After ATOS assessment, have been taken off ESA

Indie_Kid

I do have a friend who said he can help if I wish and he does teach his sighted friends. But not everyone has that luxury.

As someone with some useful sight, it is hard trying to get out of the habit of trying to read Braille by sight, instead of touch.

As Nanny says, many employers won't employ us either. I've got learning disabilities and neurological issues, which do make working harder.

cattermole

I find it shocking in a way it's one of the descriptors for it re Braille. But hardly Nanny's fault or that she isn't able to access learning it.

Because these days it has less relevance, with technology. But it is useful for public speaking.

DH rarely teaches it these days not because he can't but there isn't the demand!

Your Rehab service should be able to teach it Nanny. DH will teach it to you once he's retired for a small fee

cattermole

What I'm saying is it just shows how badly informed the DWP are about disabilities surely putting someone in the Support group just on the grounds of not being able to read Braille means something isn't right somewhere? Other factors should come into play as well. But I don't believe there was anything wrong with ICB anyway because for some people it is still relevant.

Goes back to Roger's points about the whole assessment process and the descriptors.

I fully accept there are all sorts of other reasons why blind people can't work and it's far more complex but I don't think the ability to Braille should be the only determining factor if that's what you mean?

nannytone_2

you try finding an employer that will employ a blind person! we're a health and safety risk because we cant escap an emergency!
unless you were born blind or became blind at a very young age, the chances are that you will have had NO training at all in managing to work with blindness.
also learning braille is almost impossible!
i have been looking foir almost 10 years to find someone to teach me and it just isnt available

cattermole

Yes I know that re work Nanny.

I'm just amazed that things have become so disjointed although in one way it doesn't surprise me.

Social Services employ Rehab Workers but the training has changed (it's all degree based now) less skills based.

My DH has taught someone to read braille with their tongue and that is true.

Increasingly Social Services are saying teaching such skills is Education's responsibiity but I do find it strange that there are no courses available. If he set one up in your area would you go?

cattermole

The bottom line is for me it isn't just about work, this is what so annoys me about people's attitude to disability, it's near enough impossible at the moment to get a job if you are fit and able, let alone with a disability of some kind.

But to just write people off and not give them support or a sense of purpose is very wrong. Sorry if it came across differently.

Which is why DH is saying this now it is so wrong to shut down all the sheltered work environments, because it gave many a sense of purpose and fulfilment.

Morglin

Happychappy wrote: »

Sorry, but this case of Lazarus rising, is just one of many found to be a drain on an over generous and clearly flawed system

until someone comes up with a system designed to protect the hard working tax payers from fraudulent, exaggerated or downright criminal claims, I whole heartedly support ATOSAnd would support far more survellience type investigation to root out fraud, I'm sure one of the benefit supporter will come up with the 1% fraudulent claims rubbish, it is very apparent there is a very real and massive fraud in this system.

It needs a major overhaul and ATOS are certainly shaking the tree and should be supported, until someone comes up with a better solution, this is the best we will get.

Nothing much has changed where ATOS are concerned - they are not a new idea, and were also the firm that did the assessments under the old Incapacity Benefit system.

All that has happened recently us that because they were told to assess so many people, they have been seen as unable to cope - hence the fact they are being audited at the moment, and the government are holding yet another enquiry into their performance. :wall:

This is because the number of appeals (many successful) due to their sub standard assessments is costing the country many extra millions - much more than will ever be saved by assessing everyone. :doh:

In fact, after all this, there are as many people claiming ESA as there were IB, and the welfare bill continues to rise.:whistle:

Your confidence in ATOS and the reforms are sadly misplaced.

It is costing us all, as taxpayers, much more, and 'fraud' statistics remain the same as 5 years ago.

As for more investigations, well, the government has laid off so many DWP staff, they have fewer resources to even investigate at previous levels!

Lin

Twisted_Cherry

Indie_Kid wrote: »

Some can and some can't. Many people with visual impairments also have other disabilities too, which coupled with sight loss, making working very difficult.

Agree, I can't ever imagine my friend returning to work with her Meige Syndrome, there is no way she would cope with a job as she can't cope with day to day living in her own home!

Happychappy

Morglin wrote: »

Nothing much has changed where ATOS are concerned - they are not a new idea, and were also the firm that did the assessments under the old Incapacity Benefit system.

All that has happened recently us that because they were told to assess so many people, they have been seen as unable to cope - hence the fact they are being audited at the moment, and the government are holding yet another enquiry into their performance. :wall:

This is because the number of appeals (many successful) due to their sub standard assessments is costing the country many extra millions - much more than will ever be saved by assessing everyone. :doh:

In fact, after all this, there are as many people claiming ESA as there were IB, and the welfare bill continues to rise.:whistle:

Your confidence in ATOS and the reforms are sadly misplaced.

It is costing us all, as taxpayers, much more, and 'fraud' statistics remain the same as 5 years ago.

As for more investigations, well, the government has laid off so many DWP staff, they have fewer resources to even investigate at previous levels!

Lin

Clearly then ATOS need outing, and a more decisive, no nonsense approach needs taking on this issue, the country cannot keep entertaining the amount of fraud and the benefit culture that is endemic in this country, why are we the worst country in the world for 20 to 34 year old claiming incapacity or disability benefits, it isn't that we still send kids down the mine at 6. Answer...we are a push over for the dead dying lame and lazy, you owe me a living society.

nannytone_2

no one disputes that the system should be strict and more efficient at rooting out the people that are playing the system.
but the fact that AYOS are finding so many people fit for work doesnt indicate that they are stopping the fakers.
the fact that they are finding so may fit and then the decisions are being overturned at appeal, indicate that they are getting it VERY QROBG.
they arent catching the 'fakers' who are clever enough to know exactly how the system works and the ways around it.... they are kicking geniunely ill/disabled people off in order to manipulate the figures!

its like sayoing that just because a car plant doubles its output means that its successful and thriving ... but not if the cars end up with 2 wheels and no brakes
( even i'm amazed at my analagys sometimes 0

cattermole ... i asked my social worker about rehab a while ago, as ive never been offered any kind of assessment other than my question and answer one for direct payments...
she didnt have a clue what i was talking about and said 'she'd get back to me'
i havent heard a peep from her since last June