Total panic re call for ATOS medical, pls help?

Roma_3

I am so afraid, I ma having dreadful panic attacks, due to go to medical in the next few weeks despite being awarded higher award for mobility for "life". I thought this was deferred for a few years.
I am due to reach pension age in 2 years
I cannot go to the medical, I am far too panicky. I also, for the same reason, just suffer as I cannot bring myself to go to even my own gp surgery?
In fact, more or less going anywhere is impossible for me? I do, of course have very real disabilities such as bad vertigo, fibromyalgia, arthritis etc etc.....it has become worse and not better.
What I need to know is will they visit me in my own home?? A friend said I would not get a home visit as you have to be at death's door (thankfully, I am not). The only pleasure I have in life is occasionally going away, this is hard but I enjoy going away in our motorhome, especially on the Sun holidays, end up in such pain but it is my only joy.
What will happen when my OH phones to say I cannot attend? (I cannot even use phone due to panic attacks)
Will my money be stopped straightaway? I am so scared.
Will I be able to claim any other benefits?? So afraid I will have to give up my home??
Sorry this is so long.....:(

wendytiggermad

Roma wrote: »

I am so afraid, I ma having dreadful panic attacks, due to go to medical in the next few weeks despite being awarded higher award for mobility for "life". I thought this was deferred for a few years.
I am due to reach pension age in 2 years
I cannot go to the medical, I am far too panicky. I also, for the same reason, just suffer as I cannot bring myself to go to even my own gp surgery?
In fact, more or less going anywhere is impossible for me? I do, of course have very real disabilities such as bad vertigo, fibromyalgia, arthritis etc etc.....it has become worse and not better.
What I need to know is will they visit me in my own home?? A friend said I would not get a home visit as you have to be at death's door (thankfully, I am not). The only pleasure I have in life is occasionally going away, this is hard but I enjoy going away in our motorhome, especially on the Sun holidays, end up in such pain but it is my only joy.
What will happen when my OH phones to say I cannot attend? (I cannot even use phone due to panic attacks)
Will my money be stopped straightaway? I am so scared.
Will I be able to claim any other benefits?? So afraid I will have to give up my home??
Sorry this is so long.....:(

Unfortunately you HAVE to go there is no way out of it.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Roma wrote: »

I am so afraid, I ma having dreadful panic attacks, due to go to medical in the next few weeks despite being awarded higher award for mobility for "life". I thought this was deferred for a few years.
I am due to reach pension age in 2 years
I cannot go to the medical, I am far too panicky. I also, for the same reason, just suffer as I cannot bring myself to go to even my own gp surgery?
In fact, more or less going anywhere is impossible for me? I do, of course have very real disabilities such as bad vertigo, fibromyalgia, arthritis etc etc.....it has become worse and not better.
What I need to know is will they visit me in my own home?? A friend said I would not get a home visit as you have to be at death's door (thankfully, I am not). The only pleasure I have in life is occasionally going away, this is hard but I enjoy going away in our motorhome, especially on the Sun holidays, end up in such pain but it is my only joy.
What will happen when my OH phones to say I cannot attend? (I cannot even use phone due to panic attacks)
Will my money be stopped straightaway? I am so scared.
Will I be able to claim any other benefits?? So afraid I will have to give up my home??
Sorry this is so long.....:(

Ring 0800 2888 777. They will ask you to provide information from your treating medical professional to explain why you are unable to travel to an assessment centre.

schrodie

In addition to the advice from Richie above I would also inform your MP of any problems you encounter with Atos arranging a home visit.

Roma_3

Thank you, but I am not going and cannot!! Any idea what happens? My doctor cannot help because same problem, I cannot go there either!!
I am so afraid, know my money will stop but nobody can MAKE me go, can they??

rogerblack

Roma wrote: »

I am so afraid, know my money will stop but nobody can MAKE me go, can they??

No, they cannot make you go.

If you do not go, and they do not agree to an appointment at home, then your benefit will almost certainly stop, usually after a week or two.

You can appeal this decision, but you will not be paid until a tribunal (who in principle can see you at home) overturn this decision.
It is not certain that a tribunal would agree to see you at home, nor, if they did not, that they would decide you are entitled to ESA.

It may be possible to arrange with your doctor for a housecall, to see if anything can be done to help you.
Perhaps your partner could help with arranging this.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Roma wrote: »

Thank you, but I am not going and cannot!! Any idea what happens? My doctor cannot help because same problem, I cannot go there either!!
I am so afraid, know my money will stop but nobody can MAKE me go, can they??

- "I am not going and nobody can MAKE me go, can they??"

No, no one will make you go, no one in jackboots is going to handcuff you and transport you to an assessment, put simply they will stop your money virtually immediately. The assessment considers your capability [limited or otherwise] for work related activity. Unable to assess these activities ATOS will inform the DWP that you have refused to attend without [from their point of view] valid justification at which point the DM will almost certainly decide to stop all DWP payments.

In the first instance do as suggested and request a home visit

zaksmum

Roma wrote: »

Thank you, but I am not going and cannot!! Any idea what happens? My doctor cannot help because same problem, I cannot go there either!!
I am so afraid, know my money will stop but nobody can MAKE me go, can they??

If you can't or won't go, yes, your money will definitely stop. Surely you need to steel yourself to go as this would be a lot less hassle than trying to live with no money at all?

Jennifer_Jane

Could you not get a tranquiliser from your GP (sorry, just seen your post about not getting to the doc either - so to the chemist perhaps) to cover from now to the interview? If not, could you use some form of 'management' to get yourself there: for instance a list of the steps you would need to take to get there - eg get out of bed at such and such a time; have breakfast; get bathed, ie ALL the steps no matter how trivial. If it were broken down ahead of time, that would be helpful.

I get a bit panicky with things like going on holiday, so list everything, and find it helps. But I understand that not everyone is the same.

Good luck with this. I understand how intimidating you are finding this, and have sympathy.

real1314

Roma wrote: »

I cannot go to the medical, I am far too panicky. I also, for the same reason, just suffer as I cannot bring myself to go to even my own gp surgery?
In fact, more or less going anywhere is impossible for me?
....


....
The only pleasure I have in life is occasionally going away, this is hard but I enjoy going away in our motorhome, especially on the Sun holidays, end up in such pain but it is my only joy.
(

You can't attend a medical to show how you qualify, and you say you can't go "anywhere", but you can go on holiday?
In your motorhome?

Presumably you could always sell the motorhome to make up for the cash income you'd lose?
What benefits do you actually get?
Does your partner have an income?

Roma_3

real1314 wrote: »

You can't attend a medical to show how you qualify, and you say you can't go "anywhere", but you can go on holiday?
In your motorhome?

Presumably you could always sell the motorhome to make up for the cash income you'd lose?
What benefits do you actually get?
Does your partner have an income?

Ouch!! I go away in motorhome as it is my 2nd home....never said anything about stepping out of it!! Thanks for that!! Yes, will probably have to sell motorhome and house also!!!!
Thank you everyone else for your replies, helped a lot