The extremely dreaded Atos Assessment

osdset

They sound very sneaky indeed and it sounds like they are scrutinising you before you even enter the 'exam' room.

As soon as your name is called out by the HCP possibly even before that.

The first thing the HCP will ask is 'how did you get here', that's trap number one. Because it can easily set someone up for a fall later in the assessment,no matter how that question is answered it can be twisted to fit ATOS's agenda.

Public transport? No problem sitting or standing for extended periods.

Walked from the station/bus stop? No problem with mobility over a set distance (the HCP will know exactly how far each bus stop and train station is from the centre).

Cab? As above (sitting).

Drove there? No problem with hand to eye coordination, and sitting for extended periods, no cognitive problems.


One of the other well known dodges is to drop a pen in front of the claimant to see how they react, if the claimant bends down to pick it up then their back is OK and they can touch their toes.
Just be mindful that even innocent sounding questions and especially small talk are designed to throw claimants off guard.

I'll give them a ring tomorrow and try arrange for some kind of audio recording. Failing that all I have is my mobile/smart phone to record the 'assessment' - probably not the best but I can't afford anything else living on peanuts.

Don't bother phoning they will deny all knowledge later, ask for an assessment in writing (best done while completing the ESA50 ) Do not mention you intend to record the assessment, or get caught covertly recording because they will terminate the assessment.

JasonBat

Hi,

Thanks for the posts.

I just rang them (before reading this) and they said they would get in touch with the 'admin' team to arrange the recording. They gave me a number to ring 'if there are problems'.

I have a letter of appointment but nothing in writing saying they will record it at this stage.

They really seem a devious bunch...

sniggings

JasonBat wrote: »

Thanks sniggings ol' chap.

They sound very sneaky indeed and it sounds like they are scrutinising you before you even enter the 'exam' room.

I'll give them a ring tomorrow and try arrange for some kind of audio recording. Failing that all I have is my mobile/smart phone to record the 'assessment' - probably not the best but I can't afford anything else living on peanuts.

it's a private firm, they get paid by results.

One told me that I was a "silly one" I asked why, she said I should take more pain killers, I asked her what my condition was as the doctors still hadn't diagnosed one yet, as I would love to know and was she willing to prescribe them as the doctors weren't, as they wanted to solve the problem not mask it, she soon changed the subjected as she wasn't even qualified medically and was offering medical advice.

I was also told that as I was able to get to the office I was obviously able to work in an office, this was by one of their doctors, even tho if I had not made the apponitment I would have been sacked, I asked what is she basing that on, as she had not even examined me, she said "because you are here now".

Indie_Kid

sniggings wrote: »

it's a private firm, they get paid by results.

One told me that I was a "silly one" I asked why, she said I should take more pain killers, I asked her what my condition was as the doctors still hadn't diagnosed one yet, as I would love to know and was she willing to prescribe them as the doctors weren't, as they wanted to solve the problem not mask it, she soon changed the subjected as she wasn't even qualified medically and was offering medical advice.

Their job isn't to diagnose you.

Lifeforms

osdset wrote: »

As soon as your name is called out by the HCP possibly even before that.

The first thing the HCP will ask is 'how did you get here', that's trap number one. Because it can easily set someone up for a fall later in the assessment,no matter how that question is answered it can be twisted to fit ATOS's agenda.

That was never asked at mine.

osdset wrote: »

Snipped out rest of relevant quote


One of the other well known dodges is to drop a pen in front of the claimant to see how they react, if the claimant bends down to pick it up then their back is OK and they can touch their toes.
Just be mindful that even innocent sounding questions and especially small talk are designed to throw claimants off guard.

That never happened at mine.

osdset wrote: »

Don't bother phoning they will deny all knowledge later, ask for an assessment in writing (best done while completing the ESA50 ) Do not mention you intend to record the assessment, or get caught covertly recording because they will terminate the assessment.

No issue with phoning them to request it was recorded. Subsequently arranged, and was present and recording at my assessment.

^ This is more that not every assessment is going into the dragons den. Some are fairly benign, and things happen as they are civilly meant to. But I am aware it's not always the case.


Now whether I thought it went well? Doesn't really matter what I think. it's in the magical mystical hands of atos now >.<

sniggings

sh1305 wrote: »

Their job isn't to diagnose you.

exactly, they shouldn't be suggesting pain killers either.

JasonBat

sniggings wrote: »

it's a private firm, they get paid by results.

One told me that I was a "silly one" I asked why, she said I should take more pain killers, I asked her what my condition was as the doctors still hadn't diagnosed one yet, as I would love to know and was she willing to prescribe them as the doctors weren't, as they wanted to solve the problem not mask it, she soon changed the subjected as she wasn't even qualified medically and was offering medical advice.

I was also told that as I was able to get to the office I was obviously able to work in an office, this was by one of their doctors, even tho if I had not made the apponitment I would have been sacked, I asked what is she basing that on, as she had not even examined me, she said "because you are here now".

Bloody hell! How ignorant were they?

I can relate to issue of not receiving a proper diagnosis - a total nightmare.

techspec

JasonBat wrote: »

Bloody hell! How ignorant were they?

I can relate to issue of not receiving a proper diagnosis - a total nightmare.

It appears there is no end to their ignorance:-

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/sheila-holt-woman-told-find-3048449

A family member of mine was hounded despite have months to live - we returned her form with "How many times - she is dying!!!!!! " written across each page.

You can tell when the conservatives are in power - they are evil.

JasonBat

That's really bad.

I have to say I've been feeling seriously stressed out by the whole thing (my up and coming assessment). I suffer from severe chronic depression amongst other things and don't think spending 5 minutes with a person who is not medically trained (or even with a person who was) would fully understand the complexities and gravity of my conditions.

The stress of this seems to be making things a lot worse too i.e. Atos and their government cronies are doing a great job in that respect.

It seems they are quite keen to draw inferences from stupid things i.e. he managed to get here okay so it can't be that bad. Doesn't look like he's crying his eyes out either so must be fit for work...

Just out of curiosity, if one needs to appeal, which I understand can take nearly a year, one receives no benefit in the interim?

tj84boy

I received a letter saying im being moved from IS to ESA and have to fill in the esa50 and have a medical. I am dreading this myself considering how bad the last one i had was.

The last one i had for income support was unbelieveable. when i got the decision that i was fit for work that i was like WHAT!!! I appealed the decision and went to the CAB for help. It was only when she got the notes from the assessment that the tissue of lies became apparent. Apparently i had been observed doing a full squat and had been able to bend to touch the floor. Total piffle i hadnt been asked to do a squat and i certainly didnt do one. when asked to bend i made it clear i cant bend. I stated that i was observed rising from sitting in the chair to standing without issue. Another complete lie. When asked to perform this i had to point out to the woman after administering my inhaler twice, that i was currently having a combined panic attack and asthma attack. To which she replied "well you need to breathe properly then". She then insisted that i need to attempt to rise from sitting to standing. I told her i cant feel my hands because i was hyperventilating. She just didnt even seem bothered. Once my asthma had eventually begun to surrender to the inhalers i made an attempt to get up but i need something to lean on to help me to get on my feet all i had was the seat of the chair. I eventually managed to get up. I was informed that this particular woman is known for this behaviour and she was being investigated and has since been relieved of her post.

I won the appeal and was granted the award indefinitely. But now they are switching over to esa i have to go through this hell all over again.