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- Sharing some information and advice needed
Sharing some information and advice needed
- chumsmum
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It has amazed me to learn that ATOS have been trying to find all this time a Doctor willing to do a home assessment and have recently learned that Doctors will only come to the area they live in - the staff at ATOS rattled off some postcodes and asked was that near me - upon checking I see that this is only 10miles away but apparently that is not near enough!
I was previously asked to go for a medical at their centre - if I was able to leave the home, I do not drive and according to their plan it would have meant many bus changes and a 2 hour journey further away in miles than the Doctor would have to come to me and Im the one that is ill!
a) I just thought you would like to know this info for your research and campaign
b) It really is causing me a lot of anxiety that I wait and wait for 10 months to hear a decision - my care worker has even written and explained what effect all the errors and problems are causing me but still nothing? should I be made to wait this long?
On a separate issue I noted a while back you wanted to know if anyone had been "threatened" with sanctions or loss of benefit - well just to let you know that during the 10 months I have been waiting I was told that as I waiting to be assessed my benefit can stop at any time - hence why my anxiety is so high and I just want this dealt with also on a couple of occasions have been I felt bullied into accepting an assessment at the clinic stating that if I didn't go I would loose my benefit - even though my Doctor had stated that a home visit was necessary due to my health problems.
Sorry this is long winded - I hope to hear from anyone with some comments and support - it would really help
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- Gordon
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Thank you for posting this information, the explanation of ATOS's home medical process is particularly interesting and explains a lot.
Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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- chumsmum
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- Gordon
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peanut wrote: I don't know whether I'm getting confused here but I've noted that Capita are doing the PIP assessments face to face in my area from October 2013 - does this also apply to esa on grounds of health assessments?
No, ATOS continues to be the only company providing ESA assessments.
ATOS and Capita are providing PIP assessments, albeit in different areas, Capita appear to be aiming for most PIP assessments to be done in the claimants home, whereas ATOS are looking to do most at one of their offices.
Gordon
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- chumsmum
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Has anyone else been given a weekend appointment is this normal?
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- Gordon
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peanut wrote: I've just been rung and offered this Saturday or sunday for an home assessment my nhs support worker does not work on weekend and said they wanted to be with me for my assessment - I've had to say no to the appointment - atos have said that they are finding it hard to find a doctor who will do it in the week?
Has anyone else been given a weekend appointment is this normal?
We have seen Saturday appointments for ESA, this is the fist one for PIP that I am aware of but it makes a degree of sense as it allows companions who work during the week to be available, unfortunately you are being caught out by this.
Be careful in rejecting a second appointment, our understanding is that claimants are only allowed two before their file will be returned to the DWP, although we not yet heard of an incident of this on the forum yet.
Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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