Phoned up to make an ESA application today!

Post Reply New Topic

So did you get the note from the doctor then?

I know exactly how you feel. The statement is just a load of bewildering gumph and waffle. I couldn't read it all either.

I found that the best approach was to scroll down and read what forum users were saying about the statement, rather than reading the actual statement itself. Normal people tend to write comments in legible English, as opposed to legal waffle.

Here's a quote from a user called Morglin:



Basically it seems that ATOS are pulling out of their contract with the DWP to carry out the medical assessments for ESA claimants. This is because ATOS are so incompetent that they can't cope with the amount of work involved. Huge backlogs are piling up, and ATOS are not meeting deadlines. Rather than trying to meet the deadlines, ATOS are just giving up and pulling out of the ESA contract altogether.

(I think they're still retaining other contracts, such as the PIP one. It's just the ESA one they're pulling out of at the moment).

What this means is that, until the DWP can find a replacement company to take on the contract, people who currently receive ESA payments are not having their yearly medical reviews done any more, because there are no ATOS doctors being made available to do them.

Once the DWP appoint a different company to do the contract, ESA claimants will start having yearly medicals again.

I'm really glad that I started this thread.

It continues to keep me calm( ish ) about everything.

I await my fate with trepidation.

Did who?

Update: Last week I received a letter stating that my claim ( for ESA ) had been looked at again following a recent change.

It further stated that I have been placed in the "support group" ( whatever that is ) and that I am not required to take part in any work related activity.

My weekly payment has increased significantly, too.This increase was also backdated to when I originally made my claim, so I was fortunate enough to recieve a lump sum as a result.

I have no idea why this has happened without me having to attend an interview, which I was expecting at some point. Perhaps it is due to the fact that company that deals with these claims is pulling out of its government contract.

Anyway, I don't know what will happen next or when.

In my experience the whole process has been a nightmare - as I became really stressed out every time I had to renew my sick note via my doctor's reception desk.

I was expecting a letter telling me that I needed to send yet another sick note, but got this news instead.

A horrible experience up until now ( as I've been torturing myself over this ) but at least I'm stress free for the time being.