Start Of Atos Process

hc4361 | 16:12 Sun 28th Jul 2013 | How it Works

8 Answers

My sis has been on IB for years - could never understand why she wouldn't apply for DLA.

The process for assessing her for the new benefit has started. She's had the initial letter, the phone call to confirm her identity (why?) and has now received the first form to complete.

She very rarely leaves the house but now refuses to open her curtains or answer her door because she is convinced ATOS is covertly spying on her. She says that is 'what they do'.

She does suffer from anxiety and paranoia but could there be any truth in her suspicions? Anyone have experience of this process?

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wolf63

I am bipolar and have been on benefit for about nine years. I passed the first hurdle (filling up the form) but due to the 'group' that I ended up being put in I lost my benefit after a year.

Your sister *is* overreacting (but that doesn't change the fact that she feels persecuted) but you are right to be cautious. Does she have a community psychiatric nurse? If it were me that would be my first point of contact, your sister will trust the nurse.

I used to work for DWP (24 years) and even then I was totally confused by the whole system once it changed. Mental health problems are invisible and stress such as this is certainly not good for your sister.

Try CAB for help too

hc4361

Question Author

Many thanks, wolf. Good suggestions there. She has many physical ailments as well, but you are right, the stress is doing her no good at all.

We are all very grateful for her fantastic GP and MHU team.

wolf63

It is hard to cope with mental illness, but being a relative must be stressful too.

Good luck and I hope that they don't muck her around too much.

hc4361

Question Author

Thanks - that means a lot :)

-- answer removed --

jim360

It's still a thing, Rob: The first UC recipients already exist, in a couple of districts, with some more to follow in October, but that is expected to be only for the very simple cases rather than full-blown Universal Credit. As a result the scheme is already massively behind Iain Duncan Smith's proposed schedule.

factor-fiction

If ATOS spied on everyone they'd need a few hundred thousand spies- which they don't have

hc4361

Question Author

Thanks Factor, but she is convinced she is being spied on between receiving the phone call and going to interview - not 24/7/365

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