Atos medical assessment

[Amanda]

what will I be asked and what should/shouldn't I say/do?

[shelbe]

try to just answer the questions dont go into to much detail dont stay in same position if you can help it

[Celticmoon]

I agree with shelbe - never volunteer information...!!

Forgive but I don't know your personal situation and am unaware of what problems you have but the following is what I would be wary of...

For example: If the assessor says something along the lines of "how do you manage to get around the home/do shopping/fly to the moon etc" Your response should be "with difficulty" or something like that. They will probably ask you enlarge upon that but don't go into a great long story about how you once went into town because it was a good day and managed to do some shopping or that SOMETIMES you find you can walk to the corner shop on a good day while on others you are bed bound or how you find that you can cook a meal for the family on a Sunday if you have a rest on Saturday and then Monday and Tuesday afterwards... I would also be very cautious about volunteering information about your life in any way - answer their questions with care but don't VOLUNTEER or chatter to fill silences that may occur - for example "Oh when I take the dog for a walk (or whatever) I can sometimes walk for 10 minutes or use a scooter to do so, it's lovely to get out and see other people etc etc etc...!" I feel that they will hear "I have a dog/child/elderly dependent (or whatever) that I'm responsible for and have to walk, feed and look after so therefore I am capable of doing something!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

If it were me I would also be wary of being offered tea because you then have to hold a cup and prove you can do this without a problem!!! As most people drink tea unconsciously they could be quite aware that they are being assessed while doing so. I've heard on several accounts that your assessment starts the minute you enter their grounds (ie car park) and that on some occasions people are watched by CCTV from the car into the building... Also be mindful about how you conduct yourself - ie if they ask you to remove your shoes or coat and it happens to be a good day so that you ARE able to do this without too much difficulty then be sure to act as if this were your worst day...

Did you see the link I provided about ATOS assessments...? It was called "After Atos" - you could probably see if you look back at my posts... If the link doesn't work for you (some people have had difficulty with it) then just type in "After ATOS" into the search engine.

Others may disagree with what I've said here and I would be the first to say that maybe I'm a little too suspicious or cautious but from what I've read I've been appalled how innocent remarks have been thrown back and twisted to mean something completely different!!!!!!!!

Good luck with your assessment please let us know how you get on?

xx

[pondminstrel]

hi,in my experience what ever you say they seem to say the opposite!!! and when i read my report it could have been about someone else...im not sure if its allowed but i am taking a recording devise ...good luck xxx