WCA next week ,supporting evidence.

Hi, my first ever post on B&W,next week i go for WCA, and hoping to get into the support group as i meet two of the descriptors. However im not very confident ,i aim to take as much medical evidence as possible . i receive a small disability pension for my back , would this class as supporting evidence, as would the high rate mobility factor of DLA. My GP has also written a letter ,but to be honest he didnt seem bothered and it isnt all that informative, but i will submit this.If my husband accompanied me , would he be able to have some say on my behalf. About recording the medical , should i ring ATOS to request this or would i be better off sending them your template letter. so very grateful for any advice.Starting to get very nervous now. Ruby H

If your Assessment is next week then you need to get your request in as soon as you can. It might be worth making this request by phone initially, although this should be followed up immediately with a letter. It is likely that the assessment will have to be reorganised to facilitate this.

Have you seen this item in the 'benefits news' section?

any more info on my first post ...... would be much appreciated thanks

Clearly time is of the essence in your case with your medical assessment scheduled for next week.

At the assessment although the approved disability analyst (ADA) will direct the questions at you being the claimant, there is no reason why your husband cannot contribute information to the ADA if you believe it would be beneficial for you? This will be more pertinent if you are having the medical assessment recorded, as anything he says will be recorded verbatim evidence which could be used should you need to appeal any adverse ESA decision with which you are not satisfied. Hopefully, you will not need to appeal.

With regard to evidence that you receive a pension for a back injury, it is impossible to say if Atos and/or the DWP will accept this as "supporting" evidence, but the higher rate mobility component of DLA may not necessarily help your case as the descriptor in the work capability assessment refers to "mobilising" as opposed to "walking." Although you may not be able to walk 50 metres, if you can manually propel a wheelchair more than 50 metres even if you do not use one, you will fail to satisfy the mobilising descriptor which may give you entry to the support group

Insofar as making a request to have the medical assessment recorded arises, as time is of the essence and has already been explained in yesterday's last post, you can ring Atos with a verbal request but it is essential that you follow this request up in writing. As such, you should send a copy of the template letter to both Atos and the DWP preferably by recorded delivery, to ensure they both receive the correspondence.

rang ATOS to request my medical be recorded, said that it may be difficult as most of the recording machines are being repaired, asked about cancelling until one is available said i could do that ,but next appointment would probably take two months, but then they still couldnt guarantee one being available, although anyone accomanying me could take notes.