ATOS doctors- the “proper” ones!

MariW, To be honest I do not think it would make one bit of difference as how could you guarantee a doctor specialised in a particular illness/disability would be any different to the opinions of any other ATOS examiner. I cannot move all my limbs fully, any medical professional no matter what they specialise in can see this on examination, probably actually even without examination but not the ATOS doctor and it was a doctor who examined me - all movements were normal Not good when applying for DLA

I believe ATOS call them disability analysts or something similar. I get the impression they are there purely to assess and give an opinion regarding being able to work, work-related activity or DLA/PIP.

At the end of the day, the Decision Maker makes the overall decision as to what you are eligible for, again even with independent medical evidence supplied the outcome is often not what you would expect.

I feel we could all go round and round on the merry go round not getting off it trying to find how we can make it clear that we do in fact have conditions that affect us. My conclusion is often it makes no difference, you have to go along with it, try asking they can only say no, if you do not succeed in achieving what you want you have to go through with it, if outcome not as expected unfortunately back to the drawing board to ask for reconsideration/appeal. I have now taken the attitude I can only be honest and do my best and if I lost at appeal and have to be sanctioned then I will have to be, I cannot go beyond what my health allows. Yes, it is worrying, yes it is stressful and affects my health but what choice do I have - none! If they do not listen to me or my medical professionals then there is absolutely nothing else I can do.

Sorry if I sound harsh but I speak from personal experience.

G,

In replying to questions that I judge ought to lead to SG entry, I state how I meet the LWRA descriptor. In answering questions that would not, in isolation, gain me entry to the SG but would bring in points I try to show how the limitation relates to my most extreme limitations, giving an accurate picture of a generalised medical condition.

MW

Del,

Thanks for your input and for sharing your experience of the system.

MW

MariW wrote: Gordon,

That’s just what I suspected…

I haven’t forgotten that a WCA is an assessment of limitations rather than diagnosed medical conditions but it is the diagnosed conditions that result in limitations. In drafting answers, I refer to diagnoses but spend more time relating my primary condition to the multiple limitations it has caused and that impact on just about every aspect of my life.

MW

I am in a similar position to you as regards being limited. I honestly do not think I could have put in more into my claim or provided any more medical evidence than I had. I spent weeks making up notes but I realise it makes no difference to the decision, if a decision maker thinks his decision is justifiable then he makes it. I think it might have been MrsHurtyback who explained to me about appealing in that I have to justify why I feel I meet the descriptors or the exceptional circumstances. I believe I spent too much time trying to explain my limitations which is okay but I know I now have to explain why these limitations meet the descriptors even although to me it is blantantly obvious So next time round I will try and also focus on that at stage of ESA50.

I didn't put much detail on my first DLA claim form. I hadn't found this site at that stage, didn't realise that the DM is not medically trained and, as a nurse myself, thought that my limitations would be obvious to anyone with half a brain!