ATOS assessment journey

[RaeUK]

Don't panic too much about the deadline. I sent my ESA50 in about a week or so later than they requested. Just use the box to explain why it's late (I think I put it down to a chest infection). Procrastination is my middle name ...

[estellyn]

Don't panic too much about the deadline. I sent my ESA50 in about a week or so later than they requested. Just use the box to explain why it's late (I think I put it down to a chest infection). Procrastination is my middle name ...

 

Rae, we have the same middle name.

[Nystagmite]

I think I started the form as soon as I could. About a week before the form was due, I was still having to fill in the last little bit.

[**Margaret**]

:Tricksy Boxes:

 

There's tricksy boxes on both post 03/11 versions of the ESA50. For two of the activities where I score against the descriptors I can't tick any of the boxes, without lying. One of the reasons we gave up on them.

 

The spaces are just as useless. No way there's enough room to describe how the limitations caused by my condition satisfy the descriptors. If I've to continue on a separate part of the form, or a separate sheet, I may as well start off with a word doc or an A4 pad.

 

And don't even get me started on the lack of space for listing meds, which is why mine got missed.

 

At this point some readers will be thinking there's far too much space cos they hate forms and can't think what to write in the boxes. Especially first time claimants, some of whom don't understand the legal test of meeting the descriptors.

 

All of which, to my mind, illustrates that limited capability for work just doesn't fit, all neat and tidy like, into DWATO's boxes.

 

Oh, that interfering feline? Throw him/her a scrunched up paper aeroplane to play with. Our cat left a trail of shredded forms across the carpet.

 

to one and all who're sentenced to an ESA50, Margaret.

Edited March 9, 2013 by **Margaret**

[estellyn]

So Esa 50 completed and sent off. I didn't manage to get hold of any evidence to send with it (GP surgery say they're still processing my request). What I did send with it was a comprehensive statement (4 full sheets of typed A4) detailing my conditions, their effects and how I live my daily life - trying to anticipate the ATOS assessment questions (for instance, I explained who carries out the kitten care in the house), and giving plenty of illustrative examples of difficulties - focusing on both the WRAG and support group descriptors that I meet. In theory I 'should' score more than 60 points on WRAG and meet two support group descriptors.

 

There was some discussion a while ago on whether a personal statement would help, so I thought I'd send one this time and see what happens. The ESA50 was also pretty comprehensive. This is my third ESA50, first one had an ATOS assessment and placed in WRAG (which was correct according to regs), second face to face was placed in support group (after they changed the mobilising descriptor to 50 metres from 30 metres, which I could manage then, though not now). So I'll wait and see what happens. I've written in three separate places that I want the assessment recorded.

 

If anyone has any questions on what I included in the statement, feel free to ask.

[RaeUK]

Don't forget you can still send off any supporting evidence you may receive over the next few weeks. Send it to your DWP BDC, not ATOS.

[estellyn]

Don't forget you can still send off any supporting evidence you may receive over the next few weeks. Send it to your DWP BDC, not ATOS.

 

Thanks for pointing that out Rae, for anyone who is reading - I should have mentioned that! 4 pages of A4 drained my brain!

[RaeUK]

No worries. The main point I wanted to flag up was that, whilst the ESA50 heads off to ATOS in the prepaid envelope, any additional evidence should be sent straight to the DWP BDC.

[estellyn]

Quick update. Two months later and no response yet from Atos.

 

Though on the supporting evidence front, have just been referred for an OT assessment, so hoping this will happen before Atos assessment, so I can take a copy of the report. Not sure what the waiting list is like in this area - where I worked 8 years ago, it was about 9 months to a year, so hopefully quicker here.

[estellyn]

So, today I had a letter from the DWP, a confusing letter, stating that my claim had been reassessed due a change in the amount of money coming in. It then went on to say I was entitled to contribution based ESA at the same rate I've been receiving, and also that I was entitled to income based ESA (I'm not, at least not until my ESA3 is processed and not from the date on the letter), but of course the IB is cancelled out by the cont based.

 

So I was forced to call the benefit centre, something I haven't had to do since working as an appeals rep a few years ago - and boy they've made things much more difficult. I had pretty much lost the will to live before I got through all the 'press this and enter that' menus, and joy of joys got to talk to a script merchant. Now it appears that script merchants are even more poorly trained than I remember. I asked him if he could tell me what the letter was regarding, and he told me that my cont based ESA had stopped on 30th April, now this didn't worry me, I just told him 'no it didn't', then he corrected himself that it stopped on 30th April last year, again I told him patiently, 'no it didn't', to which he responded, sounding confused, 'why?', 'because I was put in the support group', 'Oh yeah' he says, 'I see that now'.

 

I take a deep breath, and tell myself to be patient, it's not the poor guy's fault he's been inadequately trained (at the same time wondering what horrors these untrained script merchants are inflicting on people who know nothing about benefits) and give the guy some help, I explain the letter is either about one of two things, the recent ESA3 I put in or ESA50 from 2 months ago. He seizes on the ESA50 issue as a reason to try and transfer the call to ATOS, I explain to him that ATOS can't tell me about a DWP decision, and maybe he should get a decision maker to call me back. Sounding put out, he agrees and tells me they'll call by 1pm tomorrow.

 

Fifteen minutes later the decision maker calls back (really nice woman), and tells me that I have been put back in the support group for 18 months, without the need for a face to face assessment. YAY! (she also said she'd pull out the ESA3 and take a look, how nice is that).

 

So, based on the fact that my last two ESA50's I completed as is, and sent nothing extra with them, and had to have ATOS assessments, and this ESA50, I sent a four page essay with everything I could think of that they might possibly ask about my conditions (and no other evidence), I have to conclude that the big all encompassing essay is a good idea, and can lead to not needing to attend an ATOS assessment.

 

So now I'm wondering if we should have a thread regarding commonly asked ATOS questions, and advice re how to put together such an essay. Any thoughts? (on this or indeed anything else at all - feeling very happy right now, despite having to take bowel prep tomorrow for my colonoscopy on Wednesday - I mean Atos assessment or colonoscopy? I'll have the colonoscopy please!)

Edited June 30, 2013 by citizenB

[Guest]

Well done on the essay ...it seems to have done the trick this time. I totally agree with the idea of a thread regarding commonly asked ATOS questions. DWP questions. Anything that will help with essays any of us may need to compose.

I for one find it hard to write essays as such in a way they need to digest it. I sometimes think I am well when I am not etc, my daughter has the unenviable task of helping me with the forms etc, so a thread regarding commonly asked questions would certainly guide us through an idea or few for an essay which may help in the future.

 

At least there in no Messical for you this time!!! Well done estellyn!!! (hugs)

[estellyn]

Well done on the essay ...it seems to have done the trick this time. I totally agree with the idea of a thread regarding commonly asked ATOS questions. DWP questions. Anything that will help with essays any of us may need to compose.

I for one find it hard to write essays as such in a way they need to digest it. I sometimes think I am well when I am not etc, my daughter has the unenviable task of helping me with the forms etc, so a thread regarding commonly asked questions would certainly guide us through an idea or few for an essay which may help in the future.

 

At least there in no Messical for you this time!!! Well done estellyn!!! (hugs)

 

Thanks, Ruby!

[cuchiandme]

can one send in their entire med. records ,say to tribunal for the doc there to get a good picture of events leading up to the present?

[estellyn]

can one send in their entire med. records ,say to tribunal for the doc there to get a good picture of events leading up to the present?

 

Yes, you can - in fact some Tribunals are adjourned if the judge feels their decision making would be benefited by the medical records, and these are requested. So sending medical records as evidence (if supportive) can be useful.

[cuchiandme]

thanks estellyn,,

i might just do that.

[cuchiandme]

Yes, you can - in fact some Tribunals are adjourned if the judge feels their decision making would be benefited by the medical records, and these are requested. So sending medical records as evidence (if supportive) can be useful.

 

then is it just a matter of asking my gp. to forward to the address of tribunal?

i want to do this well in advance of any date for tribunal.

[RaeUK]

Congratulations, estellyn. You're quite right, the most important thing to get across to people completing the ESA50 is that they must send as much supporting evidence as they can.

[Nystagmite]

That's good to hear, Estellyn. I quite like the idea of an FAQ thread.

[estellyn]

then is it just a matter of asking my gp. to forward to the address of tribunal?

i want to do this well in advance of any date for tribunal.

 

If you ask your GP for your records, you will be expected to pay a fee, and they will send them to you - it is then up to you to send them to the Tribunal Service.

[estellyn]

Rae and Nystagmite, thanks for responding. I'll start work on an opening post later today - have to now go support husband through installing the new washing machine (would normally be my job, being the more practical, handy one, but my limitations means he has to do all the crawling around and connecting).

[cuchiandme]

If you ask your GP for your records, you will be expected to pay a fee, and they will send them to you - it is then up to you to send them to the Tribunal Service.

is it expensive?

[estellyn]

is it expensive?

 

This details the charges:

 

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/2635.aspx

[cuchiandme]

thank you estellyn,

just phoned doctor's,

they say i need write letter saying what i want the records for.

[**Margaret**]

:estellyn:

 

Pleased that you got out of the farcical and turning as I watch it happen to others, both on CAG and around me. You know whether Tatos wrote to one of your health professionals?

 

Congrats on securing your entitlement. Don't like to say congrats on 'winning' cos I hate the way it's become a war between us and them. I'm nostalgic for a Welfare State that looked after the vulnerable and paid the correct benefit when it was due. Yes there were mistakes, but most of them got sorted pretty quickly when one could wander down the road from the medical office to the social security office. I copped for one invalidity medical. Over two hours with a specialist hospital consultant who concluded I'd be incapable of work for the foreseeable. Tatos and audio recorder not needed.

 

Yay for you that you've not had to tangle with the script merchants for a while. I lost the will to live with them when it dawned on me that without any formal training I've learnt more about disability benefits than they have. So far this year I've heard;

 

The end of contributions based employment n support means a new ESA50. Which the claimant received anyway, despite no indication of a referral to Tatos, and my request for an ESA3.

 

'We can only send ESA85s for appeals.' No. They're available on request. The little pink booklet from Tatos says so.

 

And to the friend who got a request for a Med 3 in the same envelope as notification of his conversion award, 'You need to send in med certs for incapacity benefit.' Not since 2011!

 

For the most part I understand disability benefits (I've had a lot of practise) but it has to be a very good day for me to cope with Jobcentreplus' phone system, and lack of training for the staff who (eventually) answer. Must be so much harder for inexperienced claimants, specially those who can't get credit for all inclusive call deals. Government's defo made it harder to claim benefits; for all the wrong reasons!!

 

Margaret.

Edited June 30, 2013 by citizenB

[**Margaret**]

:estellyn:

 

Now for something more constructive.

 

What've you got in mind for your proposed thread? A guide to supportive evidence for ESA50s, or a 'how to' pre-empt the questions at an Atos assessment with written answers? Or both? Whatever, I'd be more than willing to help. I'm sick of people ending up at tribunal, or worse, cos they didn't realise the significance of an ESA50 or got ambushed by Atos cos they simply didn't know what to expect.

 

I'd like to see an equivalent of the sort of guidance that comes with a disability living claim pack included with ESA50s, but as I don't expect DWATO to agree with me anytime soon praps we can raise awareness of the descriptors and encourage folk to write about how not being able to do the activity affects daily life. Along the lines of; my partner has to drive me to the doctor cos I can't walk up the hill to the bus stop, if my daughter didn't call on her way to work I'd stay in bed all day. Essay, personal statement, or just extra sheets of info. Doesn't matter what we call it or how it's presented. More difficult for Atos to make assumptions about doorbells and phones if there's half a side of A4 about hiding under the duvet until whoever's at the door goes away. Also, we've found that statements from carers/housemates can help, so long as they address the descriptors. A friend's housemate described how they divied up the chores cos of her chronic fatigue.

 

Margaret.

Edited May 22, 2013 by **Margaret**