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Chance of home visit for assessment?

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11 years 8 months ago - 11 years 8 months ago #89262 by LittleKezza
Chance of home visit for assessment? was created by LittleKezza
Hello,

I have recently been sent a letter with my ESA assessment time. I specifically said I could not do mornings, yet they made me an appointment for 9.10am!
They also sent a "suggested journey plan" which is laughable. I have ME and Fibromyalgia. I am mostly housebound and find walking exhausting and painful, even in short amounts. Yet they suggest leaving my house at 7.34am, walking, getting a bus, walking to train station, getting a train, then walking to assessment centre. Are they honestly sending out this crap??? I sent them an extra 12 sides of A4 paper detailing as much as I could, yet they still send this???

Anyway, that's off topic a bit. What chance is there for me to ask for a home visit as I am really struggling currently and will have to rely on family members taking time off work to take me. I just wondered if it's worth the hassle of asking for a home visit, or just suffer through the assessment.

The assessment itself is terrifying me as I'm so worried I will say the wrong thing (due to my brainfog) or if I forget to tell them something. It sounds like they watch you like a hawk and try to catch you out, so the whole process is scaring the life out of me.

Have any of you had a home visit or asked for one???
Last edit: 11 years 8 months ago by Gordon.

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11 years 8 months ago - 11 years 8 months ago #89264 by Liz944
Replied by Liz944 on topic Re:Chance of home visit for assessment?
To have a home visit you have to ask ATOS for one and they will ask for you to obtain a letter from your GP or other medical proffessional to confirm why you need the home visit.

I have had a home visit for ESA, although very brief lasted 5 minutes...

Like you I was worried about it and in the end it was over and done with very quickly and did not have to go through all the questions.
Last edit: 11 years 8 months ago by slugsta.

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11 years 8 months ago #89265 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic Re:Chance of home visit for assessment?
Kezza

Medicals are booked by a seperate department within ATOS, often without sight of the ESA50, so you may be able to get the appointment moved without fault, if you included restrictions on the ESA50 that have been ignored.

The journey plan is standard and sent with all of these letters, it takes no account of any disabilities and is probably copy/pasted from Google maps or the equivalent.

You can request a home visit, but you will need the supprt of your GP, who will need to write to ATOS explaining why you cannot make the journey, even then, it is still at the discretion of ATOS to grant it.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

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11 years 8 months ago #89266 by slugsta
Replied by slugsta on topic Re:Chance of home visit for assessment?
It is, theoretically, possible to have the assessment carried out at home. However, ATOS are very reluctant to do this and I can't remember hearing of anyone who succeeded in getting this. It is certainly worth a try, but you will need to back up your request with solid support from your doctor. Alternatively, you might be able to get funding for a taxi (this must be done beforehand).

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

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11 years 8 months ago - 11 years 8 months ago #89269 by LittleKezza
Replied by LittleKezza on topic Re:Chance of home visit for assessment?
Thank you everyone!! I will try then and go and see my GP to ask for her help.

If I do need to go my mum and/or sister will have to come with me as I physically can't do it myself, as I'll need to go in a wheelchair.

Thanks for you your replies xxx
Last edit: 11 years 8 months ago by Gordon.

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  • bro58
11 years 8 months ago - 11 years 8 months ago #89276 by bro58
Replied by bro58 on topic Re:Chance of home visit for assessment?
Hi K,

I would always advise claimants to discuss this issue with their G.P. before the WCA process begins.

The DWP/ATOS may send an ESA113 questioinnaire to the claimant's G.P. without the claimant's knowledge, see ESA113 here :

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

You will see at question 6 it asks the question, :

6 Could your patient travel to
an examination centre by
public transport or taxi?

It offers a basic Yes or No response, only giving the G.P. the option to elaborate if he ticks "No"

My friend's G.P. took the view that as the friend was not housebound, they could travel to the Assessment Centre.

It was then explained to the G.P. that there was a huge difference between being able to travel by Taxi, door to door, and having to use public transport, which would probably involve walking as well.

Therefore it was unfair to "lump" travel by Taxi and public transport together, and that travelling to and from the assessment centre, was in fact being used as part of the actual assessment itself, sometimes to the claimant's detriment.

My friend said that her G.P. went very red at this point :blush: , as he realised the possible implications of simply ticking "Yes" without having the opportunity to add further comments.


It is also possible to make requests regarding travel/home visits, under the umbrella of "Reasonable Adjustment" as laid down in the Equality Act 2010. see :

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/contents

See : Adjustments for disabled persons
20.Duty to make adjustments.
21.Failure to comply with duty.
22.Regulations

It would be advisable to make ATOS aware of a request for these "Reasonable Adjustments" as early on in the the WCA process as possible "Formally".

Of course it will help if your G.P. or other treating HCP supports such a request.

Hope this helps.

bro58
Last edit: 11 years 8 months ago by bro58.

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