Looks like they appear to be making an example of me? I actually had the assessment within 20 days of applying for ESA, only received the confirmation on friday. Very efficient I have the meeting with Citizens Advice tomorrow so will see what my options are. I wasn't aware that the capability assessment for work does not factor what you actually do for a living into the criteria. Seems nuts to me to be forced to sign on. Insult to injury is having to do my tax return for last year. That is really sticking in my throat right now. Still, might help an MP pay their rent I suppose, after all they really need it I have confirmation of housing benefit although it is tied to receiving ESA, unfortunately I live near London so with the cap it is just over half the real cost. The cheapest 2 bed flat that could be found was £825 per month & max benefit £75 per week. Every little helps though. Thanks

Hello all, I thought I would share with you my experience of Atos & get some advice regarding the complaints procedure. I recently had an ATOS assessment to which I gained 0 points, as such I am not entitled to any benefit. I have been unable to work since the 3rd of September, I am a freelance tree surgeon & was hit by a falling branch which broke my right clavicle (collar bone). Thankfully this is a reasonably short term injury & I should be capable of returning to work within the next few weeks. I will have to borrow money to cover next months rent & pay the bills, thank god it is nothing more serious. While undertaking the assessment my arm was in a sling & immobile, I brought all the relevant documentation including; fracture clinic statement of fitness & a discharge report from A&E. These were photocopied & included in their report. I had surgery in February for a hereditary disease 'Dupuytrens Contracture' which effects my hands. At the time I claimed ESA while I was recuperating, in fact I should have had a further operation to my right hand last week but this has been put back to February due to the collar break. Even though my claim was for the collarbone fracture all the questions were based around my hands & how they affect me. Obviously not excessively apart from occasionally dropping things & unable to get my hands around certain objects, as I had returned to work as soon as the skin graft was healed sufficiently. Is this standard practice? (my cynical side says yes) How I would be deemed capable of undertaking a highly physical job while still unable to dress or lift my arm baffles me. I am now in the position where I financially have to return to work even though I am neither fit enough or capable enough to do so. A recipe for further disaster there. I have booked an appointment with the CAB to discuss my options, am wondering what my chances of appealing this successfully are? I really feel disgusted with the way people are being hounded with regards to sickness & disability. This will cause me stress & financial difficulty short term, for others it can be a life destroying decision. Keep well, it's hell if you're not Paul