ATOS medical assessment all over with.

I said I would update, so here then is the front end of the next few weeks for anyone who wishes to follow.

Arrived at ATOS medical centre. Kept me waiting no more than 10 minutes. In I went and without any delay the questions started.

Usual stuff such as; "how did you get here?" And so on.

It was all over with in just 40 minutes. The very pleasant lady spent more time with just one finger of one hand on the keyboard...(would have been done in 10 minutes if here keyboard skills had been better).

DID NOT ask me all the usual stuff. I mean nothing close!! Physical examination was restricted to checking to make certain I had a myriad of scars on the ol back to support the fact I have rods and screws..."hmmmm" she said!

"You certainly have had some work done!"

Got me on the couch and promptly I fell off...which was a hoot...and yes it hurt!

Just a few odd questions..nothing very much really, nothing about a dog or shopping or driving, or anything about anything really. She commented on what back luck it was to have OA & RA plus Colitis and some other stuff thrown in as well.

At the end which was over in a flash the lady told me to take my time and go when I was ready. The chair was sooooo flipping hard and uncomfortable I could barely stay sat for all of 3 minutes; up I'd get, stretch legs, sit again and so on, I must have been up and down 20 times during the entire period of 40 minutes.

I got the impression the lady was bored as hell; (I'd share a secret at this stage...so the heck was I!).

My thoughts thus far is...it was not a case of what I was asked. It seemed a case of what I was NOT asked.

Seemed a complete and utter waste of time and tax payers money...just my humble opinion.

Now expecting nil points (as Mr Wogan once would be heard to utter)...and proceed on with an appeal.

I'll use this thread to say how things are progressing.

BTD

Got me on the couch and promptly I fell off...which was a hoot...and yes it hurt!

Priceless

Seriously though, Health and Safety, should you have attempted to get on the couch and did she record that fact.... it must be worth at least 15 points.

yes please let us know! I have been down the same road but got 9 points but not for what i thought!

I had a medical and got 0 point by some half wit who only asked daft things.
A little later while waiting for my apeal got high rate mobility after seeing another doctor, and today been for my apeal
and guess what, no fuss awarded ESA by a judge who showed far more common sence than that get rich quick ATOS lot.
ATOS HCP get 4 out of every 10 wrong.
Sack them and save the nation a ton of money.

Tom

tomtom1 wrote:

I had a medical and got 0 point by some half wit who only asked daft things.
A little later while waiting for my apeal got high rate mobility after seeing another doctor, and today been for my apeal
and guess what, no fuss awarded ESA by a judge who showed far more common sence than that get rich quick ATOS lot.
ATOS HCP get 4 out of every 10 wrong.
Sack them and save the nation a ton of money.

Tom

It does make you wonder Tom... in particular the money that HMG is spending investigating benefit fraud, administering it, paying ATOS (real value for money that one is), all these flaming appeals, tribunals, upper tribunals, and so on. Maybe the cost would be better spent elsewhere!

For what it is worth, I was told by my GP that if I did not get in the support group he would eat his hat. Honestly?? I reckon it will be nil points despite by pirouette off the table.

If I had been a mystery shopper at my assessment my underlying feeling would have been ....the assessor was pleasant enough, but completely and utterly uninterested in the entire process; hence why I am already boning up on the appeal process. As English was not their native tongue much was lost in communication...sigh.

BTD

Well I was completely wrong. Te letter arrived to say I had been put in the work related group and my money increases at the end of Septober.

All in all including my first pathways to work interview it has been done start to finish in eight weeks.

The PWI was fine, the very nice lady stated she did not wish to see me again, and would make the arrangements to cancel the remaining five interviews. Off the record she said that in her opinion I should have been in the support group. I really can't be fussed with appealing, I'm just glad it is all over with.

I am waiting for a reply regarding care and mobility for DLA. I'm expecting to be turned down but hey-ho, I've been quite wrong this far so fingers crossed.

I'd like to say a huge thank you for all the advice and suggestions and in particular the information contained here on the site.

BTD