DLA Troubles - ATOS liars!

Oldernotwiser

clemmatis wrote: »

First, elaborate meals aren't the issue, the test (the old test, now abolished) was whether someone could cook anything but a ready meal; and as I said, the cooking test was also a more general test of competence: ability to lift, and grip, and so on; applicable not only when cooking. When applicable to cooking, it covered, for example, preparing vegetables: peeling potatoes, chopping onions, and so on.

Second, this is the money-saving forum, replete with posts on how to eat well and healthily on little money. The answer given always is, cook from scratch. And though that doesn't mean "cook a cordon bleu meal" it also doesn't mean "buy chopped onions and peeled chopped potatoes and pre-prepared side salads to make a 'meal'".

DLA was, and should still be, a benefit given in recognition of the fact that disabled people incur additional living costs.

A chop and a jacket potato is just as much cooking from scratch as something that requires all that chopping etc.

DLA should go towards paying a disabled person's extra costs, not just be "given in recognition of the fact that disabled people incur additional living costs" - that attitude is the problem really.

DaveHedgehog

I'm regretting making this topic now, can we lock this thread? I only wanted a bit of advice and it's turned in to this,

Oldernotwiser

cit_k wrote: »

Are those cheaper than buying fresh veg/chickens/onions/pototoes etc? Or more expensive?

Are they healthier, premashed stuff, frozen veg etc? Or not as healthy?

Frozen vegetables are by far the freshest, unless you grow your own. A cooked chicken's a cooked chicken, whether cooked in the supermarket or your own oven,

cit_k

DaveHedgehog wrote: »

I'm regretting making this topic now, it's got out of hand.

Can someone lock the thread, what's with the silly bickering?

You will find almost all threads on benefits end up with silly bickering Im afraid, its par for the course on MSE.

Just ignore it, and concentrate on the advice so far in the thread, and whatever solid advice is yet to come.

cit_k

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Frozen vegetables are by far the freshest, unless you grow your own. A cooked chicken's a cooked chicken, whether cooked in the supermarket or your own oven,

What about healthier though, I was always under the impression fresh stuff is far better than frozen.

cit_k

Anubis wrote: »

I thought they were obliged to show you what they had written about what you state, in your own words, and this is what you sign.


However, I didn't think they were obliged to show you their own report based on their own findings before sending it off, because that part you are not signing.

I am off to look at your link

Make sure you read it all, as lots of other things are covered, such as the report should be accurate, they should be able to justify their opinion etc etc.

The reason, I feel they dont abide by the clear rules, is because the assessors would not like having people seeing the lies they have wrote about them.
edit to add: ATOS dont care about professional ethics though, thats the problem, every assessment for IB and ESA is in breach of the rule, so unethical, and it seems many dla ones could be too.

Anubis_2

cit_k wrote: »

Make sure you read it all, as lots of other things are covered, such as the report should be accurate, they should be able to justify their opinion etc etc.

The reason, I feel they dont abide by the clear rules, is because the assessors would not like having people seeing the lies they have wrote about them.
edit to add: ATOS dont care about professional ethics though, thats the problem, every assessment for IB and ESA is in breach of the rule, so unethical, and it seems many dla ones could be too.

I'm not sure, I know definitely they have to read back and show you what they wrote down when questioning you - ie: the information you tell them has to be written factually and this is the form that is signed.

Then the second part is their own report - their medical findings etc, this does not have to be signed by the claimant, and it used to be that they do not have to show you but you can request a copy of that part afterwards (as I did)

So many things are constantly changing with rules and regs, it is hard to keep up with it all.

cit_k

Anubis wrote: »

I'm not sure, I know definitely they have to read back and show you what they wrote down when questioning you - ie: the information you tell them has to be written factually and this is the form that is signed.

Then the second part is their own report - their medical findings etc, this does not have to be signed by the claimant, and it used to be that they do not have to show you but you can request a copy of that part afterwards (as I did)

So many things are constantly changing with rules and regs, it is hard to keep up with it all.

Ignore for now ATOS/DWP/DLA legislation, this is regarding the guidance and rules from the assessors professional regulatory body, the GMC.

This over-rides ALL atos, dwp, dla legislation.

GMC have confirmed to me that any report for benefit purposes is covered by that document, I was specifically asking about ESA and IB, but DLA is undeniably a benefit from the governemtn, so will fall under that guidance, which states that the assessor must offer to show a copy of the report that will be sent to the decision maker before it is sent.

ATOS rules probably say the opposite, but they cannot over-ride the ethical guidance from the GMC, if the assessor fails to follow the rule, report them.

krisskross

cit_k wrote: »

Are those cheaper than buying fresh veg/chickens/onions/pototoes etc? Or more expensive?

Are they healthier, premashed stuff, frozen veg etc? Or not as healthy?

Probably cheaper as you won't be wasting food. i would imagine the frozen vegetables are healthier, picked at peak freshness and frozen quickly. Certainly chopped onions, peas, sweetcorn etc are cheaper frozen than fresh...and usually taste better.

Surely everyone can put a sachet of rice in the microwave for 2 minutes. Or again frozen is available. No peeling, chopping etc needed these days unless you choose to do it. Lots and lots of alternatives.

The chicken i was talking about is fresh, my supermarket also sells cooked sausages, gammon, roast potatoes etc.

Oldernotwiser

cit_k wrote: »

Saying people jump in with paranoid stuff, without backing it up, is not exactly backing someone else up is it?
.

I thought paranoia was one of your reasons for claiming benefits?