Digital recording at meetings - Narcolepsy and the law and benefits

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Digital recording at meetings

09/05/2012 11:59

johnc

Joined: 08/10/2010

Posts: 834

Digital recording at meetings

As you may know ATOS frown on people recording their medical interviews - though it isn't illegal, contrary to what they say. It was decided that if you wanted to have your medical recorded you could go to a special ATOS facility where they would have recording equipment embedded. Now, I have been smelling a rat for some time on this and have been asking the DWP how many medical centres are in fact set up for digital recording; it has taken a year but in the post this morning I got the answer.

Guess? Here is a helping hand; their are 147 medical centres through the country.

The answer is 8 with two more due to go online this year - so 10 in total. Now, if the medical assessments were plain sailing and people didn't contact us regularly with problems I would say fair enough. A bit low, I expected 25/30 minimum. But the case is that we do get regular as in weekly and some times daily requests from people who have been missrepresented in an interview where they could not call for a recording of what they said. So here is the thing, a nice little wheeze to make life difficult for the DWP. When you apply for your ESA or any benefit that requires a medical on the forms, request that your medical takes place in a facility with a digital recording system! I am sorry but this will slow down your application but if everyone did it then they would have to construct more centres with recording facilities in them and only when the appeal panel can hear what is going on and said, and the tone inwhich it was said, can we start to get justice.

John

17/05/2012 14:27

Dreamer

Joined: 04/03/2011

Posts: 12

Re: Digital recording at meetings

Thank you for all the imformation you have provided about ESA. I am about to be assessed for ESA ( & 'migrated' somewhere) currently receiveing Income support on grounds of disability. do you think if i am called for a medical and request a facility where recording equipment is embedded it would mean travelling a long way? Has this happened to anyone? I'm very stressed about it as i'm not as extreme as some but my energy window is quite short and trying to work out what is the best approachfor me. Can anyone tell me what the difference is between the work related group and the support group? Also I'm not sure page 7 is correct where you say ' You can't claim ESA if you already receive either JSA or Income Support ', . . on page 1 you say that 'if you claim Income support you will be re-assessed for ESA' . . .

22/05/2012 09:08

johnc

Joined: 08/10/2010

Posts: 834

Re: Digital recording at meetings

Hello Dreamer and thanks for the post; sorry it's all so complex but blame the government for that!

I do think it could mean some significant travel if you request a centre where recording equipment is embedded; only you can say if you think it will be worth it. It will also certainly mean that a delay will occur before you are checked. There are only a few centres with recording equipment in them and they tend to be busy.

ESA comes in two parts either work related or support. Work related ESA is where you are seen to have problems working but not enough to stop you trying. So, you have to attend regular meetings, explain what you have done to try to get work, possibly be sent on training courses and do anything possible to get some form of work. In addition work related ESA pays less (slightly) than support group and is means tested, so if you have other income you might well get a reduced amount of ESA. Support group is for those with the worst problems where you are not expected to be able to work. You do not have to attend meetings or show you are trying to get work; support group also pays more (slightly) and is not means tested.

The two comments are both correct and show’s how complex the situation is! If you claim income support or incapacity benefit you will be re-assessed for ESA sometime between now and 2014/15 at the latest. We say re-assessed because the amounts you receive now will be re-assessed and you could get less (or more).It is also possible that under the new rules you will be assessed as fit to work and be only able to claim JSA – job seekers allowance. Though if you have narcolepsy that is not likely, you are almost guaranteed work related ESA. ON page 7 we do say that you can’t claim either JSA or Income Support if you are on ESA because you can’t. ESA will replace income support and JSA is an alternative to ESA for those who are fully able to work.

So, if at the moment you claim income support or incapacity benefit the first thing that will happen is that you will be re-assessed to see if you are eligible for ESA. It is not a given that even at the highest rates of incapacity benefit you will obtain ESA. As ESA replaces income support it is not possible to get income support and ESA together; after 2014/15 income support is no longer a benefit and disappears completely. You can’t claim JSA and ESA together; JSA is for those able bodied individuals who are looking for work and ESA is for less able bodied people who might (work related) or might not (support group) be able to work.

28/05/2012 16:24

SamBC

Joined: 16/11/2011

Posts: 42

Re: Digital recording at meetings

A couple of points I've fairly sure about and not sure if they've been mentioned...

Firstly, they will not ask if you want to have a recording done, and the advice from DWP is that you mention it on the ESA50 form and call and point it out when your appointment letter comes. They do have to do it then, though.

Secondly, they should pay your cost of travel to the nearest centre equipped for recording. This would be the cheapest practicable method of travel. I have no idea whether they'd cover the cost of someone to accompany you or not, or in what circumstances.

30/05/2012 09:31

johnc

Joined: 08/10/2010

Posts: 834

Re: Digital recording at meetings

I have just read on the Benefits Helpline website that te DWP are now saying it isn't against the law to tape your meeting with Atos. I am goint to do some more checking on this!

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Digital recording at meetings

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