Oh Kraig - many congratulations - justice has been done. I am so pleased for you. I have been wondering how you got on and worried that it hadn't gone well for you. Do try to watch the TV programmes - nothing will be new to you but I just feel something might be done about the system now and you may take a little comfort from it. My joy has been short-lived, today I received a letter from ATOS saying can you fill in this huge form (same as I've done before) - they just won't leave you alone will they, I couldn't believe I've received that. The waiting list for my nerve root injection is four and a half months - so why do I have to go through more agony with ATOS? Anyway, so pleased you got 19 points - well done! Take care

But it was staggering to hear that the cost of all the appeals every year cost £50m

Hi Martin - they both aired on Monday 30 July - so are both available on iplayer. Really urge you to watch if you're interested in this whole damn scandal.

Try and catch BBC1 Panorama and Channel 4 Dispatches, both shown on Monday night - extremely enlightening about the whole process and how Atos train their assessors. Absolutely dreadful. It has to stop.

Hi Kraig - I've been thinking a lot about you, wondering how you got on? Did you manage to catch Panorama on Monday (BBC1) and Dispatches (Channel 4) also on Monday - very, very interesting about how the assessors are trained by Atos etc. It sounds to me now that the government have to listen to what's going on and flaming well do something about this dreadful process that they're putting people through. For heaven's sake - even people with cancer - if they're not having chemotherapy are deemed fit for work. What a society we live in. Anyway if you have a minute I'd appreciate hearing how you got on?

Hi - thanks for message. The hospital was late in sending stuff to me so I actually took an MRI scan results sheet with me and apologised to the clerk of court (who meets you first before you go in). I explained that it had just arrived (I had taken copies of it) and asked if that could be passed to the people concerned and all of that was OK. So even if you have something you haven't yet submitted (I would guess as long as there's not too much that they have to read) it will be OK. Hope this helps. It's good that you've had help from CAB - I did too, because of what they said I changed my paperwork to purely facts (I had been too non-factual - so that's what they advised me to read out to the court). Good luck!

Dear Kraig - I know exactly where you're coming from - you have my full sympathies. And not sleeping doesn't help at all does it (in fact makes things worse). The advice I would give you is be honest with them - but have a think about your daily routine before Friday. They will ask you about it - can you wash your hair, describe your day, how do you pick up the letters from the doormat etc. etc. If like me, you need to keep mobile tell them that. I cut & pasted something from the NHS site about my condition & put it in my papers. And make a list of what you can't do and how it affects your daily life. But what I did do (and I'm not suggesting you do this mind!!) is when I read my little "speech" at the end I completely broke down (why is it after working 39 years and the longest I've ever been off work is 2 weeks why can't I rely on the state which I've contributed to/why is it automatically assumed that you are cheating the system/why is it than when your life is falling apart and you are in constant pain does nobody give a toss). I had typed it out and they said if I wanted they would copy it and read it but I said no, I was determined to have my say - even through tears! I just felt so bloody angry about the whole thing and I tell you what - it didn't half make me feel better. But then again they've heard it all before. Try and take someone with you if you can, even just for moral support. It's not like a normal court or anything, they will let you speak when you want. I'll be thinking of you on Friday - let me know how you got on. Fingers crossed!

That's exactly what I think - criminals are treated with more respect. I said in my "speech" - why is it that it's automatically assumed that you are cheating the system. I've worked for 39 years - the longest I've ever had off was 2 weeks so naturally I feel I should be able to rely on the state to help me, after all I've paid my contributions. Why, when an individual's life has fallen apart and is in terrible pain this extra layer of rubbish is heaped on to them to cope with? Why is it that apart from friends & family nobody gives two hoots about you when you have been a fully paid up member of the system and contributed to society. The DWP should be ashamed, no sorry, it's the government isn't it. Absolutely appalling.

After a medical in December the DWP deemed me fit to work in a wheelchair and said they were stopping my ESA payments, so I said I would appeal. My GP said sitting in a wheelchair was the last thing he would recommend, I should keep as mobile as possible. The paperwork they supplied was full of statements they had completely made up and were untrue. It made my blood boil, so I put a lot of work into my appeal. Due to so many funding cuts etc. I was only able to go to Citizens Advice who told me what to do. But I couldn't get anyone (union etc) to represent me, so had to do it myself. The tribunal was this week and I was so nervous, but I had submitted all my papers within the 7 days previously, with medical evidence, MRI scans, appointment letters etc. The staff were very friendly and helpful and when I got into the tribunal it was OK, although a bit daunting being grilled with lots of questions (I think they tried to catch you out - like, when the post is delivered, how do you pick it up from the doormat? I don't, I said, it sticks out of the letterbox!). Anyway they allowed you to say whatever you wanted and after having zero points from the medical, I was awarded 18 points by the tribunal. So I just wanted people to know that it's worth the fight - it can be done - get as much medical evidence as you can and good luck!