Impending Atos Medical

Hi there
I am currently in the Work Support Group and have been since winning my Tribunal in March this year. I received an ESA50 to complete in October and sent this back by recorded delivery on 24/10/2011.I was quite shocked to receive a phone call for an appointment for a Medical at Atos on 23/11/2011!I am taking my husband along as I have been diagnosed with hearing loss and am fitted with a hearing aid in one ear but am waiting for hearing aid to be fitted in other.Am a bit concerned at the speed this has been arranged as generally DWP take ages to do anything!Cant say I am looking forward to the medical because I am suffering with anxiety and it makes me feel quite stressed. I am wondering if the Government succeed in bringing in their new rules re ESA if it is even worth pursuing my claim if I dont score enough points as I have already claimed for over a year. Any advice please?

JANICE wrote:

Hi there
I am currently in the Work Support Group and have been since winning my Tribunal in March this year. I received an ESA50 to complete in October and sent this back by recorded delivery on 24/10/2011.I was quite shocked to receive a phone call for an appointment for a Medical at Atos on 23/11/2011!I am taking my husband along as I have been diagnosed with hearing loss and am fitted with a hearing aid in one ear but am waiting for hearing aid to be fitted in other.Am a bit concerned at the speed this has been arranged as generally DWP take ages to do anything!Cant say I am looking forward to the medical because I am suffering with anxiety and it makes me feel quite stressed. I am wondering if the Government succeed in bringing in their new rules re ESA if it is even worth pursuing my claim if I dont score enough points as I have already claimed for over a year. Any advice please?

Hi,

Although it may take the DWP time to carry out tasks re a claim etc, do not forget it is ATOS to whom your ESA50 would be sent and it is them who will have called you for the medical. If your ESA was sent in on 24/10/11 then a medical being arranged for just less than a month later in not unusual in some areas but it can depend on workload and availability of Disability analysts etc.

As to outcome, only you will know if you think you meet the criteria for an award of ESA against the descriptors. Having been awarded ESA then the burden of proof swings to the DWP to show you would no longer be entitled to it, as opposed to you having to demonstrate you are entitled.

However cross that bridge if, as or when you come to it. Your claim after all may go through without problem like the vast majority of claims do.

Pete

Janice that is awful, just when you feel things sorted it all starts again. But we all seem to be on this unfair and stressful merry go round with ATOS and DWP. Try to be strong I know much easier said than done. You and hubby look at the guides on here and joint down your difficulties that you know you have with your dissabilities but you know you hate discussing and hate being questioned on. Remember this person at ATOS is not your own doctor, he is looking at your capabilities, how you move, cope and answer him/her. If you feel you can not answer him/her or do something they ask then dont even attempt it. I made lots of mistakes on my forms and in the so called medical appt. I`v decided that I will never be treated like that again, I will ask for adjustments for my disability before going to any appointments whether at DWP, ATOS medical and even if I end up at tribunal. I think we all guilty of trying to manage and cope. Dont forget to send your story off to your MP and point out the sheer distress of this system. Best of luck Meg

Thanks a lot. I will take on board everything you both have said, You just get so tired of fighting for benefits and the process is so demeaning.Still I am lucky to have a supportive husband and I know there are people out there who are a lot worse off then I am . Just feeling a little intimidated I guess, and guilty too as I have always worked when i can and find it very hard not being able to. Thanks again for your advice jANICE

Hiya Janice

Have to say my problem seems same as yours (if I have read it correctly). I was also awarded the ESA Support Group benefit in March 2011 after appealing their original placement for me into the Work related Group.
I received the forms two days ago that means I too have to go through the same, both physically and mentally stressfull process yet AGAIN !!!!
Do Atos really believe that I have been miraculously healed in the last 6 - 8 months ?????
Plus the fact that I also receive DLA at the Highest rate, an exemption certificate for my medication.......Surely both Atos and DWP can see this.
As if I (and no doubt others of you) on a daily basis dont have enough to cope with just dealing with everyday mobility and pain relief....I really get so stressed about it all, but thankfully I too have wonderful support from my Wife.
So Janice I hope all go's well for you and take care.

davedadruid wrote:

Hiya Janice

Have to say my problem seems same as yours (if I have read it correctly). I was also awarded the ESA Support Group benefit in March 2011 after appealing their original placement for me into the Work related Group.
I received the forms two days ago that means I too have to go through the same, both physically and mentally stressfull process yet AGAIN !!!!
Do Atos really believe that I have been miraculously healed in the last 6 - 8 months ?????
Plus the fact that I also receive DLA at the Highest rate, an exemption certificate for my medication.......Surely both Atos and DWP can see this.
As if I (and no doubt others of you) on a daily basis dont have enough to cope with just dealing with everyday mobility and pain relief....I really get so stressed about it all, but thankfully I too have wonderful support from my Wife.
So Janice I hope all go's well for you and take care.

Hi DDD,

I don't know whether you were assessed last time under the old descriptors (ESA50), but please be aware that there was a change in late March 2011, to ESA50 03/11.

You may wish to fill in the Pdf ESA50, see here :

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum?func=vie...imit=6&start=6#70879

The current ESA claim guides can be accessed from here :

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

cheers

bro58