medical worrys by ATOS, can you advise please?

LouiseTopp

I have received a letter from the DWP saying I they are going to send me a form because I have to attend a medical which will determine how much benefits I will get. !

I am very worried about this as I have learning difficulties and I am not good at filling in forms, also I would like someone to come with me when I go to this medical if possible (preferably a lady). !

I have chatted to other people and they say that this medical (By ATOS) is set to fail anyway, and It would take a long time for an appeal to come through, and in the meantime my money would stop which would be awful. !:eek:

Please can you help me with this, i am worried sick and unsure what to do? !:(

Many thanks.

rogerblack

Your money will not stop while the appeal goes through - if you do happen to fail.
Is there anyone who could help you with the letter?

epitome

What to do,

if you don't get the form within 3 weeks, Phone ATOS 0800 2888777 to ask if the form has been sent out yet, because it is a very important form.

Complete the form and return it BEFORE the deadline, and send it recorded delivery (£1 extra)

Keep in touch with ATOS asking if they received your form and when your medical is likly to be.

Attend any medical appointment ATOS gives you - very important.

Someone can accompany you to the medical, if you like, you can say you want this in the box at the back of the form.

As long as you continue to supply sicknotes, even when you have to appeal, you will be paid.

LouiseTopp

rogerblack wrote: »

Your money will not stop while the appeal goes through - if you do happen to fail.
Is there anyone who could help you with the letter?

I have an advocacy people but they said they were not sure if they could help me fill in the form. I am going to end up in a real mess because I am not used to this sort of thing, so I would need help to write an appeal if I need one. :eek:

the letter states that I may have to attend a work capability assessment what ever that is. I will have someone with me because a lot of what they may ask me I probably won't understand. I have to reply contact them within two weeks of receiving the letter. The letter is dated 23rd August. So what would the date be two weeks after today please?

I cannot work out figures or numbers, thanks.

epitome

You are obviously on Incapacity Benefit or Income Support...and you are being migrated to ESA.

ESA will phone you in the next 2 weeks, to give you a breif explantaion of what to expect. The phonecall is NOT important and if you don't get the call don't worry. If you don't receive the form in the next 2 weeks then you should phone them on 0845 600 8192 to ask them to resend you a duplicate form (ESA50 form) and should return this as soon as possible recorded delivery. If you phone the number on the letter you may have a much longer waiting time in the phone queue.

Phone them on Tuesday 10th September.... this is a little more than 2 weeks, but Fridays and Mondays are very busy a few more days won't make any difference.

Work Capabilty Asessment is your medical assessment appointment very important to attend it.

LouiseTopp

OK I filled the form in, some of the questions were a bit personal eg: do you wet yourself etc. I will be invited to attend a work club, can you explain what will happen in that?

My friend who has learning difficulties had to attend one after she was found fit to work by ATOS. She hated it because the staff were not used to dealing with people with special needs, and most of the group including one staff member were making fun of her.

So she got quite hysterical and stopped turning up, in the end she was removed.

What sort of idiot thought about putting her into an environment like that!

:mad:

wildwestfan

LouiseTopp wrote: »

OK I filled the form in, some of the questions were a bit personal eg: do you wet yourself etc. I will be invited to attend a work club, can you explain what will happen in that?

My friend who has learning difficulties had to attend one after she was found fit to work by ATOS. She hated it because the staff were not used to dealing with people with special needs, and most of the group including one staff member were making fun of her.

So she got quite hysterical and stopped turning up, in the end she was removed.

What sort of idiot thought about putting her into an environment like that!

:mad:

Is someone helping with your posts? You appear to have an excellent grasp of English and spelling.

epitome

LouiseTopp wrote: »

OK I filled the form in, some of the questions were a bit personal eg: do you wet yourself etc. I will be invited to attend a work club, can you explain what will happen in that?

My friend who has learning difficulties had to attend one after she was found fit to work by ATOS. She hated it because the staff were not used to dealing with people with special needs, and most of the group including one staff member were making fun of her.

So she got quite hysterical and stopped turning up, in the end she was removed.

What sort of idiot thought about putting her into an environment like that!

:mad:

If you go into WRAG You MAY be asked to attend Work Related Activity... if you go into support group you won't be asked.

It's not strictly speaking being "found fit for work" it means you have been found to benefit from help to return you to work at a later date. You don't have to look for work but you do have to attend the appointments and cooperate.

Maybe someone else here can tell you what it's like in WRAG but everyone is treated differently according to their needs so you really wont know until you start attending.

Did you phone ATOS to confirm they hav received your form?

Rexxsi

LouiseTopp wrote: »

OK I filled the form in, some of the questions were a bit personal eg: do you wet yourself etc. I will be invited to attend a work club, can you explain what will happen in that?

My friend who has learning difficulties had to attend one after she was found fit to work by ATOS. She hated it because the staff were not used to dealing with people with special needs, and most of the group including one staff member were making fun of her.

So she got quite hysterical and stopped turning up, in the end she was removed.

What sort of idiot thought about putting her into an environment like that!

:mad:

Why people have taken the time to focus on your grasp of English rather than this is shocking to me... Did anyone report this?! It's no surprise people are frightened of the various trials that being on what incapacity benefit is now. It was frightening enough when I was on it before it all changed.

The way your friend was treated was disgraceful and I really hope those who treated her that way have been dealt with in some way. They're supposed to be HELPING the most vulnerable people in this country, not throwing them into an environment which hurts them more. How completely disgraceful.

With regards to your original post, I was sure that you could get someone to go with you to these meetings. Have you called Atos up and asked them if this is possible and can be arranged?

jacques_chirac

Rexxsi wrote: »

Why people have taken the time to focus on your grasp of English rather than this is shocking to me... Did anyone report this?! It's no surprise people are frightened of the various trials that being on what incapacity benefit is now. It was frightening enough when I was on it before it all changed.

The way your friend was treated was disgraceful and I really hope those who treated her that way have been dealt with in some way. They're supposed to be HELPING the most vulnerable people in this country, not throwing them into an environment which hurts them more. How completely disgraceful.

With regards to your original post, I was sure that you could get someone to go with you to these meetings. Have you called Atos up and asked them if this is possible and can be arranged?

The OP said her friend was found fit for work, so would have been claiming JSA. Long term JSA claimants are expected to attend job clubs and the like, although there is no excuse for how the friend was treated.

It is possible to take someone with you to the assessment, however ATOS would not be able to arrange this - it is up to the claimant to sort this themselves.

Rexxsi

jacques_chirac wrote: »

The OP said her friend was found fit for work, so would have been claiming JSA. Long term JSA claimants are expected to attend job clubs and the like, although there is no excuse for how the friend was treated.

It is possible to take someone with you to the assessment, however ATOS would not be able to arrange this - it is up to the claimant to sort this themselves.

No wonder so many people usually don't want to go to those things.. Atrocious.