Help preparing for an appeal

Hi

I’m on, or I should say was, on Incapacity Benefit, and underwent an Atos medical the latter end of December.

Being a member of Benefits and Work I was primed in advance for said medical, and like to think I gave textbook type answers to the (trick) questions asked of me.

Despite this I obtained a derisory six points and had my entitlement to Incapacity Benefit stopped. I’m sure that if I’d answered “wibble” to each of the examiners questions it would have made little difference to the outcome.

Unless you have profound physical and mental problems it seems to be a matter of course that you are classed fit to work!

I’m going to appeal, and have phoned the Jobcentre Plus asking for Appeal Claim Form GL24, and for a full Medical Assessment Report.

I’ve also phoned my local Advice Centre with a view to getting help, and possibly representation at my appeal/tribunal.

So, hopefully, I’ll fill in and post off, with Advice Centre help, GL24, and will hopefully have my full Medical Assessment Report for the Advice Centre staff to refer to. I also covertly recorded my medical which I intend to avail to the Advice Centre staff. Come the day of the appeal/tribunal, which I’m led to believe can take anything up to nine months, I’ll be aided, or maybe even represented, by Advice Centre staff.

That’s how in theory everything will pan out.

Is there anything I have missed, is there anything else I could do, any help or suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Jim

You might want to check how your advice centre is funded - some rely on funding streams that are drying up with the cuts, so you may not be able to rely on them to represent you at appeal.

Good luck.