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Phone Calls to ATOS

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keira
keira Community member Posts: 133 Courageous
in PIP, DLA, and AA
Does anyone know if information given about your medical condition in a phone call to ATOS is considered/should be considered when the health professional does their report about you?
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  • debsidoo
    debsidoo Community member Posts: 325 Pioneering
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    Hi Keira.
    All information about medical conditions should be included with your pip application form.If you have extra information for the assessor to use I would say to include it at the back of the form and if you are waiting for any diagnoses inform them that this information will be made available as soon as you can send it through.Please don’t rely on anything said in a telephone call as this is not considered as evidence only written information is looked at. 
          Debsidoo.x
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  • keira
    keira Community member Posts: 133 Courageous
    edited February 2018
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    Hi Debs,

    It was during a conversation with atos about setting up a paper based assessment that they asked why there was no input for mental health. They were given the full reasons why but the assessors report just said "no input for mental health" and no mention of what was told to them in the phone call. They also used this as one of the reasons not to give an award.

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  • debsidoo
    debsidoo Community member Posts: 325 Pioneering
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    Hi Keira
    Can you get a copy of any medical reports you have for mental health.If so send them in signed for with a covering letter stating why they weren’t included in the original claim.They may decide to look at it again for you if you ask for a mandatory reconsideration.
         Debs.x
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  • keira
    keira Community member Posts: 133 Courageous
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    Hi Debs,
    I am now at the appeal stage because they used the reason "no specialist input for mental health" to only give me 4 points for going out. They stuck with this decision after the MR. 
    As I said they asked for an explanation for this in a phone call. However, that explanation seems to have been completely ignored and I am wondering if phone calls with them (ATOS) should be classed as evidence? If not, then why did they ask lots of questions about my medical condition in a phone call only to ignore the information I gave?
    Thanks
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  • debsidoo
    debsidoo Community member Posts: 325 Pioneering
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    Hi Keira.
    They will only consider evidence that is put in writing.If you can get hold of anything,even if it is a statement given by someone who helps you on a day to day basis they can consider it.Unfortunately anything discussed over the phone
    cannot be used as evidence.
    You could try CAB to help with appeal if you have reached this stage.
    At least the Tribunal are totally independent from Atos or DWP so will decide for themselves regardless of the report.It would help if you could take someone with you for support.
      Debsidoo.x
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  • maid08
    maid08 Community member Posts: 307 Pioneering
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    calls to atos or any agencey are recorded so can be pulled as proof when they call you its not recorded

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  • keira
    keira Community member Posts: 133 Courageous
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    maid08 said:
    calls to atos or any agencey are recorded so can be pulled as proof when they call you its not recorded


    Thanks for the reply. I too was under the impression that they are typed into their computer system and as you say can be pulled as proof.


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  • keira
    keira Community member Posts: 133 Courageous
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    Does anyone have any further information regarding this?
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  • wilko
    wilko Community member Posts: 2,458 Disability Gamechanger
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    I have to agree with those who state only written reports, evidence is will be accepted at a an accessment, but to be sure they have all the medical records, letters ect that you sent in with your applecation is always keep a copy and take copies and any extra evidence with you to your accessment. 
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  • whistles
    whistles Community member Posts: 1,583 Disability Gamechanger
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    I would back up anything like that with paper evidence. 
    Do not follow me, I don't know where I am going.
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