ESA Support Group

melbury

After appealing my OH has just been transferred from WRAG to the Support Group.

I want to find out when the DWP are expecting him to attend another ATOS medical farce because if ATOS have their way it will be in just a couple of months time.

This would make a mockery of the appeal process and him being put in the Support Group, to just have to go through the whole process again in such a short time.

I am going to telephone the DWP next week to try and find out when my OH is next expected to attend an ATOS medical.

Seems to me that ATOS call the shots as to when you have to go; they recommend say a six monthly review and they send out the next ESA50 form, so it is all down to them. They are bound to want to keep doing this as it is making them shedloads of money.

I am definitely not happy with that and want to find out exactly what the position is.

Perhaps it would be worth me telephoning ATOS as well?

Hammyman

As you are not the claimant, the DWP and ATOS do not have to speak to you.

If they say you have to go for an assessment, you have to go for one. By all means choose not to but expect the money to stop and TBH I doubt there's a single taxpayer in the land not claiming IB or ESA who think its unreasonable to expect people claiming to be unable to work to go for medicals to prove they're not.

Prinzessilein

Hammyman wrote: »

I doubt there's a single taxpayer in the land not claiming IB or ESA who think its unreasonable to expect people claiming to be unable to work to go for medicals to prove they're not.

I am claiming IB (at least until i get the dreaded ATOS letter) and have absolutely no problem with attending medicals.

However, I object to the medical being carried out by an ATOS non-specialist who has no experience of my complex condition - and yet can inside 20 minutes find enough 'proof' to decide I am fit for work.

I see my GP regularly - and he signs my sick/fit notes for 6 months at a time. I also see my specialist. They deal with my medications. They see how am I coping (or not!) on a regular basis. They have decided I should not be even looking for work at the moment...and ATOS non-specialists can over-rule them.

It seems to me, that ATOS can decide you are fit for work; you go to tribunal and win your case; and ATOS simply call you back for another 'medical' and again find you fit!

I am more than willing to attend medicals. But they should be carried out by people who have a sound, professional medical understanding of the medical condition of the client.

melbury

Hammyman wrote: »

As you are not the claimant, the DWP and ATOS do not have to speak to you.

If they say you have to go for an assessment, you have to go for one. By all means choose not to but expect the money to stop and TBH I doubt there's a single taxpayer in the land not claiming IB or ESA who think its unreasonable to expect people claiming to be unable to work to go for medicals to prove they're not.

It has absolutely nothing to do with not wanting to attend medicals, I agree that people should attend medicals, especially those who haven't attended one in many years.

My husband is the claimant, but as he cannot speak I have to deal with all of his communications and attend all appointments with him, so do not be so quick to judge.

I just happen to think it is unreasonable when you have a condition that is definitely not going to improve in the next six months to have to go through the whole process of completing yet another ESA50 and attending yet another ATOS medical and then have to appeal all over again - when he has already done this twice in the last 9 months anyway.

It is just a complete waste of time and of course, as you are so quick to point out, taxpayers money.

dmg24

One thing to remember is that the appeal considers your condition at the time of the PCA, so if the appeal has taken (for example) six months, it is quite possible to receive an ESA50 very soon afterwards. There is nothing to stop you asking when it will be, and of course you can submit medical evidence and ask them to consider that before sending you another appt.

melbury

dmg24 wrote: »

One thing to remember is that the appeal considers your condition at the time of the PCA, so if the appeal has taken (for example) six months, it is quite possible to receive an ESA50 very soon afterwards. There is nothing to stop you asking when it will be, and of course you can submit medical evidence and ask them to consider that before sending you another appt.

I didn't think that PCA's existed anymore, that is the whole idea of the new ESA medicals to sift out the people who shouldn't be claiming.

I will definitely telephone them and try and find out exactly what the situation is regarding the time between medical assessments.

I work full time and just do not have the time or energy to have to keep filling in ESA50's, attending ATOS and writing out appeals every couple of months.

They need to focus their energies in other areas.

yappycat

They will send you forms and to medicals as they see fit tbh. I first filled in an ESA form Feb 2010 - was refused, jumped through the hoops and won the appeal at tribunal Nov 2010 and was placed in the SG.
Feb 2011 another form, another medical, assessed as limited capability this time but placed in the WRAG not the SG, again I am appealing.

This is despite suffering from MS regarding which I stated I had not made any significant improvements nor significantly deteriorated since completing the last form and since attending the tribunal.

I know these things must be reassessed periodically; but receiving another form, only 3 months after you just won the last 9 month battle to get the benefit you're entitled to, is galling to say the least.

dmg24

melbury wrote: »

I didn't think that PCA's existed anymore, that is the whole idea of the new ESA medicals to sift out the people who shouldn't be claiming.

I will definitely telephone them and try and find out exactly what the situation is regarding the time between medical assessments.

I work full time and just do not have the time or energy to have to keep filling in ESA50's, attending ATOS and writing out appeals every couple of months.

They need to focus their energies in other areas.

Sorry, I meant WCA - the WCA replaced the PCA. The steps are the same, but the descriptors are different.

eskimo26

melbury wrote: »

I didn't think that PCA's existed anymore, that is the whole idea of the new ESA medicals to sift out the people who shouldn't be claiming.

I will definitely telephone them and try and find out exactly what the situation is regarding the time between medical assessments.

I work full time and just do not have the time or energy to have to keep filling in ESA50's, attending ATOS and writing out appeals every couple of months.

They need to focus their energies in other areas.

Its not rocket science, they're just trying to wear you down, just think of all those people like your OH who don't have anyone like yourself to turn too. Easy pickings and huge savings, its not right but its easy and we are talking about a Government here as long as they are in power they don't give a fig.

They don't care that its the most isolated, least able and most genuine that they squeezing. The fakes, border lines and those with someone to rely on will generally get an appeal in.

melbury

yappycat wrote: »

They will send you forms and to medicals as they see fit tbh. I first filled in an ESA form Feb 2010 - was refused, jumped through the hoops and won the appeal at tribunal Nov 2010 and was placed in the SG.
Feb 2011 another form, another medical, assessed as limited capability this time but placed in the WRAG not the SG, again I am appealing.

This is despite suffering from MS regarding which I stated I had not made any significant improvements nor significantly deteriorated since completing the last form and since attending the tribunal.

I know these things must be reassessed periodically; but receiving another form, only 3 months after you just won the last 9 month battle to get the benefit you're entitled to, is galling to say the least.

Absolutely, there is just no respite from it - even when you win your appeal you just cannot relax and think well that is really good news, perhaps they will leave us alone for a little while - it makes me sick:mad:

It is terrible that you received a further form only 3 months after winning your appeal. From what I can see it looks like ATOS make the decision as to when you will be reviewed rather than the DWP, would you say that is correct?

I am definitely going to phone the DWP this week and try to find out if they can give me any idea when the next ESA50 is likely to drop on the mat! I might also suggest to them that it is entirely in ATOS's interest to keep recalling the same people over and over again. It just wears you down doesn't it.

CountryGuy

melbury wrote: »

Absolutely, there is just no respite from it - even when you win your appeal you just cannot relax and think well that is really good news, perhaps they will leave us alone for a little while - it makes me sick:mad:

It is terrible that you received a further form only 3 months after winning your appeal. From what I can see it looks like ATOS make the decision as to when you will be reviewed rather than the DWP, would you say that is correct?

I am definitely going to phone the DWP this week and try to find out if they can give me any idea when the next ESA50 is likely to drop on the mat! I might also suggest to them that it is entirely in ATOS's interest to keep recalling the same people over and over again. It just wears you down doesn't it.

Maybe they will now be that busy assessing people on IB to get them onto ESA that your OH will now be left alone for quite some time. Fingers crossed for you both!

I wonder why they feel the need to continue assessing someone like your OH when it is clear for them to see that there will never be any improvement. For someone like me with severe depression, I can understand it as depression can and usually does improve in time.