Do ATOS do medical assessments for DLA claims?

Dekota

I'm frankly baffled by this because mum doesn't get IS or ESA yet she's received letters from ATOS for a medical assesment and then she recieved an ESA50 form and now shes received letter to say she is required to attend an assesment on the given date or her benefit will be affected. Would this be DLA which would be affected?

red_me

Can we ask how old is your mother and what benefit is she on?

~Chameleon~

It sounds as though she is being transferred from IB to ESA, assuming she's in receipt of IB of course.

Muttleythefrog

The DWP are ballsup specialists.. but I think in this case it is more likely to be a genuine transfer from old regime to new regime. ATOS do do medical assessments for DLA... although they're not usually used for most claims... and the ESA50 is specifically for ESA.. it is used in vast majority of cases for factfinding as part of the Work Capability Assessment that could include a face to face ATOS medical.

This may be helpful
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/ib-reassessment-information-pack.pdf

It should be noted that despite ESA and DLA being very different animals with very different criteria and being for different purposes, it has been known for the DWP to use information from ESA claim to look at entitlement of DLA.

I am concerned at the order of things in this case. Usually the ESA50 is sent and you get about 4 weeks to return it.. and then ATOS HC determine if a face to face medical is required and arrange one if necessary.

mynameistallulah

Dekota, according to previous posts your mother was on IB/ IS and you were aware that the WCA process was starting (you were waiting for the initial phone call). Has something happened since these posts?

Dekota

red_me wrote: »

Can we ask how old is your mother and what benefit is she on?

Mum is 46 and DLA is the only benefit

Muttleythefrog wrote: »

The DWP are ballsup specialists.. but I think in this case it is more likely to be a genuine transfer from old regime to new regime. ATOS do do medical assessments for DLA... although they're not usually used for most claims... and the ESA50 is specifically for ESA.. it is used in vast majority of cases for factfinding as part of the Work Capability Assessment that could include a face to face ATOS medical.

This may be helpful
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/ib-reassessment-information-pack.pdf

It should be noted that despite ESA and DLA being very different animals with very different criteria and being for different purposes, it has been known for the DWP to use information from ESA claim to look at entitlement of DLA.

I am concerned at the order of things in this case. Usually the ESA50 is sent and you get about 4 weeks to return it.. and then ATOS HC determine if a face to face medical is required and arrange one if necessary.

I'm also confused by the order of things and would very much like to know if this is related to ESA or DLA. She has received IS in the past, never received IB. Is there any point phoning the jobcentre to enquire which claim this assesment is for?

Dekota, according to previous posts your mother was on IB/ IS and you were aware that the WCA process was starting (you were waiting for the initial phone call). Has something happened since these posts?

We ignored the previous forms they sent..

rogerblack

Dekota wrote: »

We ignored the previous forms they sent..

I would suggest following this up, and not ignoring it.
At least chase them to make sure that your non-attendance for an ESA interview is not taken into account for DLA purposes.

Is it possible that at some time in the past she applied for IS, and that she was granted this, but due to error, this is not being paid?
If this is so, she may be entitled to substantial back-payment.

Does she have income other than the DLA, which would result in IS not being payable?

mynameistallulah

From what I can tell, the mother was receiving the 10p rate of IS but this was suspended (and then stopped?) due to exceeding the capital limits. When it was stopped, their nil rate IB claim would have remained open, hence the assessment request.

OP, you cannot ignore forms from the DWP - if you are unsure what they mean ask on here or call the DWP, and then if you decide not to action them, inform the DWP accordingly. You are doing your mother no favours by ignoring important forms.

broad-sword_2

ATOS conduct both DLA and ESA/Incap Reassessment assessments. They are completely seperate and look at different criteria, eg DLA is based on how a disability/condition affects an individual in their day to day life, whilst the WCA is looking at restrictions in the (as apposed to 'a') workplace

flight747

I thought all GP's called the government to scrap the WCA as it doesn't work at all. Also Scrap ATOS will be better for all of us.

broad-sword_2

We are in the middle of a 5 year independent review process via Proffessor Malcolm Harrington (ie the Harrington Review). He makes recommendations and DWP decide whether to adopt them in part or in full. They are looking at year 2 at present. Given current ministerial direction and government strategy, I do not think any one group will do away with the WCA. ATOS could lose their contract perhaps - what would replace them though....