Ask Atos Healthcare disability assessment questions

Atos_Healthcare_representative

1plus1equal3 wrote: »

Hi, im sorry if im in the wrong place, im not computer literate, and dont know how to go about this posting a new thread stuff, I need advice from atos advisor, or one of you very wise forum people.My 22 year old son has aspergers, he has had many problems over the years due to this, as sometimes he dosnt think rationaly.An example of this , he did a few days work at a bakery, he took 2 days off sick , and they wouldnt pay him for those 2 days,so he went back that night and set fire to the place.The list goes on, but i wont bore you with the details.What i want to know is , he is on income support , and dla, we filled a form in for him a few weeks ago for atos, and today he has been called for a medical in 2 weeks time,I can remember reading somewhere that there is a list of conditions for who should be called for a medical, and who should be tentivly invited, and aspergers is in the top of the list , for not being called for a medical, so is this written in stone ? and who decided this list.?, I fail to see where a 30 minute interview with a medical person, will climb into my sons head.He hasnt got a condition that can be cured with medication, and he can be extremely unpredictable.Any advice would be welcome.

Hi 1plus1equal3

You mention DLA already, so I’m assuming your question is about an assessment for ESA. Each case is assessed individually and on the basis of the information we have been given to review, including the completed questionnaire and any other information that you included. There is no hard and fast ‘list’ of who will be asked for assessment and who won’t be. We do see people with Asperger’s for assessment as in some cases it is the only way to get the information that the DWP require as part of their claim. You are able to accompany your son during the assessment to provide him support in answering any of the questions asked if that helps.

schrodie

Question for the MSE sponsored Atos Rep.

Given that this tory government has set a target to reduce the numbers on DLA by 500,000 by 2015 how will Atos carry out this target given assignment on behalf of its paymasters? Also will it conflict with the ESA target that it has been given by the DWP?

Atos_Healthcare_representative

schrodie wrote: »

Question for the MSE sponsored Atos Rep.

Given that this tory government has set a target to reduce the numbers on DLA by 500,000 by 2015 how will Atos carry out this target given assignment on behalf of its paymasters? Also will it conflict with the ESA target that it has been given by the DWP?

Hi schrodie

It is still the case that Atos Healthcare has not got any targets in relation to the number of people receiving benefits.

sicknotethefirst

Atos_Healthcare_company_representative wrote: »

schrodie said:

Given that this tory government has set a target to reduce the numbers on DLA by 500,000 by 2015 how will Atos carry out this target given assignment on behalf of its paymasters? Also will it conflict with the ESA target that it has been given by the DWP?

Atos Healthcare company representative said:

It is still the case that Atos Healthcare has not got any targets in relation to the number of people receiving benefits.

If that's the case how on earth are the Dwp going to achieve this figure without the cooperation of Atos ???? surely you have made a mistake with your answer?

Atos_Healthcare_representative

sicknotethefirst wrote: »

If that's the case how on earth are the Dwp going to achieve this figure without the cooperation of Atos ???? surely you have made a mistake with your answer?

Hi sicknotethefirst,

You would need to ask the DWP about any targets they might have. Atos Healthcare definitely has no targets in relation to the number of people receiving benefits.

1plus1equal3

atos healthcare, thankyou for answering my question, can you also confirm that the healthcare person my son sees at his medical, will have experience of mental health , and aspergers problems, as it is soley their report that makes the decision as to whether dwp continue with my sons income support/esa. And if he was to be refused these benefits based on a report made by someone who hasnt got a clue about this condition,he will lose his home, and his stability.

schrodie

Atos_Healthcare_company_representative wrote: »

Hi schrodie

It is still the case that Atos Healthcare has not got any targets in relation to the number of people receiving benefits.

That's not what the atos trainer said in the undercover atos expose is it!

However given that the tories have publically stated that they are going to throw at least 500,000 off DLA and given atos the job of doing it. Therefore how can you still claim that you don't have any targets. The tories have just given you one i.e. 500,000 off DLA in addition to the ESA one!

How else then are the tories going to throw 500,000 off DLA without atos's help!!!

It's not rocket science.

Atos_Healthcare_representative

1plus1equal3 wrote: »

atos healthcare, thankyou for answering my question, can you also confirm that the healthcare person my son sees at his medical, will have experience of mental health , and aspergers problems, as it is soley their report that makes the decision as to whether dwp continue with my sons income support/esa. And if he was to be refused these benefits based on a report made by someone who hasnt got a clue about this condition,he will lose his home, and his stability.

Hi 1plus1equal3

All of the health care professionals who might assess your son will have a broad based clinical background with experience in both mental and physical health issues and they also receive specific training in how to consider mental health issues for the purpose of the Work Capability Assessment as part of their initial training. They also have access to Mental Function Champions for advice on anything they need assistance with either during an assessment or when writing the report.

The important thing to remember is that it is how your son in particular is affected by Asperger’s that is what the assessment process is about. A lot of the conversation will focus on his day-to-day life and what he manages/struggles to do in his daily routine because of his health problems. The report that is produced will be one of the pieces of evidence used by the decision maker at the DWP, but in addition they can use any other information that is available to them. As I said, your son is also welcome to bring someone along to the assessment with him to offer support and to help ensure that the health care professional is given all the relevant details about his condition and how it impacts on his day to day life.

sicknotethefirst

Atos_Healthcare_company_representative wrote: »

Hi 1plus1equal3

As I said, your son is also welcome to bring someone along to the assessment with him to offer support and to help ensure that the health care professional is given all the relevant details about his condition and how it impacts on his day to day life.

And then they will write whatever they want ie 'Sits watching TV all day' or 'Can manage daily life without any problems' Zero points.

bradzki

Quote:
Originally Posted by bradzki
Quite happy for you to answer the simple question and discuss it openly on this forum for all to see, why do your assessors blatantly lie and disregard medical evidence from more qualified medical staff?

This was not a one off as I have attended two of your assessments for different benefits and the reports that followed did not reflect the medical advisors assessment at the appointment plus medical reports I took along were disregarded, when you are asked to bring along supporting documentation.

See the rep still fails to answer this one!


Do the reps not see when they fail to answer questions it just confirms that ATOS are guilty of what they are being accused off.