ATOS assessment - what are the chances of being in support group

dazza-mac

Hi,
Panicking as usual. I've just read that if you are sent for an assessment then the likelihood of standing any chance of being put into the support group are minimal as this is usually decided prior to any appointment being sent out.

I personally fail to see how they could've read my esa50 and contacted my GP in the time I sent it in and received my appointment letter.

I receive a war pension with mobility supplement because of foot problems, so I'm at a loss as to why I didn't just get into the support group without having to go for a medical. I only say that because I read somewhere else eons ago that I would fit one of the support group descripters.

Should I be worried?

schrodie

If it helps a friend of mine was called for an assessment and was placed in the Support Group and I'm sure others have gone for an assessment and have also been placed into the SG.

To get into the SG you have to satisfy one of the SG descriptors available Here

dazza-mac

schrodie wrote: »

If it helps a friend of mine was called for an assessment and was placed in the Support Group and I'm sure others have gone for an assessment and have also been placed into the SG.

To get into the SG you have to satisfy one of the SG descriptors available Here

Thanks schrodie.

I'm just confused because I thought the mobility supplement would see me in the support group - negating the need for an assessment. I know it's daft to assume that any of use can miss being called for an assessment, it's just that I've read that some people havn't needed to go for one - and I thought the mobility aspect would've helped me

rogerblack

If your only problems are foot problems, you would not normally be entitled to ESA at all.
ESA has since march of this year allowed them to assess you as if you were using a wheelchair, if it's reasonable for you to use this.

The support group decision may be made either before or after the medical, it's not saying you're not getting support group because you are being called for a medical.

saving_pennies

Although I didn't end up having a medical, I was given two appointments so they clearly had not decided at that point which group (if any) I would be put in. But during the process of explaining to them why the appointments were not suitable (due to medical reasons I rather not explain here), they spoke to my doctor and put me in the support group. All the information was written in my ESA50 form.

If you read this thread: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4050323
you will see different categories and whether a medical is needed.

schrodie

rogerblack wrote: »

If your only problems are foot problems, you would not normally be entitled to ESA at all.
ESA has since march of this year allowed them to assess you as if you were using a wheelchair, if it's reasonable for you to use this.

The support group decision may be made either before or after the medical, it's not saying you're not getting support group because you are being called for a medical.

Unless the wording on the ESA50 has changed the wording on the form could be said to be misleading (heaven forfend the DWP for the that) because it says w.r.t. that descriptor:-

By moving we mean including the use of aids such as a manual wheelchair, crutches or a walking stick, if you usually use one, but without the help of another person.

However as Roger has said those nice people at Atos can now assess you using an imaginary manual wheelchair ergo if you can manually propel yourself in a manual wheelchair even if you don't usually use one.......well!!!!!

grummps

dazza-mac wrote: »

Thanks schrodie.

I'm just confused because I thought the mobility supplement would see me in the support group - negating the need for an assessment. I know it's daft to assume that any of use can miss being called for an assessment, it's just that I've read that some people havn't needed to go for one - and I thought the mobility aspect would've helped me

Not a hope in H**l!!!

You can receive DLA at High Mobility - not being able to walk, and High Care - requiring 24/7 care and fail the ESA assessment and be found totally fit for work!!

The ESA assessment has nothing to do with your illness/disability/condition but more to do with 'passing' specific descriptors which the government say indicates your ability to carry out a work based function.

It's a box ticking exercise to see if you fit into a particular box. If you don't then you are fighting fit and ready to go to work and people would say that you are a parasite and a scrounger for attempting to claim a benefit which your aren't entitled to.

As for the Support Group. That is another test. Once again you have to be able to tick a relevant box. If you don't fit any of them, you don't get the Support Group.

It's a bit like taking an exam at school.

There are those that are taught the complete subject and you have to rely on your memory when it comes to answering the exam papers and there are those that are taught how to pass the exam and the subjects that are likely to come up.

You just have to know which box you want to be put in and concentrate on qualifying for that box!

grummps

schrodie wrote: »

Unless the wording on the ESA50 has changed the wording on the form could be said to be misleading (heaven forfend the DWP for the that) because it says w.r.t. that descriptor:-

By moving we mean including the use of aids such as a manual wheelchair, crutches or a walking stick, if you usually use one, but without the help of another person.

However as Roger has said those nice people at Atos can now assess you using an imaginary manual wheelchair ergo if you can manually propel yourself in a manual wheelchair even if you don't usually use one.......well!!!!!

Yes you are correct!!

The test is supposed to be about using aids if they are usually used.

This in turn has been twisted to mean that it doesn't matter if you don't use one, they have a pretend one that they assume you could use.

susan42

so if I'm reading this correct. you can be taken off sick benefit because you can work. but you keep the mobility and care allowance . does that make sense ?
my cousin just got 0 points out of 15 with a spine injury and cancer. hes at the hospital every week and is depressed and on sleeping tablets. bear in mind he did work up until he got diagnosed with cancer.

Two4Tuesday

susan42 wrote: »

so if I'm reading this correct. you can be taken off sick benefit because you can work. but you keep the mobility and care allowance . does that make sense ?

Yes, it does. DLA is for care and mobility needs, not because you can't work. A lot of people get DLA and work.

dazza-mac

schrodie wrote: »

Unless the wording on the ESA50 has changed the wording on the form could be said to be misleading (heaven forfend the DWP for the that) because it says w.r.t. that descriptor:-

By moving we mean including the use of aids such as a manual wheelchair, crutches or a walking stick, if you usually use one, but without the help of another person.

However as Roger has said those nice people at Atos can now assess you using an imaginary manual wheelchair ergo if you can manually propel yourself in a manual wheelchair even if you don't usually use one.......well!!!!!

How on earth can they assess you using an imaginary wheelchair!? I can't believe they are allowed to assess someone (one of thousands) and yet your anwer has to fit into a 'tick box' apparantly, as from what I've read the assessor is usually sat in front of a computer. How can they tick a box if your answer doesn't fit in it? Are they going to tick the one that's nearest to your answer? If so, how can that be right? Especially when you consider that every time we fill in a form it states at the bottom that if we give a false answer it could result in the loss of benefit and/or prosecution!