Atos Interview

[Cloverjo]

I just searched for ATOS on here as a family member has an interview with them soon to assess his suitability for claiming sickness-related benefits, and I wondered if anyone could help with information about what happens on the day.

I found this thread:
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question1324781.html
Why are they still doing the job if they are not capable of doing it properly?

Anyway, my main questions still remain, what happens at the interview? What do they ask? Do they do any physical tests? How long does it last? Any info would be much appreciated. Thank you.

[Buenchico]

From the ATOS website:
http://www.atoshealthcare.com/claimants/types_of_assessment_esa_wca

[emmie]

i found it hard, demeaning, worthless, tasteless, made to beg,
not listened to, the nurse doing the health check simply ticked the boxes, so i got nil points on my check, so i spent over over 18 months getting it reversed, good luck to any who go through this. It may not be as bad for some, but i thought that ATOS were now history..

[emmie]

my interview was one of the longer ones apparently, some 30 minutes which the nurse spent mostly looking at the computer, asking me the set amount of questions, the few things i was asked to do were walk across the room unaided - look at the clock, raise arms, legs to a height deemed acceptable, most were not, however that was not taken into consideration.
i was told by her that my form had lots of info on it, something i thought we were supposed to do, apparently not as she hadn't read much of it,
so based her entire case on the tick the boxes exercise,
appalling.

[Arrods]

Cloverjo - As a matter of interest, how long did it take from date of claim to date of assessment? Only ask because OH put in a claim on 15 August last year and is still waiting for an assesssment.

[emmie]

they take an age, my whole claim was over 18 months going into two years.

[Arrods]

Oh gawd! OH's disability, although serious, is steadily improving but we believe OH will meet the minimum 12 period for PIP entitlement. What are the bets that, when the assessment is finally made, she'll be deemed A1 - ignoring the serious mobility problems experienced for 12+ months beforehand. We might as well give up now.

[Cloverjo]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Sorry you had such a hard time of it, emmie. I hope they're not too nasty to my relative. I don't think he'll handle that too well.
Arrods, IIRC, the claim was made about Christmas time, last year.

I read that ATOS was to be sacked in 2015. Why not now? It doesn't make sense.