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ESA!!!!! ATOS!!!!!

missribbons

I dont even know where to begin. After years of being unsuccessful in employment - either being sacked or bullied, i have found myself applying for ESA.

The psychological damage that has been caused trying to be a part of society has left me on medication. I wake each morning shaking with fear, usually this is after a night of sleep walking and nightmares.

I relunctantly came to the realisation that i needed to be on ESA. The application form was intimidating and very stressful as i worded each issue i dealt with on a day to day basis. I felt i poured my darkest secrets of how life as an adult with aspergers really is and it hurt. But i needed to do this to survive.

Last week i recived a letter to say i needed to attend a medical assesment to see if i was capable for work. I attended this today.

As i had feared the whole meeting was very distressing, intrusive and completely inappropriate in regards to aspergers syndrome - or 'disease' as the healthcare advisor called it!!!

My reflexs were examined, i was asked to squat, lift my arms, bend my legs, what my hobbies were, did i use a mobile? did i go on the internet? did i play games? all baffling all invasive and all to tick boxes. 

I have avoided reading much about ATOS - the private company paid to assess us; 'lying theiving bastards' but from panoramas programme earlier this week, i feel that this is not an assesment to help those with aspergers. I am scared for the result and distraught at how this has left me feeling even more isolated and desperate than before.

Parents

  • hi missribbons - your feelings are totally justified. ATOS has a bad reputation.  Their aim appears to be to get people's benefits reduced to save the government money.  They also do not appear to be trained well enough in all the different conditions they have to assess.  Many many people win on Appeal.  These appeals obviously cost the state a fortune.  Because so many people go to Appeal, there's a long time to wait for an Appeal to be heard.  It could be bad enough under the old system when you had to go to Appeal, but I do think the old system was better than this 1.  ATOS should be assessing people accurately and applying their benefit entitlement accordingly.  That should be their purpose if people are to be treated in a fair way.  Michael Meacher MP will be raising the issue of ATOS/assessments with Ian Duncan Smith MP, who's in charge of all these benefit changes that are creating havoc.  It will be interesting to see if Michael Meacher can get anywhere with IDS - I'm not holding my breath on that 1, despite respecting Michael Meacher for trying.  I would say to anyone who's got to go for these assessments, be prepared mentally, don't be trusting of the assessor, make sure that any official info on your condition is somewhere in writing (such as doctor's notes, social services file, or wherever) so that ATOS have an up-to-date record.  If you have to go to Appeal, that info will be useful.

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  • hi missribbons - your feelings are totally justified. ATOS has a bad reputation.  Their aim appears to be to get people's benefits reduced to save the government money.  They also do not appear to be trained well enough in all the different conditions they have to assess.  Many many people win on Appeal.  These appeals obviously cost the state a fortune.  Because so many people go to Appeal, there's a long time to wait for an Appeal to be heard.  It could be bad enough under the old system when you had to go to Appeal, but I do think the old system was better than this 1.  ATOS should be assessing people accurately and applying their benefit entitlement accordingly.  That should be their purpose if people are to be treated in a fair way.  Michael Meacher MP will be raising the issue of ATOS/assessments with Ian Duncan Smith MP, who's in charge of all these benefit changes that are creating havoc.  It will be interesting to see if Michael Meacher can get anywhere with IDS - I'm not holding my breath on that 1, despite respecting Michael Meacher for trying.  I would say to anyone who's got to go for these assessments, be prepared mentally, don't be trusting of the assessor, make sure that any official info on your condition is somewhere in writing (such as doctor's notes, social services file, or wherever) so that ATOS have an up-to-date record.  If you have to go to Appeal, that info will be useful.

Children
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