The extremely dreaded Atos Assessment

JasonBat

tj84boy,

That sounds a total disaster. Did you record the assessment?

Do these people simply not have any consciences or just assume everyone is swinging the lead?

I'm moving from IB to ESA too.

What happens to your benefit when you appeal?

Mojisola

tj84boy wrote: »

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.

Do get the medical recorded. It stops these outright lies being put on the forms.

Indie_Kid

And take someone with you.

tj84boy

Jasonbat,

It was a total nightmare. She basically made out that i walked in all lardy dar like a completely healthy 24 year old. If only! No they have no conscience or cares. I think it is wrong that a person who has no medical training is allowed to assess people with medical conditions.

Whilst appealing i still got income support but at a reduced rate. It was about £40 odd a week but this was 5 years ago and i was under 25. It was about £35 less than what i normally got a week back then.

Indie_Kid

JasonBat wrote: »

What happens to your benefit when you appeal?

You have to have a mandatory reconsideration first where you don't get any money. After this, it goes to appeal if unsuccessful. You can get then claim assessment rate ESA. But you have to send in fit / sick notes.

sniggings

JasonBat wrote: »

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

If you score 0 which is being found fit for work, appeal straight away, if they ring you to say, ask for the appeal form then and also a copy of their report, worth also following that up with an email/letter as they could "forget" to send one out, then return the appeal with the basic reason for appeal other evidence can be send later, get help for the form tho, make sure to say clearly you wish to stay on the assessment rate, you also have to include a sick note and a letter from your doctor would be helpful but not needed as long as you include the sick note, then you should carry on getting the assessment rate, which just so happens to be exactly the same as JSA, just means you get not to experience the joys of signing on if you don't fail the assessment but they put you in the working group (no work required very misleading name) but you believe you should be in the support group, then same thing appeal but no sick note needed this time, and you should stay on the work group rate whist you appeal.

Try not to get too worried, as said record it and take a friend, it could go fine but best be on your guard and don't pick up any dropped pens, the assessors do tend to drop a lot of those

Morglin

JasonBat wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I have on of the above shortly and the horror stories I have heard make me sick (excuse the pun).

It seems to be a system where the staff are not properly equipped in terms of skills (no doubt a money saving exercise) or morals and are put under pressure by the DWP to pull the proverbial plug on disabled people's livelihood.

I went on one of these some years ago and managed to pass it. Not sure what has changed this time? I see recording the assessment seems to be an option now. Is this because the assessors are fibbers? Do I really need to record it?

Fearing the worst, if I fail will I have to immediately sign on to JSA?

Any thoughts/help appreciated.

Thanks.

Jason

You don't need to record it, as you can request a recorded interview on the ESA50, and they have to oblige you, and I certainly would.

Not everyone is physically assessed, as it depends on what medical proof and evidence you send with the form.

You can appeal, after Mandatory Reconsideration if you disagree with any decision.

As advised, look at the descriptors before you complete the form, and if you need help then ask at the CAB.

Bear in mind that you only hear about the problems on forums, and many ESA claims are trouble free, and not all require any sort of medical examination.

Just be truthful, and tell them as much as possible on the form, along either any medical reports etc., you have.

If you have any additional info to give them, attach some A4 sheets, and I would send the form back by Special Delivery.

Lin

Morglin

JasonBat wrote: »

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?

It isn't always a problem, as I was accepted into SG, for 3 years, from ICB, with no physical examination, no other info required, other than that I had sent, and heard from them 3 weeks after they got the form.

Many others have had the same positive experience, so just fill the form out, as advised, and see how it goes.

sniggings

Morglin wrote: »

It isn't always a problem, as I was accepted into SG, for 3 years, from ICB, with no physical examination, no other info required, other than that I had sent, and heard from them 3 weeks after they got the form.

Many others have had the same positive experience, so just fill the form out, as advised, and see how it goes.

we have made it clear on this thread that not all people fail, but we have also made it clear that it's best to go in these assessments knowing how they could go.

No harm will come of being forewarned but loads could if you do not understand how badly some people are treated on these assessments.

Over 40% of those found fit for work have won on appeal, that's a shocking number, hundred of thousands of people are being told they have to sign on, and the appeals are stacking up too, over 800,000 cases waiting to be heard, so yes it could go smoothly but it also might not.

Also if you had read the thread, the OP was advised to ask for a recording and has done I believe, but was also advised to record it himself if the recorder is not available if "broken".

HB58

DWP have confirmed that ATOS should record medicals when requested - if it is possible to do so, but lack of recording equipment is not to be used as reason to delay assessment.

I have certainly heard of people who have turned up, expecting the assessment to be recorded, only to be told at the last minute that this will not happen.

This is why people are advised to covertly record themselves if they can. If the assessor learns of the recording, the session will be terminated.