esa50 form question after sending

helenj36

hi ive sent of my esa50 form once atos read is it all sent to the decision maker to make a decision and will atos send the medical reports to dwp aslo
thanks

rogerblack

helenj36 wrote: »

hi ive sent of my esa50 form once atos read is it all sent to the decision maker to make a decision and will atos send the medical reports to dwp aslo
thanks

As I understand it, the decision maker at the DWP reads the form, and then determines if they have enough evidence on the form, and any supporting documents to make a decision.

If not, then they may send the paperwork to ATOS for a medical opinion - if this happens, then ATOS gives a medical opinion on the basis of the evidence, which the decision maker then looks at.

Again, they can approve your claim at this point, or request an actual medical.
The decision maker gets your ATOS report of your medical, looks at it, and sees if they need to make changes, and then either approves/denies your benefit - and you get sent a letter about it.

nannytone_2

blimey.
still it keeps people in work lol

cit_k

ATOS are meant to examine the form and any other available evidence, and complile a 'pre-board' report (document esa85a) which decides if a medical is required, or esa is recommended at any level, which is then sent to the decision maker to carefully examine and consider along with all other evidence (in other words most likely they will ignore all the other evidence, not read your form, and just rubber stamp the findings of the pre board report).

cit_k

^ its worthwile requesting a copy of your pre-board report, you may have to push for it, as few in the DWP seem to know it exists (tell them its an esa85A and stress the A).

You may find, like happened to me, the 'medical professional' who did the pre-board report said something silly, like there was no evidence, and failed to read what you supplied.

In my case, ATOS (as I had another means of knowing they had not read the form) apologised, but STILL went ahead (as did the DWP) with an assessment, based on a known, and admitted, medicall unsound (hence ethically unsound to) pre-board report.

The level of incompetance, and lack of ethics from ATOS I really do find appalling.

I_know_my_ABC_and_my_CMYK

I have to say that my experience with ATOS/ESA went surprisingly smoothly. It's the first time I have had any ATOS connected benefit. My DLA was renewed with evidence I sent in plus a report from my GP which they requested. My ESA was then awarded on the same evidence.

I attended no medical at all, which I was very surprised at.

My ESA was awarded for the non work group and my DLA is high rate for both components.

I was dreading it and really worried myself silly after reading so many negative posts on here.

I have wondered if those that are failed don't have enough evidence to send in or there is not enough information on the claim form.

rogerblack

I_know_my_ABC_and_my_CMYK wrote: »

I have to say that my experience with ATOS/ESA went surprisingly smoothly.
<snip>
I have wondered if those that are failed don't have enough evidence to send in or there is not enough information on the claim form.

Perhaps that's part of it, along with people assuming their GP or other doctor would be contacted, and not filling in the form fully.

My personal experiences with the in-person medical for ESA have been positive. The doctor was caring and wrote a reasonable report. The report had some issues, due to me misreporting things on the ESA50, as I hadn't read the underlying legislation, so the doctor diddn't probe some areas.

It would be enlightening if there had been done a study of a random cross-section of the population with in-depth interviews by skilled benefit advisers to see what percentage of people would have a reasonable claim for ESA on the current descriptors.

Or at least a study of a sampling of those applying for ESA.

sangiar

rogerblack wrote: »

It would be enlightening if there had been done a study of a random cross-section of the population with in-depth interviews by skilled benefit advisers to see what percentage of people would have a reasonable claim for ESA on the current descriptors.

Or at least a study of a sampling of those applying for ESA.

I thought that that was carried out by ATOS already?

An assessment by way of in-depth interviews by skilled disability assessors to see what percentage of people would have a reasonable claim for ESA on the current descriptors.

rogerblack

sangiar wrote: »

I thought that that was carried out by ATOS already?

An assessment by way of in-depth interviews by skilled disability assessors to see what percentage of people would have a reasonable claim for ESA on the current descriptors.

Indeed - however it's a rushed 40 minute interview.

This would be at least several hours, well compensated, with the explicit guarantee that no notice would be taken of it with regards to benefit entitlement, unless the person explicitly asked for them to send it to the DWP.

It would basically be an in-depth assessment of the persons entitlement to all benefits, by someone experienced in representing clients at tribunals, and the likely outcomes.

If you don't have this data, I don't see how you can formulate a sane benefits policy.

cit_k

rogerblack wrote: »

Indeed - however it's a rushed 40 minute interview.

This would be at least several hours, well compensated, with the explicit guarantee that no notice would be taken of it with regards to benefit entitlement, unless the person explicitly asked for them to send it to the DWP.

It would basically be an in-depth assessment of the persons entitlement to all benefits, by someone experienced in representing clients at tribunals, and the likely outcomes.

If you don't have this data, I don't see how you can formulate a sane benefits policy.

ESA policy is not about finding out if your really fit for work or not.

Its about failing the target of 1 million people in a way that wont lead to to many deaths and tribunals.