Apologies firstly to anyone who read my now deleted previous post on this. It seems that the changes to PIP points I thought had gone through have not. At least I hope not.
But this still stands:
My first assessment with Atos went smoothly. But my most recent one has been anything but. The sociopathic assessor lied on my report - no exaggeration. I’m probably going to have to go to appeal for the mobility component.
I hate to say it, but it is certainly not my impression that Atos are trustworthy or even impartial.
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Just to add for the benefit of anyone who goes through what I am currently going through - Citizens Advice Bureau are fantastic. Without them, I would essentially be alone in battling for what is fair and right, against what seems to me to be an inhumane system that does not listen or care, which rides roughshod over medically substantiated facts.
I am also of course grateful for my loved ones’ support - without that, I do not know how I would be feeling right now. And I wonder how it is be for people who are not so lucky in this regard, who are alone.
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Hi Lapwing,
Do you know if your assessment was recorded, if it was it could help you in an appeal.
Christine
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Hi Christine,
I’ve got CAB to help me collect evidence - I have a letter from my physio and the support of my MS team. DWP have just completely ignored the black and white evidence thus far, but CAB will hopefully help me help them to actually read what I have sent them! I don’t know if my assessment was recorded, but I have plenty of medical evidence to back me up in what I say. I feel like I’m being treated like a scrounger and a criminal. Horrible.
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God it’s awful. Absolutely dreading getting mine.
Thanks so much for the info.
Pat xx
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Its more than horrible, why do they think they have the right to discredit anyone let alone someone with evidence in front of them.
I hope CAB keep fighting on your behalf and you get the benefits you are entitled to.
Christine
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I was really confused about what the Government had / had not done to PIP until I found this, which explains that they have not reduced the points available for needing to use continence aids or for having to sit to dress:
http://www.disabledmotoring.org/news-and-features/news/post/172-government-u-turns-on-pip-changes
I had my daily living component taken away for no reason, i.e. I’m as entitled to it now as I ever was…
A friend of mine said you’re entitled to have a friend (witness!) present at your Atos interview - I didn’t do this, but I wish I had now.
The initial letter said it was to be an interview only, with no physical examination. But suddenly the Atos android doing my interview asked if she could do “strength tests” - ??? I replied that I had not been forewarned of any physical examination and that I would want my MS nurse present for that.
I’d say be on your guard, but do go to CAB if you have issues!
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It’s so disgusting, makes me wish I could afford to tell them to stick it but that would be cutting off my nose to spite my face!
Like Pat, I dread mine coming. Thanks for all the information.
I wish you the very best of luck and hope that CAB can help.
Nina x
I had a wave of “cold rage”, during which I phoned Atos to tell them the assessor had lied or had misrepresented me at best. The agent asked me if I’d like a “complaint form” - I told them not today, but that I would be complaining left, right and centre, in my own time. And when I spoke to DWP, I told them I would be taking them all the way.
But this would not be manageable for me without CAB’s help - even though I rate myself as being good at form filling etc.
I couldn’t believe this news article I found: Nearly 14,000 disabled people have mobility cars taken away - BBC News
But, as the saying goes: “Hope for the best, and prepare for the worst.”
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We don’t need all this crap on top of the day to day crap we have to endure, eh!
Good luck in getting what is rightfully yours!
Pollx
Thank you! I think I read somewhere that CAB are successful in about 60% of PIP appeal cases - proof that DWP get it wrong a lot.
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I was getting concerned about this so I asked Liberty for information. Even though this seemed to be outside their remit I got reply:
If they can’t get a straight answer who can?
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“”
That’s confusing… But I think Atos only deals with certain areas of the UK - I’m not sure.
Yes, that seems like a very generic, stock answer!
I think that there may have been some confusion in the information passed on to Liberty or how it was interpreted.
Last year, ATOS gave up their contract with DWP to do assessments for ESA. I think they are now done by a different company called Liberty(?) who are American owned (?)
ATOS still have their separate contract to do PIP (and DLA) assessments. They do them in specific areas of the country. CAPITA do them in the others
Whoops. Got it wrong a bit - new company dealing with work capability assessments is actually MAXIMUS. They are American owned though.
Ah - many thanks Boblatina.
It is all a bit confusing isn’t it? I think, though, that if you apply the principle “same old ****, different name” you won’t go far wrong. 