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ATOS Home Visit : At my wits end


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Hi, I wonder if anyone can give me help.

 

My husband has been on DLA & Income support for several years, now they say he has to be on PIP. He has various mental health problems over the years now he has another one, he will not leave the house, he has only left the house 3 times in four years twice during a heart attack and the last time last year with a severe panic attack, on all three occasions he was in a ambulance and off to hospital. He is frightened of so many things (to many to mention) but two of the things he is most scared of is hearing people talk, and germs.

 

So he will not go and see a GP, he discharged himself after a few hours in hospital after his second heart attack, (which was brought on by me telling him that I have had enough, and was demanding that he see a GP) .

 

This is the problem, he has to have a visit next Monday 25th at our home, there is NO WAY he will agree to that, so what shall I do, I have a appointment tomorrow with his GP, I was thinking of asking for a letter from him telling them that he is too ill, our old GP did this two years ago, but they have just ignored this.

 

I do know that they can not just take my word for it, that he is too mentally ill to speak to them, he wont even speak on the phone to people. When they wanted a face to face about 2 years ago, and he would not attend, they cancelled his claim, he had a Tribunal case, (which he would not attend) they eventually awarded him (after the second tribunal) his claim, and they back dated his money.

 

This took months of having no money, I am frightened that this will happen with his ESSA as well, the only reason they have not bothered yet, is because they said a home visit will take time to arrange? All this is keeping me awake at night, he will not see anyone, he wont go anywhere, all I can do is go to see his GP.

 

Has anybody got any ideas what I can do.

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Hi justfornow,

 

I'm not sure that I can give you any practical support but felt that I can at least give you some moral support in this situation.

This is a very troubling situation, ATOS/Captia will not care about the circumstances, either they conduct the assessment or the benefit is stopped.

You will then have to go through the same process as before and all the resulting stress and trauma. Not Good.

I fear that the same will happen when his ESA is due to be reviewed.

I assume that you have tried reasoned discussion with him, as to how his actions will affect you both.

Is there anyone else that can reinforce the consequences to him?

 

You mention the GP but has he seen any specialists for his mental health issues, if so can they assist in any way?

If not, can the GP do a referral to someone?

 

I think that you should also start the process of getting Lasting Powers of Attorney for him. This will assist in acting for him.

Definitely get a letter of authority to take to the GP.

 

I also fear that he is in danger of being "sectioned" due to his actions. It could be argued that anyone who discharges themselves from hospital hours after a heart attack, is "a danger to themselves" .

 

An unpleasant thought to face is that all of this is having an effect on your health, both physical and mental. You need to look after yourself as well. That may involve making unpleasant decisions but they need to be considered.

 

I wish you all the very best in this.

 

Jedicris.

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Hi justfornow,

 

I'm not sure that I can give you any practical support but felt that I can at least give you some moral support in this situation.

This is a very troubling situation, ATOS/Captia will not care about the circumstances, either they conduct the assessment or the benefit is stopped.

You will then have to go through the same process as before and all the resulting stress and trauma. Not Good.

I fear that the same will happen when his ESA is due to be reviewed.

I assume that you have tried reasoned discussion with him, as to how his actions will affect you both.

Is there anyone else that can reinforce the consequences to him?

 

You mention the GP but has he seen any specialists for his mental health issues, if so can they assist in any way?

If not, can the GP do a referral to someone?

 

I think that you should also start the process of getting Lasting Powers of Attorney for him. This will assist in acting for him.

Definitely get a letter of authority to take to the GP.

 

I also fear that he is in danger of being "sectioned" due to his actions. It could be argued that anyone who discharges themselves from hospital hours after a heart attack, is "a danger to themselves" .

 

An unpleasant thought to face is that all of this is having an effect on your health, both physical and mental. You need to look after yourself as well. That may involve making unpleasant decisions but they need to be considered.

 

I wish you all the very best in this.

 

Jedicris.

 

Hi Jedicris,

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

I have looked into Lasting Powers of Attorney for him, but you need it to be witnessed ? He has been sectioned in 2001, they virtually just sedated him, then released him to my care, the tablets he was on, made him sleep for 19 hours a day, he was on them for 2 years, still had mental health problems, he saw a mental health nurse then at a day centre once a week until she said something to upset him, never been back since. He has got much worse since then, the GP keeps saying he will section him, then says that might make him worse? He has had two heart attacks, and really any stress really upsets him, I am scared he will have a 3rd attack. It is all left to me, I have to fill the forms out, I have to speak to people, I have to see his GP, it really is starting to take its toll on my health. I just wondered if there was any help out there for relatives of mental health patients, to help us cope.

Thank you again.

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Hi Jedicris,

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

I have looked into Lasting Powers of Attorney for him, but you need it to be witnessed ? He has been sectioned in 2001, they virtually just sedated him, then released him to my care, the tablets he was on, made him sleep for 19 hours a day, he was on them for 2 years, still had mental health problems, he saw a mental health nurse then at a day centre once a week until she said something to upset him, never been back since. He has got much worse since then, the GP keeps saying he will section him, then says that might make him worse? He has had two heart attacks, and really any stress really upsets him, I am scared he will have a 3rd attack. It is all left to me, I have to fill the forms out, I have to speak to people, I have to see his GP, it really is starting to take its toll on my health. I just wondered if there was any help out there for relatives of mental health patients, to help us cope.

Thank you again.

 

Hi Jedicris,

Thank you again, I will do that, I will look at the site you gave me, I am so focused on looking after my husband, I never thought to google support groups.

Thank you

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First, regarding the ATOS assessment on 25th, what is likely to happen when the assessor arrives? Will your husband stay in the same room as the assessor even if he won't speak? I'm asking because if that is the case, all you need to do is give your husband a chance to respond, then explain why he isn't speaking and basically answer for him throughout the assessment. If he won't even stay in the same room/come out of his room etc, then you need to let the assessor see/hear what is going on and hope that is enough for them to advise the DWP.

 

If you have the tribunal result from the last time, have a copy of that handy to show the assessor. I'm actually quite surprised that they're insisting on a face to face assessment again as ATOS don't like doing home assessments. Have you contacted them to point out that your husband won't co-operate?

 

Over yourself, as a carer you are entitled to have your needs assessed. Contact Adult social services and ask them to do an assessment. Also go to your GP and tell them you're at the end of your tether and fear for your own health if you do not get some support.

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RMW

"If you want my parking space, please take my disability" Common car park sign in France.

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Hi reallymadwoman,

Thank you for writing. He will not let anyone into our house, even when he was having a heart attack the ambulance men had to wait at the front door (they were so nice about it). He has many many things mentally wrong with him, but I can deal with most of it. But this assessment I can't do that for him. I have just seen the GP, and he said that he will write a letter to them explaining that my husband can not see them on 25th, it would be detrimental to his health. I am going to ring them this morning to explain that he will not let the Atos people in. Last time ESA wanted him to have a face to face his GP wrote a letter, and they backed off for a bit (they said he will have a home visit in the future, that was two years ago) So they will also want him to have a home visit soon. They stopped his DLA about 2 years ago, and we had to appeal this twice at a tribunal. They know full that he does not go out of the house. I have told the GP that they might want him to fax a letter to them, is that what they usually do.

I hope that they will just accept a paper based assessment, but I can't see that happening.

Thank you again.

justfornow

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I had a paper based assessment once ATOS finally accepted that they would have to come to me - the doctor that was going to do the assessment got the file the day before and decided it would be a waste of time as there was more than enough evidence for enhanced awards of both components. Don't expect anyone to have read a single thing that you send before the day of the assessment, they just issue appointments willy nilly and rely on claimants to contact them if the appointment is in any way unsuitable.

 

In your situation, if ATOS won't back down I'd let them turn up and let hubby do his thing. Ideally I'd be recording every word on my mobile as well just in case the assessor comes up with 'there was no one home' etc.

RMW

"If you want my parking space, please take my disability" Common car park sign in France.

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I had a paper based assessment once ATOS finally accepted that they would have to come to me - the doctor that was going to do the assessment got the file the day before and decided it would be a waste of time as there was more than enough evidence for enhanced awards of both components. Don't expect anyone to have read a single thing that you send before the day of the assessment, they just issue appointments willy nilly and rely on claimants to contact them if the appointment is in any way unsuitable.

 

In your situation, if ATOS won't back down I'd let them turn up and let hubby do his thing. Ideally I'd be recording every word on my mobile as well just in case the assessor comes up with 'there was no one home' etc.

 

Hi, I rang them at noon, they would not speak to me only my husband, I told them he would not speak to them, so I was put on to a senior person, and they said I can speak to them but they would only answer yes or no to my conversation, it was getting me nowhere, so she said to ring back tomorrow morning. So that is how I have left it, they have always spoken to me before?

If the atos GP, comes to my house ,my husband won't answer the door to them, so I can't either, so what is the point???

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I have just phoned again, this time spoke to a very nice woman, who listened and even suggested a paper base assessment ?? But she said she will give the details to the medical team to decide if

he can have a paper based assessment, I also told her that the GP was willing to fax a letter to them, and she said they don't have a fax? Oh well the appointment for 25th is now cancelled, and I am just waiting now.

Thank you for your help, I will keep you up to date.

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Don't forget to get help for yourself organised whilst you're waiting for them to sort themselves out. whilst you're doing that, you should look into getting formal authority to deal with people like DWP on your husband's behalf.

 

Absolutely none of my business, but does your husband never let you answer the door?

RMW

"If you want my parking space, please take my disability" Common car park sign in France.

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Hi, The GP has given me a leaflet about a carers group who meet once a month on a Thursday, so I will give that a try.

I wrote to the DWP about 2 years ago, about being my husbands appointee, they never got back to me, and since then I found out that you have to fill a BF56 form in, then get interviewed, then they want to speak to him, so that was a none starter. Is that the type of thing you mean about getting formal authority?

As for answering the door, not only does he not like me answering it, I have to spry and wash it after they have gone, well that's what he thinks I do? When the post comes, I have to get it, tell him that there is nothing to worry about and wash my hands, oh after sealing the contents of the said post in a bag, well that's also what he thinks I do. His latest one is I can't put washing out on the line just in case insects go on it, the same for having a window open more than a millimetre. Over the years I have had argument after argument with him, now I am just sick of it and I am very tied, it is easier for me just to let him get on with it. Like I have said about 2 years ago, whilst this atos was happening the first time, I was so frustrated with it all, that I just had a massive row with him and threaten to leave him, that was the day he had a second heart attack. even then he would not let the ambulance men in, they looked after him on my door step, then took him off to hospital.

I agree I do need to start to look after myself more. I will look around on the internet for help groups near me.

Thank you again for taking the time to help me, because you have.

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I wonder if a charity could provide you with specific advice regarding being an appointee? It sounds like your husband has OCD amongst other things - check out charities and see if they might be able to help. At the very least, you may find an online support group and it can be a huge help knowing there's someone who understands what you are going through to whom you can speak more or less any time of the day or night.

RMW

"If you want my parking space, please take my disability" Common car park sign in France.

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Hi reallymadwoman,

Yes he does have OCD, he used to wash his hands so much that they were always bleeding, he still washes his hands a lot, but now he has gone on to other things?

Yes, I am really going to look around for help groups, I can't take much more stress, but I probably will ?

Thank you again for taking the time to write, I have just got to put it to the back of my mind waiting for the letter (probably telling us that he can't have a paper based assessment).

Like I said the lady on the phone was very nice, and she spoke to me like a human, not like the first woman I spoke to, she was like a robot, it all depends who you get on the phone.

Thank you

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I wonder if a charity could provide you with specific advice regarding being an appointee? It sounds like your husband has OCD amongst other things - check out charities and see if they might be able to help. At the very least, you may find an online support group and it can be a huge help knowing there's someone who understands what you are going through to whom you can speak more or less any time of the day or night.

 

Hi,

Received 3 letters today, two saying that they still want to see my husband, and the third saying they have arranged for him to attend a assessment 12 miles away on Aug 1st, what is going on, they were all dated 18th, well I rang them on the 18th at 1pm, so they did not give it much thought. I am fuming, and I do not know what to do next. I already know that they don't listen to a word I have said or wrote.

Please has anyone got any suggestions of what I can do next. I am due to get a letter from his GP today, the girl on the phone on 18th told me to send it in, I have got to ask myself what is the point, then I look how unwell my husband is.

Do you think that they have just given me the standard brush off.

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Phone the DWP office dealing with his claim and complain to them, if that doesn't work, try your MP, local CAB or your council's welfare advisor for help.

 

The letters are almost certainly standard issue ones sent out by someone pressing a button with no thought to the consequences. Since they've already agreed a home assessment, it's barmy that they've gone back on that and that they've done it before waiting for you to send your GPs letter.

 

Email this address [email protected] with the subject 'Complaint' and set out what has happened so far. If possible, enclose the letter from your GP or say you'll send it a.s.a.p. Finish by saying that if they don't resolve the situation satisfactorily within the next 5 working days you will escalate your complaint further.

 

 

NOTE - miss out the space in the email addy - there's some technical reason that I can't remember for it being put in by the forum.

RMW

"If you want my parking space, please take my disability" Common car park sign in France.

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Phone the DWP office dealing with his claim and complain to them, if that doesn't work, try your MP, local CAB or your council's welfare advisor for help.

 

The letters are almost certainly standard issue ones sent out by someone pressing a button with no thought to the consequences. Since they've already agreed a home assessment, it's barmy that they've gone back on that and that they've done it before waiting for you to send your GPs letter.

 

Email this address [email protected] with the subject 'Complaint' and set out what has happened so far. If possible, enclose the letter from your GP or say you'll send it a.s.a.p. Finish by saying that if they don't resolve the situation satisfactorily within the next 5 working days you will escalate your complaint further.

 

 

NOTE - miss out the space in the email addy - there's some technical reason that I can't remember for it being put in by the forum.

 

Hi reallymadwoman ,

I will indeed ring them tomorrow, can't cope today.

So yes, he was supposed to have a home visit on Monday 25th, I phoned to cancel, I told them that his GP had written a letter saying that it would be detrimental to his health, I told them this on Monday 18th July, these letters are dated Monday 18th of July, one of which is stating that he can have a home visit. So if I had only received the two letters, than I would be back to the beginning, but it is the 3rd letter that has got me worried, it gives a time and place for a assessment, which is 12 miles away from where we live.

So do you think that it would be a waste of time to talk to atos, because they don't listen, just go straight to DWP. I will also get my MP details and do what you have suggested.

Thank you for your input.

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Can't hurt to try ATOS again, but you must email the complaint as well, their 'automated system', which is what this is all about, is getting beyond a joke. It churns out letters for the next available appointment which may or may not be within DWP travel parameters with no input from anyone about what is suitable - it may even automatically send out a new letter if an appointment is cancelled unless someone tells it not to. If you want to wait until the assessment is over that's fine, but please please do complain - the system is causing so much harm it's untrue. If you would like help wording it, I'll help (but not for at least 6 weeks, I go into hospital on Tuesday for a major op and I won't be able to sit and type for quite a long time).

 

DWP need to be told of the issues you are having, but I suspect they'll just refer you back to ATOS, however they may tell ATOS to get further medical evidence before deciding if an assessment is necessary (which is what ATOS should have done in the first place given your husband's issues) so it is worth speaking to them - to quote my husband, if you don't ask, the answer is already no.

 

Only someone who has endured the ATOS shenannigans (twice, first time went to the assessment only to be refused entry as they don't allow wheelchairs above the ground floor then spent 2 years waiting for them to actually turn up at my home, second time sent me an assessment at 8.45 am on a Monday morning over 40 miles away, journey would have taken over 2 hours by public transport if I'd been able to use the non-wheelchair accessible bus for the last leg) can really understand the stress it causes so I'm more than happy to help a fellow sufferer as much as I can - and it makes no difference whether you're the claimant or the claimant's helper - just mention ATOS to my hubby and watch him explode!

RMW

"If you want my parking space, please take my disability" Common car park sign in France.

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Hi reallymadwoman,

Thank you for replying. I am sorry to hear that you are going into hospital. I will give them a ring tomorrow, I get the letter off the GP tomorrow (was not ready today)?

I will complain, and (if you are feeling up to it) you can help word it. I will also phone DWP and tell them what is happening ( I do not trust Atos).

I will let you know what's happening tomorrow, as you well know it is very tiring, having to deal with this and speak to people on the phone who tell you one thing but do another.

Look after yourself, and take care.

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I had a nightmare with ATOS too. Although my situation was different it was similar in that they had originally given my partner a home appointment then when the date didnt suit and i changed it they started giving me hassle and just like you we got a letter miraculously dated the day before i had called them saying we had to go to the assessment centre which was not possible for him. I called and complained and was told that the medical decision maker had decided he could go so i asked how they had come to that decision and it turned out they hadnt contacted our gp at all! I was given a phone number to pass on to the gp and they called and spoke to the medical decision maker on our behalf (they dont speak to claimants or their partners/carers, just other medical professionals). i did have to follow it up with a further phone call or two but it did get sorted after that, would your gp be willing to call them?

 

Definitely make a complaint though. I actually havent gotten round to making a formal complaint yet there has just been so much going on but I just feel that I owe it to the people who have no one to help them through this process to complain about the way my partner was treated by atos, he would have been completely unable to handle the situation himself. I complained to DWP and they admitted to me there have been many similar complaints but I really do need to get a letter off to atos.

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Thank you for writing, I will ring them tomorrow before I go to see the GP, he said he would fax them a letter, so all I can do is ask. I will ask them if there a number for him to contact them on.

I will also ring the DWP and tell them what is happening, and if there is a person I could get him to speak to on my behalf.

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Hi, Just phoned atos, got a very robotic woman on the phone. She would not let me cancel the 1st Aug appointment, I can't see GP till tomorrow now ?

She has told me to ring them on the same 0300 number, she was adamant that I should not contact the DWP, as they are not dealing with it, she is ?

Could not talk with her, she was very cold. We are not going to take your word for it that he is house bound. I will go to the GP surgery today to get the letter, and she what that says.

I have got the MP email and phone number, also my local CAB.

It is not even 9am and I feel so tired.

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Hi,

GP letter not ready till 4pm, he has not signed it????? CAB are fully booked up, I was told to try next week? Contacted my MP, lady said they will contact me. Then I phoned DWP the lady who deals with (this type of thing) won't be available till 3 30pm.

So total waste of a morning.

Could someone tell me who does have the final say( is in charge) Atos or DWP.

Thank you again for your help

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Hi Just rang Atos again, spoke to another robot, she said the same thing, after several minutes she started to become human she told me that they hardly do paper assessments, and that there will not be enough information about my husband? she said that they wanted a face to face so that they can ask him a lot of questions? They can't get all the information and answers to questions they want from his GP. They have contacted the GP surgery 5 times (which I think is a lie) (two years ago, whilst we were going through this with the ESA, and I took it to a second tribunal someone told me to ask for my case file history, and they sent me about several hundreds of pages including asking his surgery questions and getting paid to answer, they never asked the GP anything).

She said that she would see if he could get another home visit, so I told her that he would not speak to anyone, she then said that she could not cancel the 1st Aug appointment, I told her that I was going to see my MP, and phone the DWP, she then said get the GP to ring up and speak to atos, just phone atos no name just whom ever he gets to pick the phone up.

So that is how I have left it with Atos, he still has his Aug 1st appointment?

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Why would she not let you cancel? was it because it was a cancellation of a second appointment? I ask because they did that exact same thing to me. Call DWP and explain and they should tell ATOS to let you cancel it because it is unsuitable. DWP are in charge of the benefit but unfortunately ATOS are in charge of the medicals, however DWP overturned one of their decisions in my case so it might be worth calling them. Just explain that you are currently awaiting evidence that your husband is housebound which to be fair you shouldnt have to do, they should be contacting the GP rather than make you do the running around. I had to leave the appointment to stand while i did all the running about so that would be my advice, dont worry about the outstanding appointment at the moment because you still have plenty of time before it. Work on getting that letter to them which will arrive in plenty of time, make sure you keep a copy and I would personally include a letter of complaint about the way you are being treated.

 

Please try not to panic. You will have the evidence you need in plenty of time. they surely cannot ignore a doctors letter. I know in our case our doctor called and spoke to them and within a few days we had a letter saying they agreed he could have a home appointment so not to come to the one we had for the centre but instead to await a home appointment which came through pretty quickly

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