Just received my dreaded phone call

Hello, I had the dreaded phone call from Atos today, despite me saying on my form that I do not answer the phone to unrecognised numbers and because of my problems with depression I do not like speaking on the phone.

Despite also mentioning on the form that I cannot travel by public transport they expect me to travel to my nearest centre (which is still around 8-10 miles away) by public transport. And as the date they gave me is 2 days before xmas I expect the transport to be heaving with shoppers, which will do nothing to allay all my fears.

So, to say I am starting to get worried is an understatement.

I will now spend the next 2 weeks reading up on everything that may give me some assistance on this site. I hope to be taking someone with me from Rethink, although the person has no knowledge of me or my difficulties. Can anyone give me an idea of what support the Rethink person can give me during the medical bearing in mind they will only have met me that day.

Thanks.

k9feline wrote:

Hello, I had the dreaded phone call from Atos today, despite me saying on my form that I do not answer the phone to unrecognised numbers and because of my problems with depression I do not like speaking on the phone.

Despite also mentioning on the form that I cannot travel by public transport they expect me to travel to my nearest centre (which is still around 8-10 miles away) by public transport. And as the date they gave me is 2 days before xmas I expect the transport to be heaving with shoppers, which will do nothing to allay all my fears.

So, to say I am starting to get worried is an understatement.

I will now spend the next 2 weeks reading up on everything that may give me some assistance on this site. I hope to be taking someone with me from Rethink, although the person has no knowledge of me or my difficulties. Can anyone give me an idea of what support the Rethink person can give me during the medical bearing in mind they will only have met me that day.

Thanks.

Hi K9F,

With respect to the ATOS phone call, see this thread :

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum?func=vie...id=10&id=76160#76160

And this one :

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum?func=vie...id=10&id=76197#76197

Even though you may have informed them that you could not travel by public transport to the assessment, they may have sent an ESA113 to your G.P. see a blank copy here :

www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/esa113-interactive.pdf

In particular question 6.

It may help to contact your G.P. and see whether he has in fact filled in an ESA113, if not, you may wish to enlist his support.

With respect to your forthcoming medical see from page 63 onwards of :

Employment and Support Allowance claims on physical health grounds: a guide to the work capability assessment.

Or page 67 onwards of :

Employment and Support Allowance claims for Mental Health and Learning Difficulties: a guide to the limited capability for work assessment.

Accessible from this link :

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants/esa

cheers

bro58

Thanks bro58 for your response. I tried to speak to my GP this morning to see if she had been sent ESA113 (and if not will she contact them to say I find it difficult to use public transport) but yet again she is not there - this also happened when I contacted the surgery before I returned my ESA50, and consequently I had to return the form without any supporting evidence from my GP. None of the other GPs at the practice have seen me with regards to my mental health difficulties, and I do not feel I can expect them to fully understand my situation.

I didnt realise that I could get written evidence from a friend as to my difficulties, so may well try to get a statement from my closest friend.

Thanks,

k9feline wrote:

I didnt realise that I could get written evidence from a friend as to my difficulties, so may well try to get a statement from my closest friend.

Be aware that even if you succeed, the alternative is a home visit from ATOS, which I personally would like even less.

k9feline wrote:

Thanks bro58 for your response. I tried to speak to my GP this morning to see if she had been sent ESA113 (and if not will she contact them to say I find it difficult to use public transport) but yet again she is not there - this also happened when I contacted the surgery before I returned my ESA50, and consequently I had to return the form without any supporting evidence from my GP. None of the other GPs at the practice have seen me with regards to my mental health difficulties, and I do not feel I can expect them to fully understand my situation.

I didnt realise that I could get written evidence from a friend as to my difficulties, so may well try to get a statement from my closest friend.

Thanks,

Hi K9F,

The G.P. practice manager, or even one of the receptionist should be able to inform you whether an ESA113 has been issued and returned.

It would probably not have been issued until after receipt of your ESA50 by ATOS, just so you can give them a rough idea of how far to check back.

Could have been before however, if they can't see reference to it at around that time.

cheers

bro58

Thanks. I have just spoken to one of the receptionists at my GP surgery and no she hasn't been sent an ESA113. So I will ring the GP secretary on Monday and ask if doctor would prepare a report/statement for me to take along with me on 22 Dec. Fingers crossed, although it is a worrying time now.