Personal note.

The story below was passed to me from rightsnet.org.uk.  For as long as I have been doing this project one core piece of advice is to ensure that when it comes to any form for any health related benefit you really take the time to give full details on ALL the medical professionals that you deal with.  Many of us see more than one consultant as we have differing additional issues. We previously have sought the view of the DWP on there duty to contact and seek medical reports from ALL the medical professionals you list on the form and the disclosed they have to.  You can prepare your consultants by informing them that you have listed them as a source of supporting medical evidence to your claim and to expect a request for a medical report. However, ask to see what is written, before it is sent  - very important.

As the story below indicates. When the Decision Maker see's all the medical evidence they can make a decision that doesn't just consider the ATOS Origin medical assessment.

Also, provision of by you of full medical information. That may not have been properly considered as point of application may give any appeal strength in argument.

For people with mental health issues it is vital they list any mental health medical practioner they see for the DWP to seek a full medical report. Where the GP is the source of most of a claimants medical report data. As mentioned it is really important that you explicitly tell the GP you will withhold consent for a report to be sent to the DWP by them until you have seen it (beware of time frames).  This can be important as you may want the GP to elaborate in certain key area's of your health to avoid a generalised statement. Just to ensure as much detail is passed to the DWP. The DWP do not like you to talk to your GP about this and advise the GP not to talk to you. However the rights you have within the patient/doctor relationship come first.

The story -

Jobcentre Plus decisions on ESA differing from initial Atos recommendation in 8 - 10 per cent of cases

Minister highlights that DWP decision also based on any additional evidence provided by a claimant's GP or consultant

09 February, 2011

Jobcentre Plus decisions on whether ESA claimants should be placed in the work related activity group or the support group differ from the initial recommendation of Atos Healthcare in approximately 8 - 10 per cent of cases, according to new government figures.

Responding to a Parliamentary Written Question earlier this week, Work and Pensions Minster Chris Grayling said that following a work capability assessment having been carried out by an Atos healthcare professional, a report is then sent to Jobcentre Plus who will then consider all the available information before making a decision on benefit entitlement, including any additional evidence provided by a claimant's GP or consultant.

As a result of this further consideration of cases, Mr Grayling said -

• whilst Atos have recommended that more than 148,000 claimants be placed in the work related activity group since the introduction of ESA in late 2008, an additional 12,230 claimants have been placed in the group by Jobcentre Plus; and
• whilst more than 56,000 claimants were recommended for the support group by Atos, Jobcentre Plus has placed an additional 5,770 in the group.

The Minister's Parliamentary Written Answer is available from Hansard.