ATOS Query

MUMZ2BEE

I am currently on long term Incapacity Benefit since 1997.

I have sinus tacycardia, dysponea, and long term depression problems.

I have been in and out of adult mental health care since 1990 with depression.

I need to return the dreaded ATOS form back by the 2nd October.

I am very frightened at being called for a medical, due to the amount of comments on this website, that ATOS doctors normally fail people at medicals.

Can anyone give me advice about what to do during the medical as I am very very nervous at this propect.

Thanks for any advice.

DomRavioli

Hi there,

Having been to a few ATOS medicals, I've never failed one because I provided all the evidence of my conditions with the ESA50 (thats the form) as well as bringing photocopies to the medical. Send copies of every diagnosis letter, future appointments with specialists/consultants/clinics and anything else to support your diagnosis with the form. If you fit into one of the support group descriptors with evidence, you may not need to have a medical - but this is only a small minority of cases.

With regards to the form itself, make an appointment with your local CAB, welfare rights (council), MIND (if you have one locally), or if you have a social worker or other social services contact speak to them.

If you are called for a medical, is there someone who can come with you to the medical? if not, the only way to get a home visit is an original letter from your doctor sent by them to ATOS stating you are physically/mentally unable to go to the appointment and would need someone to come to your home.

Hope this sheds a little light on it for you.

Dekota

Don't take my word for it but I wanted to share an experience that happened with a relative who has been on IB/IS for years for illness,

When he got the letter from ATOS and dwp about benefit changing to ESA, he ignored everything including the esa50 that was sent twice, afterwards he was automatically sent a letter with a date for assessment. 3 days before assessment, he got a letter to say assessment has been cancelled and he neednt come as dwp had receieved information from GP about his condition and he was awarded support group.

Maybe have been lucky with that one. My advice is to read the criteria for WRAG/Support group before you fill in esa50 and emphasise the points that you apply in the criteria. Good luck.

MUMZ2BEE

Thanks very much for the advice.

The only evidence I have in my possession is a letter from the hospital going back to 2001 when I was diagnosed with the tachycardia.

My GP has said she will be happy to send them a doctors report if they request one showing what my illnesses are.

When I filled the form in I clearly stated I had tachycardia, when it was diagnosed, and how my mental health is affected; I've also told them on the form what I can and can't do.

Basically with the heart condition, I find things like walking difficult because I get breathless quite quickly, and I have difficulty getting up the stairs too. I have said all this on the form.

I had a recent ECG done in 2010, and that still showed my heart condition present; my heart rate was more erratic then normal.

I might ask my GP for a new ECG done, if I have to go for a medical, which might help with the claim.

sleepless_saver

The main thing they will be looking for is whether you meet the descriptors for ESA. So it's not so much about the diagnosis (though evidence of that is obviously a good thing to have).

Have a look at muttleythefrog's excellent post (7) on this thread https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4186143 for a helpful description and links to the descriptors.

MUMZ2BEE

I've just looked at Muttlet'ys links for the above descriptors.

As I have said on the form I can't walk 50 metres without getting out of breath due to the tachycardia, hopefulyy I will fit into the support group!!

atrixblue.-MFR-.

the GP will be sent a questionare if the decision maker deems necessary to contact them, wich doesnt always happen in many cases.

you can pay for a report from your GP and send a copy of wich onto ESA, but the report should be focused around the Support Group descriptors or LCW WRAG and that the GP say she/he knows the criteria and understands them in that report.

something from 2001 will be disregarded thats too much time past for them to take any notice.

hospital admissions and what for will be a good idea to provide evidence of.

as well as current med repeat.

CPN community psyciactric nurse?

psyciactric consultant?

recent refurrals to anyone.

all needs to be factored in to build a picture of you.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

MUMZ2BEE wrote: »

I've just looked at Muttlet'ys links for the above descriptors.

As I have said on the form I can't walk 50 metres without getting out of breath due to the tachycardia, hopefulyy I will fit into the support group!!

highly unlikely, unless the tachycardia causes dizzyness with blackouts and documented evidence is provided to such.

Muttleythefrog

MUMZ2BEE wrote: »

I am very frightened at being called for a medical, due to the amount of comments on this website, that ATOS doctors normally fail people at medicals.

Can anyone give me advice about what to do during the medical as I am very very nervous at this propect.

Thanks for any advice.

To give some stats for context. Around half of new ESA claimants end up passing the WCA if they carry through with it (includes successful appeals). For those transferring in to ESA or being reassessed for ESA the success rates are much higher logically.

Have the descriptors at hand when filling in ESA50. Supply supporting medical evidence if you can.. if your doctor is prepared to help then specific opinion in relation to the descriptors you feel apply to you could be huge help. If you do get called to medical (done when ATOS feel insufficient facts in the evidence available to provide advice to DWP on you in relation to WCA and where GP form they could send would also be insufficient) it's software driven and questions will be about your day to day life... inferences will be drawn from your answers... and this is where problems can arise over accuracy and integrity. Observations will be recorded about your appearance and demeanor. The resulting report will contain the descriptors the HCP (healthcare professional) felt applied to you.

rogerblack

To add to the above.
I'd second the comments about focusing on the descriptors.

Also, my experience of ATOS has been that the reports they have conducted on my behalf have been done in a professional, courteous manner, with the staff doing their best under the constraints of the law placed on them.

The DWP, and tribunals service have been considerably less professional.

Could assessments be done better - certainly.
Are all assessments unfair, with the assessor hostile - no.

To a depressingly large degree, in much of this, it depends on who deals with you, and their understanding of your condition, or your disabilities in general.
One pack of evidence to two different decisionmakers may have very different outcomes.

A.Penny.Saved

Get as much supporting evidence as you can and don't rely on ATOS or DWP to get it because they wont! The best that they will send is an ESA113 and that is heavily weighted to finding people fit for work.

Preferably send it with the ESA50, make copies of everything so you can refer to it later and possibly to help you fill in future ESA50's.

You can send in evidence up until they make the decision so if you get something after sending in the ESA50, don't worry, send it in for consideration.

If Atos have enough info they might not even call you to a medical. If you can get the support group then go for it.

Download the Pdf's with all the descriptors and points to help you.