Another assessment for ESA - giving up!

eskimo26

melin wrote: »

Thanks everybody.


I can't see the point in ringing the DWP up, as I have had experiences with them last year when they tell you one thing and it turns out to be totally wrong.

I will have to go to the medical next week and explain that the form and evidence will be sent back by the end of the month.

The information they give you over the phone isn't worth the paper its written on, you need to contact them by e-mail (you can find your office in the job centre + site) so that you have a paper trail.

Secondly you absolutely do not have to go to the medical. You can have it rescheduled but they only do it once. Having said that you shouldn't be in this position at all unless you've passed your deadline for getting the form back which you haven't.

This is like a hard sell or high pressure selling, they want you to think you only have one week. E-mail them and tell them the situation (last time evidence excepted you from medical during the pre-board check) and that you will contact your local MP unless given time to fill out the form and send in the evidence.

You should also cc in atos (custrelations@atoshealthcare.com)

Think about it this way the time and hassle of a few e-mails compared to the time and hassle of a medical that you will fail and then waiting over half a year for it to reach tribunal while you receive a lower rate of benefit.

If it's to much to do alone make an appointment for your local CAB and they will sort it all out for you.

The irony is they've hidden the fact you can skip the medical in this way and this ends up costing the taxpayer a packet because people that shouldn't go to medical do and then the cost of the tribunal too, its all really obscene. Don't roll over for there convenience because i guarantee in the long run it will be much more inconvenient for you.
:mad::eek:

Ha well good luck and CAB is definately worth chatting too.
:A

melbury

NASA wrote: »

My point was that the person said their last WCA was last year and your post states that people should left alone for a year or so. I was being facetious and/or frivelous.

Both Labour and the Conservatives signed up to the IB/IS reassessment policy - so IB claimants are starting to be reassessed to see whether they qualify for ESA.

I think you are missing my point; we went through the process of form filling and medical assessment but only a few months ago and now have to do it all again, so soon.

I don't get what you mean by "I was being facetious and/or frivolous" - why were you? I thought my answer was very polite.

As there are millions getting IB, it will take years to get them reassessed, so wouldn't it be a good idea to devote more time and effort on that area?

NASA_2

eskimo26 wrote: »

The irony is they've hidden the fact you can skip the medical in this way and this ends up costing the taxpayer a packet because people that shouldn't go to medical do and then the cost of the tribunal too, its all really obscene. Don't roll over for there convenience because i guarantee in the long run it will be much more inconvenient for you.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/esa/DG_172012

'It is very important to attend and fully participate in your medical assessment as your benefit may be affected if you don't. If for any reason you cannot attend, you should contact the Medical Centre beforehand and arrange another appointment.'

Took me less than a minute to find on DirectGov where it states you can cancel your medical and make another appointment. Not very well hidden !!!!!!.

NASA_2

melbury wrote: »

I think you are missing my point; we went through the process of form filling and medical assessment but only a few months ago and now have to do it all again, so soon.

I don't get what you mean by "I was being facetious and/or frivolous" - why were you? I thought my answer was very polite.

As there are millions getting IB, it will take years to get them reassessed, so wouldn't it be a good idea to devote more time and effort on that area?

I didnt say your answer was impolite. Just ignorant to the statement made by the person you quoted.

What I believe the DWP are doing now is to start issuing forms etc. two months early so that people are actually getting the results of their second WCA at the time they should be rather than the process only starting at that point. I'm pretty certain this was done as a concession to advocacy groups who complain that people have to wait too long on their review and are suffering 'hardship' due to this.

I dont really get your final point, surely the solution to 'claimants being ignored' is as relevant to ESA as it is to IB, if ESA claimants are ignored while everyone on IB is assessed we will end up with the same problems again. Claimants being on benefits for years then enraged when they are called for a medical years down the line and told they are FFW as far as the benefits system is concerned.

melbury

NASA wrote: »

I dont really get your final point, surely the solution to 'claimants being ignored' is as relevant to ESA as it is to IB, if ESA claimants are ignored while everyone on IB is assessed we will end up with the same problems again. Claimants being on benefits for years then enraged when they are called for a medical years down the line and told they are FFW as far as the benefits system is concerned.

I am not saying that people on ESA should be ignored, but the medical assessments and reassessments for those on IB should be a bit more evened out, if that is possible.

It has all been left so long it is now a total mess and probably beyond the realms of ever putting right.

sunnyone

Melin wrote: »

I can't honestly can't believe that the DWP are that insane to spend money on medicals when they know that it would be a waste of money.
I know I am fed up with it, but not about being assessed again, but on how they are doing it.
Re-assessment has to take place regularly otherwise we would be in the same position as we were with the old sickness benefit, when you got on it, it could be years before you were looked at again.

you have been banned once today already andy, go away.

eskimo26

NASA wrote: »

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/esa/DG_172012

'It is very important to attend and fully participate in your medical assessment as your benefit may be affected if you don't. If for any reason you cannot attend, you should contact the Medical Centre beforehand and arrange another appointment.'

Took me less than a minute to find on DirectGov where it states you can cancel your medical and make another appointment. Not very well hidden !!!!!!.

Great it's super troll again.

That wasn't the information I was talking about if you bothered to read the post/topic properly you'd have realized that I was talking about the pre-board check, but it seems that's the least of your interests on the topics you post in.

Also to pre-empt your reply, since your not actually giving any specific or relevant advice per forum rules and admit to being facetious/frivolous, pretty much not interested. Sorry.

NASA_2

eskimo26 wrote: »

Great it's super troll again.

That wasn't the information I was talking about if you bothered to read the post/topic properly you'd have realized that I was talking about the pre-board check, but it seems that's the least of your interests on the topics you post in.

Also to pre-empt your reply, since your not actually giving any specific or relevant advice per forum rules and admit to being facetious/frivolous, pretty much not interested. Sorry.

I must have got lost in 'tinfoil hat' part of your whiny post, I'll not expect a reply back seeing as you arent interested.:beer:

cit_k

Melin wrote: »

I can't honestly can't believe that the DWP are that insane to spend money on medicals when they know that it would be a waste of money.
I know I am fed up with it, but not about being assessed again, but on how they are doing it.
Re-assessment has to take place regularly otherwise we would be in the same position as we were with the old sickness benefit, when you got on it, it could be years before you were looked at again.

melbury wrote: »

I don't have a problem with it, just think that they should look at the millions who have been "left alone" for years on Incapacity Benefit instead of calling back people they have only seen a few months ago.

Believe me, I do think the whole system needs a good shake up.

People were re-assessed at regular intervals on IB, unless they were exempt (ie the very serious cases).

Intervals depend on ATOS's (or rather more likely the LIMA softwares) version of how long each condition needs to be left alone for before re-assessment.

Then on top of that, you have legislation to force reassessment, for example in cases where an indefinate award was granted, so everyone got reassessed on IB, just like with ESA.

Only slight difference is some people did not need to go to medicals as IB had some exceptions that ESA does not have (such as not having to undergo a medical if you are in a permanent vegatative state, which is no longer an exemption under ESA, as errr they can work as doormats or something I guess..)

I was reassessed only 3 months after winning at tribunal on IB...

cit_k

melbury wrote: »

I am not saying that people on ESA should be ignored, but the medical assessments and reassessments for those on IB should be a bit more evened out, if that is possible.

It has all been left so long it is now a total mess and probably beyond the realms of ever putting right.

No it has not, people were being assessed as normal, it was never left and people were not just ignored.

People's cases were all assessed, some on paper (as will happen with ESA) the rest by medical, as does ESA.