Atos Medical Appointment

[islasmum]

I've had a letter from ATOS asking me to attend an appointment with regard to my Incapacity Benefit, but there is no form included with the letter - is this an error on their part or is it usual? Has anyone out there had a medical with ATOS recently, as I have heard a lot of horror stories about them finding people fit for work when they very obviously aren't. TIA

[Zacs-Master]

This might help
http://www.atoshealthcare.com/services/disability_assessment
And this seems to be a forum discussion relating to your situation:
http://forums.hexus.net/general-discussion/275285-atos-medical-assessment.html

[islasmum]

Thank you Zac, I'll go and have a look at those links

[THECORBYLOON]

What form were you expecting to be included with the letter?

[Zacs-Master]

This tells you a bit more about the forms and assessment process
http://www.esahelp.co.uk/medicals.php
This is a link to the ESA form

http://www.esahelp.co.uk/ESA50.pdf

[Mamyalynne]

My move from Incap to ESA was done by form, not sure what criteria they use to decide who needs a face to face assessment.

[THECORBYLOON]

If an appointment has been arranged, an ESA50 questionnaire form will already have been sent to the claimant, it may not have been completed or returnt in time but depending upon the incapacity, the process may continue without the ESA50.

[bravejordy]

From what I can tell, it's usually only after you've filled in and returned a "Limited capability for work questionnaire" they decide whether you need to come in for face-to-face assessment. Have you filled in and returned such a form recently?

[hc4361]

My mother sent her questionnaire back at the beginning of September. She has heard nothing and is fretting.

[mrs_overall]

If I can give you a few tips for when you attend the medical (I have accompanied a few people to medicals and speak from experience)
1. DO NOT go on your own. You need someone with you for corroboration. In my experience the written report prepared by ATOS often bears no resemblance to what was said and what happened in the medical.
2. Ask your friend to take notes or even record the medical
3. They are watching you before you go in for the medical. You will be placed in a waiting room for a length of time before the medical. This is deliberate so they can watch how you are at sitting down/walking around the room etc.

I went with one person who was brain injured in a car crash. He was asked by the ATOS doctor to give details of the accident. My friend said he had no recollection of it. When we received a copy of the written report the doctor had written "Mr T had full recollection of his accident and talked about it at length"

Another person I went with was asked to walk from the chair to the wall, a distance of about 6ft. He did so with difficulty. The doctor wrote in the written report "Mr I. walked around the room several times with no problems"

Be warned and be careful x

[Postdog]

Ditto. But keep recording it quiet as you strictly need permission and comply they stipulate you use certain equipment. Best just e sneaky.

[furrypusscat]

You can ask for the face to face interview to be recorded. It appears they don't always have the equipment. I believe you can only take in your own recording equipment if it takes 2 simultaneous recordings, one for you and the other for them. Do not try to conceal any recording machine to tape the event privately.

[THECORBYLOON]

HC if your mother is concerned, she could ask to speak to the ESA section who can access her records to see if an appointment has been arranged. If it's not, they may have an idea on how long ATOS is taking to arrange them.

[hc4361]

Thanks, Corby

[Peter Pedant]

Good advice from Mrs O
My experience has been the same as an accompanier

[islasmum]

Thank all for your help, I applied for DLA last year, as my health got much worse and I needed a great deal of help from my partner for doing everyday things. Anyway I didn't appeal against the decision which was stupid of me. But that is why I asked about the form as I had to fill in a long questionnaire prior to the appointment then.
This time I will be more prepared.

(hi Mrs O, how are you?)

[mrs_overall]

Hi, I am fine ta.

Can I suggest you re-apply for DLA? I would be happy to do the forms for you (filling out benefit forms for people has become nearly a full time occupation for me lol).
Also, if I can help with the ESA form I will be happy to do so as I know what they look for and how the system works x

[islasmum]

Thanks very much, Mrs O, I'll let you know when I receive the forms.

[Peter Pedant]

Appeals form Atossa are running in excess of 67& success I think

the rule is appeal appeal appeal whenever they do something you dont like.
and rule 2 is take a friend

[Peter Pedant]

Oh and just to inform you - Atossa is an ancient greek name
and appears in Persae, I think....

[THECORBYLOON]

PETER PEDANT, this is a link to the latest HMCTS stats but I am not able to open it. I doubt very much that the figure you quoted is correct but have a look and let me know. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tribunal-statistics-quarterly-april-to-june-2013