I was told to ring the Dept of Works and pensions that were dealing with the claim and ask for a full copy of the assessment. It should be the ESA65 and ESA85 you get copies of. I asked for a full copy of the written report and it had the name of the Registered Nurse who "assessed" me. It showed all the discrepancies to enable me to argue my case. I had a friend who came and took notes throughout too, so that helped. It was a marvellous help because it also showed the descriptors and points I failed to get. It proved they hadn't even looked at the ESA50 I'd filled in. Just a word of advice if you do need to appeal, make sure you photocopy any correspondence you post and that it is sent by registered post and you can track them down on Royal Mail site to see if they have been signed for as DWP have a tendency to lose important papers. Make a copy of all correspondence to and from them, too. Write down all times and dates of phone calls and get names. After all this info....Can I just say to you.......... Try not to jump ahead of yourself, you may not need to appeal, you might just be fine. You'll make yourself ill if you try to sort out problems that haven't arisen yet. All I can say to comfort you is that, if you do fail, there is always help at hand. Knowing you aren't alone to me was such a comfort. Ask for as much help as you can but only when you need it and meanwhile try not to let it take over your life until you've actually had your medical. It's hard, but very important to just take one day at a time.

Hi there, No question is daft This may help you,. Atos say: "Before working for Atos Healthcare, healthcare professionals must have at least 3 years’ post-registration experience across a wide range of specialities, and this must include some generalist training. All employees are provided with additional, comprehensive training specific to disability analysis. For the Work Capability Assessment, this includes an 8 day course for all doctors and a 17 day course for nurses and physiotherapists". You have every right to ask to see their certificates before they examine you.

I can empathise with your anxiety but agree that the tribunal is not as scary as the ATOS medical. I found the professional panel much more approachable and understanding and I also won my case by having a Welfare Rights Officer attending. They do a marvellous job.

I hope this brings some hope to others. I'll keep it as simple as possible. It's a brief history of my experience with DWP. I've been claiming Income Support since 2002. My main illnesses are, IBS, diverticulitis disease. Anxiety and depression, Reynauds disease, arthritis. Jan 2005 I had my first medical assessment and was given 11 points. Jun 2006 medical assessment, same symptoms, and only allocated 10 points. I appealed against it and had a Welfare Rights Officer represent me. Nov 2006 Tribunal awarded me 11 points . ------------------- Jun 2009 Filled in PCA questionnaire July 2009 Reply by post, with full 11 points, no medical required this time. ----------------- Jul 2011 Filled in new ESA50 in great detail. Sept 2011 Medical assessment with Atos. I took along a friend who made notes throughout. Nov 2011 I received a letter stating I had no points at all. I rang DWP and asked for copies of medical reports from assessment, and they disclosed an appalling inaccurate version of the assessment. I contacted Welfare Rights Officer and he agreed, they were basically calling me a liar. I should have been allocated maximum points and placed in Support Group. I searched the internet and found this forum and various others that gave me advice on how to appeal. I filled in a GL24 and also sent in extra sheets itemising each descriptor I disagreed with and what I thought it should have been and kept referring to my answers on ESA50. I also sent in photo copies of a colonoscopy that I had that stated I had diverticulitis and even gave the name of the incontinence pads supplier. Nov. 2011 I had a phone call from them to say they had received my appeal and it was now in the hands of the decision makers. Jan 2012. Letter from DWP stating tribunal had decided not only am I entitled to ESA but I am also in Support group. There was no explanation why this decision was made. Although I am thrilled with the outcome I have decided to ask for a written explanation from them and I'll post the outcome later. Ha! Just had a phone call from DWP as I was typing this, I've asked them for a copy of the decision makers decision. (they seemed surprised) I will keep posting with results. I hope this gives hope to others. The system is a mockery and is aimed at grinding people down but don't give up.