DH has been on incapacity benefit for as long as I remember for a whole list of mental health reasons that he has suffered from all his life. Over the past 8 years he has tried working a few times but ended up much more ill as a result. He gets a sick note every 8 weeks for incapacity benefit - longterm I think...?
They sent a letter asking him to go to a medical examination in Reading but there's no way he could go (agoraphobic, anxiety etc). I rang to find out what we should do and they said we should get the GP to fax them requesting a home visit. About 6 years ago this happened and they signed him off for 18 months after the home visit. I'm assuming his attempts to work put him back on the 8 weekly sick notes.
Anyway, the GP sent the fax with a letter and apparently a few other things (no idea what, I assume some of his history!?). I rang to find out when the home visit would be (he can't cope with phonecalls), and they said he was exempt from needing an examination and that his records were being sent back to DWP. They said to wait a few weeks before ringing them for an update.
So, I rang earlier this week and his records are at a different office than his usual one - Newcastle instead of Totton. Eventually got through to Newcastle who said they are waiting for ATOS to send them a form and that he has 'passsed the scrutiny stage'. She couldn't explain what that means and also said that ATOS were wrong to tell me he was exempt. I explained that I think the lady was just using that word to describe that he didn't need the examination, not that he was now officially exempt - it was a rather confusing phonecall!! So, now we just have to wait for ATOS to send this form to DWP, but in the meantime I have no idea what all this means and neither does DH. I realise they are going over all claims, and rightly so, but am confused about how all this will effect him and his benefits...?
Any ideas anybody? It's just bugging me and I'm feeling impatient so not urgent or anything... TIA