atoz second interview

[hettygrew]

Hi I wonder if anyone can help in advising me? I had a WCA with atoz nearly 2 years ago. They failed me, benefits stopped, I appealed and won my tribunal on mental factors, then put on ESA (WRAG).

Just had a letter from ATOZ calling me in for a second interview only this time face-to-face only (no physical exam). Does anyone know why this is? and as its face-to-face only is it still assessed on points gained? I still suffer with mental health problems and heavily medicated and Im worried how this will come over at the interview. Thanks

[**Margaret**]

:hettygrew:

 

Routine reassessment of entitlement to employment n support allowance is normal. Most awards are reassessed at intervals of between six months and three years.

 

However an invite for a face to face interview isn't usually the first thing a claimant hears about it. Before the interview, most claimants are asked to complete an ESA50 questionnaire like the one below. Increasingly Atos aren't bothering with them for mental health claimants (unless Royal Mail have lost yours) but it means a huge chunk of claimant evidence is lost. If you don't have the technology to download and print a copy from the internet, phone your benefit delivery centre for a paper form.

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esa-50-limited-capability-for-work-questionnaire

 

CAG has a guide to completion of an ESA50 at;

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?316210-ESA50-Guide

 

And there's a guide to the mental health part, with some tips about supportive evidence, on Rethink's site;

 

http://www.rethink.org

(Search for Work Capability Assessment Factsheet)

 

If you take a completed copy to your interview the assessor has to read it before s/he starts the assessment. Other important papers to hand to the assessor are, copies of any medical reports you've already got and a copy of the tribunal decision.

 

Assessment criteria are in the booklet at;

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esa214-a-guide-to-employment-and-support-allowance-the-work-capability-assessment

 

'I'm worried how this will come over at the interview', ask for your assessment to be audio recorded;

 

http://blog.atoshealthcare.com/2012/12/how-to-request-an-audio-recorded-assessment

 

Best wishes, Margaret.

 

 

You may have seen media reports that routine reassessments for ESA have been suspended cos of contractual difficulties between Atos and Work n Pensions. Doesn't apply to reassessments that were referred to Atos before 20 January 14, as this one probably was.