Thanks AuntieMoosie.
Annie, dont want to hijack your thread here, but just wanted to mention, and to show the difference in assessors and how they work. At my assessment, it was quite rushed as they were running late, my appt was 35 minutes late, they rang just before I left to cancel, and there was no way I was letting that happen, there were people there who had been waiting 2 hours, and I still went in before them somehow. Anyway, this lady, though nice (relief) was telling me, rather than asking me, she said things like 'you can do this, and you can do that cant you' and also, 'you dont do this and you dont do that do you' as an example, I leave the house rarely, and I go from the house to the car, I do not walk anywhere, and I always go out with someone on the rare occasion that I do. After telling her this, she then went on to say 'you dont have any trouble getting on a bus/train alone do you? When I had already told her I dont go out alone, and I only go out with anyone ie my other half in the car. So though I told her this, she was then telling me, not asking, but telling me that I can and do go out alone on buses and trains. I havent been on a train since I was a child, and the last time I went on a bus was when I was 26.
She also asked about my dog, which I told her about, so after telling her I do not go out, she asked does my dog enjoy going for a walk, so I said yes, out in the back garden.
So although this lady was 'nicer' than the last, it is still clearly their intention to prove you are a liar, that there is nothing 'really' wrong with you, and that you can cope and get back to work, its in their makeup, its their job to get you off benefits, they have targets to hit and will do what they can to hit them.
Annie, you seemed to have had a really decent assessor, and thats brilliant, I am glad for you and even a bit jealous lol, but I just want to point out to anyone else that has to go through this that unfortunately, the intention of ATOS is to get you off benefits and back to work, its what they are employed to do.
I recorded my assessment on my mobile phone, which I will type up and use at tribunal if I have to because I clearly stated my problems and conditions. I also took 7 letters, 2 from Psych and Doctor, and 5 other appt letters, and she didnt even read them. Due to my Dysphagia, there is no way they can fail me, or even put me into WRAG, because its a support group descriptor, but I'll bet they will try it. Luckily there is a place called the Riverside Advice Centre here, they helped fill my forms in, and they have solicitors working for them, so if I hit any problems I can go straight back to them and they will support and fight on my behalf, so Im not worried at all with regards to the outcome of my assessment, but as I said it will not surprise me if they try to fail me.
Again, sorry to hijack Annie, but just wanted to get across what these people can be like.
Once again, im thrilled your assessment was better than mine, and your phased return to work sounds great, so hope it goes very well for you
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Sorry you have been sick :( I hope you are feeling better now?
