has anyone on here filled out an ATOS form? and not had to attend an interview. it seems that everyone has to attend. thanks for your help..

[docnai]

[welshnut]

Hi docnai, I have not yet had to fill in an ATOS form as so far I have been able to continue working, however I know the day is not far away when I may have to relent so will watch this post with interest.

I know of friends who have gone through the ATOS interview but I do not know of anyone who was excused it. Good luck in your quest.

nutty

[Hidden]

Hello BOB here

welshnut,back again

Over the last period I have heard of people that have not been called up to the ATOS medicals.

This I suppose must have to do with a points system for each of your conditions, personally I would not worry if you do not need to fill out their assessment form. Be concerned when you need to fill it in, this depends, on your condition (S)

The form itself consists of quite a long list of questions from what is wrong with you through the basis of how you get on, mental illness, and other problems with getting around in society.

It all depends on the point system that they use, I do not fully know how they use this points system, talk to your GP He may be able too help on this

They will contact all your medical specialists, and will also compare their answers from you on the form. You may also have visits to your home address from occupational therapists etc to see how you are getting on in a home environment, before you are called in, Under this what they find out about you, that will dictate whether they call you in or not.

Every patient will be different, there is no hard or fast rule it depends on the number of points you amass over the assessment period

One thing I do understand I think, from the time you get the form you are on display, right up to when you visit the ATOS centre. and return to the car etc, again I am not sure, certain things have been mentioned in press how true or not is difficult too say.

Personally I still feel if your condition is bad enough what would be the point of calling you in, although the tests are taking place long before you are called up, again I am not qualified to give my opinions here, this is all I have heard.

Someone told me in clinic that age can also be a factor.again that could be hypothetical

I hope this helps, please do not be concerned, you can worry when you need to, the citizens Advice would assist in filling your form in, I understand

All the best

BOB.

[Waterlily]

Hi, I did not have to attend a WCA "medical". I filled in my ESA50 (with a little help from CA(S) and a friend) and was put into the WRAG. Asked to see the decision report which turned out to be one of those great works of fiction ATOS are famed for. Asked for a reconsideration, with help again. In the meantime I had to attend a work related interview at the JC+. I was fortunate to have a lovely lady who took one look at the state of me and laughed at the very idea of me being able to work. She promptly organised DLA forms for me (I had never bothered to apply) chased up my appeal and told me I didn't need to attend again - she would phone me in a couple of months! I didn't have my benefit reduced either (I assume because of the transition from IB to ESA), which was just as well as it was still several months (of health sapping stress) before I was given a decision to put me in the Support Group. That happened a year ago now, so I await every post with trepidation in case there is a brown envelope lying there!

[Hidden in reply to Waterlily]

They can put you on indefinite support like me. See my post below. I sent a lot of evidence too: physios, pain specialists etc.

[domosed in reply to Hidden]

This has been on my mind lately. Good to know. peerdiagnosis.com/is-sinus-...

[ChelseagirlSue]

Hi docnai

I am full time carer for my disabled husband and he was recently transferred from incapacity benefit to ESA. We filled in the ESA 50 form and sent over 60 pages of evidence of his conditions, prescriptions and other information we thought relevant. He was placed straight into the support group without a medical assessment. We got a copy of the report that ATOS wrote based on the evidence and he does not have to be assessed again for 2 years. We heard some horror stories about ATOS and their reports, that they were inaccurate. When the DWP rang with the result of ATOS looking at the evidence they said he had not been given points. Have no idea why not as everyone else has been as far as we know. He is very limited with his mobility so must have scored full points for that. Hope all goes well for you and try not to worry. xx

[Hidden]

Hello Bob here

Possibly the point system was not enforced your husbands condition was bad enough for them too realize it would be pointless in those circumstances

If He has two years, that is it, do not worry, Continue your lives and now relax.

Hope that is ok

BOB

[Hidden]

Hello BOB here

Sometimes I get the impression that this subject is generally put to one side, we prefer not too talk about it. Can be connected within subjects death and taxes. I cannot understand why as it is a very important subject that many suffer. As it has so many problems associated with it. Problems can be life, family changing.

We need to call it what it is as I tried to bring this subject up several months ago,

All the best

BOB

[Hidden]

Yes, I have, and I didn't have to attend. The Work and Benefits website (not a government site, one for consumers), is a comprehensive guide on how fill in the form and what to do, which is on your side. It is well worth the £18 annual subscription. I learned that if my GP wrote that it would be dangerous for me to work, they would have to exempt me, which they did, I am in the support group (ones GP has to agree of course). Also found out that for a medical all government contractors (ATOS is one) have to do a risk assessment for your medical. They sent me an appointment (before they received my GPs evidence) and I asked for my risk assessment. They promptly cancelled it because THEY DON'T DO RISK ASSESSMENTS. Good luck

[Hidden]

Cont.... They put me in the support group, did not lower my benefit, indefinitely.

[docnai]

thanks to all who answered my question about ATOS it seems they are not people you can trust, i will not copy them. i have been honest and truthful as far as i can some of the questions are lets say silly at least, but its part of the world we live in. sent off the form on friday so will wait in fear and hope. will let you know the outcome.........take care

[Teel in reply to docnai]

Atos forms are the proverbial pain ! I have scoliosis and degenerative disease of the spine leaving me in chronic pain all the time, along with heart failure caused by a virus, insulin dependent diabetes and Epstein Barr Virus. The Atos lot said I could work and so would lose my benefit. DOH!! I appealed by a personally written heartfelt letter and a few days before Christmas I got a letter saying they had changed their mind and would grant me the benefit! Allellulia! So hold hard Docnai and don't foorget there is ALWAYS the appeal system when someone usually sees sense!!

[Dukey]

I was put on indefinite support last year, and told I wouldn't,t be called again,but a esa50 landed on my mat the other day,have been on incapacity since 1995 and had 7 medicals too keep my benefits,i guess this esa50 form that I have filled in will call me for another medical I don,t trust them one bit I should not have to go through anymore medicals and they told me that last time I went.they don,t even listen to you when you phone them up and try to explain,I also asked for a domcillary visit and supporting letter from doctor,but I was turned down and had to go,I even have a war pension as a result of my injury but they just do not care

[docnai]

Thanks for all your reply's one thing iv'e sussed is, its just one big lottery. I sent the form back in Sept still no reply not sure my nerves can stand much more, or is this part of the plan, who knows. Are well rock on....take care

[Supergran9]

hello ,i am new to all this so heres hoping i get it right I filled out my atos form 6 months ago and sent a load of supporting eveidence, have heard nothing at all back. my benefit is still being paid seems an awful long time to me.Anyone else out there waiting so long to hear? its like waiting to go to the gallows

[Supergran9]

I filled in my form 6 month ago and had a phone message today to say I have been moved onto ESA and I have not had an interview,although the phone message did not say which group I have been put into so I guess I am one of the lucky few,good luck with yours

[Supergran9]

I have succesfully migrated to esa support group without an atos medical but today in the post I got my p45 with no covering note anyone any idea what this is all about?It seems that as fast as I resolve one problem they send me another

[stuwer231267]

My esa was due to run out on 2nd June 2013 and I filled out my esa50 and sent it to atos along with my medical evidence.After about 4 weeks of phoning the dwp and being told there was nothing on my file yet I contacted atos who confirmed that my file was sent back to the dwp because when you send in your esa50 form with evidence it's looked at by a Dr and the Dr decides if there's any possibility of you returning to work (probably contacted my own Dr too) and if not my file goes back to the dwp for a decision maker to decide by the evidence how long I stay in the support group so the woman from atos said I don't need to attend a WCA.I called the dwp and told them what I was told and they said they would get someone to call me within 3 hours.A lady called me and side I was staying in the support group for the maximum 3 years which would take me to July 16.It is now October 16 and I've not heard from the dwp or atos so I'm going to call them as I think they have already extended my time in the support group and not told me as I have a number of chronic conditions and at least 2 of them are for life as there is no cure and I will only get worse,so the answer is yes you can get kept in the support group without a medical and that's why I tell people to send away as much evidence as you can.I sent away all my hospital appointmentstaff,Dr's annual health check that only people with chronic illnesses get and any other evidence I have.I hope this helps someone