Atos

[guardpig]

Here we go again.

Any of you actually know how long ATOS are taking before looking at the forms and deciding whether you rate an assessment or not.

Rang yesterday to ask whether they had received son's form(7 weeks ago apparently) and how long we could expect to wait and was told by Little Miss "I'm only the general helpline" that "I am unable to comment on that".  Upon requesting again and again she was unable to comment on the expected time of delivery of service(my words not hers, I had to explain lead time to the poor soul) and that there were lots of(more deserving was implied not stated) people ahead of son in the queue. She also implied that those not receiving interim benefit payments are given priority but didn't actually state so. Who cares I just wanted some idea of when it will be sorted as it is stressing son out

 Helpline is definitely a misnomer, she quite clearly didn't give a monkeys, was paid only to answer the phone and repeat the company line(and make no mistake this is a major company) and that was all she was going to do until she could go home - it was made quite clear from her tone and boredom that me  my telephone call was an inconvenience rather than relief from boredom.

All I wanted was to know whether we were going to be waiting weeks, months or years but apparently ATOS can't comment on that. I wasn't complaining(though I will be), just asking for information, politely.  Surely a service user has some rights

[bitsnknots]

I haven't a clue and Atos don't give A Toss.  Best of luck with them.  From past experience, I think you could wait a good while longer yet and they don't even know how to answer simple questions.  Sorry I can't be of anymore help but I know of someone who only waited about 4 weeks.

[heatherwizpod]

I asked for a re assessment in January.The form arrived and was returned for March 6th as directed.

My fit for work assessment was early August and I'm sure one day I'll hear the results.

[stroppy*cow]

Sent eldest son's form off late July, youngest son's 5 days later. Eldest son has been transferred on to ESA (from incapacity benefit) and has received payment. Still heard nothing about youngest son.

I do appreciate that since youngest son is receiving money, that he isn't a huge priority, but it is pretty annoying just waiting.

Since my statutory sick pay ends in a couple of weeks, I will be expected to claim ESA instead - I'm actually thinking of not bothering as it all seems far too much hassle.

[bitsnknots]

Apparently, an audit has revealed that Atos are submitting an unacceptable standard of work.  The DWP are blaming Atos for the whole sorry mess.  Atos are blaming the DWP.  Atos only ask the question at Work Capability Assessment that the DWP tell them to.  I'm not fond of Atos but I like the DWP less.

[bhgardeners]

Well having spoken to the DWP lot several times over the claim I have found them to be courteous and helpful. They seem to explain the next step in the process to the one you are at so you don't need to phone back. Unlike Atos. 

[bhgardeners]

Whoops, sorry it guardpig in disguise!.

[bitsnknots]

The majority of staff at the DWP are courteous but there are some that don't even know what they are talking about.  Like the time I was asked to send in a pre-dated sick note which happens to be illegal.  Like the time that two members of DWP staff told me to obtain a medical report from my GP.  My GP told me that the DWP requested medical reports from him.  Some other member of DWP staff then finally took two months to tell me that it was me that had to do it.

Apparently, IDS is trying to make it harder for people to claim ESA and the vast majority of these people need the benefit.  Over some point or other civil servants have told him that he can't do it. 

[stroppy*cow]

I have received another letter from the DWP inviting me to claim ESA, as under the terminal illness rules the claim can be "fast tracked" and will immediately go in to the support group.

Bless the consultant, he thought that he was being helpful when he told them I am terminally ill. His opinion on the matter rather differs from mine, and I have already survived for longer than the 6 months that you are allowed. Two years ago they told me a maximum of 3 months, I said that was fine, I would have April 2027, October 2030 and choose the third month later.

Now should I take them up on their kind offer and worry about the consequences later, or should I act in a proper responsible manner and shred the letter?

[guardpig]

Whatever your baser instincts say do the opposite.  I still get in trouble for listening to the imp!!

[mozart5255]

stroppy .   yes claim.  and make sure you claim the full dla.    i know it says on the dla the full amount is paid with out quibble as your not exspected to live longer than 6 months but its not laid in stone.     you could go on for say 7 or 8 months.

Obviously if you go on for years and your health does not deteriate each month so you would be entitled to the full amount anyhow they will look at it again.

The same should be true for the other benefit.     Your specialist has made a statement based on your medical facts and his experience to them and they are responding to that whether you agree with your doctor or not.

Doctors are rarely right in the exact time you have and always give the worst or shortest time, they have to   Anything after that is a bonus and in any case it differs from person to person.

Presumingly you havnt gone into remission or been cured as such so therefore the prognosis remains the same and at the end of the day you could get run over by a bus tomorrow.

The dwp actually inviting you to make a claim has to be a first and it sounds like you wont go through what others have gone through in your position.

Take the money and enjoy life to the full.    Its not charity as some believe,  its a right.   Its the reason why we pay national ins,   not the word ins.  something this government seem to have forgotten, that it has to be paid whether we agree or not and its there to protect people when they need it,  not money for the government to spend on everything but.

climbs down off soap box with the last words of.  you go get em girl and use it to live life to the full with wild drunken parties.  😉

At the end of the day they will still save a fortune by not paying out for your pension.

[stroppy*cow]

Mozart - I have had a lifetime award of DLA since 2000 - highest rate for both care and mobility. The ironic thiing is that DWP have been trying to get me to claim ESA ever since the consultant took it on himself to tell them that I am terminally ill. The thing that they kept missing is that I am employed, only part time, but paid employment.

The only reason that I even considered accepting their invitation is that I will soon have been off sick for over 6 months, so my statutory sick pay will stop and I will have to claim ESA instead. If I claim ESA through the normal route I strongly suspect that I would be back at work before they'd even looked at the claim.

As to whether I have been cured, that remains to be seen, but it is unlikely that all the infection has been eradicated. Even IF ( and it's a big IF) the huge hole does heal, I suspect that the infection will break out again a few months later.