DLA transfer to PIP

Thanks, Gordon.

I know the DWP are putting pressure on GPs, and now MPs as well, to not help people. There was a Labour MP who posted on Twitter this week that this had happened to her and she was outraged.
Kate Osamor Invalid consumer key/secret in configuration
I saw some GPs in the replies, e.g this one Invalid consumer key/secret in configuration

It could be my GP was responding to that pressure. I replied to her and asked her again anyway. Let's find out.

I already got authorisation for a taxi when I rang to make the appointment.

Had my ATOS assessment today. I'm confused about how it went. She interrupted, didn't let me finish, told me I was avoiding answering the question, which caused my anxiety to sky rocket so I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what she wanted from me, and exacerbated other symptoms. Once I became more terrified than I already was, my mind went blank and I was umming and ahhing more and more. It was distressing and exhausting. I was with her for an hour, after a late start, it was delayed by an hour, I hadn't really slept, so by the time she saw me, I was mashed. I asked if she read what I sent to PIP, she nodded yes she had. She was smiling (I wondered as if to mock me because I wrote so much). I asked why I was there because I couldn't think what else to tell them. She said they 'just wanted to ask these questions'. I tried to get to the bottom of what answers she wanted from me, she said she wanted to know what I _can_ do, the positives, not what I can't. That didn't make sense to me so I asked again, because we had reached the question about reading and I was really confused about what she wanted from me. Then I realised she wanted me to say 'yes, I can read, but these are the problems that can stop me sometimes, x, y, z'. I tried to remember to answer like that but apparently it still wasn't good enough. I tried to tell her about the first few hours of the day when I can't do anything, or very little, and later when I crash, but I don't know if I got my point across. It's all in my PIP form anyway. I got stopped a lot to be told I wasn't answering the question. I don't know if she was interrupting me to prevent me answering, or if it didn't matter anyway because it's going to be cut-and-paste, or if she was helping me. I'm really confused! And because there were so many questions I was prevented from answering in full, will it make a difference? But all that information is in my PIP form, which she said she read. She was pleasant, smiled all the way through, but there was underlying bullying, it was very subtle, eg interrupting, not letting me finish, telling me I'm avoiding answering the question as if to suggest I have something to hide, all with a smile. I was in such a state by the time she saw me, after being forced to wait for so long, because I arrived early for my appointment, that by the time she saw me, I was going into a crash, which I told her. This also impacted my being able to answer, because I was fighting pain and fatigue. I told her what was happening, and gave this reason to not do the physical exam, because that would have made me worse. She said ok. I am very angry about having to go to this ATOS thing in the first place, but I tried to cooperate and do what she wanted, as much as I could figure out anyway! She kept moving the goalposts!

Anyway, just checking in. Sorry that's rambly. I wrote up what happened as per the last page in the guide. It was the first thing I did when I got home. Brilliant idea to include that, helped me see what was wrong.

Just out of interest, have you known anyone to pass these ATOS assessments? Out of how many? I'd love to think I got a rogue assessor who actually helped and will assess me fairly and pass me. I can dream!

Sorry about the external links I posted earlier. I didn't read forum etiquette, which I should have.

Hi Gordon,

Thinking about it, she was preventing me from answering. e.g. she asked what medication I take for hypermobility and fibromyalgia. I said nothing, there's no cure. She told me I wasn't answering the question, she wanted a yes/no. So I said no, because there's no cure.

She didn't ask me anything that wasn't already in my additional pages.

I called earlier this week and requested a copy of her report. They said to allow 10 days.

I got a text today from the DWP reminding me about a medical assessment next week Friday 12th. This is the first I have heard. There is no information that it's for ESA, there is no phone number to call. I am on hold right now to the DWP for ESA. I know they don't handle assessments themselves, I want them to know this has happened. Do I tell them in writing?

Another panic attack and numbness. This is too much.

Still on hold, it's about 20 mins now...