ATOS writing with ESA Reassessment day not phoning

Am I right in saying that I have the right to not take phone calls from Atos HCP in order to discuss my ESA reassessment medical/arrange suitable time for appointment? I cannot handle talking to these people over the phone so can I request they write to me with an appoinment date for being reassessed. Do I include it on page 18 of the esa50 03/11 LCFW form they sent me?

ngup67

Nevergiveup1967 wrote: Am I right in saying that I have the right to not take phone calls from Atos HCP in order to discuss my ESA reassessment medical/arrange suitable time for appointment? I cannot handle talking to these people over the phone so can I request they write to me with an appoinment date for being reassessed. Do I include it on page 18 of the esa50 03/11 LCFW form they sent me?

ngup67

Hi N1967,

You are correct, you do not have to provide your telephone contact details if you do not wish to.

Nor do you have to take any telephone calls from the DWP or ATOS. (Just in case they already have it)

You could reiterate this in the ESA50 as you have suggested, you could simply state that the benefits system is too complicated to deal with over the phone, and therefore request written correspondence only to create a paper trail to aid your understanding of the process, as well as any other personal reasons that you may have.

There may be one disadvantage that I can think of in not having any telephone contact with The DWP. This would only occur if you had to have a face to face, and the DM coming to a decision as a result of it. In that, sometimes when the DM is thinking of making a fit for work decision, they sometimes ring the claimant to see whether they have any further evidence that would stop the DM giving the fit for work decision.

bro58