Atos assessment appointment

UKaiser

Saint_Andrew wrote: »

You should get travel costs paid for by ATOS and getting you there and back. I'd ring them up because when I went for mine the woman on the desk asked me how I got here and if I had to claim.

Please, ring them and ask them if they can move the location. I'm sure there's some in your area.

Ye they will have to cough up before hand because £38 is more than I have right now which aint going to happen is it. I will ring them later today once Ive got my script ready.

UKaiser

Parva wrote: »

Playing the devils advocate I would wonder why you didn't want them in your home. If my place were a palace or a tip it wouldn't bother me as I can clearly show that I'm pretty f**ked.

Invasion of privacy, an English mans home is his castle plus like you say its a tip at the minute as cant tidy up greatly due to my possible brocken shoulder (having x ray next week now thanks to my doc, he is ace putting that AE nuirse practitioner to shame big style).

I just dont want anybody in my home I feel violated just thinking about that, maybe its not normal but thats how I feel and im sick to death of running to the doctor he has already declared me unfit for work twice this year and that should be enough! Maybe I need to enquire discretely how he feels about Atos, perhaps that way it would ease my anxiety about asking him for more bits of paper but could mak eit worse depending whether he tows the line or not...

UKaiser

recoverydust wrote: »

The dilemma you have is that by being able to complete such a journey you may also satisfy ATOS that you are capable of work. You demonstrate both mobility and the ability to sit and stand.
Unless there are other aspects of the assessment where you would score 15 points then you are best sticking to the fact that you are physically unable to undertake such a journey.
Going cap in hand to the GP is a state of mind that is uncomfortable, your GP is there to ensure your health and could reasonably be expected to either assist with getting a home visit or with a much closer venue.
Whilst having someone in your home may feel intrusive, it may be your best option here.
Hope you get it sorted

This is what i have been thinking about it like a test in itself, sending me to Boston is just bonkers especially if Pboro has a centre and I even declared on the ESA50 I might have to rely on public transport so need to be a centre close! My initial thought was somebody sat in a room looked at a map and thought yeah, Boston lookes close to XXXX lets send him there but it hink thats bull now!

Definitely do not want anybody intruding into my home for reasons above, it just doesnt sit right with me maybe I have psyc issues i dont know but dont mind going out although large crowds bother me a bit certainly not going near my doctor with such a thing its my home and i get to decide who comes in and out.

I understand perfectly what you are saying and thanks for confirming what I suspected, I just trying to decide how to present my argument on the phone, which I hate using btw.

My three main reasons are:

To costly its over half my weekly food money
To long travelling 6 hours!
Possible broken shoulder x ray next week to check.

zzzLazyDaisy

It is entirely possible that the person who allocated the assessment centre did not realise how far it is from you by public transport - or even if you would need public transport.

As an example, there is a town only 30 mins drive from me which would take about four hours to get to by bus and train because it is not on a direct rail link from where I live, so it would mean going to the nearest city in the wrong direction and picking up a train from there.

Until you have picked up the phone and explained the problem, you don't even know that there is a problem. If the centre is within reasonable driving distance but not accessible by public transport, they may be willing to pay for a taxi, or change you to a centre that is easier to reach by public transport.

I suggest that you do that first, and come back here once you have spoken to them, if you still have a problem.

UKaiser

zzzLazyDaisy wrote: »

It is entirely possible that the person who allocated the assessment centre did not realise how far it is from you by public transport - or even if you would need public transport.

As an example, there is a town only 30 mins drive from me which would take about four hours to get to by bus and train because it is not on a direct rail link from where I live, so it would mean going to the nearest city in the wrong direction and picking up a train from there.

Until you have picked up the phone and explained the problem, you don't even know that there is a problem. If the centre is within reasonable driving distance but not accessible by public transport, they may be willing to pay for a taxi, or change you to a centre that is easier to reach by public transport.

I suggest that you do that first, and come back here once you have spoken to them, if you still have a problem.

Thanks, i would like to give ATOS the benefit of the doubt, like i said as the crow flys Boston aint that far from XXXX but I think they see it as part of the test. But like you say when relying on public transport the game changes big style. Hard to believe how badly south Lincolnshire is connected or not, there used to be lots of trains going in all compass directions but Beacham killed that a long time ago and they were never replaced by buses.

anyway, I intedn ringing up later just going to say no way can I attend, cant afford it, dont fancy traveliing that long cant get a lift and cant drive due to possible broken shoulder. More than happy to attend Pboro im aware you have a centre there.....

Lets ee how that will go down later, have to use a payphone though as mine is restricted gettign cut off in two weeks if cant find the money to pay and thats then bye bye internet and life how sad is that.

Thanks all will report back later after the dreaded call.

Richie-from-the-Boro

UKaiser wrote: »

Thanks, i would like to give ATOS the benefit of the doubt, like i said as the crow flys Boston aint that far from XXXX but I think they see it as part of the test. But like you say when relying on public transport the game changes big style. Hard to believe how badly south Lincolnshire is connected or not, there used to be lots of trains going in all compass directions but Beacham killed that a long time ago and they were never replaced by buses.

anyway, I intedn ringing up later just going to say no way can I attend, cant afford it, dont fancy traveliing that long cant get a lift and cant drive due to possible broken shoulder. More than happy to attend Pboro im aware you have a centre there.....

Lets see how that will go down later, have to use a payphone though as mine is restricted gettign cut off in two weeks if cant find the money to pay and thats then bye bye internet and life how sad is that.

Thanks all will report back later after the dreaded call.

I intend ringing up later just going to say no way can I attend

Be aware my friend that failure to attend 'without good cause' will result in an immediate benefit stop - think twice - try to find a compromise. Anything is better than a failure to attend.

UKaiser

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

Be aware my friend that failure to attend 'without good cause' will result in an immediate benefit stop - think twice - try to find a compromise. Anything is better than a failure to attend.

Thanks thats wise advice and just what the person who answerd alluded to he said it could be like 4 months without anything for failing to attend. :eek:

Anyway, I found the strength to call up just a minute ago and was initially peed off to be greeted by a foreign accent! Its not a racist thing people of all colours have to work but is to much to ask to call a number and not get through to a foreign call centre or such and for somebody who will understand me easily as a native English speaker, to me this call is stressfull enough without that! Anyway, silly prejudice aside and after all that worrying the person was very accomidating and living in Cardiff infact:D, pretty sound, very human, not automated, a real person able to make decisions!

After some tough negotiation in which we got caught in several rounds of "cant afford to attend but if dont attend will get money stopped" and explaining it doesnt really matter if atos pay back travel cost after wards because it will still leave me nothing to live on for two weeks! Anyway the foreign sounding guy from Cardiff kindly moved it to Peterborough but they would have sent me a taxi to Boston by sounds of it (over 90 mins journey time) but I happend to mention that Peterborough was closer it seems a bit bizzare to sent me all the way to Boston. The kind foreign sounding person from Cardiff explained they are a bit blind and just use postcodes to set appiontments up.

Anyway, happy days that went rather well I thought thanks to all specially the guy who answerd the phone, spot on mate.

Parva

UKaiser wrote: »

Invasion of privacy, an English mans home is his castle plus like you say its a tip at the minute as cant tidy up greatly due to my possible brocken shoulder (having x ray next week now thanks to my doc, he is ace putting that AE nuirse practitioner to shame big style).

I just dont want anybody in my home I feel violated just thinking about that, maybe its not normal but thats how I feel and im sick to death of running to the doctor he has already declared me unfit for work twice this year and that should be enough! Maybe I need to enquire discretely how he feels about Atos, perhaps that way it would ease my anxiety about asking him for more bits of paper but could mak eit worse depending whether he tows the line or not...

I'm afraid that you will have to get used to people disecting and viewing your personal life. The benefits system has become so harsh and it's not going to improve.

Parva

Glad you achieved your goal. Good luck with the medical.

UKaiser

Hey thanks, although goal I wouldn't call it, I just dont need to be messed with like that but anyhow go the letter confirming the new appointment today.
Not looking forward to it, I hope the stuff online is not a fair reflection of the likely outcome as I can score 16 points for sure but mixed physical, mental issue. Although my shoulder is killing me still sure its broken, find out next week. Cant believe you have to wait a week to get an X ray on the glorious NHS and all this in some discomfort Grrrr!

I would love to know what happens when or even if they fail you at the assesment, is your money stopped immediatetly? and do they give you JSA as the only option even with a current valid sicknote as that sounds a nighmare of suicidal proportions and no joke!

I also heard that if you appeal they no longer pay you during the process, is that true?