Oh my it just gets worse ATOS

Maori

Hi all

been a while but have had some problems as i had a ATOS appointment in Jan and due to that i had my DLA and ESA suspended The guy there put my problem down as "Musculoskeletal problem" and not RA which i have and the rest of the report is to say confussing and Contradictive at best for an example he says i have no problems getting out of a chair then a few lines down says that i did i have asked them to relook at the claim and also have but in an appeal.

the whole process has left me angry and degraded it makes me feel like a fraud but i know i'am not as my OT and physio and RA doctor/Nurse wouldnt waste there time on me if i didnt need the help would they ?
I guess i need to get there assesments in writing from them now which i can do but i really dont like asking people for things.

allthough on my OT reconmedation i have now got stair rails shower seat and bath rails fitted as well as my walking stick which was the best thing i recently got makes me feel so much more confident to go out now.

Has anyone got any advise for me on the appeal process etc,etc

Cheers

caterina57

Hi Maori
This is becoming a regular occurrance!!!I have only been on this site since the 26th January and I have read and posted to)a number of posts which raise concerm with regard to the assessments relating to ESA and DLA.
I will say what I have said before, These assessors are paid well to do a job, very well yet it appears that they have neither knowledge nor understanding of the conditions that they are assessing and even worse have no or little understanding of how these conditions affect individuals.

Of course it is right and proper that those who try to fleece the system are prevented from doing so, but the methods undertaken to reach fair decisions which ultimately has a massive impact upon those with genuine illness and disability is flawed. Such assessments should only be carried out by professionals who have a expert knowledge and training with regard to the conditions that the people that they assess suffer. Of course the "experts" are those who live day to day with illness and conditions we all suffer, and what one may suffer will be different to another - we are all individual in our experiences.

I would advise that you appeal the decisions made in your case, all decisions should be made using evidence and not opinion- that includes the decisions made by the assessor. And that should be where the challenge should be made and for your part providing any evidence regarding your condition particularly from those who treat you.

And for those who are going for these assessments - Well I would advise at the start of the iterview/examination that you ask the assessor what is knowledge of your condition is and if its sketchy challenge them how on earth they can make a decision without knowledge.
Cath

frogmorton

Maori

This is so common an occurance these days.

First of all you are not a fraud and they are getting it WRONG a lot!

Can i also suggest you do a search on this forum and look at what others have done in similar circumstances.

One lady even got her MP on it which was tremendoulsy effective!

Love

toni xx

Maori

Thanks guys

Thanks for comments
what got me is the inaccuracy of the report he put in that i had difficulty in getting onto the couch but said i needed no assistance which was untrue as i need to support myself on his arm to get up there and also he helped me with putting my shoes back on and he didnt put that down either also he put down my sulpharzazine as a trial medication when i told him that the trial was gulumabub (go-more trial) (spelling aint my strong point)
reading the report its as though he didnt listen to me or didnt belive that i had RA at all hence the "Musculoskeletal problem" he said i had and that covers a very wide range.

yes i'am all for weeding out the people who play the system i was talking to a young guy the other day who works as a delivery driver who has the high rate mobilty for having a bad knee due to his weight !!!!!

the system in my opion is wrong why oh why cant they ask our consultants or GP's who deal with us on a reguler basis instead..

what gets me is that in 2005 i was awarded low rate carers dla for indefinate period and due to this report they removed it
I did every thing i was supposed to do my condition has got worse ie need a walking stick etc,etc so i informed the dla team who sent me out the pack which i fillled in ESA sent me to ATOS croyden for the work based thing and now i'am on the basic rate for esa whilst on appeal and NO DLA rate all down to this inaccuate and misleading report.

I have to see my RA nurse next week so will ask her for a report or letter of my condition i'am guessing she will have to refere that to my consultant so may take a while to get not sure as i have never had to do anything like this before and really hate asking for things from others.

just did a search on the doctor who assesed me and it says

This doctor is not on the Specialist Register
This doctor is not on the GP Register
16 Nov 2009 Registered with a licence to practise
17 Oct 2006 16 Nov 2009 Registered

got the info from the gmc site

cheers
SI

caterina57

So if he is not registered as a specialist or a GP what does his licence allow him to practice?
Cath

coco67

kicking genuine disabled people where it hurts, humiliation and rudeness

Maori

caterina57 wrote:

So if he is not registered as a specialist or a GP what does his licence allow him to practice?
Cath

Dunno Cath info is a bit limited on the gmc site just gives basic info like that didnt even say what medical degree he has only that he got it from milano state university which means nothing to me

caterina57

So was he Italian then?

Maori

wel to me he didnt sound italian couldnt really place his thick accent soviet or spanish have a few italian friends from all over italy and he didnt sound like any of my friends so dunno.

Gues this is the result of a guy whos first language isnt english filling in forms.
I dunno I have asked for an indepent doctor to do a home visit whether the DWP will sent one i dont know i hope so in the mean time i will try and get my RA nurse/consultant and my OT to write there views on me aswell to send to the appeal hopefull they will.

From what i've heard and read on this forum a lot of people have had the same thing happen to them even the girl on the DLA phone line admitted the questions and medical is far to generic to be of any help but dosnt help me in the stress and confussion i am feeling due to this all

Cheers
Si

caterina57

Well Si
I wish you well and hope you get your DLA and ESA sorted. There just doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason as to why some get it and others dont, bit like a lottery really which is not at all right.
Keep us updated as to what happens.
Cath

frogmorton

Si

This is the result not of the first language being not english, but in my opinion the fault of the whole ethos - which is to get as many OFF benefits as possible even if they are 100% genuine :roll:

Someone told me they have to 'fail' a huge percentage :x

makes me mad - please do contact your MP please do we have to all take a stand in this.

Love

Toni xx

haagan

Hi
The whole ESA procedure is a joke!! Ive been through twice and third time is rapidly approaching, my stress levels are going up already. First time i had to go to appeal and got it second time i was wise to some of their tricks and took friend with me got first time. I have PSA and OA my hands are really bad list of things i can't do just keeps getting longer, my illness does not fit in tickbox. i have seen my Mp and Assembly Member about and they both agree that Arthritis is too variable on a daily bases for the current system. Good luck Fay

bubbles

Hello SI, nice to meet you.

I am sure many of us are going to have to face such ESA "medical" and I use the term very loosely, examinations. I would suspect that there are benefits to the number of those who are failed, but we could never prove that. ATOS has the monopoly on the medical part of the ESA and DLA, goodness knows at what cost.
I am in full agreement that those who simply milk the system, better than any dairy farmer, should not be given money for the sake of it, but, there needs to be a line drawn, at which point, the person being grilled, hauled over the coals, whatever you want to call it, actually reads the notes, before calling us to question.
Our GP's Consultants and other Specialists, are not writing down medical evidence about us, as a joke, it is real, tangible, life changing, depressing, ongoing, long term and often with a poor prognosis.

I only say this, because last years battle with the DLA, proved to my Drs that the DWP were not reading any evidence that had been sent to them and were basing their decisions on historic details. Only by reminding them of this and my Consultant and GP writing to them, again, did they actually sit up and take notice, ah, yes, this person is ill and has been for 17 years.

I don't know what the answer is, or where you draw the line at who is passed unfit for work and who should be recalled for further examination, but I do know that we can do without the added stress and worry, when the time for our review is up and coming. Like Fay, it is so daunting, what do they not understand about our condition and its many guises, you cannot put it into a box, there is no set pattern to arthur, one day not so bad, next, you can hardly move.

I will have to stop now, as it really upsets me and gets me so worked up. I won my appeal, before it went to tribunal, for higher level of DLA, but only for another year, I assume, by 2012, that I will be cured. :shock: So, we will start again, later this year, fighting, which is what we must do, make copies of everything, send copies of any letters you write or forms that you fill in, to your GP and Consultant, contact your MP, the more people the better, we will not be defeated. We are not asking for the world, just read the papers and some people seem to be getting everything and more besides. I will have to go lie down now. Take care, XXX Bubbles

frogmorton

Oh Bubbles

does no-one care about the stress all of this puts on peopel who are already poorly?

If only they really 'were' medicals we could put our trust in them whereas in really we have to totally MIStrust thema nd be wary and on our guard.

Take care

Love

toni xx

Maori

Hi Guys

Will keep you updated waiting for my appeal currently and was told it could take upto 12 mths in the mean time i will take all my documents to my consultant next week when i have an appointment with her anyways when i know any outcome you guys will

thanks for all the comments

frogmorton

Bumped up for Tracy

Maori

hi guys

ok have an appeal date its not till november :sad:

have sent them supporting letters from my consultant occupational therapist and physio therapists dunno what else i can do but wait will let you all know of the outcome

justinbarrow

Sorry to hear you are having trouble - Here is the official rule book for Atos and their medicals and their guidelines set out by the goverment...Page 14 has some info about the criteria used for medicals.

Here is the link...

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/wca-handbook.pdf