Nightmare ATOS assesment for ESA

Raksha

Since my appointment phone call I've been freaking out. The day of the interview came on Tues - 50 mins before my 11.50 appointment I got a phone call - they wanted to 'cancel' (that was the word they used) my appointment. Having worked myself into a state I couldn't deal with this, so passed the phone to OH (who was going to come with me) He managed to get out of them that they were short staffed and were running late (already?), but if we turned up, I'd be seen but to be prepared to weight.
We were called in about 50 mins after my appt, spent about 30 mins pouring my heart out - going back over all my history - when we got to the bit about slipped disc and sciatica - at that point my assesor announced she couldn't continue with the medical as she wasn't qualified to asses neurological conditions:mad::mad::mad:

So folks - make sure if you have EVER suffered from anything, that it's on your form and that your assessor is qualified to asses ALL of your conditions - past or present.

Finally got a new appointment for 2 weeks tomorrow - at least we were able to sort that out. The water machine wasn't working, the office wasn't signposted very well and the receptionist was most unprofessional (blaspheming, telling folk they could go out for a ciggie, she'd let them back in, then going out the back so she couldn't hear the door bell) although she did offer me repeated hot drinks....

mynameistallulah

Had you noted that you had a neuro condition on your ESA50?

Raksha

No, as I manage my life so that I haven't suffered with it for nearly 15 years - repetitive movements set it off - so I don't do lots of ironing, I can't stand at a work surface for more than about 5 mins, I can't carry a handbag, so I have a ruc sac, and I can't walk a dog that pulls hard on lead. By avoiding these things I have stayed symptom free, as I said, for 15 years. I wasn't employed at the time as I was child rearing, it's doesn't affect my employment, as on the occasions when I've had to do these sorts of tasks, we've been able to manage a 'work around'.

mynameistallulah

Raksha wrote: »

No, as I manage my life so that I haven't suffered with it for nearly 15 years - repetitive movements set it off - so I don't do lots of ironing, I can't stand at a work surface for more than about 5 mins, I can't carry a handbag, so I have a ruc sac, and I can't walk a dog that pulls hard on lead. By avoiding these things I have stayed symptom free, as I said, for 15 years. I wasn't employed at the time as I was child rearing, it's doesn't affect my employment, as on the occasions when I've had to do these sorts of tasks, we've been able to manage a 'work around'.

So why did you mention it? You cannot expect the HCP to specialise in all areas, and if you did not mention it beforehand, it is understandable that you encountered this problem.

Before the next medical you might want to think about what you want to say. They don't want/ need to know what happened to you twenty years ago, they are assessing you on how your health affects your ability to work now.

Raksha

We were going through my history as that IS relevant to how I feel now (adoption, pressure from parents to succeed, difficulty in staying in a job because of 'fear of being found out') - as it happened I suffered from depression in '92, then my marriage broke up, I started an Access course but had to stop it due to the slipped disc. To my mind it's not really relevant either, but the assesor took advice on it and said she couldn't continue as she wasn't graded to deal with neuro cases.

mynameistallulah

Raksha wrote: »

We were going through my history as that IS relevant to how I feel now (adoption, pressure from parents to succeed, difficulty in staying in a job because of 'fear of being found out') - as it happened I suffered from depression in '92, then my marriage broke up, I started an Access course but had to stop it due to the slipped disc. To my mind it's not really relevant either, but the assesor took advice on it and said she couldn't continue as she wasn't graded to deal with neuro cases.

Fair enough, but you cannot criticise them for something they were not aware of. ATOS can be a nightmare, but your experience was not - you were kept up to date with what was going on, the assessment was stopped because they would not be able to give an informed report, and you were given a new appointment promptly. I fail to see what you have to complain about.

Raksha

Because when you suffer from anxiety, experiences like this do not help - the assessor even said she gets lots of situations like this, because the forms don't ask the right questions, especially with relation to mental health. It was a total nightmare, which has taken me 48 hours to calm down to the stage when I can even make this post.

mynameistallulah

Raksha wrote: »

Because when you suffer from anxiety, experiences like this do not help - the assessor even said she gets lots of situations like this, because the forms don't ask the right questions, especially with relation to mental health. It was a total nightmare, which has taken me 48 hours to calm down to the stage when I can even make this post.

So you need to rationalise it - why was it a nightmare? Break it down, look at what they could have done differently. Your issue seems to be with the wording of the form - the form was produced by the DWP, not ATOS.

mazza111

The same thing happens when they don't receive the ESA50, ours for my daughter went missing in the post, DWP didn't inform us of this. When my DD mentioned the mobile joints, instead of stopping the WCA, she didn't examine her knees and just assessed her on her MH problems. Now DD's condition has got much worse since, but they can only look at the evidence on the day of the medical. No mention of her joints whatsoever

rogerblack

Raksha wrote: »

No, as I manage my life so that I haven't suffered with it for nearly 15 years - repetitive movements set it off - so I don't do lots of ironing, I can't stand at a work surface for more than about 5 mins, I can't carry a handbag, so I have a ruc sac, and I can't walk a dog that pulls hard on lead. By avoiding these things I have stayed symptom free, as I said, for 15 years. I wasn't employed at the time as I was child rearing, it's doesn't affect my employment, as on the occasions when I've had to do these sorts of tasks, we've been able to manage a 'work around'.

Though you have managed to work round this in work, this does not mean you would not in principle gain points for this.
Having said that, I can't think of any that would be gained from this, unless you also have problems sitting.