Hi all,

Just starting yet another thread re Atos messicals:roll:. I feel I really must let you all know what's happened so far.

After receiving the dreaded letter to confirm the time and date of the assessment I immediately phoned to cancel and rearange a PM slot rather than the AM slot, I also took the opportunity to request that the medical be recorded.

Obviously I was advised that there are very few recording equipments, less than ten in the country I was told and there is a backlog of claiments wanting their assessment recorded.

Today I have recieved a phone call to arrange a new appointment and YES they also have the recording equipment available and the appointmeny is...........wait for it.............

on the very same date as the one I cancelled.

How quick was that!!!

So my appointment is next week, wish me luck, I'l keep this thread updated.

Good luck from me and thank you for letting us know. We'll be interested to hear how you get on.

My best, HB

Well, with that sort of good fortune, Another Spartacus, you should be just fine!

Good luck anyway ...

I knew I'd posted in reply to Another Spartacus, but on reading through the page I didn't recognise any of it at first. Blooming thread merging! Talk about making me question my sanity, Martin ...

Don't know why you merged the two threads. One was about my company pension, second one completely different which is about my claim and assessment for ESA with Atosh.

But I suppose you mods know best.

Ok, so I've had the Atos assessment, even had it recorded and was handed a copy of the recording. No problem there.

What I don't get is:-

1) The assessor decided that a physical examination was not neccessary and that he had sufficient evidence including some additional paperwork that I took.

2) He stated at the end of the assessment that he was recommending to DWP that I should be put into the support group.

At no time did I refuse the physical examination. I was in pain and a little tearful, but he deffinately said that there was no need to put me through the physical part of the examination.

Has this happened to anyone else.

I did not have to do a physical examination as such, as my mobility is not affected unless unless I am very ill and I was ok on the day of my assessment. It could be that you are the same or if you are claiming for a mobility issue then he could see you were unable perform the tests and that this was backed up by your tests. As you were having your examination recorded there was no way they could fudge what had gone on during the WCA (which is why recording the WCA is such a nightmare for them).

However they do also get pain as far as I am aware for performing the medical so even if they knew you would be likely to be awarded ESA SG they still make money from having you in for a medical.

In addition it is possible (hopefully) that last weeks programmes exposing them have put them under pressure to be fairer?

Thanks for your reply x

I am still a little dubious though and wont be happy untill I have received the final decision.

Should I request a copy of the report to see how I was marked points wise for future reference or do you think I may rock the boat by doing this.

Do you know, it beggars belief. I know I am ill-disabled, but why are we made to feel such frauds and are also made to question ourselves like this.

Yes, loads of people don't have to do the physical exam if they have enough evidence elsewhere. It's completely normal.

The government want to get rid of the welfare state so they can turn the UK over to their crooked insurance chums. So did the last government, incidentally. Lots for you to read external link removed which links to Gill's piece which you should read too. Here's some details about Unum's involvement external link removed This has to do with the so-called science behind the testing (clue; there is none) external link removed (reading the comments is easier than reading the science) and that last and this give you some idea of the enormity of what's being attempted here by politicians at the highest levels - and I do mean the highest levels external link removed it's easier reading than the last one. My view is that senior poiticians from both major parties would deservedly find themselves rotting in jail forever if this gets out - and there's the problem, no-one wants to pull the trigger of a gun aimed at least in part at oneself. But we'll keep on hacking away at them, doing what we can

AS,

I have separated back to two threads this Atos Assesment and the other Atos appealing retirement to keep the two separate.

Er, did my links get removed deliberately and if so why please or is that a natural effect of moving the thread? I can put them up again if they're missed.

Just for info i sent you a pm

I just wanted to say a very big thankyou to everyone who posts on here and also to everyone who contibutes their experiences so that others can share.

I also wanted to give hope to people on here that it's not all doom and gloom and that you can get through the ESA process and come out the other side with a winning smile.

Too many people are just unwilling or can't be bothered to post anything further after they have received their decisions.

Further to my Atos assessment I have now received my decision from DWP and I am relieved to say I have been put in the Support Group. Phew....................

Anyway, I did everything by the book from start to finish, thanks Caggers I felt quite capable of completing the ESA50 myself and I did find it pretty much of an ordeal to be honest, but it can be done if you take it step by step.

I also sent every piece of evidence that I could put my hands on although I did not ask my GP or specialists for any supporting letters because I believed that if needed I could request them if it went to appeal. So all in all I sent copies of my hospital, pain clinic and doctors appointments along with a diary of treatments and therapies that I had or was waiting to receive.

I also enclosed a letter from my son, who for the most part is my unpaid carer and who is also in his final year of Uni.

Hope this gives someone a bit of a lift.

xx

Thanks for that.

I hadn't thought of getting letters from carers, though I always include them in DLA claims. I'll get writing, sorry get the carers writing, immediately.

Another Spartacus:

Is congrats the right word for getting awarded the support group component? you've got your entitlement.

Now, about that audio recorded messical;

More than one cagger is still trying to get their mits on the text of the disclaimer. The Atossers have every excuse under the sun, 'get it on the way out', 'we'll put it in the post', even 'we haven't got a photocopier' for not giving the claimant a copy. Any chance you got a copy of the one you signed?

:flame:Margaret.

Another Spartacus:

'Should I request a copy of the report?'

Yes. Never know when you might need it. We've used a previous report to discredit a later one. Atos had to concede the contradictions between them. Unfortunately, the Lourdes cure (Atos variety) doesn't regenerate articular cartilage.

Margaret.

THanks Staryeyes52,

I had no problem getting the messical recorded which was quite a surprise in itself. I was given a copy of the recording on CD, the CD and report have quite a few discrepencies.

I have also contacted DWP for a copy of the report for future reference, though I was told that because I had been put into the support group I would not automaticaly get a copy. They will be sending me a copy which will include the points, prognosis etc that was decided on as the report that I have only has written text of the assesment.

A copy of what 'disclaimer' am I missinf something please. I thought that I had covered all bases.

A S x

Just need to convince my former employers to give me my pension now, who coincidently, use Attossers 'services' for occy health.

c

Another Spartacus:

Were you asked to sign anything stating that the Atossers own the audio record of your messical and they'll decide what you can or, more likely, can't use it for?

Good luck with getting the occy pension.

Margaret.

Hi Another Spartacus

Well done being placed in the Support Group. Do you know how long you have been placed in for and when they will re-access you?

With regards to your pensions, if you are on Income Based ESA, you will have to declare this income. If you are on Contribution Based ESA it wont matter, however, if at a later stage you get moved into the WRAG group, you can only stay on Contribution Based ESA for 12 months before being told you will have to apply for Income Based benefit which would affect your pension.

Good luck for the future, JB