It was raining heavily and the trains were on time. I rushed along the road trying not to miss the building but it kinda stuck out like a sore thumb and it would be hard not to notice it as it had all the charm and quaintness of an old DSS building. Instead it’s welcome to Atos Healthcare, where I have an appointment for an assessment. I am buzzed in and have to sign a few forms, then show ID such as a bank card. Then I sit down in the airless windowless waiting room looking at other anxious souls waiting for their turn.
I am called kind of promptly, introduced to a male nurse (had he any training in mental distress?) and then swiftly taken into another airless, windowless and extremely stuffy room. The light is very sharp on my vision along with the heat I become sleepy due to the anti-depressants and anxiety.
The nurse tries to put me at ease and explains the procedure. Do I feel at ease? Don’t think I do. His voice is soft and welcoming but it all sounds rehearsed.
I am asked how I got to the place (helpfully Atos on the back of the referral letter give you travel instructions) and how long it took me approximately. Then it is routine questions about my depression such as whether I am able to cook, socialise, carry out house work, dress myself and so on. While I speak he is tapping away on the computer rarely looking up at me. The questions become more personal and intrusive such as asking me about whether I have been suicidal (thinking it or attempting it). My own respond betrays my own nervousness and anxiety of answering this question as it is deeply personal. He swiftly moves on about what support I am getting, GP, counselling service, partner, friends and so on. Hobbies and interests, what do I do during the day and so on. Very basic and indeed opaque questions. It occurred to me how they could they extrapolate information about me based on quick questions where you can’t really go into that much depth. Asking very superficial questions will only get a one-dimensional answers.
My own interview lasted 20 minutes and most of that was with the Atos nurse tapping away on the computer without looking at me that much or even apologising for all the typing. The only eye contact was when he looked up to ask questions. This style of computer-based quick-fire questioning will either make or break my entitlement to benefits. With all that constant typing surely concentration is lost and mistakes inevitably made.I was told I would be contacted within 3 weeks.
I was contacted within 3 weeks and was, surprised not in the least, unsuccessful. I have followed the legions of other claimants knocked back by this flawed approach. Apparently 400,000 appeals (and the number is growing) have been lodged against decisions not to grant the benefit since it was launched in October 2008, and 39% have been successful. I wonder what my own scores will be again will it highlight the haphazard hit and miss of this assessment.
With all the negative media headlines generated to attack claimants accusing them of being workshy and scroungers creates more fear and anxiety. Sitting in an Atos room answering deeply personal and intrusive questions about your life is soul destroying, humiliating and upsetting. Your life is exposed and put under a microscope, jumping through countless hoops just to continue to receive a meagre amount of benefit which isn’t about living it’s about barely existing.
