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Face to face assessment & decision

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9 years 8 months ago - 9 years 8 months ago #123389 by lucids
Face to face assessment & decision was created by lucids
Firstly thank you for all the helpful advice and guides on the website they are an invaluable resource.

I finally had my asssesment yesterday after a year of waiting after handing in the ESA50 for the transfer from long term IB to ESA. I saw a doctor who was very kind and it was not the traumatic experience that i had dreaded at all. The doctor really just dealt with my condition and how it affected me, there was no attempt to catch me out or anything like that or trick questions. It seems was lucky to get it done as it should be done. There was no problem getting it recorded either. Just a couple of questions about what happens next.

When I submitted my ESA50 I also submitted a bundle of evidence, but yesterday also submitted some extra evidence afterwards as there is a years worth since the ESA50 form and now. Also my GP surgery had originally misplaced all my medical notes so it wasn't until after I had submitted the ESA50 that they were found and I could get copies of letters.

My questions relate to the decision process after the assessment with the doctor and what happens.
Will the decision maker now also read the new paperwork I submitted as well as obviously taking into account the doctors results?

Also do they contact the hospital consultant after the assesssment, or if they were to do that would it have been done beforehand?

I'm asking because things have happened that might inadverently affect the result. Firstly I missed a consultants appointment in May this year and was unknowingley discharged from treatment. I have been treated at the hospital for over 12 years. I never received the appointment letter so never knew about the appointment. I only discovered this the day after the face to face assessment, they never informed me or my GP that I had been discharged. Its only that it would look bad if they now contacted the hospital who would say I was discharged, before I can get the chance to fix it.

Also before the assesment began, the doctor said, that if at any time during the assessment if they felt that they had gathered enough evidence to be able to advise the decision maker they would do so immediately and then leave the room and telephone the decision maker with the result. This is what happened after half an hour, the test was stopped. When the doctor returned we carried on talking for 10 mins and then the recording eneded. I got the impression that stopping the test seemed a poitive thing for me.

Is this normal procedure for a face to face assesment?

Thank you in advance for any replies and answers.
Last edit: 9 years 8 months ago by slugsta.

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9 years 8 months ago #123391 by slugsta
Replied by slugsta on topic Face to face assessment & decision
Hi Lucids,

Thank you for letting us know how you got on with your face2face assessment, I'm glad that it went well for you.

The Decision Maker is supposed to take all information and evidence into account - but it is up to them to decide how much weight to give to each piece.

The DWP rarely write to GP's, consultants even more rarely.

The most common reason for the assessor leaving the room during the process is that s/he is considering recommending that you are allocated to the Support Group, I think you can be 'cautiously optimistic'.

I'm afraid that it could still be some time before you hear anything more, although I hope this is not the case.

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: lucids

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9 years 8 months ago - 9 years 8 months ago #123392 by lucids
Replied by lucids on topic Face to face assessment & decision
Thank you for the reply, they had sent a form to my GP's surgery a few months ago apparently but very little had been written on it in return by my GP as my notes were missing. Merely a date of diagnosis and name of conditiion it seems, so my GP said.

The doctor did say they were suprised that I had even been asked to come in at all.

I will post back when I get the results and may have some other questions then. I can't stress enough how important it is to folllow the guides and be organised with your evidence though.

The years wait was awful and fraught with worry, as was the wait for the initial ESA50.
I was unaware that with certain conditions it is now mandatory that you see a doctor as opposed to any HCP. Is the info as to what thesae conditions are posted somewhere on the website?
Last edit: 9 years 8 months ago by slugsta.

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9 years 8 months ago #123394 by slugsta
Replied by slugsta on topic Face to face assessment & decision
I'm not sure whether this information is in the public domain. Even if it is, this is only advisory and ATOS are free to ignore it (and they do).

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

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  • Jim Allison BSc, Inst LE, MBIM; MA (Consumer Protection & Social Welfare Law)
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9 years 8 months ago - 9 years 8 months ago #123395 by Jim Allison BSc, Inst LE, MBIM; MA (Consumer Protection & Social Welfare Law)
Replied by Jim Allison BSc, Inst LE, MBIM; MA (Consumer Protection & Social Welfare Law) on topic Face to face assessment & decision
This link may be of help Atos Assessments and maybe This

PLEASE READ THE SPOTLIGHTS AREA OF THE FORUM REGULARLY, OTHERWISE YOU MAY MISS OUT ON IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Last edit: 9 years 8 months ago by Jim Allison BSc, Inst LE, MBIM; MA (Consumer Protection & Social Welfare Law). Reason: Added link.

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9 years 8 months ago #123396 by lucids
Replied by lucids on topic Face to face assessment & decision
Hmm really that seems at odd to what they told me when I arrived at the assesment centre they were insistent that I could only be seen by a doctor and it was regulations. They told me this just before I was about to ask the question as to who I would see.

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