ATOS. ESA50 Form.

WmWallace wrote:

Hi Pete,

Yes, if one had the condition I gave as an example, should they not have picked that up on reading the ESA50? At what point would they manually cancel the WCA?

regards,

Wm Wallace

Hi,

as Gordon and myself have explained, the system is automated to programme in a WCA regardless of what is on the ESA50.

When the DWP do get around to reading the ESA50, one would hope in the situation given, the WCA would be cancelled, but it impossible to put a timeframe on this as it can depend on factors such as the workload of the individual benefit processing centre, height of the Decision Makers 'pile' of ESA50's, speed of communications between DWP/ATOS etc.

In an ideal world, the ESA50 would be 'marked' by the decision Maker before the WCA appointment is sent, but we are not in the 'ideal world'. With further cuts to benefit processing centres I can't see it getting any better.

Pete

Thanks Gordon

WmWallace

Thanks Pete

WmWallace

There is a process called "check boarding" where individuals that have terminal illnesses and candidates for the support group are sceened, so the whole system cannot be automated.

Whilst the majority of individuals are called for a face to face assessment there are a small percentage who are not, so there must be some form of "human" intervention.

Perhaps not all Atos centres stay within the framework of the system - that wouldnt suprise me!

Gordon wrote:

Wm

The appointment process is automated. A computer will generate an appointment letter on the assumption that the ESA50 will be returned on a certain timescale, if it's not returned by then, then a new letter is automatically generated cancelling it.

Whether the ESA50 and anything attached to it is read by ATOS is different question

Gordon

I am puzzled to see that face-to-face assessment appointments are being sent by letter when it says on page 2 of the ESA50 form that Atos "would like to telephone you between 9.00am and 8.30pm on Monday to Friday, or between 9.00am and 5.00pm on Saturday to arrange a suitable date and time" and then they ask for a phone number. Also, what is the point of them sending out an appointment before reading the form when they ask in the form for any times or dates when you cannot go for an assessment?