ATOS reluctant to "grant" a house visit for assess

Hello there,

My first post so be gentle.

Received a text today from ATOS saying they have appointments free in my area in the next 7 days.

Was hoping it would be the other company not ATOS but such is life.

I called back and requested a home assessment based upon:

My personal illnesses, the major one being a mental health condition which makes leaving the house a big problem.

That my mental illness, which involves OCD is extremely difficult to describe in an alien environment, it needs to be shown to the health professional at home so they can truly understand the issues it causes me.

Also that although my own health is not great I also care for my disabled 86 year old Mother who has vascular dementia and is almost totally housebound. However she is the person I want with me for the assessment as she knows better than anyone how my illnesses effect me. Also for moral support to be honest.

The young lady I talked to summarised ATOS' view:

Home visits are only carried out if the person being assessed cant even make it to hospital/ doctor visits. A nice little attempt to trip you up there, dont you think??

That I will receive a letter in "a week or so" that will tell me if I can have a home assessment or not. However, if I am told I must go to an assessment centre I have to go or my claim is dropped. No appeal process to request a home assessment or anything.

She "made notes" about why I would prefer a home visit and from the typing I could hear it was all of about 2 sentences long.....

So, totally at ATOS' mercy regarding the assessment now but wondering if there is more I can do to force their hand as it where to giving me a home assessment?

Thank you so much for any help given. Panic attacks started the second I read the text. I knew I would be contacted of course but now the worry is real.

Thanks for the reply Gordon, I shall see how it goes then.

I dont suppose its possible to request the claim is carried out by the other company (the name escapes me) rather than ATOS?

Hi

The claim is dealt with by the DWP. They use contractors to carry out an assessment. You cannot choose the contractor.

Thanks, I thought as much but wanted to check.

I believe,as this grey area stands, I'd have to provide my own recording system for the interview? As in a disclosed recording that I keep a tyape of as well as ATOS?

As no digital recording is allowed, or burning a CD via PC (they state no PC's etc) my only option s to borrow 2 old tape dictation machines?