Tribunal in 3 weeks. Anyone been to one

[Kathleen321]

Received the date of my tribunal. Really scared don't no what to expect. Just hope everything goes well anyone been to one.

[TheAuthor]

Hi Kathleen321

I sincerely hope that you are feeling well today? I have not undergone anything of this nature, but I have pasted you a link to the ATOS website which can tell you about the process.

atoshealthcare.com/

I want to wish you all the best of luck with your tribunal and I will keep my fingers crossed that you achieve your desired outcome.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken x

[honor1a in reply to TheAuthor]

Ken, Atos don't have contract with benefits anymore, their contract was cancelled mid contract because of letters addressed to people in coma's & deceased saying they're fit for work, don't know who has contract now if anyone!

[TheAuthor in reply to honor1a]

Hi honor1

Thank you for your reply, unfortunately depending no where you live in the country ATOS are still very much in business and undertaking assessments. In the regions where they have ceased to function their contracts have been passed, for now at least, to another company called Capita.

I have pasted you two links below relating to members who have had assessments and / or contact with ATOS in the last couple of weeks. Hopefully Capita will operate more effectively and fairly? However, they will still have to operate under the same constraints as ATOS since the goal posts remain in place for the assessments. There is no official decision as of yet as to who will achieve the new contract for this work?

healthunlocked.com/fibroact....

healthunlocked.com/fibroact...........

I sincerely hope that you are feeling as well as you possibly can be today?

Ken x

[honor1a in reply to TheAuthor]

Ken,Thank you very much for the explaination & the attached links, I'm in Glasgow & understood ATOS lost the contract & wrongfully thought it was National, Capita although working within the ATOS restraints hopefully they will work better in the interest of the patient/Benefit claimants who are the genuine cases & not just role out fit for work certificates.

Thanks again Ken, I hope you are keeping as well as you can be Take Care Honor1a

[rosewine]

Hi Kathleen

I presume you mean a tribunal for ESA or is it for DLA/PIP. I accompanied my husband to his two tribunals for ESA one year apart. There was a judge, a doctor and a third person, no one came from the DWP. We were first seen by a Tribunal Clerk who explained what the procedure was going to be and asked whether we had any last minute submissions and explained about claiming expenses etc. We were then called in and my husband was asked certain questions about his problems and also they referred to some of the evidence we had presented. We were then asked to go back into the waiting room whilst they considered their verdict. Unfortunately, at the first tribunal they decided that we had made very valid points and that they were concerned that some of the assessments by the doctor had not been thorough enough in certain areas and evidence we had presented had not been recorded correctly e.g. the medication my husband was on. They decided that unfortunately to be fair to him they could not come to a decision that day but wanted to go back much further in his medical history and get more details from his own GP with records of his consultations. This unfortunately took some time as then the tribunals were very overloaded with cases in our area. We then went back and had to see an entirely different panel but we had been warned that this might happen. He was then asked some more questions and they asked me a couple and we were then sent out again but within about 10 minutes we were caloed back in and given the verdict which fortunately was for us. They then explained what would happen from then on. It wasn't very long afterwards that my husband had a letter with a cheque for all the back payment of benefits which he was owed. All we can say is be prepared and read over your evidence the night before so you are familiar with what you have put and any new evidence you are presenting is all properly documented and clear. They will probably ask you to briefly outline how your illness effects you. Remember that some of these places have cameras outside so you might be filmed from some way away. They can throw the odd catch question like have you missed any important family occasion because of your illness which absolutely threw my husband as it was not the sort of question he had been expecting. They could see I was dying to say something so they did ask me and I reminded my husband that he had had to miss his uncle's funeral as he was too ill to attend. They weren't cold or anything but just very professional and straight into the questions after they had introduced themselves. Good luck with everything hope you get a good resultx

[bonsabrost]

I had to give evidence at a tribunal for a colleague who was suing my employer - I didn't know until I was called until the week before!!!! strange. Anyway. It's all polite and the judge person will tell you what the plan is and who says what and when. Just be honest with your answers and provide full answers. I don't know if you are the claimant or the defendant or just giving evidence but in any case, you be yourself and make sure you give all the details for the best possible outcome.

The person suing my employer wasn't prepared and didn't have enough evidence or a solicitor who asked the right questions (it was a friend studying law) so it went downhill for him from there. Either way - he didn't have a case anyway because my employer is blooming fair!!!.

[Dorothy1952]

Yes I have it was not as bad as I thought it would be they found in my favour but put me in wrag.group.wich caused me problems That was a Year ago best of luck xxx

[honor1a in reply to Dorothy1952]

Dorothy1952,

What is "wrag" group

[Dorothy1952 in reply to honor1a]

There are two groups wrag. and support the wrag group you can only claim esa for 12months and have to go on work related courses the support group you can claim as long as they think you are unable to work

[Dorothy1952 in reply to honor1a]

There are two groups wrag. and support the wrag group you can only claim esa for 12months and have to go on work related courses the support group you can claim as long as they think you are unable to work

[honor1a in reply to Dorothy1952]

Dorothy1952,

Thanks for explanation, ive not worked since 2002, been on incapacity until benefuts changed benefit titles so in June I was put on ESA work related benefit, though I got a call to say at the moment unfit for work! Weird I looked up DWP site & put a letter in requesting to be moved frim work related ti support related still waiting on a reply! Letter was received with medical printout from doctor on 9 July told on phone my 1st ESA interview on 25th July, that letter only started being looked into on 24th July & reply to my letter would be at least 4 weeks so it's around that time scale now, but have heard it can take longer! Taje care, hugs xx

[honor1a]

Kathleen321,

I have never had a tribunal, but advice I was given by an aquaintance who distantly knows someone who works for jobcentre is always answer questions as if it's your worst ever day, tell them what you consider is an "ok" day, Is their worst ever possible day! That sort of thing. Take someone with you, for support maybe get letter from doctor, they don't do personal letters, but what they give you is a printout of your doctor visits & reason for visit. start today make a list of all the physical difficulties & your mood swings/irritability you experience every day, also times you have to stretch out & sleep & how long for, list your poor very foggy memory & concentration might be worthwhile, while in the tribunal to get them to repeat questions, say things like you don't know what they're meaning. I hate to say it but some exaggeration maybe needed, all the best, keep us updated on how you get on. Hugs xx easier said than done I know but try not stress about it, as that only makes you worst in the meantime x

[jellynpain]

I read that ATOS are still contracted one type of benefit but not another (like dla/pip & not ESA, not sure which way round). But as said, don't think they would be at a tribunal.

I am still waiting for my assessment after 8 months!

Hope all goes well for you. Sharing your tribunal experience would be so helpful to many on here (if you wanted to). Don't let it stress you if at all pos. (I know easily said!!) x

[weetam]

Found this video on Youtube -

youtube.com/watch?v=tbWXG6H...(Not working as expected?)

[Cazz1964]

Good morning,iv also got my date for my tribunal 1st December as I was deemed fit for work back in Feb of this year so not on any benifits since then,iv had various pain for 12 years and that was the last time I worked,but iv only just been diagnosed with fibromyalgia , and im a bit worried how my tribunal will go when I'm face to face with them