worried about medical this year

Hello

I hope this thread is applicable to the forum. I read faq.

My atos medical is due this year.
I am currently on incap benefit and if found unfit for work will go onto ESA.

If found fit for work, this could be catastrophic for me.

I am not well mentally and cannot cope with any stress. I am a prescription tranquiliser addict weaning off tranquilisers and am getting worse the lower I go on my dose.

My gp is supervising my taper and I am making very small and sensible cuts to keep me functional but I am getting worse.

I'm not getting chance to recover because of the worry about the atos medical.

If I am found fit for work, it would be catastrophic for the following reasons.

I am too unwell to work, too nervous to leave my home on mnay occasions.

I own my own home and am on an occupational pension of £400 a month.
My income will only consist of the small amount of mortgage releif and the pension, not enough to pay my mortgage, no matter what help I get.
I cannot go onto an interest only mortgage as I have no means of paying the capital. The bank want to see regular savings building up in an ISA.
I will end up homeless as the council are not obliged to provide me with temp accomodation as I am not elderly, disabled or classed as vulnerable.

I want to make a recovery but this atos worry is holding me back and making me worse.

Have I been reading too many atos horror stories, and they are not that bad?
Are the horror stories true, and people do actually lose their homes as a result.

Many thanks from a very worried sorted125.

Sorted125 wrote:

Hello

I hope this thread is applicable to the forum. I read faq.

My atos medical is due this year.
I am currently on incap benefit and if found unfit for work will go onto ESA.

If found fit for work, this could be catastrophic for me.

I am not well mentally and cannot cope with any stress. I am a prescription tranquiliser addict weaning off tranquilisers and am getting worse the lower I go on my dose.

My gp is supervising my taper and I am making very small and sensible cuts to keep me functional but I am getting worse.

I'm not getting chance to recover because of the worry about the atos medical.

If I am found fit for work, it would be catastrophic for the following reasons.

I am too unwell to work, too nervous to leave my home on mnay occasions.

I own my own home and am on an occupational pension of £400 a month.
My income will only consist of the small amount of mortgage releif and the pension, not enough to pay my mortgage, no matter what help I get.
I cannot go onto an interest only mortgage as I have no means of paying the capital. The bank want to see regular savings building up in an ISA.
I will end up homeless as the council are not obliged to provide me with temp accomodation as I am not elderly, disabled or classed as vulnerable.

I want to make a recovery but this atos worry is holding me back and making me worse.

Have I been reading too many atos horror stories, and they are not that bad?
Are the horror stories true, and people do actually lose their homes as a result.

Many thanks from a very worried sorted125.

Hi S125,

Try not to worry too much, many claimants are migrated successfully from IB to ESA, a percentage of these, without the need for a face to face assessment.

Please take into account, that successful IB transferees, do not tend to publicise their good news, we only tend to hear of the bad experiences, although we do have a lot of good news stories from our members.

Don't necessarily assume that you will be migrated this year, as the migration process is ongoing until spring 2014.

My best advice would be to glean as much information as possible in preparation, whilst trying not to worry unduly.

Cheers

bro58

Hi Bro

Thanks.

I am definitely being migrated this year as the DWP told me my review is due in may this year.

Although my anxiety and depression are delilitating mental health services discharged me because they felt I wasnt engaging in treatment, which consisted of offering to increase the quetiapine I currently am prescribed off-label for anxiety, or 6 mindfulness sessions.

As my concentration is so badly affected by the valium withdrawal, I told my mh worker it would not work, as lack of concentration will only go once I have weaned off valium.

I am going to my GP tomorrow to see about getting my meds increased.

Also, I don't think I will be seen as unwell enough to not get a medical. I never had one on my last review in 2009.

Please could you tell me where to obtain the info on "questions I am likely to be asked at medical"
I looked on the ESA section but couldnt find it. I am a subscriber and member.

thanks

Sorted125 wrote:

Hi Bro

Thanks.

I am definitely being migrated this year as the DWP told me my review is due in may this year.

Although my anxiety and depression are delilitating mental health services discharged me because they felt I wasnt engaging in treatment, which consisted of offering to increase the quetiapine I currently am prescribed off-label for anxiety, or 6 mindfulness sessions.

As my concentration is so badly affected by the valium withdrawal, I told my mh worker it would not work, as lack of concentration will only go once I have weaned off valium.

I am going to my GP tomorrow to see about getting my meds increased.

Also, I don't think I will be seen as unwell enough to not get a medical. I never had one on my last review in 2009.

Please could you tell me where to obtain the info on "questions I am likely to be asked at medical"
I looked on the ESA section but couldnt find it. I am a subscriber and member.

thanks

Hi S125,

Is this link from our FAQ’s of any help? :

ESA Medical – What to Expect

bro58

Hi

You answered some questions for me in this thread and I wonder if you could help me with some more.

I mentioned my review was due this year in May, when I will be migrated to ESA if found unfit for work.

I read on the DWP website that people on IB get contacted by the DWP/ATOS when their review is up.

Here are my 3 questions.

1. I understand that there is a backlog, so I may not get called up when expected - Is this true?

2. A few weeks ago, I went into the jobcentre and also phoned the DWP, telling them my review is up this year, and what type of ESA I would receive if not fit for work. I have heard that the DWP are sneaky, and I want to ask, will the fact that I went to the DWP and also phoned them, telling my review is in May, mean I will be flagged up, and will be called up regardless of backlog?

3. If I do not hear anything in May, is it ok to just wait till I do, or will I get in to trouble for not contacting them to say I haven't heard anything?

Many thanks

I am eligible for mortgage interest relief and plan to phone the DWp to make a claim, does this mean they will send for me for an ESA medical earlier?

thanks