: 'you have xxxx, so this means xxxx' you say 'xxxx?' ' so this means I have xxxx' , and then at the end of the call to sumarise it all back to them eg 'so you have told me xxxx which means xxxx. etc etc, So now I have to do xxxxx by xxx date, have I got that right? '. It also helps slow the call down so they can't just go 'We're telling you all this shit. Goodbye!'

I don't have experience of these sorts of calls and can't advise especially - but this is just useful tecnique for difficult calls in general.

Have your questions worked out before hand, write them down, so you remember to ask them while they are still on the phone, ask them what your options are and if there are any time limits.

Try not to get angry with the person on the phone, even if they are really annoying - or telling you something that is hard to hear. It won't help you. Deep breaths. Repeat it back to them, Keep calm. Ask them can they also send it to you in writing - so you have it for your records too.

Thinking of you and trying to send good vibes. I hope its not all bad, fingers and toes crossed x.

 

[equationgirl]

Best of luck passenger

 

[chainsawjob]

Sorry it's so awful passenger, you're right no-one should have to go though this. Hope they get back to you early on today, and that it's good news, best of luck.

 

[existentialist]

I saw a client the other day - bereavement, stuck grief, and some physical health issues.
She's had ESA assessments made and cancelled twice at short notice, and when it eventually happened, it was the worst of everything described on this thread.

She came to me suicidal. Cunts.

 

[Celyn]

at the DWP and all its alphabet soup.

 

[passenger]

thanks everyone for your kind words and help i am sitting by the phone waiting for the dreaded call ffs 5 days of anxiety its going to be a relief either way

 

[equationgirl]

Would it help or hinder my case if they asked about employment and I said I'm a freelancer?

I would phrase it that you're unable to manage a full-time position due to your situation (apologies, I don't know all the details) and make it clear that occasional freelancing writing is only possible because you can do it from home, it's not a full-time job, and occasional is all you can manage.

 

[equationgirl]

They forgot to ask me to sign anything. Can I leak the tape to the media?

As the copyright owner of the recording you may use it as you wish

Especially if there were no restrictions placed upon you...

 

[equationgirl]

I saw a client the other day - bereavement, stuck grief, and some physical health issues.
She's had ESA assessments made and cancelled twice at short notice, and when it eventually happened, it was the worst of everything described on this thread.

She came to me suicidal. Cunts.

Obviously not a like for your client. I hope she is ok.

 

[Bakunin]

I'm debating whether or not to call or email ATOS to see if they have set an appointment date yet. If I email there'll be an electronic paper trail that could prove useful at an appeal or mandatory reconsideration. I'm also concerned that they'll try to send me to an assessment centre far away as, when I googled their PIP assessment centre address in Truro it gave me one in Plymouth.

And what's the likelihood that they'll try and give me an appointment with as little notice as possible, to make it harder to prepare, request a home appointment and tell them I'll be recording the assessment either way?

Phone or email? Thoughts?

 

[passenger]

0 points back on JSA just can not believe what they have done there total scum bags
have to go to work focused interview next week

 

[spirals]

So sorry, fight them! Ask for an mandatory reconsideration!

 

[passenger]

So sorry, fight them! Ask for an mandatory reconsideration!

i have but unless you sign on to jsa straight away they stop your money
i was shocked but no points what an insult ....i was just staring at the wall in shock
for hours I felt like dirt ,but more upbeat today.
So any advice ,help from my fellow urbanites would be a big help

 

[equationgirl]

I'm debating whether or not to call or email ATOS to see if they have set an appointment date yet. If I email there'll be an electronic paper trail that could prove useful at an appeal or mandatory reconsideration. I'm also concerned that they'll try to send me to an assessment centre far away as, when I googled their PIP assessment centre address in Truro it gave me one in Plymouth.

And what's the likelihood that they'll try and give me an appointment with as little notice as possible, to make it harder to prepare, request a home appointment and tell them I'll be recording the assessment either way?

Phone or email? Thoughts?

I vote email so there is a record. You can always follow up with a phone call. tell them in the email that you would like a home appointment and recording.

 

[Jackobi]

So any advice ,help from my fellow urbanites would be a big help

Claim JSA for 2-3 weeks, get a fit note, then go on an extended period of sickness for 13 weeks. Hopefully, by that time, the mandatory reconsideration will be done and your appeal submitted.

Benefits for people looking for work - Citizens Advice

 

[chainsawjob]

So sorry passenger, that's awful. People do go from 0 points to enough points at appeal though, and the stats on decisions getting overturned on appeal are encouraging, don't give up.

I have Benefits and Work membership if it would help to see what their advice is? They've given me helpful advice recently on an ESA ballsup that I'm trying to get sorted.

Home

 

[crossthebreeze]

Really sorry to hear that Passenger. Its such a shit system, but worth fighting.