Calling all ESA Appeals Experts! Failed medical

mealone

IB was brought in, in 1995 because the govement wanted lower figures of people on IVB, IB was taxable and the medical was harder.

Whats diffrent with ESA?

Uncertain

Well, I have had first hand experience of "failing" an ATOS medical.

The doctor I saw was a retired consultant in a totally different field from my problems (amazing what Google can turn up).

He gave me 6 "points" (what a terrible word to use in relation to somebody's medical problems).

I appealed using letters from my firm's occupational health physician and a hospital. The DWP changed their decision without it going to appeal and I have been placed in the "Support Group".

So, ATOS was the odd one out and I was caused a great deal of stress.

I am considering a complaint to the GMC about the ATOS doctor's fitness to practice. However, I am wondering if this is wise as I assume I will have to go for another one of these so called medicals in the future?

nogginthenog

mealone wrote: »

IB was brought in, in 1995 because the govement wanted lower figures of people on IVB, IB was taxable and the medical was harder.

Whats diffrent with ESA?

The goverment in all its wisdom,now wants to Target a extra million people and take them off long term sickness benefit.
In a attempt to do this they have raised the eligiblity crossbar,and tweeked the points system, and also tweeked the format of the application form,

absolutebounder

Garry_Anderson wrote: »

- targets are a fact -

You love facts dont you garry:rotfl::rotfl:. So black and white but what is a target? A target is not black and white. It is something you aim at but in the case of labour governments rarely (if at all even) hit. Yes it is a fact that there is a target but then there probably has to be one, however it is also likely to be a fact that the target will not be hit. surely you claimants would want the bar to be raised because if there isnt enough money to go round the genuine sick are going to lose out at the expense of the lazy.

finished

like the person who started the thread I too was turned down for esa with no points the letter I recieved said I had to get a minimum of 15 points and the criteria was a laugh.can you lift your hand? can you stand without help/do you give offence to anyone??????still working that one out:rolleyes:can you see,hear etc.even the doc doing it who was very good told me at the outset there was no chance of me passing this.he even told me if I had come in in a wheelchair he had to ask me can I wheel myself unaided fo 20 feet,if yes then I would have failed that question too.
so im turned down for that and awaiting an appointment for hospital to see if its worth while removing my 2 displaced discs or not.:rolleyes:

70sfreak

Hello Everyone

I only look into the thread I started occasssionally, and it seems to me that it is a bit confusing as there are loads of arguments/disagreements going on about ATOS medicals, targets, links to DWPs and conspiracy theories (have I spelt that right?)

I think I can summsarise the link as follows:

ESA is a new benefit and loads of people are being failed on the medical

My CAB advisor hadn't even received full trainig on it. It is that new!

Targets may be being given for ETOS to fail medicals. I'm sure we, Joe-public, wouldn't be able to see these targets

Being on the receiving end of these medicals is not pleasant. The forms are bad enough (having to think through every single day-to-day movement you make and write down how this is difficult or you - I found it a living nightmare as it took me 5 weeks to complete with supplementary papers)

The medical with ATOS was the worst aspect of this as the questions were quick-fired and without empathy. There seemed to be loads of tick questions as well - (call me paranoid!!) A genuine person like myself with a chronic disability was failed and it makes me wonder how sick or close to death you have to be to get the 15 points.

Also something I've been wondering about - how many points do you have to get to get into the work goup and how many to gett into the support group??

Any anwers ?????/

Many thanks

70s freak

alwaysonthego_2

70sfreak wrote: »

Hello Everyone


ESA is a new benefit and loads of people are being failed on the medical

My CAB advisor hadn't even received full trainig on it. It is that new!

I recieved training on ESA months ago, must be that individual adviser if they are new or a trainee.


Being on the receiving end of these medicals is not pleasant. The forms are bad enough (having to think through every single day-to-day movement you make and write down how this is difficult or you - I found it a living nightmare as it took me 5 weeks to complete with supplementary papers)

The medical with ATOS was the worst aspect of this as the questions were quick-fired and without empathy. There seemed to be loads of tick questions as well - (call me paranoid!!) A genuine person like myself with a chronic disability was failed and it makes me wonder how sick or close to death you have to be to get the 15 points.

Also something I've been wondering about - how many points do you have to get to get into the work goup and how many to gett into the support group??

To get into the support group

..if you cannot do at least one of the descriptors for most of the times or on most occasions that you try it then you will be put in the support group and these include;

walking or moving on ground level
continence
eating and drinking
learning or comprehension in completion of tasks
communication.
Any anwers ?????/

Many thanks

70s freak

hope this helps

cit_k

70sfreak wrote: »

The medical with ATOS was the worst aspect of this as the questions were quick-fired and without empathy. There seemed to be loads of tick questions as well - (call me paranoid!!)

ATOS uses software, LIMA.

It prompts the examiner what questions to ask, and decides itself what futher questions to ask based on answer put in by the examiner (note I did not say based on answers you give!).

The examiner is encouraged to use the predifined answers supplied by lima (and if they deviate from those answers they *have* to fully justify why they do so.

Lima then generates a report.

Garry_Anderson

absolutebounder wrote: »

You love facts dont you garry:rotfl::rotfl:. So black and white but what is a target? A target is not black and white. It is something you aim at but in the case of labour governments rarely (if at all even) hit. Yes it is a fact that there is a target but then there probably has to be one, however it is also likely to be a fact that the target will not be hit. surely you claimants would want the bar to be raised because if there isnt enough money to go round the genuine sick are going to lose out at the expense of the lazy.

Yes Bounder - I do love facts - they have enabled me to win against the likes of the Financial Services Authority and the DWP - documentary evidence available.

Having a target set is a black and white fact though - and the DWP clearly aren't very concerned whether it is genuine sick people or lazy people who they punish in attempt to reach the million target.

absolutebounder

Garry_Anderson wrote: »

Yes Bounder - I do love facts - they have enabled me to win against the likes of the Financial Services Authority and the DWP - documentary evidence available.

Having a target set is a black and white fact though - and the DWP clearly aren't very concerned whether it is genuine sick people or lazy people who they punish in attempt to reach the million target.

The fact that a target has been set is black and white and just as there are targets for getting waiting lists down there are targets for getting people off the backs of the taxpayer but a socialist government doesnt ever hit thet target does it. The people setting the target dont understand the concept so although tony said he wanted benefits to be hand ups and not handouts we now have more benfits than ever before. there are few people who cannot work but plenty who wont.