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Atos Medicals - Questions, Answers and Support

Question:

The ATOS website says that a claimant's recording kit has to be able to produce two identical recordings. It says nothing about using two identical tape recorders with identical tapes , both running at the same time.

Would it be a reasonable interpretation to say, if they refused to do the assessment and blamed me for not co-operating, that I was acting according to their own rules?
 
Question:

The ATOS website says that a claimant's recording kit has to be able to produce two identical recordings. It says nothing about using two identical tape recorders with identical tapes , both running at the same time.

Would it be a reasonable interpretation to say, if they refused to do the assessment and blamed me for not co-operating, that I was acting according to their own rules?

Given that they have been perfectly willing to accept dual tape recorders - either one deck or two separate decks - previously, then the stipulation only applies to identical recordings. Your interpretation is entirely reasonable. I recorded my own "assessment" on two separate (different model, same function) cassette recorders, and they didn't bat an eyelid.
 
Why is this thread so over burdened with overtly audio recording their assessments?

All it does is cause a point of friction/attrition for people with mental health to obsess about and it also detracts from the fact that when you have to write your appeal;

nobody gives 2 fucks about I told the ESA Assessor X, Y or Z - it proves jack n shit!

All that matters is when you write your appeal you say; I qualify for ESA because I meet Descriptor A, B, C with X points or Special Rule.
 
Question:

The ATOS website says that a claimant's recording kit has to be able to produce two identical recordings. It says nothing about using two identical tape recorders with identical tapes , both running at the same time.

Would it be a reasonable interpretation to say, if they refused to do the assessment and blamed me for not co-operating, that I was acting according to their own rules?
Yes I did this. Assessor had no problems with me using 2 tape recorders. Different story as far as DWP are concerned. They claimed I'd not asked permission to do it and recorded the assessment secretly. :facepalm:
 
Yes I did this. Assessor had no problems with me using 2 tape recorders. Different story as far as DWP are concerned. They claimed I'd not asked permission to do it and recorded the assessment secretly. :facepalm:

That wouldn't play well for the DWP in front of a tribunal. At best it would look like they hadn't read the paperwork, at worst like they were lying.

Something for me to consider when I email them on Monday requesting a home visit (which they'll almost certainly refuse regardless of my anxiety/Asperger's/ bipolar) and tell them I'll be there with two tape recorders.
 
Why is this thread so over burdened with overtly audio recording their assessments?

All it does is cause a point of friction/attrition for people with mental health to obsess about and it also detracts from the fact that when you have to write your appeal;

nobody gives 2 fucks about I told the ESA Assessor X, Y or Z - it proves jack n shit!

All that matters is when you write your appeal you say; I qualify for ESA because I meet Descriptor A, B, C with X points or Special Rule.
If you're not going to be helpful please don't post on this thread. It's here to support those going through the process, and if you read it you will see that there is a history of the DWP accusing claimants of telling lies. Therefore, claimants are taking reasonable steps to field such accusations.
 
Why is this thread so over burdened with overtly audio recording their assessments?

All it does is cause a point of friction/attrition for people with mental health to obsess about and it also detracts from the fact that when you have to write your appeal;

nobody gives 2 fucks about I told the ESA Assessor X, Y or Z - it proves jack n shit!

All that matters is when you write your appeal you say; I qualify for ESA because I meet Descriptor A, B, C with X points or Special Rule.

Balls.
I was able to provide the tribunal transcripts of relevant information that I gave my assessor, that he wholly-omitted, changing the tenor of my claim in a way that didn't favour my case. Yes, I'd probably have won anyway, because the decision was obviously not observant of the decision-makers' criteria, but the tribunal did use my transcripts to pass on "guidance" to the DWP regarding the need for their contractors to accurately summarise what they were told by people being assessed.
 
If you're not going to be helpful please don't post on this thread. It's here to support those going through the process, and if you read it you will see that there is a history of the DWP accusing claimants of telling lies. Therefore, claimants are taking reasonable steps to field such accusations.

Perhaps Ergo Proxy lives in an alternate reality where ATOS and Maximus's assessors are for the most part fair and decent people who aren't at all motivated by giving shitty service so that they can cram in as many assessments as possible. Unfortunately, most of us live in a world where if we claim that an assessor has misrepresented or elided what we've said, we need to be able to prove that what we told them with regard to how we meet various criteria, is not what ended up on the form.
 
Perhaps Ergo Proxy lives in an alternate reality where ATOS and Maximus's assessors are for the most part fair and decent people who aren't at all motivated by giving shitty service so that they can cram in as many assessments as possible. Unfortunately, most of us live in a world where if we claim that an assessor has misrepresented or elided what we've said, we need to be able to prove that what we told them with regard to how we meet various criteria, is not what ended up on the form.

Thank you for telling me what my views are and expressing them so vivaciously!

My actual view is I will fail every WCA with Nil Points - no ifs no buts! I will then be awarded Nil points at Mandatory Reconsideration - no ifs no buts! Out of all my appeals for ESA only 1 has gotten as far as being listed to be heard by a Tribunal. Still haven't had to attend a tribunal as I tend to win them on pre-screening for stupidity by the DWP Appeals Officer associated with the TS.

Whilst I don't like nor think this is a good thing 2 very good Welfare Rights persons told me that's just the way it is. They also taught me how to win ESA and DLA appeals.

I'm 2 out of 2 myself and 6 out of 6 with their help - non of it involving audio recordings - all though I might have 3 ESA covert ones! Their submissions and therefore mine all focus on WHY I qualify for the benefit and not a lot else.

If you're not going to be helpful please don't post on this thread. It's here to support those going through the process, and if you read it you will see that there is a history of the DWP accusing claimants of telling lies. Therefore, claimants are taking reasonable steps to field such accusations.

Apologies if trying to present a view point that is not yours offends you so much! If I have any more alternate views would it be acceptable for me to PM you with them for acceptance?
 
Thank you for telling me what my views are and expressing them so vivaciously!

My actual view is I will fail every WCA with Nil Points - no ifs no buts! I will then be awarded Nil points at Mandatory Reconsideration - no ifs no buts! Out of all my appeals for ESA only 1 has gotten as far as being listed to be heard by a Tribunal. Still haven't had to attend a tribunal as I tend to win them on pre-screening for stupidity by the DWP Appeals Officer associated with the TS.

Whilst I don't like nor think this is a good thing 2 very good Welfare Rights persons told me that's just the way it is. They also taught me how to win ESA and DLA appeals.

I'm 2 out of 2 myself and 6 out of 6 with their help - non of it involving audio recordings - all though I might have 3 ESA covert ones! Their submissions and therefore mine all focus on WHY I qualify for the benefit and not a lot else.



Apologies if trying to present a view point that is not yours offends you so much! If I have any more alternate views would it be acceptable for me to PM you with them for acceptance?
Please do not PM me.

I'm not offended by what you said, I do however not agree that recordings are not necessary. Each claimant's situation is different, there is no advice that will universally for all.

Have you read even part of this thread?
 
If you're not going to be helpful please don't post on this thread.

May be take your own advice! Its the ultimate Oxymoron!

I've already given my 3rd ESA experience to this thread and how I've approached it!

It's only a couple of pages back so if you'd managed ..........

Whilst I'm a complete and utter.....

Due to my mental health I don't do telephones,but my mental health services use 1 telephone call then discharge responsibility!

ESA is an easy win vs getting help via the NHS!
 
May be take your own advice! Its the ultimate Oxymoron!

I've already given my 3rd ESA experience to this thread and how I've approached it!

It's only a couple of pages back so if you'd managed ..........

Whilst I'm a complete and utter.....

Due to my mental health I don't do telephones,but my mental health services use 1 telephone call then discharge responsibility!

ESA is an easy win vs getting help via the NHS!
It's not fair to say that ESA is an easy win - unfortunately there are a number of people who have posted on this thread whose experiences say otherwise.

Your experiences with ESA are useful to know about but there is no universal strategy that will work every time for every claimant. It's great that it worked for you but there are no guarantees it will work for everyone.

And for the record no-one has called you any names that I can see.
 
This week I'm tackling my PIP form. I've already been granted some extra time. The last few weeks I've been undecided about whether I can face applying for PIP (been on DLA, lifetime award), but I've been persuaded I'm entitled to this, and am justified in applying. It's bloody hard filling it in, but I've finally made a start. Haven't got much in the way of supporting evidence, cos I've been pretty much left to get on with it on my own the last few years. Little NHS input (cuts, blah, blah). I've got the Benefits and Work guide to filling out the PIP form (it's 90 pages long :eek: ), so I'm trying to take on board the advice in that. It's already been impacting on my health having to do this. Any solidarity appreciated.
 
This week I'm tackling my PIP form. I've already been granted some extra time. The last few weeks I've been undecided about whether I can face applying for PIP (been on DLA, lifetime award), but I've been persuaded I'm entitled to this, and am justified in applying. It's bloody hard filling it in, but I've finally made a start. Haven't got much in the way of supporting evidence, cos I've been pretty much left to get on with it on my own the last few years. Little NHS input (cuts, blah, blah). I've got the Benefits and Work guide to filling out the PIP form (it's 90 pages long :eek: ), so I'm trying to take on board the advice in that. It's already been impacting on my health having to do this. Any solidarity appreciated.
If you're on medication go through the side effects and underline any that appears more than twice. Especially if things like fatigue, headaches, nausea, vomiting affect you. All of these may affect concentration, ability to do usual tasks, travelling on public transport, sleeping etc

Remember it's about how you are on your worst day.
 
Terrific.

Had medical on the 21st. Today I got a letter dated the 25th giving me 0 points on absolutely everything. At 3pm I see my GP about pain in my hands to be told he's almost certain it's osteo-arthritis.
 
Terrific.

Had medical on the 21st. Today I got a letter dated the 25th giving me 0 points on absolutely everything. At 3pm I see my GP about pain in my hands to be told he's almost certain it's osteo-arthritis.

Jesus fuck. :mad: Mandatory reconsideration and then appeal if necessary, sorry to hear this. :(
 
Terrific.

Had medical on the 21st. Today I got a letter dated the 25th giving me 0 points on absolutely everything. At 3pm I see my GP about pain in my hands to be told he's almost certain it's osteo-arthritis.
Not good to hear that, Bakunin.

Mandatory reconsideration then appeal?
 
Could I ask for a bit of help here please? I've a friend whose just been awarded 0 points at his WCA. He has long term mental health problems including anxiety and agoraphobia and now has to sign on for JSA.
I've told him that he needs to contact CAB, in the absence of there being any local benefits advice, and that he needs to apply for a mandatory reconsideration and then appeal. I've promised him some links but I'm so completely brain faded atm that I can't seem to get anything together.

This is not laziness on my part it's just that I need to give him some sort of lifeline but find myself incapable of wading through Google results. Has anyone got any links to hand?
 
Has anyone got any links to hand?

How to apply for a mandatory reconsideration:
Challenging an ESA decision - Citizens Advice

How to make an appeal if necessary:
Appealing against a DWP benefit decision - Citizens Advice

Applying for a 13 week extended period of sickness when claiming JSA:
Benefits for people looking for work - Citizens Advice

If your friend chooses the JSA extended period of sickness route, he should declare himself fit for work (perhaps negotiating some limitations on his work capability) then give it 2-3 weeks before starting the extended period.
 
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