ATOS Face to Face what to expect and how to prepare advice

kieran1234

Hi i am awaiting a ATOS face to face appointment, well i am expecting one anyway i have just filled in my atos form a week ago. What should i expect to happen in the meeting i suffer from depression anxiety and insomnia, and also have a damaged tendon in my main hand. I can not speak to strangers at all, or have eye contact and hate coming out of my house completely i always end up bursting into hot sweats and hyper ventilating, Can i take someone with me?. I have heard atos will pretty much say I am fit for work but has anyone had any success passing for depression. Will i get paid basic rate esa while i wait for a tribunal if it comes to that. Is there anything i need to take to the face to face because I have only been getting sick notes and have no actual evidence apart from what is on my doctors records and i would have to pay for them, thanks for any advice.

[Deleted User]

you can take someone with you,you may even be able to have a home visit but you will have possibly a long wait,or you may not need a face 2 face if you have filled in the esa50 in a way which provides the information they need.
it might be worth asking how much GP charges for copy of records in case you have to appeal any decision,it may only cost £10 if its on a disc

paragon909

kieran1234 wrote: »

Hi i am awaiting a ATOS face to face appointment, well i am expecting one anyway i have just filled in my atos form a week ago. What should i expect to happen in the meeting i suffer from depression anxiety and insomnia, and also have a damaged tendon in my main hand. I can not speak to strangers at all, or have eye contact and hate coming out of my house completely i always end up bursting into hot sweats and hyper ventilating, Can i take someone with me?. I have heard atos will pretty much say I am fit for work but has anyone had any success passing for depression. Will i get paid basic rate esa while i wait for a tribunal if it comes to that. Is there anything i need to take to the face to face because I have only been getting sick notes and have no actual evidence apart from what is on my doctors records and i would have to pay for them, thanks for any advice.

No doubt they will say your fit for work and medication can control your health condition like me.

But it's not as easy as taking a pill everyday. Much more goes on inside someone with sever depression and anxiety.

No doubt if you go yourself you will be FIT to do anything in the world.

If you get less than 15 points, u need to do a mandatory reconsideration before you appeal. Im going to CAB next week to get my appeal done.

I suffer from anxiety, depression, asthma, I hate going out, i hate talking to people i dont know. And now i suffer from chronic headaches on a daily basis. Mainly because DWP and ATOS.

kieran1234

paragon909 wrote: »

No doubt they will say your fit for work and medication can control your health condition like me.

But it's not as easy as taking a pill everyday. Much more goes on inside someone with sever depression and anxiety.

No doubt if you go yourself you will be FIT to do anything in the world.

If you get less than 15 points, u need to do a mandatory reconsideration before you appeal. Im going to CAB next week to get my appeal done.

I suffer from anxiety, depression, asthma, I hate going out, i hate talking to people i dont know. And now i suffer from chronic headaches on a daily basis. Mainly because DWP and ATOS.

So do you think taking someone with me to do all the talking would be a better or worse, and does that mean i have to ask them to reconsider on the spot while i am there?

pmlindyloo

kieran1234 wrote: »

So do you think taking someone with me to do all the talking would be a better or worse, and does that mean i have to ask them to reconsider on the spot while i am there?

It is extremely difficult to advise someone who you know nothing about.

As regards preparing someone for the face to face assessment there is very little to advise.

Just be honest about how you feel and why you think you are unfit for work.

The preparing really takes place when you complete your form and send in evidence.

If you look at it rationally you are being assessed in two ways basically. One, how you come across in the face to face interview and two, what medical evidence you have to back up your claim - drugs you are taking, treatment you are receiving.

Anyone could claim ESA and say they have depression/anxiety. ATOS need evidence that you are suffering from these.

So, if you display certain symptoms during the assessment they will note these. If the doctor has suggested some therapy treatment to help you or given you drugs to help you then this may be used as evidence.

You really need to get your doctor 'on board' and give ATOS some evidence.

You can ask for a home visit.

See here:

http://blog.atoshealthcare.com/2012/08/atos-healthcare-arranging-a-home-visit-for-your-work-capability-assessment/

Again, your doctor would need to support you as needing a home visit.

You can certainly take a friend/relative, but the questions will be directed at you although your friend can make a contribution.

Without wishing to pry are you receiving some treatment from the doctor? Have you attended any therapy sessions? Are you on any drugs for your depression/anxiety?

You need to think of a typical week in your life and what you do/what you can't do/what happens if you try to do something.

What prevents you from doing some work from home? Can you use the telephone? Do you speak to friends/ring anyone (eg utility company) You can communicate on here.

Think why you can't work. What part of working is difficult for you?

I am not being unsympathetic but you need to be able to explain exactly why you are different (sorry, that sounds awful)and not able to work. Just trying to get you to think it all through and be ready to explain to the assessor.

I will try and find a link for further reading.

pmlindyloo

OK, have a look at the descriptors for ESA here:

http://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/employment-and-support-allowance-overview

From what you say, activities 13, 14,15 and 16 may be particularly appropriate. So can you think of any examples where you would meet those descriptors?

pmlindyloo

And this might be useful:

http://www.mind.org.uk/media/309794/Mind_ESA_factsheet_4.pdf

System

i have bipolar and was put into the support group without any Atos medical,no face to face and was all done within 14wks from claim this was this year

System

bournemouth_bell wrote: »

i have bipolar and was put into the support group without any Atos medical,no face to face and was all done within 14wks from claim this was this year

sorry adding this to my previous

i asked for the medical report which i dont really understand but says,

Justification of Advice
evidence considered the med3 and esa50 indicates there would be substantial mental or physical risk if the client 3 depression, were found capable of work or work related activity because the avaliable evidence indicates fragility of mind due to her mental health condition Med 3-depression,indicatesunder mental health team and this is consistent with level of anti-psychotic medication she is on

the available evidence suggests review in the medium term


as i said i dont really understand what their saying,if anybody does that would be great

kieran1234

pmlindyloo wrote: »

It is extremely difficult to advise someone who you know nothing about.

As regards preparing someone for the face to face assessment there is very little to advise.

Just be honest about how you feel and why you think you are unfit for work.

The preparing really takes place when you complete your form and send in evidence.

If you look at it rationally you are being assessed in two ways basically. One, how you come across in the face to face interview and two, what medical evidence you have to back up your claim - drugs you are taking, treatment you are receiving.

Anyone could claim ESA and say they have depression/anxiety. ATOS need evidence that you are suffering from these.

So, if you display certain symptoms during the assessment they will note these. If the doctor has suggested some therapy treatment to help you or given you drugs to help you then this may be used as evidence.

You really need to get your doctor 'on board' and give ATOS some evidence.

You can ask for a home visit.

See here:

Again, your doctor would need to support you as needing a home visit.

You can certainly take a friend/relative, but the questions will be directed at you although your friend can make a contribution.

Without wishing to pry are you receiving some treatment from the doctor? Have you attended any therapy sessions? Are you on any drugs for your depression/anxiety?

You need to think of a typical week in your life and what you do/what you can't do/what happens if you try to do something.

What prevents you from doing some work from home? Can you use the telephone? Do you speak to friends/ring anyone (eg utility company) You can communicate on here.

Think why you can't work. What part of working is difficult for you?

I am not being unsympathetic but you need to be able to explain exactly why you are different (sorry, that sounds awful)and not able to work. Just trying to get you to think it all through and be ready to explain to the assessor.

I will try and find a link for further reading.

I am currently only on sleepers and antidepressants i have been offered therapy but declined as i don't like meeting new people or talking to them. i have just been brought off crisis team because of suicide. but feel i could fall back suicidal any day especially dealing with all this. Will i get paid basic rate esa if i get failed while i wait for a tribunal? Should i go to my doctor and say i will be having a face to face at atos and for advice and evidence because at the minute i have no evidence at all apart from sick notes, but i don't even have them because i sent them off every month.

kieran1234

pmlindyloo wrote: »

It is extremely difficult to advise someone who you know nothing about.

As regards preparing someone for the face to face assessment there is very little to advise.

Just be honest about how you feel and why you think you are unfit for work.

The preparing really takes place when you complete your form and send in evidence.

If you look at it rationally you are being assessed in two ways basically. One, how you come across in the face to face interview and two, what medical evidence you have to back up your claim - drugs you are taking, treatment you are receiving.

Anyone could claim ESA and say they have depression/anxiety. ATOS need evidence that you are suffering from these.

So, if you display certain symptoms during the assessment they will note these. If the doctor has suggested some therapy treatment to help you or given you drugs to help you then this may be used as evidence.

You really need to get your doctor 'on board' and give ATOS some evidence.

You can ask for a home visit.

See here:

Again, your doctor would need to support you as needing a home visit.

You can certainly take a friend/relative, but the questions will be directed at you although your friend can make a contribution.

Without wishing to pry are you receiving some treatment from the doctor? Have you attended any therapy sessions? Are you on any drugs for your depression/anxiety?

You need to think of a typical week in your life and what you do/what you can't do/what happens if you try to do something.

What prevents you from doing some work from home? Can you use the telephone? Do you speak to friends/ring anyone (eg utility company) You can communicate on here.

Think why you can't work. What part of working is difficult for you?

I am not being unsympathetic but you need to be able to explain exactly why you are different (sorry, that sounds awful)and not able to work. Just trying to get you to think it all through and be ready to explain to the assessor.

I will try and find a link for further reading.

and do i ask for a mandatory reconsideration while i am at atos if it comes to that?