The extremely dreaded Atos Assessment

Mr_F_Dorsetty

Do you all know that when asked in a survey in 2011 that the UK public believed that 70% of all disabled benefits are claimed illicitly in one way or another? 70% are 'fiddled'

The official government figure for fraudulent disabled benefit claims is 0.4%... so they were/are only over estimating by a mere 69.6%

But this is not a laughing matter as in the same year the reported physical and verbal attacks on disabled people in public rose by 33% on the previous year. This is exactly what happens when people swallow the political propaganda of Greed, Fear and Hate.

People ask how the Nazi's ever came to power... do you really think the general UK public now are really any different to the general German public then?

If you do then I have to say you're sorely mistaken. The very same issues and reactions as happened in late 20's Germany are happening in the UK right now.

Sure, change Jew for Muslim, the Versailles Treaty for the EU, the 1000 year Reich for "make Britain great again!" but all the basics are here. ATOS at the DWP's behest have created/run a system where 40% + win their appeals.

But so dire is the effect on the business name of ATOS that they are presently trying to pull out of the contract, they no longer want anything to do with it all - they are of course just following the DWP's orders. As an ATOS doctor said "There is no target for people we must find fit for work... but if we find more than 12% unfit for work the DWP ask serious questions why that is ... then we have to be retrained to help us 'get it right' in future...."

The DWP are also now insisting that the Judges who over turn ATOS decisions make full written accounts of their findings with all the reasons listed. When PIP replaces DLA the government have already promised that 500,000 will NOT make the change... they have truly found a way to make the sick walk, just shift those goal posts.

When a country is insolvent as the UK finds itself, then the scapegoats come thick and fast ; though hopefully they won't re-introduce an "ActionT4" style programme.

lemontart

For those who do not know what the T4 programme is -

Nazi German effort—framed as a euthanasia program—to kill incurably ill, physically or mentally disabled, emotionally distraught, and elderly people. Adolf Hitler initiated this program in 1939, and, while it was officially discontinued in 1941, killings continued covertly until the military defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945.

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/714411/T4-Program

sunnyone

mazza111 wrote: »

I do believe everyone should have a WCA to weed out those few who claim unnecessarily, but as it is atm is not fit for purpose. And until ATOS fix out their own problems, it's a big no from me. Especially if they are not listening to the applicant and twisting what they say.

Good luck to those facing assessments in the near future

Why should the severely disabled who have a masssive amount of evidence to back up their claim be forced to have a WCA?

Not everyone should have a WCA, why should I be forced from my bed for one or why should a health care professional be forced to come to my home to read my huge file of medical evidence?

It would be a waste of time and money, the money should be spent getting the WCA correct for those who need them.

Morglin

Not everyone does have a face to face, although they do tend to want to see the claimant for a new claim.

If ATOS consider they have enough information and medical evidence, they often make a recommendation, based on paper evidence alone.

And, then the DWP make their decision on that alone.

If it's a 'serious, proven, and continuing' disability, decisions are often made this way, particularly for reviews and migrations.

Lin

Indie_Kid

sunnyone wrote: »

Why should the severely disabled who have a masssive amount of evidence to back up their claim be forced to have a WCA?

Not everyone should have a WCA, why should I be forced from my bed for one or why should a health care professional be forced to come to my home to read my huge file of medical evidence?

It would be a waste of time and money, the money should be spent getting the WCA correct for those who need them.

Exactly. It really is a waste of time calling certain people in when they've got a lot of medical evidence backing up their claim.

Additionally, some of us can't cope with strange people. Why put us through that? It's then our carer (including parents, partner, etc) who has to deal with the aftermath of us being assessed and being dragged all the way to the assessment and back.

I was "lucky" - roughly 2 months before my claim, I'd been under the care of various specialists, including a psychiatrist, audiology and neurology and had just been diagnosed with various things, which I generally wouldn't need to see my GP about. (because I'm incurable and there's no form of therapy to help me) This meant they could fill in the form they were sent, which backed up what I said on my form.

JasonBat

I received a letter today. I've been placed in the work-related activity group. Not entirely sure what that involves and why I've been placed in this group or even if it is worth asking them to reconsider.

Would I need to go for a silly amount of 'work focused interviews' now?

Indie_Kid

I heard it was 6. No idea of frequency; but it does appear to vary a lot.

JasonBat

6 in total?

Morglin

All offices vary, and some JCP's don't bother a lot with anyone on ESA, others do.

They cannot compel you to find work, but they can send you on courses.

If you wish to appeal WRAG status, you need to ask for a Mandatory Reconsideration first, which you should have details of on your letter.

If you are contributory WRAG, the payments cease after a year, and will only continue if you are entitled to IR ESA, but if you are on Income Related WRAG, they continue for as long as you are eligible for ESA.

It might be an idea to talk to the CAB or welfare rights.

Lin

JasonBat

Cheers Lin.

I'm on contributory WRAG. I have no other income so should qualify for income based WRAG but I take it that is nothing I need to worry about now?

On the face of it, I'm not too bothered about which group I fall in unless of course they get rather unpleasant and unreasonable when it comes to the interviews etc.

What kind of training do they offer and what is generally considered 'training'?