Taking someone with you for a medical. I have no-one

dazza-mac

I've just had a quick look at this:
http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/ima..._11_sample.pdf

I can't even understand it! I was looking at the standing and sitting for 30 minutes/60 minutes. It just sounds like gobbledegook to me (maybe that's their intention). I'm in pain whether I sit or stand up. I try to stay as still as possible as it's pointless moving due to not getting any pain relief - I just move from one painful postition to another and it just draws attention to me if I constantly fidget.

I'm piggin hyperventilating here in the library. I'm seriously thinking of just not going to the assessment as it would seem I've got no chance of being considered anything but as fit as a fiddle - why then do I go to bed at night and hope I don't wake up! I'm too gutless to follow through with anything as I don't want the police turning up at my 81 year old dads house!

Honestly, this government has a lot to answer for. That flaming Iain Duncan Smith should be put against a wall and shot. If I had the piggin strength I'd like to pull the trigger. They've done a good job of making people sound like bums and scroungers

dazza-mac

happyinflorida wrote: »

Put it on big sheets of A4 paper with clear heading - like "Things that are wrong with me" - or whatever you're happy with!

If they try to rush you - don't let them - get your point over, make them wait for you to answer fully. If they rush ahead then stop them and go back over what you wanted to say and point out all the things that effect you and how they effect you.

With depression it's very difficult to deal with this - but you can just take your time and make sure they are told everything.

down"

This is what I don't understand. I've already told them everything on the ESA form. It took me ages and I was wrecked afterwards as that was all I did for 3 weeks, keep going back to my typewriter. The form ended up like a book. So now they'll probably think I'm ok coz I filled it out thoroughly!

I can't write all that down again as I'll just be repeating what I've already sent in. And if they ask different stuff, I've no idea what that's going to be. I'm going to have to stop writing this as people are looking at me in the library crying at the piggin computer

OneYorkshireLass

Have you contacted MIND?

Contact Mind infoline

0300 123 3393
[EMAIL="info@mind.org.uk"]info@mind.org.uk[/EMAIL]

They will know of possible support/buddy systems in your area. These mostly work quicker than CAB etc.

happyinflorida

The A4 sheet is for you - to remind yourself of what's wrong with you!

Did you photocopy the forms you filled in for ESA? If yes, just take that with you if you want or use that to write a sheet to remind you of what's wrong with you.

Are you usually ok in remembering what is wrong with you if asked?

Sorry I wasn't clear earlier - this is something I have problems with now!

intranicity

dazza-mac wrote: »

Hi,

My foot problems are related to my War Pension, the other problems are with my back/coccyx from an assault, and now I have Fibromyalgia.

I don't know what SAP is....

An SAP is a Service Attributable Pension. Usually awarded if you're Med Discharged.

Without being rude or nosey though, with a 40% War Pension minimum, and savings? I didn't think you'd get much if any ESA, as your income would be above or near the threshold? I don't claim anything, but I get the unemployability supplement.

prepareathome

If you want to have the interview recorded phone ATOS as soon as possible and also put it in writing that you want it recorded. If you just ask on the day you will be told this is impossible as they only have about 11 recorders for the whole UK so they should then give you a new appointment which gives you a bit more time to sort out someone going with you.

They will try and fob you off about having it recorded, but its your legal right so stick to your guns and say you want it recorded and when they moan and say well we cannot do it on that day say fine give me a date when you will have the recording equipment there.

They don't like the interviews being recorded so try to get out of it.

So call tonight / tomorrow and also get it in writing and send it off so they have to sign for it so they cannot say they never got it, as they are good at that and also lose phonecall records.

A friend did this for her husband just last week and demanded an interview with recording, they tried to fob her off and told her eventually they would send a new appointment out but could be up to 3 months as they only have one recorder for the whole area......so be firm

Good Luck

Cpt.Scarlet

prepareathome wrote: »

They will try and fob you off about having it recorded, but its your legal right so stick to your guns and say you want it recorded and when they moan and say well we cannot do it on that day say fine give me a date when you will have the recording equipment there.

There is no legal right to have your medical recorded, any decision to allow it is at the discretion of the DWP and ATOS.

prepareathome

Oh sorry I read somewhere it was your legal right to have it recorded..........will check on that.....

Ellejmorgan

prepareathome wrote: »

Oh sorry I read somewhere it was your legal right to have it recorded..........will check on that.....

No need to check it isn't law and cannot be enforced, check one of the ops other threads on his assessment it's explained there..

NeverInDebt

Some towns have advocacy agents if that's the right word to speak on your behalf.


ARX believes that Advocacy offers support for people who are seeking resolutions to any issues that are of concern to them, by ensuring that their voice is heard and that they understand their civil and human rights. Advocacy is closely linked to the principles of Human Rights, Disability discrimination, equality of opportunities and the social model of disability.

Advocacy organisations and agencies use many different terms when referring to the people who use their services: service user, client, consumer, partner, customer, are some of them. Throughout this website the person receiving advocacy support will be referred to as “the advocacy partner”. To avoid misunderstanding the term will always be used in full, as in current English usage, the word ‘partner’ used alone refers to a close personal relationship. Within the context of advocacy as referred to in this website, it refers to an equal advocacy partnership between two people.


Try here

http://www.advocacyresource.org.uk/Advocacy-Resource-Finder