ESA Medical

Some weeks ago I received a letter from Athos saying I had not yet returned my ESA 50. I immediately contacted DWP to say that this was the first I had heard of it, and no questionnaire had been received. I was told that another would be sent out and the cut off date changed.

What has happened is that my GP has been asked to provide a report (he has asked to see me this week before completing the form) on my state of health, obviously no problem with that; but yesterday I received a letter from Athos telling me I have to attend an Athos medical next week, but I have still not been given an ESA50 medical questionaire, so am I expected to attend without being able to provide a formal written expression of my conditions ie via an ESA50? I have called DWP who said it was OK, and that it takes about 2 weeks to get the Athos report, so my GP's medical will be through to them by then.

I have a mental health condition: Recurrent Depressive disorder, which causes bowel dysfunction (under hospital consultant.) I am really stressing about having to go into the Athos medical "cold" as it were. I am worried that I cannot deal with a barrage of questions that I would/should (?) have been allowed to do via the ESA50 before the medical. Is there anything I can do?

Hi,

There are circumstances where a medical assessment is carried out without an ESA50 having been completed. But this would usually be where the claimant was unable to do so because of, for example, a mental health condition.

The ESA50 is supposed to provide valuable evidence which the Atos assessor should consider, evidence from your GP is not a substitute for this.

It is not reasonable to expect you to be put at a disadvantage because of a failing by the DWP.

Consider contacting your MPs office as a matter of urgency and asking them to look into why you are being discriminated against in this way. At the same time contact the customer services manager at your local Jobcentre Plus and inform them that you have done so and contact Atos and do the same.

Good luck,

Steve

Many thanks, Steve.

Hi frater1

You may be interested to have a look at my posts on the other thread re ESA medical. My situation is a little different to yours as although I was sent an ESA50 by Atos it was the wrong one as the date of issue was before 28.03.11.
I am still waiting to hear back my local JC+, Atos, the DWP Chief Exec & my MP before having to attend with great reluctance a medical next week. I wrote to Atos & JC+ at the beginning of April & am still no further forward.

I hope you fare better.
maggie