Forthcoming ATOS assessment.

[Cynic]

Re: Forthcoming ATOS assessment.

Out of interest, was the assessment recorded?

Yes, I had been advised to ask for a recording when this originally rose its head;- amazingly, the recordings are on cassette tape, so I have been unable to play mine yet, although I do plan to buy a second-hand tape player, if I can find one.

Re: Forthcoming ATOS assessment.

If the "healthcare professional" did not understand English, one might wonder why (and how) she was registered to work in the UK.
Is there a UK Register for Witchdoctors?

[charitynjw]

Re: Forthcoming ATOS assessment.

Out of interest, was the assessment recorded?

[EXC]

Re: Forthcoming ATOS assessment.

You could do worse than contacting Private Eye with your story. They have been running stories like yours (although this one is particulary onerous) and usually ask ATOS or DWP to comment which often results in them reviewing and reversing their decisions.

I would e-mail them at the 'Editorial' e-mail address here http://www.private-eye.co.uk/pages.php?page=contact marking the subject as 'My incredible ATOS decision' and simply copy and paste the story in your post into the e-mail.

Alternatively we could do it for you although we'd need to include your e-mail address should they wish to contact you.

[Cynic]

Re: Forthcoming ATOS assessment.

An update for anyone who may being facing an assessment by ATOS, or merely interested in what happens:- A few weeks after the fiasco of my appointment being cancelled while I was actually there waiting for it, I was given another appointment, on a day which I had previously said that I would not be available, this was sorted on the phone by the kindly local ATOS receptionist, and eventually, another arrived, which I attended, with a mental health support worker. On the day, I was moderately depressed, but being genuine, and having some support, was feeling confident that I could accurately describe my illness and explain why I am unable to work in a conventional sense. The assessor was an aggressive female "healthcare professional" of Nigerian or Somali origin who could neither speak, nor understand English properly;- both I and my support worker had to keep asking her to repeat questions, and to correct her when she read back complete distortions of my responses. I was asked about things I enjoyed, I spoke about my dog, and how his needs made me function no matter how badly I was feeling. Three minutes later: "Do you have any pets?". Then "Do you wash your hair?" (I am completely bald). And so it went on.
Outside after the event, my support worker was very reassuring, telling me that she really didn't see how I would not be awarded the necessary 15 points, on several different criteria.
Some weeks later, I received my refusal of ESA, from an unidentified "decision maker" on the grounds of being awarded zero points by the ATOS assessor, the content of my original questionaire, and a report made by a GP who had never met me.
BPD, causes extreme swings of mood, and energy, currently I am in manic mode, and getting higher, which is probably why I am typing this at 04 something in the morning, so am well up for a fight with officialdom, in an intellectual, or physical sense;- I don't much care. I have written to the DWP, asking them for a "Mandatory Reconsideration", which is a new stage introduced to make life more difficult before an appeal can be launched, and naturally, ccd my local MP.
I now await developments..........

Re: Forthcoming ATOS assessment.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-7million.html

And also, from the same diseased organ, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ry-UKs-10.html

However, if you really believe that crap, you will believe almost anything! As one might expect from the Daily Wail, the story is less than truthful.

Read http://tompride.wordpress.com/2013/0...-doesnt-exist/

Then watch:

Re: Forthcoming ATOS assessment.

Funny, but it nearly always tends to be those with plenty of money who are the ones who do this sort of thing. One couple who did this managed to wangle £426,000 out of the DWP over a 10-year period. They are currently serving jail sentences and the houses, luxury cars and boat they bought with the money have been seized under POCA to recoup the £426,000.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-7million.html

[wales01man]

Re: Forthcoming ATOS assessment.

Think its call GREED got there comeuppance though the system is there to be abused just don't get caught but then again only a few do

[bluebottle]

Re: Forthcoming ATOS assessment.

I take your point Wales, and I understand where you're coming from. There is a lady in our village who has regular mini strokes (there's nothing wrong with her!) in order to stay on the sick. Her husband can't work due to some other ailment, yet does lots of work for people cash in hand around the village. They are experts at working the system, drive a brand new mobility car, and have pots of money.

I used to report the people when we moved here, but I've given up for the simple reason the DWP have NEVER done anything about it. It makes you wonder why they spend (waste) all that money on advertising asking the public to report benefit theft, cos they do sod all about it when you do.

Funny, but it nearly always tends to be those with plenty of money who are the ones who do this sort of thing. One couple who did this managed to wangle £426,000 out of the DWP over a 10-year period. They are currently serving jail sentences and the houses, luxury cars and boat they bought with the money have been seized under POCA to recoup the £426,000.

Re: Forthcoming ATOS assessment.

I take your point Wales, and I understand where you're coming from. There is a lady in our village who has regular mini strokes (there's nothing wrong with her!) in order to stay on the sick. Her husband can't work due to some other ailment, yet does lots of work for people cash in hand around the village. They are experts at working the system, drive a brand new mobility car, and have pots of money.

I used to report the people when we moved here, but I've given up for the simple reason the DWP have NEVER done anything about it. It makes you wonder why they spend (waste) all that money on advertising asking the public to report benefit theft, cos they do sod all about it when you do.

[wales01man]

Re: Forthcoming ATOS assessment.

If any of the young men had any of these problems or went to any warzone I would be surprised I said a could only guess if any of the others were genuine looks can deceive that's why these assessments are needed I would agree they are probably going about it the wrong way if any one can fool a health professional and several surgeons scans and other tests they deserve to get away with pulling a fast one

[bluebottle]

Re: Forthcoming ATOS assessment.

http://wowpetition.com/

Signed.

Re: Forthcoming ATOS assessment.

http://wowpetition.com/

Re: Forthcoming ATOS assessment.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...y-atos-2194951

Dr Wood wanted to conduct actual medicals “not ask people whether they owned a cat”.

Alarm bells first sounded at a WCA training session he attended in June 2011.

He says loose interpretations of official guidelines were being offered by trainers, “such as ‘if they can walk from room to room, they can walk 200 metres, which equals no points’.”

When Dr Wood pointed out that walking from room to room was not at all the same as walking 200 metres, he says his objection was dismissed.

That's why I believe that IDS deserves an Atomic Wedgie:

Re: Forthcoming ATOS assessment.

3 young men under 30 walking with no problem and no obvious disabilities

Of those three, one may suffer from epilepsy, another may have PTSD and flash-backs to when he was shot in Afghanistan, whilst the third might be afflicted with bipolar disorder which was hitherto called a manic-depressive state.

None of those is commonly known to interfere significantly with walking, yet each can present problems with working.