Atos medical, got a letter & have a few questions

donny909

As said I got a letter to go for the atos medical today over my IB. They have not stated or given me a date, but i'm to phone them and arrange a date. But I've a few questions and points I could do with being clarified before I phone them.

First off, don't they need me to fill the questionaire in before they can assess weather or not I need a medical?. As the last questionaire was sent to them near 6 months ago and they never called me in then can they still use that out of date questionaire or should they\need to do a fresh 1 before calling me in?. I'd have thought after near 6 months the details in the old questionaire would be invalid and they cant act on them but need to send out a fresh 1?.

I have no trust for those doing the medicals in the slightest, in fact how can anyone when they are motivated by targets & bonuses?. So to ensure when I go to a medical I get a fair hearing i'd like to have the protection of being able to prove weather or not the medical is fair and just by having it audio recorded. I gather I'm within my rights to ask for the medical to be audio recorded. But this has to be requested and arranged before the medical?.

Anyone got any information on having the medical recorded or my first points?.

dmg24

The IB50 that you completed is the one that they will use. This will still be part of the same PCA.

You can record your medical by prior arrangement and using professional equipment. This will cost a great deal. ATOS will be able to advise you what requirements they have before allowing this to happen.

JS477

When you filled in and submitted your last IB50 approx. 6 months ago as a result were you awarded IB?

Generally the procedure is is that if Atos requires further information regarding your condition because they cannot gleen enough from your IB50 (or the IB113 they [should] send to your GP) then they send you for a medical with one of their "health care professionals".


As for recording your medical I don't think you can as the DWP place strict rules on who and what equipment can be used. In other words they make it as difficult as they can. The best thing to do is to take someone with you who can take accurate notes of what is said and carried out.

healy

donny909 wrote: »

As said I got a letter to go for the atos medical today over my IB. They have not stated or given me a date, but i'm to phone them and arrange a date. But I've a few questions and points I could do with being clarified before I phone them.

First off, don't they need me to fill the questionaire in before they can assess weather or not I need a medical?. As the last questionaire was sent to them near 6 months ago and they never called me in then can they still use that out of date questionaire or should they\need to do a fresh 1 before calling me in?. I'd have thought after near 6 months the details in the old questionaire would be invalid and they cant act on them but need to send out a fresh 1?.

I have no trust for those doing the medicals in the slightest, in fact how can anyone when they are motivated by targets & bonuses?. So to ensure when I go to a medical I get a fair hearing i'd like to have the protection of being able to prove weather or not the medical is fair and just by having it audio recorded. I gather I'm within my rights to ask for the medical to be audio recorded. But this has to be requested and arranged before the medical?.

Anyone got any information on having the medical recorded or my first points?.

No they will not need you to fill in another questionnaire, you will be mainly judged on the medical that you are due to have. It is not unusual to have to wait a number of months until you attend the medical.

The Doctors and Nurses are not paid bonuses but a flat rate fee for each medical.

You can ask for the medical to be recorded but you would have to pay for this to be done professionally if they agree to it.

donny909

Well at the time of the last IB50 being sent off near 6 months ago I know for fact and 100% certain that the answers I gave in that would have given me more than double, if not 3 times the number of points needed to pass and qualify for the IB i'm currently on. How can I be so certain you may ask?. Because I had the luck and benefit of at the time having a local independent benefits advisor expert in our home dealing with the partners appeal\tribunal against atos (which funny enough her tribunal is next week so not a coincidence to get the letter no i feel). So he went through each and every question in the IB50 (or whatever form it was) explaining properly what each question is asking and what it means. Because the questions were explained properly and what I'd say "translated" into english meant that I qained far more points than I otherwise would have done. So I already knew before sending it off roughly how many points I'd get. But simply heard nothing from atos untill now, not even a reply back to say how many points they thought the answers gave me?. I thought they send a reply back to IB50 to say how many points they award you and to say weather or not you may be called in for a medical at any point?. They have not done that this time for some reason?.

Can I question why I'm being called in? or what points I was awarded as a result of the IB50 (or what ever form it was)? and why I never received a reply back on the findings of the IB50?. As surely I could use the points awarded from the last IB50 to take with me?. But guess I may have got it wrong in thinking i should have got a responce back over the last IB50?.

dmg24

You are beginning to sound very paranoid ... Perhaps you should contact your local independent benefits advisor expert if they know so much?

I_luv_cats

When you complete your IB50 you normally either get a letter saying you meet the threshold of Incapacity under the PCA or you have to attend a medical.

If you pass the medical then your'll be ok otherwise an appeal would have to be considered.

healy

donny909 wrote: »

Well at the time of the last IB50 being sent off near 6 months ago I know for fact and 100% certain that the answers I gave in that would have given me more than double, if not 3 times the number of points needed to pass and qualify for the IB i'm currently on. How can I be so certain you may ask?. Because I had the luck and benefit of at the time having a local independent benefits advisor expert in our home dealing with the partners appeal\tribunal against atos (which funny enough her tribunal is next week so not a coincidence to get the letter no i feel). So he went through each and every question in the IB50 (or whatever form it was) explaining properly what each question is asking and what it means. Because the questions were explained properly and what I'd say "translated" into english meant that I qained far more points than I otherwise would have done. So I already knew before sending it off roughly how many points I'd get. But simply heard nothing from atos untill now, not even a reply back to say how many points they thought the answers gave me?. I thought they send a reply back to IB50 to say how many points they award you and to say weather or not you may be called in for a medical at any point?. They have not done that this time for some reason?.

Can I question why I'm being called in? or what points I was awarded as a result of the IB50 (or what ever form it was)? and why I never received a reply back on the findings of the IB50?. As surely I could use the points awarded from the last IB50 to take with me?. But guess I may have got it wrong in thinking i should have got a responce back over the last IB50?.

They have written to you to say that you need to attend a medical. The only other letter you could have received from would be one to say you have met the threshold without the need for a medical.

JS477

donny909 wrote: »

Well at the time of the last IB50 being sent off near 6 months ago I know for fact and 100% certain that the answers I gave in that would have given me more than double, if not 3 times the number of points needed to pass and qualify for the IB i'm currently on. How can I be so certain you may ask?. Because I had the luck and benefit of at the time having a local independent benefits advisor expert in our home dealing with the partners appeal\tribunal against atos (which funny enough her tribunal is next week so not a coincidence to get the letter no i feel). So he went through each and every question in the IB50 (or whatever form it was) explaining properly what each question is asking and what it means. Because the questions were explained properly and what I'd say "translated" into english meant that I qained far more points than I otherwise would have done. So I already knew before sending it off roughly how many points I'd get. But simply heard nothing from atos untill now, not even a reply back to say how many points they thought the answers gave me?. I thought they send a reply back to IB50 to say how many points they award you and to say weather or not you may be called in for a medical at any point?. They have not done that this time for some reason?.

Can I question why I'm being called in? or what points I was awarded as a result of the IB50 (or what ever form it was)? and why I never received a reply back on the findings of the IB50?. As surely I could use the points awarded from the last IB50 to take with me?. But guess I may have got it wrong in thinking i should have got a responce back over the last IB50?.

Sadly what you think the number of points, despite any independent expert advice you receive, doesn't matter. What matters is what the person at Atos reading your IB50 thinks taking into account the extra medical info they may have in the form of an IB113. If they're still unsure then that's when they get you to take a "medical" when the "Health Care Professional" (not necessarily a doctor any more) should take into account what's written in the "Incapacity Benefit Handbook for Approved Doctors". Here

However there are some medical conditions that according to the regulations should exempt someone from having to undergo the PCA but Atos seem to be ignoring those regulations and sending those people an IB50.

donny909

dmg24 wrote: »

You are beginning to sound very paranoid ... Perhaps you should contact your local independent benefits advisor expert if they know so much?

Every right to feel paranoid when I've been taken off IB in the past because they marked down opposite answers to what I was asked as missed out questions that would easily have had me pass the medical. Then the gf's current tribunal hearing is for pretty much the exact same reason. Atos telling total lies is enough to make anyone paranoid.

I don't mind having the medical in the slightest as I'll have them explain what each and every question means and what it's asking to make sure there is no miss understanding. But I know it don't matter as they'll either pass me or fail me depending on what targets they have to meet as a company to get there targets\bonus that month!. Yes the staff might not get the bonuses, but the company does if they meet a threshold.

I'm more wandering if and where I can enquire as to there findings to the IB50?. As assuming I'm going to a medical soon am I within my rights as to ask what points they awarded me through the IB50?.

JS477

Yes you can ask the DWP for copies of all the info they have regarding your claim. Again as you have to attend a "medical" the best thing to do is take someone along with you to take notes and do your homework on what goes on at these "medicals" beforehand. Also ask for a copy of the "medical" report after it's finished.