ATOS - good stories please?

cit_k

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Don't you think that posts #12-15 have dragged the thread away from its intention and back into the usual complaints?

Dont you think, highlighting serious issues that posters were unaware of, to show a 'good' result is not always what they think it is, should be done?

Or are you happy for assessors to act unethically, and the public to be blissfully aware?

cit_k

Oldpenny wrote: »

Surely there is no problem with issues being pointed out that we are not aware we have rights on. We can all learn by these posts and some may find them helpful. I did not know we were allowed a copy of the medical findings till now.

Y@ou can also request a copy of the medical report, after it has been to the decision maker, just ring up the dwp and ask for a copy of your medical report and they will pop it in the post for free.

Of course, you should according to the gmc (but you never will be) offered a copy of it before it is sent to the dwp....

Its always worth requesting a copy, even if you get the result you were after, as you can check it for any innaccuracies, and also refer to it when the next assessment comes around.

Keep it though, as the DWP are known to sometimes lose medical reports over time, or destroy them after a certain time sometimes. (they lost all my old ones)

It can also come in handy if you fail at any point in the future, and need the evidence for a tribunal.

TrixieB

cit_k wrote: »

In which case you can easily post up examples of what you are referring to then.

I'll see if I still have the emails they sent me and post up some I thought were a bit :eek: **ETA no can't find them, maybe someone else has them

ONW I don't think the thread has turned at all although is in danger of doing so now I fear! So please let's keep this nice, the other threads gone that way so people can keep it on there if that's ok.

Oldpenny I didn't know either till I read on this forum when I joined, knowledge is power!

cit_k

TrixieB wrote: »

Oldpenny I didn't know either till I read on this forum when I joined, knowledge is power!

You will almost certainly find, that the knowledge wont do much good at the time of the assessment, as if you point out your rights to them, I highly doubt they would offer a copy of the report, but would come up with excuses no doubt, and tell you to request it later.

But its powerful knowledge that you can put in a complaint to the gmc about that unethical behaviour...
If enough people do - then perhaps they will start playing by the rules.

NASA_2

cit_k wrote: »

But its essential the assessor reads the form, or knows it was not filled in, or not returned.

Otherwise, they would not be able to ascertain why the form was empty/missing, and see if was related to a mental health problem.

The ESA55 contains details of the illnesses - the doctor can tell from that whether it is a mental illness or not.

Owain_Moneysaver

rogerblack wrote: »

For example 'It says that you can walk over 100m' - yes - I put that on the form, so I agreed.
What I should have said is 'but doing so tires me out, and I can't do it often or reliably'

The whole assessment is geared towards establishing (sometimes with a rather large piece of assumption) what you can do and to find you fit for work.

If you don't know how the system works, you will 'fail' the assessment, and if you don't know or can't cope with going to Tribunal, you will lose the benefit.

If you understand the system you can 'work it' so you 'pass' the assessment. Sadly people who are genuinely ill have to work it to pass, and some people who aren't genuinely ill also 'work it' and get the benefit.

I'd be surprised if Atos themselves design the assessment process, or if they do it will be to a very tight spec issued by the DWP.

And I do know someone who (after spending several days studying descriptors and precedents) completed their ESA50, went to medical, and was put into the Support Group on mental health grounds, so it can happen!

cit_k

NASA wrote: »

The ESA55 contains details of the illnesses - the doctor can tell from that whether it is a mental illness or not.

The ESA55 should contain the esa85 form.

Retain in the ESA55:

• the last two medical referrals; and also
• the most recently completed ESA85 report during the current spell of limited capability (claim), if this is not included in the papers from the last two referrals; and
• any documents containing evidence used to reach decisions made within the previous 14 months.

source

Assuming one was returned.

Along with all the other evidence they have - however, the assessor in this case did not seem to have that esa55 folder present, so had nothing to go on at all it appears.

cit_k

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

The whole assessment is geared towards establishing (sometimes with a rather large piece of assumption) what you can do and to find you fit for work.

If you don't know how the system works, you will 'fail' the assessment, and if you don't know or can't cope with going to Tribunal, you will lose the benefit.

If you understand the system you can 'work it' so you 'pass' the assessment. Sadly people who are genuinely ill have to work it to pass, and some people who aren't genuinely ill also 'work it' and get the benefit.

I'd be surprised if Atos themselves design the assessment process, or if they do it will be to a very tight spec issued by the DWP.

And I do know someone who (after spending several days studying descriptors and precedents) completed their ESA50, went to medical, and was put into the Support Group on mental health grounds, so it can happen!

ATOS were heavily involved in the design of the process/descriptors, and (although the DWP own the lima software) are responsible for maintaining the highly secret lima software.

There are also a lot of links to unum with people involved in the design of the process....

NASA_2

cit_k wrote: »

The ESA55 should contain the esa85 form.



source

Assuming one was returned.

Along with all the other evidence they have - however, the assessor in this case did not seem to have that esa55 folder present, so had nothing to go on at all it appears.

The poster in question indicated that the HCP didnt have the ESA50. I'd be astonished if they didnt have the ESA55 given that it is the referral document.

cit_k

NASA wrote: »

The poster in question indicated that the HCP didnt have the ESA50. I'd be astonished if they didnt have the ESA55 given that it is the referral document.

Im just going by the statement

He ddn't have my ESA50 or any details about me

they would have had plenty details if they had it....