A point of praise

Katykat

I am in the process of my PIP claim. At present get DLA low care only. Only 1 week after sending my claim form in I got my assessment date for 3 weeks later. Unfortunately it was at an assessment centre 50miles from my home, and the appt time was 9am. My eyes nearly popped out of my head as I simply could not get there. I was dredging phoning them but I was really surprised by way the conversation went. The customer service agent could not have been nicer. He agreed that the appointment was ridiculous especially in view of the fact that I had requested 3 times) on my claim form to be seen in my home town and a later appt as I have Rh arthritis and find it difficult to move early mornings. He was most sympathetic and gave me a choice of dates and times at a centre just 2 miles from home. We all complain about DWP staff sometimes but praise where it's due. Well done "Eddie".

nannytone_2

when i had my initial ESA assessment ( haven't needed one since) they phones and asked me where i wanted to go ( from a choice) and what date was acceptable and whether i wanted AM or PM.
i know there are some real horror srories, but my dealings with ESA and DLA have always been positive ( even when the final decision was not what i would have liked)

50Twuncle

When I had my initial DLA assessment - 9 or 10 years ago - it was carried out at home - but the ATOS "medical professional" apparently was feeling over-generous and granted me max care and max mobility, I received a letter, 2 months later, withdrawing both (wanting over £800 back) - so after my MP was involved - I was asked to attend a medical over 40 miles away
This I did (ATOS refused me any expenses) at 9am - result = I was granted medium care for life - With the £800 reclaimed from that !!
I am not looking forwards to the PIP assessment (if they ever get to my area)

Katykat

It would be nice to think that the assessor will be as agreeable as "Eddie" but I'm not that naive.

nannytone_2

50Twuncle wrote: »

When I had my initial DLA assessment - 9 or 10 years ago - it was carried out at home - but the ATOS "medical professional" apparently was feeling over-generous and granted me max care and max mobility, I received a letter, 2 months later, withdrawing both (wanting over £800 back) - so after my MP was involved - I was asked to attend a medical over 40 miles away
This I did (ATOS refused me any expenses) at 9am - result = I was granted medium care for life - With the £800 reclaimed from that !!
I am not looking forwards to the PIP assessment (if they ever get to my area)

i dont understand how the ATOS medical professional could have made an over generous award, as they have never been the ones to make any award decision.

the award is made by the DWP after reading the report made by the ATOS hcp.

seven-day-weekend

My husband was on Incapacity Benefit for a while and always found the process fair and the people helpful, even though he found the medicals stressful.

HB58

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

My husband was on Incapacity Benefit for a while and always found the process fair and the people helpful, even though he found the medicals stressful.

Things are rather different now. People who were, legitimately, in receipt of IB have been refused ESA because the qualifying criteria are much stricter.