Atos Healthcare

Oldernotwiser

nogginthenog wrote: »

Some politicians do say we have the toughest qualifying critera in the Eu,...i suppose it depends on what criteria you use.
One thing for certain, We do have a long and poorly written application forms....But the real saving grace in the UK is that .....WE HAVE THE RIGHT OF APPEAL.

I think that it's very difficult to assess the forms if you don't know the language or the culture well. However, I do know that most countries won't let you claim unless you've contributed for quite a number of years, which isn't the case in the UK. I also think that most countries have the right of appeal, in some shape or form.

nogginthenog

I think our system is better than the French one.

Eligibility

Residency

Recipients must live in France or overseas departments full time and be either:

• French
• An EU citizen or the family member (spouse/child) of an EU citizen
• A foreign national, holding a valid residency permit or receipt of application for renewal of a residency permit

Age

Recipients must meet age requirements and must be:

• over 20 years old, or
• over 16 years old if they are not also considered dependents in calculating family benefits

AAH is paid to those up to 60 years of age if incapacity is determined to be at least 50-60 percent. At 60 years of age, the recipient will be switched to incapacity pension benefit (r!gime de retraite pour inaptitude). Those at least 80 percent incapacitated may receive a reduced monthly allowance after the age of 60.
Incapacity

Applicants for AAH must meet conditions of incapacity to qualify and must be:

• at least 80 percent incapacitated
• or if incapacity is determined to be between 50 and 79 percent, the applicant must be unable to pursue a professional activity and not have been employed for at least one year before the date of application.

An applicant's level of disability is assessed and determined by the Commission on the Rights and Autonomy of Handicapped Persons (Commission des droits et de l'autonomie des personnes handicap!es, CDAPH) using a standard guide. The Commission also determines:

• the applicants right to, and duration of, the payment of the benefit
• the allocation of an "invalid" card (Carte d'invalidit!)
• eligibility for admission to a specialised centre or a work centre for disabled persons - MAS (Maison d’Accueil Sp!cialis!e) or ESAT (Etablissement ou Service d'Aide par le Travail)
• the recognition of a disabled worker
• the availability of free pension contributions for the carer of the person with disabilities

Financial resources

Financial resources, including home value, are taken into consideration when calculating eligibility for AAH. Net income, plus or minus certain deductions and expenses, is also considered in calculating eligibility. Annual evaluations were previously made in July by CAF (Caisse d'Allocations Familiales), taking into consideration the previous calendar year's income. From 2009, evaluations will be made on 1 January.
As of 1 January 2008, in order to be eligible for benefits, annual income must not exceed:

• For single people: €7,831.20
• For people married, cohabitating or bound by a PACS: €15,662.40
• For applicants with children, the ceiling is increased by €3,915.60 for each child

Resources taken into account in assessing net income:

• all taxable income earned in France
• income earned outside France
• allowances for sickness, maternity, work injury and illness
• commercial, craft, liberal or agricultural activities
• pensions, some annuities and remuneration to directors and shareholders of some companies
• farmers benefits

In calculating net income, certain rebates and "neutralisations" are made. For example, only a certain percentage of income from ordinary work is included, calculated on a graduated scale.

• For the scale: Click here(in French)

Not taken into consideration in the calculation of income is:

• Survival rent (rente survie) or disability savings (!pargne handicap)
• Family caregiver wages paid to a spouse, partner or PACS partner as long as the wages meet the conditions for granting aid (prestation de compensation du handicap/PCH)
• Incomes received (or to be received) via Insertion-Revenu Minimum d'Activit! (CI-RMA)

In the event of unemployment with no replacement income, beneficiaries of AAH can apply to receive increased payments. Eligibility for the payments begins at the beginning of the following calendar month. When employment is obtained again, benefits will end at the end of the month prior to the beginning of work.
Benefits and Supplements

As of 1 January 2008, the maximum monthly AAH benefit for one handicapped person with no financial resources is €652.60.

• For information from CAF on the latest payment amounts: Click here(in French)

Recipients will receive the maximum amount if income is under the fixed income limit (barème). If income is more than the limit, the benefit will be reduced. If a pension or annuity is also received, the difference between the amount of that income and the maximum benefit allowed will be paid.
Supplements

Since 11 February 2005 two supplements to the AAH exist for the disabled who meet certain conditions. The first is paid to those who choose to live in independent accommodation in order to help them to pay for the extra expenses of adapting their home.
As of 1 January 2008 this benefit is €104.77 monthly and is paid if the person:

• has at least 80 percent disability
• receives the full AAH allowance
• does not engage in professional activities (is not employed)
• has independent housing, for which they receive housing assistance (they live in their own home, or rent, or live for free in private accommodation)

The other supplement is paid to compensate for the absence of income for those unable to work. As of 1 January 2008, this benefit is €179.31 monthly. This is paid if the person:

• is recognised as having a capacity to work of less than five percent
• is under 60 years of age
• receives the full AAH allowance
• has independent accommodation
• has received no income from work for more than a year and is not about to start a job

Note: Recipients who meet the conditions for both supplements must ask to receive both.

If a benefits recipient is hospitalised or admitted into MAS or ESAT accommodation, benefits are suspended.
How to File for Benefits

Request an application form for the AAH at a local CAF (Caisse d'Allocations Familiales) office or Departmental Office for Handicapped Persons (Maison d!partementale des personnes handicap!es, MDPH). The allowance, if the applicant is eligible, will start from the month that follows application.

• To find a local CAF office: Click here
• To find a local MDPH office: Click here

Other aspects of receiving AAH

Recipients of AAH also have rights to maternity allowances if required and are exempt from the local taxes (taxe d’habitation). Those receiving the AAH and other extra allowances are exempt from income tax.
The employers of disabled workers receiving benefits who are hired under a CIRMA or CAV work contracts receive monthly assistance from the government. The amount of this assistance will be deducted from the employee's

Oldernotwiser

Thanks for the interesting information; it certainly proves that the UK system isn't the " most stringent" in Europe.

vickc9

I can't believe some of your comments towards people asking for advice.. presuming EVERYONE who needs help concerning a medical with atos are trying to get a benefit that they are not entitled to.

Why don't you tell us who you work for and what your honest opinion is on people who are on benefits?

Blabby2 is correct about these people who post on here I've read their other posts they're nothing but bullys, ganging up against people who need genuine advice because really they don't understand anything about medical issues and begrudge people who have to claim because they have physical or mental problems.

I believe they have nothing better to do other than to sit on the holier than thou pedistall and preach their views to anyone who'll listen.

Until you have been in the type of situation described by many on here you can't possibly understand what people have to endure, mentally or physically going through these medicals or trying to get better to get back into work... in my opinion you never have because you would be alot more understanding of others issues if you had been!!

I wouldn't be surprised if u worked for one of these organisations!!! It sounds like you're cheering everytime someone passes their medical to say they're fit to work... If they were ready for work do u not think they would come of the benefit themselves rather than having to prove they have a disability... let alone to someone who is not qualified in the area of your disability... someone who can overide your own consultant/doctor/therepist/ETC.

One day something will happen to someone u know and they'll have to claim these benefits, then you will see first hand what is expected of them and how many hoops they have to jump through before they get turned away for a benefit they're entitled to, only then will you understand the mental exhaustion and financial impact on these people.

seven-day-weekend

I for one do not and never have worked for either the DWP or Atos.

Many of us know what it is like from our own experience or from those of a loved one. My husband has been on Incapacity Benefit since 2004 and has had to fill in three IB50s and have two medicals.

TBH, I don't see what the problem is with the form. The questions are straightforward enough. Just tell it as it is! Warts and all. Don't leave anything out or assume they know anything about your condition.

The medicals - yes they can be stressful (my husband finds them so), but how else are they to check on your condition? Many people no longer need to send in sick notes. Surely you don't think that people should just be able to say 'I'm ill' and get public money without ever having it monitored??

I asked my husband if he thought there was anything wrong with having to fill a form in and maybe have a medical and he said the same as me, that they have to check it somehow -people would soon be banging on about fraudulent claimants if no-one ever checked. It's unfortunate that he and many others find it stressful but it is difficult to see what else can be done.

dmg24

vickc9 wrote: »

I can't believe some of your comments towards people asking for advice.. presuming EVERYONE who needs help concerning a medical with atos are trying to get a benefit that they are not entitled to.

Why don't you tell us who you work for and what your honest opinion is on people who are on benefits?

Blabby2 is correct about these people who post on here I've read their other posts they're nothing but bullys, ganging up against people who need genuine advice because really they don't understand anything about medical issues and begrudge people who have to claim because they have physical or mental problems.

I believe they have nothing better to do other than to sit on the holier than thou pedistall and preach their views to anyone who'll listen.

Until you have been in the type of situation described by many on here you can't possibly understand what people have to endure, mentally or physically going through these medicals or trying to get better to get back into work... in my opinion you never have because you would be alot more understanding of others issues if you had been!!

I wouldn't be surprised if u worked for one of these organisations!!! It sounds like you're cheering everytime someone passes their medical to say they're fit to work... If they were ready for work do u not think they would come of the benefit themselves rather than having to prove they have a disability... let alone to someone who is not qualified in the area of your disability... someone who can overide your own consultant/doctor/therepist/ETC.

One day something will happen to someone u know and they'll have to claim these benefits, then you will see first hand what is expected of them and how many hoops they have to jump through before they get turned away for a benefit they're entitled to, only then will you understand the mental exhaustion and financial impact on these people.

Welcome to MSE vickc9!

Anyone is welcome to give their own free time to help others on the Benefits board - I look forward to your contributions! :rolleyes:

emweaver

well its been 6 months and ive not heard when im due to have a medical, altho not complaining. but im very anxious everytime post man comes

AsknAnswer

vickc9 wrote: »

I can't believe some of your comments towards people asking for advice.. presuming EVERYONE who needs help concerning a medical with atos are trying to get a benefit that they are not entitled to.

Why don't you tell us who you work for and what your honest opinion is on people who are on benefits?

Blabby2 is correct about these people who post on here I've read their other posts they're nothing but bullys, ganging up against people who need genuine advice because really they don't understand anything about medical issues and begrudge people who have to claim because they have physical or mental problems.

I believe they have nothing better to do other than to sit on the holier than thou pedistall and preach their views to anyone who'll listen.

Until you have been in the type of situation described by many on here you can't possibly understand what people have to endure, mentally or physically going through these medicals or trying to get better to get back into work... in my opinion you never have because you would be alot more understanding of others issues if you had been!!

I wouldn't be surprised if u worked for one of these organisations!!! It sounds like you're cheering everytime someone passes their medical to say they're fit to work... If they were ready for work do u not think they would come of the benefit themselves rather than having to prove they have a disability... let alone to someone who is not qualified in the area of your disability... someone who can overide your own consultant/doctor/therepist/ETC.

One day something will happen to someone u know and they'll have to claim these benefits, then you will see first hand what is expected of them and how many hoops they have to jump through before they get turned away for a benefit they're entitled to, only then will you understand the mental exhaustion and financial impact on these people.

I think you will find that many DWP staff actually have to "jump through hoops" themselves with ATOS. DWP is an equal opportunities employer and many of the staff whom work within it have disabilities. They also have to go to ATOS to have their disability assessed if they require reasonable adjustments to carry out their duties due to their disabilities, again this is despite many people having been disabled for a number of years, some from birth. AND they have to have regular reviews just like everyone else. Yes, there are plenty of people who have their own specialists' opinion overidden by an ATOS medic who has no specialist knowledge of their specific condition. DWP staff or benefit claimants - they all get the same treatments and assessments by ATOS. What is more is that ATOS assessments for staff result in "recommendations", so anything the employee requires in order to perform their duties without it adversly affecting their disablity do not even have to be implemented by DWP and more than often, that is exactly what happens. The resommendations are not implemented, the condition becomes exacerbated as a result, which has a knock on effect on the staff members attendance or ability to perform their duties. Then they get the boot on "grounds of capability" These people are IN work, and many are forced out of it. Some go to tribunal and win, some go to tribunal and fail. Whatever, everyone in DWP knows someone that this has happened to, whom has ended up on the other side of the counter.

welshmoneylover

vickc9 wrote: »

. If they were ready for work do u not think they would come of the benefit themselves rather than having to prove they have a disability...

Unfortunately, there are far too many people free riding the system with dubious disabilities that spoil it for the genuine claimants.

they have to jump through before they get turned away for a benefit they're entitled to, only then will you understand the mental exhaustion and financial impact on these people.

A lot of peolple claiming for dubious conditions only come to this board asking for advice when they experience financial hardship after their benefit has been cut and a Dr has declared them medically fit for work.

Claimaints with depression/anxiety spring to mind. I can't believe they'd rather sit in the house all day popping pills instead of getting some fresh air and exercise and trying to help themselves see a way out of their hole. We all get a bit depressed now and again, it's quite common. Some people cope by going to work and paying taxes while other sit in the house all day.

Did you see Stephen Fry the other day? He's shifted 3 stone of fat by simply going to the gym As a bonus, his depression that he's suffered from for years has gone!

Now he doesn't sit in the house moping around, good for him. Self help is a wonderful tonic.

Welcome to the benefits board btw,

NASA_2

welshmoneylover wrote: »

Claimaints with depression/anxiety spring to mind.

90% of the caseload there.