im wrighting on behalf of my sister who has ocd and suffers psycho sematic and anxiety problems , my sister had a atos medical last september and passed it and got put into the wrag , atos called her back in march this year and she got a letter to say she failed the medical and got no points , she is getting worse with her problems and i brought her till the doctor yesterday to get a sickline to send in with her appeal ,im totally disgusted at atos and there so called healthcare professionals ,her condition has not changed and this will make her worse ,im helping her with the appeal im filling forms out and writting letters for her as the cab is booked up ,my sister also has a green medical card and the doctor is sending her to see a psychiatrist at his practice , any advic wellcome thanks

After being a long time reader of these forums I thought I would share my own tale of woe. Back in November 2011 I was summoned to an ATOS medical, not knowing the significance of the situation (my fault). The person asking the questions refused to take anything but one-word answers, this annoyed me and I became a bit flippant with them (stupidly). The 'medical' was over in fifteen minutes and I thought no more about it (remember I didn't know what ATOS was at this point). Two months later, 16th of January, my benefits didn't arrive in my account. After making a few calls I discovered to my horror that my benefits had been stopped because I had 'failed' the medical. That's the point at which I discovered this part of the forum and, thanks to the enormous amount of knowledge and advice here, I was able to fight back. Roll forward to November 2012 and I finally get to have my say at a tribunal, one year and one day since the original 'medical'. The panel of a doctor and a judge were "overwhelmingly convinced" of my rights to benefits and promptly overturned the previous decision. (I suffer from chronic PTSD and Bipolar II) I phoned the DWP and asked what happens next, they said my benefits and any back-pay would be sorted out within 6-8 weeks. Well, it's now 5 months later and today I was finally awarded the monies owed to me. It has taken 23 phone calls to the DWP to reach this point and a lot more grey hairs to-boot. In the end I had to phone the tribunal service myself to request the proof of their decision because, despite numerous requests and empty promises, the DWP were incapable of preforming such a simple task. Besides the grey hairs I have suffered countless sleepless nights and my health has suffered quite badly from the whole affair. If it wasn't for the people of this forum offering advice and sharing their experiences I'm not sure if I would have made it this far. So THANKS to you all, without you I wouldn't have received nearly £2000 today in back-pay. As for the DWP, all I can say is I'm glad I live 3hrs drive away from them or I might have done something I'd regret.

As of the beginning of this month i went from JSA to ESA It has only been a few weeks and i have just received a letter from ATOS It is a questionnaire on how i am affected by my illness or disability, including any mental health problems The form is ESA50 01/13 Any suggestions or explanations, Pitt-falls on completing this form

I'll try to keep this brief. I have been tested by a specialist and a hospital to have carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists. I have been getting sick notes regularly and put on a waiting list for the necessary surgery, and have been prescribed Amitriptyline, which clearly advises not to operate machinery if drowsy. At a ATOS medical I told the Gestapo doctor that I felt it would be dangerous for me (carpenter) and others if I have limited feeling in my hands and are drowsy, Now I'm no doctor but I can see that being a liability. ATOS concluded I was fit for work. I naturally appealed the decision, whilst still receiving reduced benefits. The tribunal agreed with ATOS, and my benefits were stopped, I had carpal tunnel surgery on my left hand a few months ago, I decided I needed to feed my family so I started working, 3 weeks ago I was cutting skirting with a table saw (which is a circular saw, bench mounted) it was very early and I was a bit drowsy. I partially amputated my index finger and was rushed to hospital. 2 surgeries later, I'm now looking at a lengthy healing time. 30 years as a carpenter this is the first tool related injury.. to make matters worse I've been playing guitar for 42 years too.. Can I sue ATOS?please any help would be appreciated

Pride's Purge ~ an irreverent look at UK politics Search: ATOS tell woman with mental age of 3 yrs to get a job (not satire – please share) 11 Thursday Apr 2013 Posted by Tom Pride in cynicism ≈ 352 Comments Tags ATOS, Coalition, disability, Tories, unemployment (THIS IS NOT SATIRE – it’s the UK today!) Fahmeena is 30 years old. She can’t walk or talk and has an estimated mental age of about 3 years old. She likes to be called Princess Meena. Here she is: ATOS – in their wisdom – have assessed her and have decided that Princess Meena doesn’t need any benefits and she should go and get a job instead. So Meena’s sister – Farzana – has decided to turn to social media to ask for ideas about what job she could do. Here’s some information to help you with ideas for work for Meena: Meena has Profound Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD), brain damage, Cerebral Palsy, can’t talk, can’t walk, has a mental age of 3, is incontinent and likes wearing pink and Minnie the Mouse headbands as well as making ****bombs. If you have any ideas for jobs that Meena can do, you can post your ideas under the hashtag #JobsforMeena on Twitter. Presumably Princess Meena is an example of one of the myriad ’scroungers’ unfairly claiming disability benefits we hear so much about. Not a word of this is satire I can assure you, but I’m sure many people will have the same question as I have. What have we become in this once great country that we turn our backs on people like Meena?

Hi, I was informed on Monday that I had failed my Atos medical which was no big surprise considering all they were interested in was if I could use my arms! My symptoms are: M.E. (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) Arthritis of the spine Sciatica Chronic back pain Depression (caused by my conditions) Deaf - in both ears with a loss of over 50% hearing. I kept working until May 2012 but eventually it all become to much and I had to stop work, all I get is £71 per week with a family of 4 to feed and a mortgage to pay, so I would sooner be working as I cannot afford to be on benefit but I have been looking for work but just cannot find anything suitable with all my conditions. The person on the telephone wanted to pass me onto someone to claim JSA but as stated before what can I do work wise so I told him I want to appeal and I am still waiting for the documents to arrive. Can anyone point me in the right direction of what I should read before filling in the appeal forms? Thank you for reading this.

Last Sept I was taken off esa, I have been waiting for ATOS to assess. I call ATOS every day and they fob me off, either there waiting for my GP's reply or my response to a fictional question they never sent, however I have received nothing from ATOS, they are so rude, one time I asked how long will it take for them to see me, how long is a piece of string was their answer. I have been in touch with Citizens Advice and my MP as my housing benefit stopped. Even my MP can't hurry ATOS along he was told I am stuck in the system, the situation is dire, I am facing eviction. What else can I do. The Council are taking my to court in May.HELP PLEASE.

In November last year I had my E.S.A stopped as I was told it had run for 365 days and as it was contribution based I had reached the end of entitlement. I was told I didn't qualify for Income Based E.S.A as my wife worked. Later in November I attended Atos Assessment. It took until March this year to get a decision which gave me only 6 points and totally ignored what I had told the Atos nurse etc. I appealed and yesterday received a phone call stating that I had won the appeal and achieved 19 points. I was also told that all my benefits will be restored. Now I does anyone know if my benefits will be backdated as from the time they originally stopped (16th November 2012) or if it will just be from the time I appealed. I add also that I did not receive the Appeal Rate E.S.A and also that the appeal result took less than two weeks. I am awaiting the official letter but the woman yesterday actually said 'We only really phone if it is good news as we get a lot of abuse if an appeal fails' So am wondering if I am due a windfall or not!

Sack / remove ATOS - I have searched the government e-petition site and despite the outrageous performance of ATOS, I can see no real attempt to get a petition going that would prompt a debate in parliament - as similar petitions are not able to be clumped together. I thought that 100,000 signatures were needed to prompt or attempt to prompt a debate was the necessary requirement. Have I missed this one or has this never been achieved.

Hi, my wife failed to attend Work Capability Assessment Medical on 29 January 2013, her ESA was continued to be paid up until last week 6 March 2013. We received a letter saying it was stopped for failing to attend. We informed ATOS prior to the appointment time that she was unable to attend due to being not well enough due to an Acute Onset of sever diarrhea. They said they would inform Jobcentre, Can you please have a look at this letter I have drafted to see if it is suitably worded do initiate an appeal against the decision to stop the benefit. Dear Sir/Madam, I would like you to accept this as notice to appeal against a recent decision for my claim for Employment Support Allowance to be stopped due to Failing to Attend a Work Capability Assessment Medical on 29 January 2013. On this date PRIOR to the appointment commencing, I called Atos healthcare on the correct telephone number and informed them that I was suffering with an acute attack of severe diarrhea. This was informed to Atos Healthcare before the start of my appointment, Atos Healthcare informed me that they would take care of everything, and they would inform the Job Centre. I received your letter on 11 March 2013 advicing the benefit had been stopped. Please accept this as my intention to initiate an appeal regarding this stop as I could not have attended the medical due to the acute attack of severe diarrhea. If I was to have left my house to attend the appointment, I would have soiled myself within the first 5 minutes, and every 5 minutes thereafter. I would have suffered severe embarrassment and loss of a basic human right to dignity, This right to dignity would have been removed by the Jobcentre and by Atos Healthcare had I have attended. I look forward to receiving your reply to my appeal initiation letter. With kindest regards Miss xxxxxxxxxxx

Attended my ATOS medical yesterday. The woman who saw me said she was a nurse. She checked my pulse and said it was irregular. She checked my blood pressure, it was higher then normal!! She then asked me a lot of questions, and all I could do was answer her as honestly as I could!! My MIND advocate stated to her that I was currently waiting an outpatient appointment with adult mental health because I have long term issues, and that my gp has said I am not fit for work!! I described as best I could how my heart problems were - I have sinus tachycardia which makes me breathless on the least exertion. How my mental health is - not very good which is why the mental health team have been contacted again!! She also asked about how do I pay the bills - I stated my partner does that side of things because he pays the mortgage etc etc!! Various other questions like do I cook, do I bath or shower, do I watch tv to which I replied I have to be in the mood!! She then asked me can I walk to the shop - I replied no because it was too far, then she asked can I walk to the bus stop to which I said yes but I take my time and when I get there I stop and rest as I am out of breath!! She seemed to be polite though and sympathetic - but I am aware of the lies that re told on the reports!! I have already requested a copy of the ESA85 ATOS medical report - I phoned them up when I got back!! How is best to appeal if I get turned down, and can I ask my gp for a medical report to send in with the appeal!!?? Thanks!!

Came across this very informative program A Dr is filmed undercover during his ATOS training http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xwg0up_atos-secret-filming_news#.UVFqUldcbwG BASED ON HIS EVIDENCE YOU HAVE TO BE COMPLETELY paralyzed IN-ORDER TO PASS

Hi Just after a bit of advice. I have a reassessment 2 weeks today. I suffer with an anxiety/panic disorder. Given 12 points last time, advised a return to work possible within 3 months. DM at DWP change this decision once receiving the ATOS report and gave me 18 points and advised reassessment in 12 months. Not long after my initial assessment I developed a swallowing disorder, Dysphagia, which is a pretty bad thing, and relates to 2 Support group descriptors, ie the swallowing and chewing food ones. I had professional help filling in my form, and sent a letter from my doctor and psychiatrist explaining my illness/es, how it affects me daily, and referring it to the descriptors, specifically the Support group descriptors. I also sent proof that I am seeing a Speech therapist who is attempting to teach me to swallow naturally again, which as yet isnt helping, and also urgently referred to the ENT for a check to make sure there is no physical problem with my throat, Yet they are still assessing me again. Im not sure what else I can tell them when I visit, my illness is clear with 10 months of medical evidence/records to prove it, it has been proved to them by my Doctor/Psych by letter. I was referred to the Psych due to this condition and losing so much weight within a short space of time (2.5 stone in 2 months) plus I am on some very strong medication, including 30mg diazepam daily, 50mg quetiapine nightly (antipsychotic drug) plus 100mg setraline daily. None of the medication is working as yet, and can take quite some time before it does. Even when it does start to work, it will only help with the anxiety of swallowing, and will not then allow me to eat/drink/swallow normally again, the speech therapist will need to do this and she thinks it could take months. Im pretty angry that I am being assessed again and just dont know what else to say, I know I am going to have a severe attitude when I go into the assessment room, I have anger issues when stressed/anxious which I find difficult to control, and on this day this is exactly how I will feel. I feel quite sorry for the person Im going to see, especially if its the same witch as before, because she was rude and lied on the report she created, and if it is her I will tell her so as soon as I see her, because I am not taking any rubbish from her this time. Any advice on what to do/say whilst im there? I will attempt to stay calm, but when you can barely swallow your own saliva at times, mainly when stressed, I cant see it being a very friendly meeting. Thanks. Daz.

I have recently been asked to attend an ATOS assessment but have heard that other people were sent a questionnaire first. ATOS site also quotes the below. "Every time the DWP refers a claim for a WCA, a questionnaire is automatically issued to the person claiming. When the questionnaire is returned to Atos Healthcare, a fully trained healthcare professional carries out an initial paper-based assessment. During this early check, they look for information that would indicate the person does not need to be invited for a face-to-face assessment and advise DWP accordingly. The DWP may have enough information to make an immediate decision on entitlement to benefit." I can't get to the assessment & did not receive any questionnaire, just ATOS letter telling me I must attend.

Hi Peeps, Hope someone can help me and give me some sound answers. In first week of February 13, I received a letter telling me my ESA had been stopped due to failing an ATOS medical (second one in two years) back in the first week October 12. I was told I could appeal, which I did immediately, and had to wait for nearly a month with no money. Few weeks later after the mad dash to get the docs certificate and appeal in(GL24) so as not to lose out on my possibly now reduced benefit. I had got the docs they wanted in but it took well over a week to get on their system. Meanwhile, no money for me and told if your desperate go get a crisis loan! Great! I then get a letter stating they are looking decision that you have appealed against and if appropriate we will revise in your favour, if not we will send your appeal letter and papers to Her Majesty's courts. I then get another letter stating that £557.86 being held due to possible over payment from the 4 months it took for them to tell me this significant information of failure at the medical. I waited to hear back from them regards to this and when I would get next payment reduced or not and they actually rang me back and left me a message stating that they would be putting a payment at the reduced rate the next day. Which they did £142. At this point and a week later as directed by their letter in regards to overpayment they don't tell me over the phone categorically that my appeal has been accepted or whether they are still making a decision in my favour or not. Yet, they have now paid me, and so I ring to ask and they tell me oh you don't have to pay this back, you appeal has been accepted. Right...why didn't you write and tell me this...they tell me they wouldn't have done. So, I am supposedly now on appeal. My money has been dropped to a figure that is almost impossible to live on per month. I was in a work related group and I still have to attend this regardless. Yesterday, I receive a tax bill and housing benefit letter for the up coming April. HB appears to still cover my rent. (by the way) was homeless (at family) last year and at the time of the ATOS medical where I didn't even get a physical because he could see I was in discomfort and distress after literally being made homeless 4 days before. Regardless...I am not presented with a bill of £210 to pay, £20 a month now to find, and when I ring to question this, I am told that I am not entitled to any discounts like before because I don't have the additional component. I then state well that's because I am appealing but I still have to attend. I am then by the council man, that they have had word from the DWP that my son is now living with me? Where the hell did they pluck that one out from. He lives 50 miles from me and has not lived with me since July, which is one of the reasons I was made homeless for so long because they couldn't find a property 1 bed suitable for my medical needs... I am then told if I don't write in to confirm this, I will be suspended! WHAT!!! I was questioning whether I was entitled to full Housing Tax due to my little income and I get landed with this. So, I know there is a lot there but that's the kind of background. Anybody got any pointers for me on how to proceed? Would truly appreciate it.

My sisters next-door neighbour was declared fit last August 2012 as fit for work after his Atos assessment,He decided to appeal, In Jan 2013 he decided because of pressure from his doctor and others and the info they gave him that he would not win his appeal as many do not, He decided to sign on for work JSA .But before he decided to sign on for JSA he had sent a letter and more info done by his girlfriend on his mental health problems and how she feels it was unfair after just decided after he had been ill for a very long time he was fit for work, She told them in a letter that the ATOS interview and its questions did not in any way reflect his life and things are just not as simple as they made it out to be and she put other relevant info in the letter too. The only reason he decided to sign on JSA was the fact his doctor told him oven though you are ill you will not win your appeal or are very very unlikely too win it and it is better to move on (he is still taking his tablets ) he suffers from very bad depression and anxiety attacks and other mantel health related problems.. Anyway today Sat 9th March 2013 he received a letter(this is about 7 months after he was declared fit for work) that they have looked at his assessment again and took into account the other info provided and have made a new decision in his favour and he now does not need to go to appeal and does not need to be re assessed until 20/07/2014 .. He needs info on what to do now ..he his now on JSA .. what will happen.. even though he is on JSA will get the backdated money he is owed whilst he was in the appeal mode .. can he now go back on ESA.. any advice please would be grateful

Sorry if this has been answered but i cant find it. When they send me the news ive failed to get enough points which they will, the GL24 form i think its called. When i fill out this form where it says put any other things on a separate piece of paper do i have to write it out or can it be typed out and printed. My writing isnt the best and as i get more annoyed my writing gets more unreadable. Thanks for any replies.

Hi Folks, Had my dreaded ATOS medical on the 4th of December (been on long term incapacity for 21 years) and had my Jobcentre Plus phone call this morning. I have apparantly been put into WRAG starting on the 10th of January which kind of surprised me a little as one of the illnesses i have is worth 15 points alone but after trawling the internet i appear to be one of the lucky ones. Anyway, i also have underlying entitlement to Carers Allowance for my son so if anyone out there can tell me what happens with this please let me know. A friend told me that i shouldnt have to attend these work focused interviews because of the carer aspect but i just want to make 100% sure and how does Carers Allowance affect the amount of benefit i would be entitled to. Delilah PS. I received a questionnaire about the Atos medical and the way i was treated at the medical. The questionnaire didnt contain my name or personal details so i filled it in and told them straight that i was made to feel like a liar and that the assessor i got was a waste of space. Has anyone else had a questionnaire after attending their medical

I have been signed off with Sciatica & i have been claiming ESA, i was sent the Atos forms & duly filled them out & returned . I then got a letter from Atos to say they had not received my form, i wrote back stating i had completed the form on such & such a date , & posted out on such & such a date. I heard nothing until today when ESA, stopped my claim & sent out my P45. I rang the ESA & i am waiting for a " call back" . At no point did either the ESA or Atos get in touch to say , it looks like something has gone wrong & send out new forms, they just sanction . I am asking for any advice on how to handle this as it will also mean they have stopped paying HB. Thanks in advance

Hello fellow Cagers. In a bit of a muddle regarding the letter my OH received from Jobcentreplus. A quick rundown of what is going on. She went for an assessment in Sept 2011 and was successful with the outcome. Assessment again in 2012 but failed, not enough points. Even though she has deteriorated and become worse since 2011. I am sure that many of you have got the same result. We lodged an appeal against the decision straight away. Was told that the process could take up to 9 months. In the meantime, she received a letter from Jobcentreplus this week with the following information. YOUR CLAIM FOR EMPLOYMENT AND SUPPORT ALLOWANCE CHANGES IN SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS From 8 April 2013 the rates of Social Security Benefits will change. From 10 April 2013 your Employment and Support Allowance will be £71.70 a week. This is because of: a change in the rates of Social Security Benefits. We cannot pay you Employment and Support Allowance from 12 October 2013. This is because you will have reached the maximum of 365 days that you can get contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance. So what does this mean? I am not at all clear on the statement in red. Suppose the appeal process takes place after 12 October 2013, how are we supposed to live in the meantime? Would she be placed on some other interim benefit? I am puzzled as to what to do next. Could somebody advise please. Allets.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmpubacc/744/74402.htm It's a doozy! "damaging public confidence" "most of the problems lie firmly within the DWP" "Poor decision-making causes claimants considerable distress" "83% increase in the number of people asking for support on appeals in the last year alone" "Department's decisions were overturned in 38% of appeals" "Department unduly complacent" "disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable claimants" "standardised "tick-box" approach" "not using all the mechanisms it has at its disposal" ... and that's only on the first page!

I attended a medical last year and got a call to tell me I had not enough points to continue getting sickness benefits on ESA. I have in my possesion the Dr's report, most of the statements inside bear no resemblance to reality, most of the things the doctor wrote are total fabrication, the medical lacked him checking me and making up answers for his report, which my own GP was shocked at, when shown the report. If I can find the help I would like to use the report I have to show the way people like me are being stiched-up....

Just wondered if someone could give me some advice, I like many thousands of others have been placed in a work based group despite telling the the woman i had a hip replacement op looming amongst a whole load of other bone problems and well bottom line was she just wasn't listening she had her script to work too and that was that and i wanting to appeal this even though am not sure if its too late and how do i do this from what Ive been reading my first port of call is my gp and get him to fill in the form Ive printed off the site about regulations 29 and 35 of the ESA act any help will be most appreciated as im a little out of my depth here xxxkia

what legal duty do atos and the dwp have to record and tell the truth of the proceedings of a ftw assessment , by record i mean in writing.. i had one nov last year and made an audio recording (un authorised) the report that was sent to me appears to have been from someone elses interview i will of course appeal the decision and have allready taken legal advice (free) from a barrister who deals with welfare rights. having read most of the threads on atos and dwp it appears they are a law to themselves, i forgot to add the "person" who carried out the assessment claimed to be a nurse, not true

Great quote from an MP. "Prime Minister can you confirm that ATOS have concluded that Richard III is fit for work." Labour MP for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow. delivered this great line at PMQ time