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ATOS Complaint

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Comments

  • Justice
    Justice Community member Posts: 197 Pioneering
    @SeanRyan. I LOVE your Cat, what beautiful markings :-)
  • SeanRyan
    SeanRyan Community member Posts: 66 Connected
    Which one Derek or Eduardo?
  • Justice
    Justice Community member Posts: 197 Pioneering
    @ SeanRyan.  Ohhh I couldn't possibly choose. I want both of them :-)
  • wildlife
    wildlife Community member Posts: 1,293 Pioneering
    edited June 2017
    Just a quick update, I had a call back booked from ATOS complaints last Thurs/Frid but no-one rang and no letter either. @justice I agree with you about the lack of communication being a tactic to try and get us to give up. I have to admit as other things in life take over and need attention it's hard to keep going but I will. In the meantime I have an assessment on it's way from an OT who visited my home and saw for herself the problems I have with showering which ATOS and DWP won't accept. However the last Decision Maker did say she would look at my claim again if this specific report showed that I needed help which I'm sure it will. Can't wait to read it. However I did accept the award after my mobility was increased to higher rate. So I'm not sure where that leaves me. Will wait for the report to arrive and then decide what to do. I must get around to sending a complaint letter to DWP as you have done to end up at ICE. In the back of my mind I'm remembering I only have 2/3 years before a review of my claim. I should be a PIP expert by then, ha ha! No news from HCPC about my assessor's lack of qualifications. Seems they don't do their job properly either. All for now...x
  • Justice
    Justice Community member Posts: 197 Pioneering
    @ Wildlife, Hi :-) why will Atos and DWP not accept the evidence from your OT? I would get that complaint letter in as fast as you can do so that you can hopefully move onto ICE. I know it is difficult when loads of other stuff is going on, but just think how you will feel if you don't do it. You will be wondering forever and a day then if it would have made any difference had you sent it.
    It drives me mad how we all keep having to prove ourselves, and trying to get any sense out of these People is like talking to the table.. I think the tactics is to send us all around the bend and back again until we are too dizzy to think!
    Just remember we are all on your side so you can come and talk or rant here as much as you like :-)
  • Matilda
    Matilda Community member Posts: 2,593 Disability Gamechanger
    Know what you mean, @Justice.  I had to go over the same material FIVE times during my PIP claim.  PIP application form; Atos assessment; MR request; appeal form; tribunal.  The process took nine months.  Worth it in the end as I won my appeal.  But now I've got some PTSD - which I hope won't last.

    It's political.  Even when the evidence is there, the government in the shape of the DWP simply don't want to pay out PIP - and hope people will give up along the way which many do.  They picked the wrong one with me, though, if they thought I'd give up.  Moral of the story:  stay the course despite everything - 65% of appeals succeed.


  • wildlife
    wildlife Community member Posts: 1,293 Pioneering
    edited August 2017
    @Justice, I didn't mean that ATOS/DWP won't accept the OT report but that they won't accept I need help from another person to shower. I haven't got the report yet I've only rung Adult Care to ask for a copy to be sent to me. It'll be good to receive something that says it how it is. I'll at least get points for aids in future as 6 pieces of Mediquip aids are being delivered next week. Maybe I'll push for a home assessment next time. @Matilda, I have PTSD but it was witnessing horrific scenes from when my son was younger. I'm having an assessment this afternoon by IAPT. At least we have control over our own medical appointments and can continue to collect medical evidence. I now see that going to tribunal was the best way for you. I've chosen an even longer way to achieve a decent appropriate timescale and higher rate for both but will get there in the end. xx
  • Matilda
    Matilda Community member Posts: 2,593 Disability Gamechanger
    @wildlife.  Yes you will achieve your aims in the end.

    It is hard to 'prove' to the DWP, and tribunals for that matter, how difficult it is to bathe and dress on ones own in a reasonable time period.

    This could be solved by assessors coming and watching - claimants wearing swimsuits or burkinis as a base for modesty!
  • wildlife
    wildlife Community member Posts: 1,293 Pioneering
    edited June 2017
    @Matilda Oh dear they'd say if you can put on a bikini or swimsuit you don't need help with anything. It isn't time that's the problem. The shower is over the bath so I have to lift both legs one at a time over the bath side. Apart from muscle weakness preventing my legs from going high enough I am at risk of falling with only one leg on the floor. I will ring ATOS again and see what's happening. Looks like they've put some nice people in customer services to pacify irate callers.. 
  • Matilda
    Matilda Community member Posts: 2,593 Disability Gamechanger
    @wildlife

    Do you use a shower/bath stool in the bath to sit on?  And do you use a small stool to stand on to help you climb into the bath?

    I got two points for bathing from DWP for using a shower stool in the bath.

    Claimants get points for using aids if it's still difficult to do things using the aids.

    However, some people have said that using certain aid has lost them points.  One said she'd lost points because she uses a microwave and two had said they lost mobility points because they use a walker or shopping trolley.

    People get points for not being able to meet the criteria using aids, not because aids enable them to meet the criteria.



  • Justice
    Justice Community member Posts: 197 Pioneering
    @wildlife and @matilda. sorry Wildlife I misunderstood what you meant about the DWP regarding the OT report. Matilda you made me laugh regarding the coming to watch the bathing and showering. It is nothing short of insulting that these people do not believe what we tell them. Doesn't matter what the letters from Doctors, and specialist Nurses ( People who in many cases know their patients, and how their problem affects them).
    My biggest problem has been getting them to believe how it is here during the night, MOST nights. Because of my Husband's disease, and also the medication he acts out his dreams, hallucinates, screams, yells, falls from the bed, doesn't know where he is or what's going on when that happens. It is very scary and upsetting. This can happen anything from once a night to half a dozen times. Each time I have to settle him , make sure he is ok, and then of course I lie awake worrying about everything. 
    He has tablets to help, but even they do not work every time. we have no idea of knowing if it is going to be a good night or a bad night, it is totally random. He is in danger of falling every time this happens.
    They do NOT believe me! I feel like saying " You bloody well come and stay here then for a few nights while I go in an Hotel". But yes, Matilda,Wildlife, they have picked the wrong ones in choosing to have a go at us. We will never give up.

    I am a bit angry now too, nothing to do with Scope, a Guy just knocked on the door to sign me up for some charity or other, what annoyed me though was that as soon as I opened the door he said " Hello LOVEY" !! I said " Whatever you want you just blew it PAL, by calling me LOVEY", and I shut the door. I know I know I am horrible, but what the heck lol.
  • wildlife
    wildlife Community member Posts: 1,293 Pioneering
    @Matilda There was mention of steps to get in the bath but when she saw my balance problems we decided it wouldn't help. I can't sit on anything hard either due to lower back spinal degeneration but I'm getting a board across the top of the bath to transfer onto till I stand up. I got 2 points for a rail I use but can't reach it till I get in the bath. I really need a wet room but the council only did the bathroom in 2014 so no chance of that. I've just got back from my mental health assessment and I've been diagnosed with Complex PTSD or Complex Trauma. I am getting a copy of a letter being sent to my GP suggesting I be referred to a Psychologist. @justice Gosh that is really tough for you having your sleep interrupted all the time. I can't count the times my hubby has had to wake me for shouting out in my sleep and he doesn't do it gently, it goes something like "Shut up for God's sake and go back to sleep". At least I don't fall out of bed but might bang myself on the rail being delivered next week to help me get out of bed. Didn't ring ATOS will ring tomorrow..
  • Matilda
    Matilda Community member Posts: 2,593 Disability Gamechanger
    @Justice and @wildlife

    Assesors and the DWP just do not understand what it is like to have disabilities.  It's hard enough have to cope with the disabilities without having PIP trauma heaped on top.

Brightness

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