DLA and ATOS - help and advice

[Lady Lou]

Hope I've got this in the right place, but would very much welcome responses.

I have been on DLA LRC, indefinite award for many years following problems caused by injury to my neck after a car accident.

My symptoms very gradually progressed to the point where I requested a review, with the help of the CAB. I would perhaps not have left it so long if I hadn't been so worried about loosing the small award I had.

Initially, the decision maker said "no change" so I requested an appeal, this was 6 months ago.

On Saturday I received a letter from ATOS asking me to attend a medical 30 miles away this Friday.

I have rung to say that I can't make this, mainly as I wouldn't be able to get back in time to collect one of my children from their residential school trip, but it has set me thinking.

I've read some pretty dreadful reports about ATOS medicals. The system just doesn't seem to be supportive of people with needs at all, it's just a lottery.

DLA requested further reports from my GP and Chronis Pain Consultant and now this!

I have just had a call from ATOS offering to send a taxi to collect and return me at their expense....now I'm really nervous!

Any words of wisdom?

[davewhit]

Hope I've got this in the right place, but would very much welcome responses.

I have been on DLA LRC, indefinite award for many years following problems caused by injury to my neck after a car accident.

My symptoms very gradually progressed to the point where I requested a review, with the help of the CAB. I would perhaps not have left it so long if I hadn't been so worried about loosing the small award I had.

Initially, the decision maker said "no change" so I requested an appeal, this was 6 months ago.

On Saturday I received a letter from ATOS asking me to attend a medical 30 miles away this Friday.

I have rung to say that I can't make this, mainly as I wouldn't be able to get back in time to collect one of my children from their residential school trip, but it has set me thinking.

I've read some pretty dreadful reports about ATOS medicals. The system just doesn't seem to be supportive of people with needs at all, it's just a lottery.

DLA requested further reports from my GP and Chronis Pain Consultant and now this!

I have just had a call from ATOS offering to send a taxi to collect and return me at their expense....now I'm really nervous!

Any words of wisdom?

atos medicals are a mixed bag some good some bad but who wants this one ? dwp or appeals tribunal ?

[Lady Lou]

I completed a GL24 to appeal against the DWP's decision to keep my DLA award at the same (LRC) rate.
They then wrote saying that their decision would take longer as they were requesting a report from my GP.
Then they wrote saying the same about requesting a consultant's report.
I am guessing that this is why the CAB said I should appeal and not just request a reconsideration, as the DWP do that before progressing to an appeal anyway?
It all takes so long and all the while I struggle, as I'm sure many of us do.