ATOS doctor,ringing me.

[guyscliffe]

Hey Guys ...
Have started other threads within the forum,with regards to my mental wellbeing.
To cut a long story short,i've been off for 10 months now with severe depression(my GP's and counsellors words,not mine).
Had the initial six telephone calls with an ATOS advisor,then referred onto a local face to face counsellor for six sessions/appointments paid for by the Royal Mail.
It was then decided given the severity of my health,by me my counsellor and GP to go down the IHR road if it was offered.
So between the Royal Mail and ATOS it was decided that I would need to see a Royal Mail doctor at my local mail centre.
Both of these appointments were made for when I was away on holiday in Cornwall <-- :P .
I was told to get away for a while..... change of scenery may do me good etc .....So I then received an ATOS phone call on Monday,arranging another telephone appointment for today at 1pm.
This was with an ATOS doctor,or practitioner appaarently (I didn't really catch what his official title was,due to his accent).
He talked me through what would be happening,and what would be the end result of todays appointment.
He asked me to describe why I hadn't been able/or felt well enough to go back into the work place.
It was also stated that everything was already on his laptop,as to why I am suffering this terrible depression.
The end result of this after about 40 minutes was for him to summarise what he thought was advisable for me,and my ability to go back into the workplace.
In his opinion,he didn't think that I would qualify for IHR.... And that I was well enough to go back into the workplace.
Now given that my GP (who has just signed me off for another 2 months)and my counsellor are both whistling a very different tune,wheir do I stand.
He said that he would be drawing up a report/review of our conversation together,and sending one copy to Royal Mail/My manager and another copy to me.
I KNOW I'M NOT WELL ENOUGH TO GO BACK INTO WORK,IN FACT I WAS TOLD NOT TO GO BACK GIVEN THE ATMOSPHERE AND MORAL IN ROYAL MAIL AT THE MOMENT.
Cant think of a worse enviorenment to go back into,for someone with depression.
He said that once the reports had been sent out,The Royal Mail would re-contact me.
So no IHR after 25 years service .... hmmmm :(
My alternative would be to thrown the towel in,and hand in my notice?
And then claim my Royal Mail pension when I finally reach the ripe old age.
P.S Financially i'm ok,this is why my GP and counsellor went along with the IHR train of thought.
I'm not keen to go back to Royal Mail,and undo all of the good work that my GP's and counsellor has done for me.
Your thoughts and advice would be much appreciated.
Cheers .....

[POSTMAN]

My alternative would be to thrown the towel in,and hand in my notice?

DO NOT QUIT!

No doubt others in the know will come on the advise you properly,but do not even think of quitting yet.

[guyscliffe]

My alternative would be to thrown the towel in,and hand in my notice?

DO NOT QUIT!

No doubt others in the know will come on the advise you,do not even think of quitting yet.

OK,cheers Postman.

Gotta wait for this report to arrive from ATOS,firstly .....
25 years service,and not even given the opportunity of a face to face at my local mail center .... :(
Silly question though,here .....
IF I DID QUIT,would that harm my pension in any way?

[pokos27]

with ill health retirement, i think you will only get it, due to physical conditions.
But do not quit, yet again we see atos and the drs note go into battle.
I hope you get the result you want.

[knackeredneedadayoff]

dont quit, atos just want you back into work,they dont give a flying one about you.seek union help and dont be bullied back in.

[stokes11eg]

Well, in the first instance, if your doctor is wiling to keep on signing you off, then take advatage of that, as you say, you are ok finacially, so even if your wages get cut or are stopped, you will still be entitled to some form of finacial support from somewhere,even if it's just rebates to rent council tax or whatever.
Do not just quit! You can appeal this so called ATOS ruling. Without going in to too much deatail, I can tell you that on some occassions, some of my workmates who have been told this by one advisor, and demanded to speak to another, have had this 'decision' reversed within a couple of days!
I cannot help you re. pension question, but very good luck to you, keep on fighting, you are due something after 25 years service--

[Pat Ostman]

Good Luck (hope you are better soon)

[wayoutman]

had almost the same happen with me over last couple of weeks.
been off 8 months now.
IHR seemed to be almost on the table until i had the atos phone call last week ans told i would not be eligable in his opinion.

new business plan anybody

[protect us]

It's a difficult one ! But given the way the job is there's no doubt you've seen the best of it and prob earnt well if you did plenty of docket :) I personally would go as health comes first - I'm going through a similar problem and after over ten years service the job now is crazy ! And I feel very upset by it all - you can't talk to anyone as unless you been a postie they don't fully know what your talking about !! When people say at least you got a job they don't realise now what happens behind the scenes do they ! So if you got a little nest egg go and enjoy life and get a little part time job - being as that's all there seems to be out there these days , it looks like part time is the new full time anyway !!! Good luck mate , lifes too short :) keep ya chin up

[red1968]

My guess is they want you to walk and save £20k...DONT QUIT..

I hope things improve and go your way.

[flaminmoses]

had almost the same happen with me over last couple of weeks.
been off 8 months now.
IHR seemed to be almost on the table until i had the atos phone call last week ans told i would not be eligable in his opinion.

new business plan anybody

certainly looks that way.

minimal ihr payoffs for the timebeing......probably because there is no chance we will be sold anytime soon and any job losses will come from some evrs and sackings for trivial matters.

[guyscliffe]

Brilliant advice from everyone as ever.
I have emailed my counsellor this afternoon and relayed onto her what this ATOS guy said OVER THE PHONE ;-)
Have also rung my doctors surgery,for my GP'S advice.
She is unavailable today,due to a family bereavement.
I did however have a phone call from one of her partners,who rung me after her surgery....She recommended me after things have taken their course (with the ATOS report,and my counsellors and doctors advice)to appeal against any decision thats made,that i'm not happy about.But given the severity of my depression I dont want to go to far down this road,as this will only drag me down further.
So hopefully tomorrow I will hear from my counsellor,and I have made an appointment to see my GP a week tomorrow.
So the wheels are turning.
But quite how they can make that bigga decision over the phone <-- bloody disgraceful ....
I guess thats what 25 yrs of service,does for you.
Can anyone reassure me about my pension (check my original question,at the top of this thread .....)
Cheers Everyone ....

[guyscliffe]

Brilliant advice from everyone as ever.
I have emailed my counsellor this afternoon and relayed onto her what this ATOS guy said OVER THE PHONE ;-)
Have also rung my doctors surgery,for my GP'S advice.
She is unavailable today,due to a family bereavement.
I did however have a phone call from one of her partners,who rung me after her surgery....She recommended me after things have taken their course (with the ATOS report,and my counsellors and doctors advice)to appeal against any decision thats made,that i'm not happy about.But given the severity of my depression I dont want to go to far down this road,as this will only drag me down further.
So hopefully tomorrow I will hear from my counsellor,and I have made an appointment to see my GP a week tomorrow.
So the wheels are turning.
But quite how they can make that bigga decision over the phone <-- bloody disgraceful ....
I guess thats what 25 yrs of service,does for you.
Can anyone reassure me about my pension (check my original question,at the top of this thread .....)
Cheers Everyone ....

Can anyone reassure me about my pension (check my original question,at the top of this thread .....) <-- It was actually my second post,in this thread.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

IF I DID QUIT,would that harm my pension in any way?

As far as I know No.

However all the payments and entitlements you have under the Pension Scheme would be frozen at the point. You would not lose any enetitlement, but also you would not be able to build anymore up, unless you transfer any other pension in or out.

However I would not advise on making any decision with such far reaching consequences without first seeing an independant finanacial advisor, and you should also contact RM pensions to get the offical word.

[guyscliffe]

It's a difficult one ! But given the way the job is there's no doubt you've seen the best of it and prob earnt well if you did plenty of docket :) I personally would go as health comes first - I'm going through a similar problem and after over ten years service the job now is crazy ! And I feel very upset by it all - you can't talk to anyone as unless you been a postie they don't fully know what your talking about !! When people say at least you got a job they don't realise now what happens behind the scenes do they ! So if you got a little nest egg go and enjoy life and get a little part time job - being as that's all there seems to be out there these days , it looks like part time is the new full time anyway !!! Good luck mate , lifes too short :) keep ya chin up

Yea,for sure protect_us ...
Have also been advised NOT too sign onto the dole queue,as that would bring its own problems for anyone going through a spell of depression....(especially given the way they haggle and hound you,to TRY to find work)