Urban75 Home About Offline BrixtonBuzz Contact

Atos Medicals - Questions, Answers and Support

60 miles or 90 minutes travel time chainsawjob is :eek::mad::eek::mad: How is anybody in pain, seriously unwell, physically or mentally limited in any way supposed to manage that both ways??

Christ.

It beggars belief claimants aren't automatically scheduled at the centre nearest to them or easiest to get to. But then heaven forbid anything is made easier by this regime.
 
chainsawjob said:
This is useful, a list of PIP assessment centres with info on each about parking, access (lifts, whether it's level, how far from car to door), how near to public transport, etc. Mine says leave plenty of time as it's hard to find :rolleyes:

PIP assessment centres
Click to expand...
That's interesting - there is one single centre covering most of the West of Scotland north of Ayr. One centre for Paisley, greenock, Dumbarton, Helensburgh, motherwell, lanark and so on. Edinburgh has three, dundee has two, even tiny north Berwick has one. The west coast, with the large greater Glasgow and Clyde valley areas gets only one? Unbelievable.

Still, could be worse. Wonder what happens to people on the islands?
 
equationgirl said:
60 miles or 90 minutes travel time chainsawjob is :eek::mad::eek::mad: How is anybody in pain, seriously unwell, physically or mentally limited in any way supposed to manage that both ways??

Christ.

It beggars belief claimants aren't automatically scheduled at the centre nearest to them or easiest to get to. But then heaven forbid anything is made easier by this regime.
Click to expand...
For reference, my work is approximately 6miles from home. I used to get public transport but got too exhausted travelling an hour each way, so now I get a lift, which takes about 15 minutes. I'm still exhausted. I could not travel 60 miles most days.
 
I spoke to the Tribunal people, and to the DWP, and the upshot was that even though the DWP have decided I am entitled to a new assessment date (and therefore presumably that I gave 'good reason' for not attending my previous assessment), I will still have to go to Tribunal to appeal the fact they stopped my DLA for 'failing to attend'. They said only a judge could make the decision to reinstate my DLA whilst I'm still in the process of applying for PIP, that the DWP didn't have the power to do this (which I find hard to believe). I can't get my head round it, it makes no sense :mad: :(

I'm well fed up of all of this now.
 
existentialist said:
A random thought. How is it that the "Making Work Pay" signs plastered over every Jobcentre window aren't being comprehensively vandalised? Either by a nice "Shit" appended in similar typeface, or by means of a brick?

Someone should design a nice stick-on addition, if only to save the windows from bricks.
Click to expand...

"Shit" or "Less" appended as a suffix, "Not" or "Fuck" added as a prefix.
 
My PIP assessment is done. A lovely Urb helped me out with a lift :thumbs: No knowing how it went. It lasted 50 minutes and seemed quite thorough. I wanted to make sure I wasn't rushed, or not allowed time to give full answers. The assessor was a paramedic, I asked her what her knowledge and experience of mental health was, and she said she had experience through her job in the ambulance service. Not exactly 100% relevant, or sufficient training in mental health I wouldn't think, imo.

I recorded it all on my phone (didn't decide until the last minute whether to do this or not, and whether to be up front and ask, but in the end I went with hiding my phone under my coat and not asking, it seems to have recorded ok). Plus the friend that came with me took notes. Transcribing it now, I can see that I didn't qualify my answers enough. 'Can you do this?' 'Yes, but not when... and only if... and only for this long...'. If it would help anyone I can give a list of the questions I was asked. But tbh they were all ones listed in the Benefits and Work guide (a list of a possible I dunno 60 odd questions, maybe more). The guide had some useful advice on what to expect and what to be aware of.

Oh, the list of PIP assessment centres wasn't wrong when it said mine was hard to find! I nearly missed my appointment because we couldn't find it :mad: It was indeed 45 minutes wandering round industrial estates, asking people who sent us in the wrong direction, trying to ring up the centre, and finding it wasn't possible to speak to them directly, only to someone somewhere else who had no idea, etc etc Made for a nice relaxed arrival :facepalm:
 
Hi all.

Just joined but have been a long time lurker.. I mean behind the scenes reader :)

So, I have been referred to the Social Care Team earlier this year, and as part of the package, I was given a Benefits Advisor who convinced me to apply for PIP (which I have avoided, due to the difficulty in qualifying for it). So, I've just survived with my ESA SG.

Anyways, I applied for PIP in July, and was given a extremely short notice Assessment date end of October which I cancelled and requested a Home Assessment as I had a severe case of Bronchitis at the time. Surprisingly IAS (Formerly Atos) offered The Home Assessment which took place first week of November.

Received decision today Standard Care and Standard Mobility which is all well and good, actually surprised it went so smoothly until this point, was expecting a battle which I would have found hard to fight.

Here is the where I need some advice. Having read through their decision, and where I was awarded points, I think I should definitely have been awarded points with descriptors where I was given 0 points, and parts where I think I should have been awarded more points than have been awarded.

Obviously, I have one month from date of letter (20/11), but I'm not sure if I should go for the Mandatory Reconsideration?

I've read around that there is a likelihood that they could completely remove the award?

I've read that their is no actual time limit for them to make their decision, therefore, during the MR, will the current award be paid whilst they go through the process, or does it stop completely until they decide on a verdict?

But, I genuinely believe that I should have been awarded more points. A lot of their long winded decision explanation is wrong and very assumptive and I don't think the Nurse HCP who did the assessment gave a realistic picture of the situation, or included in their report important things that I explained during the assessment. If fact, some of my health conditions they needed me spell out as they had never heard of it, understandable as CES is quite rare.

Hopefully I can get some advice or viewpoints from others here who have been through the process of PIP and MR.

Sorry I didn't realise my post would be this long. Hope I've posted it in the correct Forum/ Thread.

Thanks in advance.

Kind regards
 
CookieRocks said:
Received decision today Standard Care and Standard Mobility which is all well and good, actually surprised it went so smoothly until this point, was expecting a battle which I would have found hard to fight.

Here is the where I need some advice. Having read through their decision, and where I was awarded points, I think I should definitely have been awarded points with descriptors where I was given 0 points, and parts where I think I should have been awarded more points than have been awarded.

Obviously, I have one month from date of letter (20/11), but I'm not sure if I should go for the Mandatory Reconsideration?

I've read around that there is a likelihood that they could completely remove the award?

I've read that their is no actual time limit for them to make their decision, therefore, during the MR, will the current award be paid whilst they go through the process, or does it stop completely until they decide on a verdict?
Click to expand...

A mandatory reconsideration or appeal can award you more points, fewer points or stay the same. For the enhanced rate at least 12 points are needed so unless you think that the points you should have been awarded will increase your points to 12 or more, an MR or appeal serves no purpose.

During an MR or appeal, you will still receive your current level of PIP until a decision is made. If you are awarded more points, and this changes your award from the standard rate to the enhanced rate, you will receive a backdated payment making up the difference between the two rates to the date of the original claim.
 
Jackobi said:
A mandatory reconsideration or appeal can award you more points, fewer points or stay the same. For the enhanced rate at least 12 points are needed so unless you think that the points you should have been awarded will increase your points to 12 or more, an MR or appeal serves no purpose.

During an MR or appeal, you will still receive your current level of PIP until a decision is made. If you are awarded more points, and this changes your award from the standard rate to the enhanced rate, you will receive a backdated payment making up the difference between the two rates to the date of the original claim.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this Jackobi.

Pretty much what I figured.

To get to 12, I'm:

4 points off for Care
2 points off for Mobility

I hate their term 'aid'... even though I need help dressing upper half, and washing upper half by another person, they seem to think an aid to do either will suffice.

ETA: going through the descriptors, if the correct points were added, they will both be at least 12 or more
 
Last edited:
spirals said:
The assessor was quite nice, she said she couldn't understand why she was here only a year after my last assessment but I guess we will see what happens...
Click to expand...

Update, got the letter today, continuing on the same level award til 2023. I'm stunned as a friend who is far more ill than me and had a lot more evidence just recently got her mobility award taken from her despite being in a wheelchair the majority of the time. It really does seem to depend on whether you get a decent honest person or not!
 
spirals said:
Update, got the letter today, continuing on the same level award til 2023. I'm stunned as a friend who is far more ill than me and had a lot more evidence just recently got her mobility award taken from her despite being in a wheelchair the majority of the time. It really does seem to depend on whether you get a decent honest person or not!
Click to expand...
It's shit isn't it.

In my sisters tribunal reasons letter the 'doctor' claimed she couldn't be depressed as she wasn't on a high enough dose of mirtazapine. Mirtazapine is prescribed for severe depression and she's on the maximum allowable dose. :facepalm::mad: It's about time these twats were struck off or jailed or preferably both. :mad: :mad:
 
I've just got my support worker to phone the jobcentre about a mystery payment - apparently it's Enhanced Disability Premium backpay. But according to this I shouldn't be entitled to EDP -
gov.uk website said:
To receive this, you must be under Pension Credit age.

You must receive the disability premium or income-related ESA, and one of the following:

  • the enhanced rate of the daily living component of PIP
  • AFIP
  • the highest rate of the care component of DLA
You’ll also receive this if you’re in the support group for income-related ESA.
Click to expand...
I don't get AFIP or DLA, I was only awarded standard rate for the daily living component of PIP and I'm in the WRAG for ESA (the report was full of outright lies but I was homeless at the time and didn't get round to appealing). I'm still waiting for my next ESA assessment afaik, so I think this means they've read my mandatory reconsideration request and changed me to enhanced rate? Or am I missing something? E2a - I got a PIP payment three days before that backpay and it was for the usual (daily living, standard rate) amount.

:hmm::hmm::hmm:
 
I got my 'reasons for decision' letter from the tribunal this morning. What a farce. I'm sure they have used the same piece of evidence to backup something at one point then to refuse something almost exactly the same at another point. :facepalm:

They claim that because I could attend the tribunal that I could socialise. Unless their idea of socialising is to attend job interviews or tribunals where you get a whole load of questions thrown at you then I can't. :facepalm:

They also claim that I can walk more than 200m (which is a laugh) repeatedly and as often as I need. They never asked me about the repeatedly bit they have simple assumed I can. :facepalm::mad:

It will have to wait until the new year before I put in a 2nd tier appeal.
 
WouldBe said:
I got my 'reasons for decision' letter from the tribunal this morning. What a farce. I'm sure they have used the same piece of evidence to backup something at one point then to refuse something almost exactly the same at another point. :facepalm:

They claim that because I could attend the tribunal that I could socialise. Unless their idea of socialising is to attend job interviews or tribunals where you get a whole load of questions thrown at you then I can't. :facepalm:

They also claim that I can walk more than 200m (which is a laugh) repeatedly and as often as I need. They never asked me about the repeatedly bit they have simple assumed I can. :facepalm::mad:

It will have to wait until the new year before I put in a 2nd tier appeal.
Click to expand...
I guess a consistent logical argument is too much to hope for?

Sorry they are plumbing new depths of crap essential :(
 
Finally finished the request for a 2nd tier tribunal. Just need to print it and post it. My "forensic analysis" (as the judge put it) of the statement of reasons runs to 10 pages + 7 pages of further supporting evidence. :eek:
The GP claimed that being on 40mg per day of citalopram was too low a dose to be depressed yet according to BNF 40mg is the maximum dose. :facepalm: I hope he's not suggesting I take an overdose. :mad:
The GP claims that postural hypotension can't cause blackouts so I've had to do a print out for him. :facepalm:
The judge awarded 2 points for toilet needs on the decision letter then explains why I was awarded 0 points in the statement of reasons. :facepalm:
Postural hypotension can't affect my mobility even though I have to stand up to walk. :facepalm:
Apparently my knee problem isn't severe enough to affect my mobility yet the occupational therapist suggested I should use knee braces or a walking frame to get around. :facepalm:

etc. etc. etc.

And they claim that's fair and just. :facepalm::(
 
fishfinger said:
It was my PIP appeal yesterday (almost a year to the day after my original claim). I got the judgement in the post today. Although I was awarded less than I'd hoped - at least I got an award.

Fuck you! ATOS and a double FUCK YOU! to Iain Duncan Smith.
Click to expand...

Awesome! Plus backpayments?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

ska invita
  • Poll
Do you support the UK increase in the military budget?
4 5 6 7 8
Replies
211
Views
7K
weltweit
weltweit
C
Protest outside Old Bailey in support of Constance Marten & Mark Gordon
9 10 11 12 13
Replies
369
Views
13K
krtek a houby
krtek a houby
Dystopiary
Hatred against people on disability benefits getting ramped up again
2 3 4 5 6
Replies
152
Views
8K
Orang Utan
Orang Utan
ash
Another Brexit benefit- using Wi-Fi in Europe
2
Replies
51
Views
2K
Elpenor
Elpenor
C
Housing Benefit Abolished
2 3
Replies
79
Views
3K
Anju
Anju
Back
Top Bottom