Atos home assessment

Hello, I'm currently going through the process of my IS being switched to ESA. I have filled in the ESA50 form with the help of your guide which due to my conditions was a bit confusing to me. So I had to get help from my local CAB also.

I have now received a letter asking me to attend an Atos medical. When I filled in the form I asked if I could have a home assessment due to the fact that part of my condition is agoraphobia. I also included a letter from my GP who highlighted the problems of depression anxiety and my severe difficulties with going out. It seems Atos or the DWP have chosen to ignore this and still expect me to attend, even though this will cause me extreme distress.

I was under the impression that Atos should be able to offer home assessments for people with conditions such as mine. Would it be worthwhile going to see my GP and asking her to write to Atos once again, explaining the difficulty and the untold stress and possible danger to myself and others this could cause?

Thanks for any advice received.

Gordon wrote:

ElLoco

The first thing I would say is don't assume that they have ignored your GP's letter, the booking of assessments is done by a seperate dept. within ATOS HealthCare, and is often done with no reference to the ESA50.

So you should contact ATOS on the number that should be in the appointment letter, to find out if they were aware of your request for a home visit.

If they have decided that your GP's letter is insufficient, then you lose nothing by speaking to your GP again to see whether they can provide a more forceful argument for a home visit.

Gordon

Thank you Gordon, I will do this.

I get very nervous on the phone. If I can't manage it, do they allow someone to call on your behalf?

You will need to be present to answer security questions and give verbal permission for someone else to speak on your behalf.

Some good news! I received a letter at the weekend informing me that I do no need to attend the assessment at the ATOS centre.

I have been approved for a 'home visit' and someone will contact me in due course to arrange a suitable time and date.

Do you know how long it takes ATOS to arrange these visits from the time of receiving the letter?

Many Thanks

Well done, home visits for ESA assessments are as rare as hen's teeth! I hope that you are as successful with the rest of the process.