Happyhamr, I'm confused now. Sorry I don't know the answer to the ESA50 question. I only know the IB system, maybe things have changed. Maybe it's on the DWP website.

HB

Do you have to inform the Atos Doctor that you are recording the WCA under the Data Protection Act? Thanks to all.

Joe if haven't realised yet the only chance that you are going to get anything you ask for from the DWP or ATOS is to get the request in writing from your doctor.

When you asked about getting the home medical this is what you were told to do. You were also told to get it documented that your mum may refuse to talk and so may not participate in the medical.

As you've also found out once you have this in writing from a doctor you still have a fight on your hands to get it acted upon.

You want to be in my position as I sent my Doctors letter in with my ESA50 application form. Guess what it was ignored/denied and for 3 weeks I have been getting the run around as they keep telling me they are recalling the file for review or call me back which they don't. I was told Fri by ATOS my appointment would be cancelled. Called DWP Monday who accessed my record and confirmed it was cancelled. Letter came Tues dated Fri saying your appointment has been cancelled (great I think) and on the next line says it's been rebooked for exactly the same date and time as the one cancelled.

Seriously WTF!!!!!!!

Do you have to inform the Atos Doctor that you are recording the WCA under the Data Protection Act? Thanks to all.

No it's a personal recording for personal use.

Do not get caught and don't mention it in anyway.

The recording itself can not be used for anything except that but a transcript of the recording can be made and may be excepted as evidence.

Thanks Speedfreek, I think their ability to provide a service to the DWP is questionnable, I mean fancy cancelling and then on the same letter providing exactly the same date and time, you just cannot blame that as computer error its the nut who is operating it. Agree, WTF

Thanks Joe and good luck

Did you put in an application for DLA too?

You really should have a look at it. My condition is similar to your mums but to a way lesser degree and I managed to get an award. Took 2 weeks from sending off the application to get the decision.

Mines going to pay for private low cost twice weekly psychotherapy sessions - couldn't afford them with out it. Ask the MH teams advice on access to low cost (for benefit claimants) services in your area. If your mum requires longer term or more intensive care than the NHS can offer it gives you more options.

I'll start my own thread on my ATOS treatment eventually it's all written down.

After 2 phone calls today they have reluctantly cancelled that appointment.... guess what the computer may still automatically rebook it (same date n time) which I will not find out about until the letter arrives. They didn't want to cancel it but with 5 days until it's supposed to happen how stupid do they think I am?

hello joeblogs, hope you and your mum are ok.

Hi Honeybee and speedfreek,

Speedfreek - The reason i think you may be getting the runaround is because you have sent your medical evidence letters/info etc where?

Was it sent to Belfast or Atos address at top of the page?

If it was to Atos address, all they want is the ESA50 form.

Medical certificates or any other documents must be sent to the office directly dealing with your claim. Do not enclose them with the ESA50 form.

Where did you send it????Belfast or atos address?

Dear All, - I have a A4 sized leaflet - Employment and Support Allowance - your medical questionaire - which states - it is very important that you go to the medical assessment: if you do not, you entitlement ESA maybe affected.(i think we all know that)

Next bit

what happens next ?

We (i presume ATOS) will review your questionaire and decide if you need to attend the medical assessment.(if this has come from atos, they must

look at it ,)

so atos get questionaires(esa50),and who knows "what the hell" they do with them:rolleyes:

all the people saying that Atos dont seeesa50(i think not, but i do think they dont "act"on it:rolleyes:

"This questionaire is your oppourtunit to tell us how you are affected by your illness or disabling condition,and allows US to determine your level of illness or disabiliyy...........US,(being atos)

WE,(i presume),atos:eek:

we /us =Atos..,not DWP.

Joeblogs,speedfreek,atos/dwp= .............s(you decide:))

"so all people saying atos dont see eessaas before DWP,"not so sure":)"

happyhamr:)

Hi Happyhamr, thank you so much for your kind messages, they are really appreciated. I do hope all us caggers can get our problems with Atos/DWP resolved but I now think we have more chance of watching pigs fly. Also with this new coalition government, again the country has been conned into believing a flash fast talking multi millionaire aka David Cameron and Nick Clegg I just cannot stand the bloke, two faced is an understatement. No wonder the pair are running the country.

Hi, wonder if anyone can help me, I am caring for my mother who has mental health problems and I am her carer. A4U assisted me in applying for DLA for her in April, her GP did not respond for 6 weeks relating to a medical report they wanted, he has now done this and DLA have received the report and to my knowledge it is with the Decision Maker and has been since last week. I keep ringing to find out if a decision has been made, some of the staff are very nice and admit it has taken a long time (due to GP) and others are indifferent and saying 'write to us' even though they are confirming it is with the DM. Has anyone got a phone number of someone in the DLA who can give me the answer please. Thanks.

Not sure why you are panicking here?

As long as it's awarded before the ESA WCA medical it should be fine and everything will be back dated to the date of the claim.

DLA decisions generally take between 2-8 weeks.

How long has it actually been?

Worth noting here that DLA (awarded middle care and above) opens up a whole new world of every day discounts and usually benefit premiums too for the pair of you

See here Great 'What discounts can I get when I'm disabled' Hunt - MoneySavingExpert.com Forums

and here Housing benefit - Disability Alliance Factsheet F44 Disability Premium

I'm looking at this the Warmfront grant once my appeal goes in for ESA Do you qualify for a Grant

ESA is killing me but DLA has really opened up my world in a nice happy sort of way \o/

I'm afraid the only publically available number for DLA is 08457 123456; DM's numbers aren't given out (I've never managed in all my puff to get a DLA DM's number!).

However, what you can do is ask them to get the DM to call you back with an update on your claim. They won't ba able to give you an answer because the decision isn't made yet (otherwise the telephony folks would tell you - they would see the decision on the computer system), but if there is anything which is holding the claim up, the DM should be able to tell you.

DLA / DWP direct dial numbers

Department for Work.doc

kiptower I think I've fallen in love with you. I mastered the trick of managing to weedle landline numbers out of people but DLA is one I have never been able to get - thank you!

ok let you know the trick , its no secret,

www.saynoto0870.com

put in the 0845 / 0870 number etc

and by magic it comes up , highlight what you want, copy to word

and you can ether save the word doc or paste the results into the post

hope that helps

Hello and thanks to everyone who has taken the time and trouble to answer my question. As sods law has it, DLA phoned me today and gave me the Birmingham landline number, a decision will be made very soon. Thanks again everyone.

Thanks also to Speedfreek for all those links, also Speedfreek you say as long as DLA is awarded before Atos WCA so called medical, why is this? Sorry the question may sound silly but my mom has not claimed benefits before and I havent a clue. Thanks for your help.

Topic #7236 - DLA Appeal-ESA medical report

It's not common but neither is it unheard of for the WCA report to be used as evidence in regard to a DLA award. So if you've got a failed WCA report knocking about or are having the assessment before DLA has been awarded it's worth knowing the pitfalls.

From what you've previously posted I shouldn't think you got anything to worry about!

Some of you good folks may remember from my previous posts that my mum suffers from mental ill health. In April I was advised to apply for DLA as I am her main carer, in fact I have had to put my whole life on hold to care for my mum, she needs supervising like my two young kids, sometimes she is an adult other times she is childlike, it is heartbreaking. Anyway, DLA wrote to her GP for a medical report, he basically sat on the request for 6 weeks before I went to see him to chase it up. He wrote his report on 20 July. In the meantime the Community Mental Health Team and a Social Worker came to my house to assess mum four weeks ago, they immediately changed her medication and wrote to ESA/DWP to request that no WCA should be undertaken and to consider moving her straight into the support group. They also got in touch with the Council and she has been moved into a warden controlled sheltered housing scheme near to me - all this has happened in the last four weeks. I have been chasing DLA up for a couple of weeks now about their decision, I spoke to mum's GP Practice Manager (who is also the doctors wife) and she said in her opinion DLA will be awarded. Today the letter arrived saying that mum does not qualify for either component of DLA for loads and loads of reasons, the list is endless. I am gobsmacked. What do I do? Have I the right to ask for a copy of her GP's medical report or should I get the Mental Health Team and Social Worker to get the report from the GP and ask them for a report and to ask them to help me appeal, and how do I appeal. I am at my wits end what with dealing with my kids and mum I dont know how much longer I can go on like this. Please someone help me as I am so stressed out by all this. Thank you.

Some of you good folks may remember from my previous posts that my mum suffers from mental ill health. In April I was advised to apply for DLA as I am her main carer, in fact I have had to put my whole life on hold to care for my mum, she needs supervising like my two young kids, sometimes she is an adult other times she is childlike, it is heartbreaking. Anyway, DLA wrote to her GP for a medical report, he basically sat on the request for 6 weeks before I went to see him to chase it up. He wrote his report on 20 July. In the meantime the Community Mental Health Team and a Social Worker came to my house to assess mum four weeks ago, they immediately changed her medication and wrote to ESA/DWP to request that no WCA should be undertaken and to consider moving her straight into the support group. They also got in touch with the Council and she has been moved into a warden controlled sheltered housing scheme near to me - all this has happened in the last four weeks. I have been chasing DLA up for a couple of weeks now about their decision, I spoke to mum's GP Practice Manager (who is also the doctors wife) and she said in her opinion DLA will be awarded. Today the letter arrived saying that mum does not qualify for either component of DLA for loads and loads of reasons, the list is endless. I am gobsmacked. What do I do? Have I the right to ask for a copy of her GP's medical report or should I get the Mental Health Team and Social Worker to get the report from the GP and ask them for a report and to ask them to help me appeal, and how do I appeal. I am at my wits end what with dealing with my kids and mum I dont know how much longer I can go on like this. Please someone help me as I am so stressed out by all this. Thank you.

My Ex neighbour also has mental illness very similar to your mother and she too have a Community Mental Health Team and a Social Worker. Please if you don't mind me asking is your mother at retiring age? I ask because when I I was helping my ex neighbour the first thing I did was to ring Age Concern they were brilliant and my ex neighbour received Attendance Allowance both Higher rate the lady even came to her house and filled the form for her perhaps get in touch with Age Concern in your Area they will help your mother with her needs.I cannot recommend them enough they help with everything they even have a Welfare Rights Officer.

I hope this helps

take care

Hi, thanks for replying. My mum is 54 years.

Hi Folks, Just giving this post a little bump as I have to go about sorting this mess out tomorrow and not sure where to start first, do I approach the community mental health team and social worker and ask them to get a copy of the GP's report to DLA, do I phone DLA?, how do I appeal and what do I need to get the decision reversed? Please, any advice would be much appreciated.

Hello. Me mental health team were great and very supportive. I would contact them and ask for their help or advice, starting with the community worker. Otherwise you may need to contact the person who assessed your Mum - a psychiatrist?

You could also try Welfare Rights through your local council, if they have one.

HB

Hi HB, thanks for your advice, can always rely on you thank goodness. I have been in touch with the social worker, she is angry about the decision and is going to do the appeal herself and contact mum's GP for copy of report, then she is making a new report to send to DLA. Thanks again.

Good stuff, well done you. I really hope the DWP see reason now, please let us know.

HB x

Hi everyone, just wanted to ask to quick questions please. If my mum is eventually put in the support group, how long (if at all) will her ESA be backdated as she is currently on the assessment rate. Also I need to take a break later this year, as I am my mum's carer, will I be allowed to take her abroad as she is receiving ESA? Thank you everyone.