Question about ATOS form and potential assessment

redskyatnight_2

Hope someone can advise. My sister has a chronic illness and has been on DLA since 2007 and IB since 2008. She worked for 30 years, but it became increasingly hard, and she had to throw in the towel and go on disability benefits.

She got a letter from the DWP the other week saying that she was going to be reassessed for ESA, and a few days later, somebody called her from jobcentre plus, and asked her 4 or 5 questions, and said that the form will be with her soon.

It came today, and to her dread and fear, it's ATOS who is dealing with it (as they do with most I believe,)

I have heard the most awful things about ATOS, that they try and trick you, and if you can attend the interview, you can hold a pen and write, and you 'look smart,' you are capable of working,

My sister attends an arthritis clinic 3-monthly, and she is on methotrexate, diclofenac and strong pain killers; and recent blood tests and X rays and assessments have confirmed her illness is very much rife. 3 months ago, she asked the council if they could consider her for a bungalow, as it's so hard for her to go up the stairs.

She is in some degree of pain at least 60-65% the time, and can barely do a THING for the first 2 hours of the day as her joints are so bad. She struggles to open things, (like bottles and jars and cans) and has things to aid her. Sometimes when she get up from her seat, you can see her wincing with pain.

So the questions are:

1. How many people who fill in the 'capability for work' assessment form actually get hauled in for an assessment? ie' what percentage of people?

2. Of the people who DO get hauled in, how many are deemed 'fit for work,' and get taken off benefits? (the percentage?)

3. Is someone with a chronic illness - that is never going to get better - less likely to get taken off benefits than people with other illnesses or conditions? Like someone who hurt their back at work 5 years ago, or someone who has a condition you can't see physically?

She is worried sick, as she keeps reading about very ill people, mental AND physical illnesses, who have been supposedly 'tricked,' and even that ATOS have lied about what happened at the assessments, in an attempt to get the people off benefits, as they get some kind of 'commission' for every person they get off benefits.

Or are they not as bad now, as they were in the beginning? Because I know they have been slammed by a lot of people and organisations for being so harsh and for allegedly lying.

Any advice welcome. Thank you.

redskyatnight_2

Anyone ???

rogerblack

redskyatnight wrote: »

Anyone ???

Please do not crosspost.
See answer in benefits forum.

Brassedoff

I do love this bit redskyatnight "3. Is someone with a chronic illness - that is never going to get better - less likely to get taken off benefits than people with other illnesses or conditions? Like someone who hurt their back at work 5 years ago, or someone who has a condition you can't see physically"

I have chronic back problems. In fact I go in for my sixth op at the end of the month where they are going to break my back, remove several vertebrae, insert rods and many, many more wonderful things, oh and my second session of six radiotherapy treatment. All due to a slipped disc several years ago.

Many conditions are never going to get better. Your sister-in-law may pass or fail, as everyone will tell you, there's no hard and fast rules.