please help!

Thanks Steve, and I hope all goes well with your appeal too. I received all the notes from the ATos medical today and there are two or three obvious mistakes in there. Like you, variation does come into it and I guess, they dont ask the 'right' questions; as in, all my habits like having to do everything in even numbers and starting off with my left etc etc. The one time I offered extra information, the nurse sighed heavily and ignored me!
Sorry, I'm going on a bit! Best wishes, Rachel

Hi Carole, thankyou so much, I really do appreciate your reply. I am certainly with you on the take each day as it comes but freak a bit when things like this come up. Best wishes, Rachel

Hi Rachel, I'm in the same boat as you, but further down the line because my appeal was disallowed about 2 weeks ago. I know where I went wrong; I admitted to going on holiday (clearly I can travel, sit for more than half an hour for the journey, etc, etc...) The biggest thing I would want to pass on to you is that the tribunal can only work with the work capability assessment (WCA) as it is, so although IMO the WCA is grossly unfair, you have to work with the criteria it lays out. You will be sent (if you haven't got already) a copy of the medical assessor's report - use the criteria in it, painstakingly, one at a time, to work out how many points you should have got. Then you have to provide evidence. I'm really sorry, but if you have ME/CFS/FMS, the DWP works in a culture of disbelief so your evidence has to be really, really good. My GP was vague because the CAB asked him at the last minute (my fault, I left it too late to consult them) and I didn't have a chance to talk to him. I would suggest taking the report with you, talk it through with him point by point, and ask him to be specific in a report for the tribunal. I waited 5 months for my tribunal hearing, but it varies across the country. Please don't be depressed, I took the decision very personally but you have to realise that there is nothing fair in this process, in the end it isn't about you, it's about money. It shouldn't be, but it is. And you are in really good company, there's a lot of us out here. Very good luck.

Fedup wrote:

Sorry to ask another question, but have you any idea how long it will be before I get a Tribunal?

Hi Fedup

I can take around one to three months from sending your GL24 appeal form to receiving the appeal papers from the DWP.

After that, the length of time you have to wait for an appeal hearing probably varies from one region to another. The best guide is to search this site as many members mention how long they had to wait for an appeal, but I think generally at least three months.

When you receive the enquiry form from Tribunals Services there will be a box to tick if you don't mind a hearing at short notice (7 days), in case there has been a cancellation.

Hope this has been helpful

Derek

Hi Derek, thankyou for your reply, I'll have a look. Best wishes, Rachel

Hi Jules, thankyou for that information. I'm off to see my doctor on Friday and will test the water with him then. I'm worried about whether he will help or not. I saw two or three things wrong in the medical notes from ATOS so need to point these out to the Tribunal somehow. I'm really sorry you lost your appeal, what are you going to do? I wish you lots of luck, Rachel