ATOS quit contract early..

Morglin

"Atos is quitting its contract to assess whether benefits claimants in Britain are fit to work, the government says.

It follows government criticism over "significant quality failures".

Disabilities Minister Mike Penning said a new company would be appointed in early 2015, and Atos would not receive "a single penny of compensation".

The company, whose contract had been due to end in August 2015, said it had "reached a settlement that is in the best interests of all parties".

It said it would "work hard to support transition to a new provider", adding: "We will be transferring our infrastructure and employees to ensure consistency of service to those going through the process.

"There will be no change for those applying for employment and support allowance."

Atos will continue to carry out the assessments in Northern Ireland under a separate contract.
Substantial settlement
Claimants applying for the allowance must take a work-capability assessment to see how their disability or illness affects their ability to work.

Disability campaigners have described the work tests as "ridiculously harsh and extremely unfair".

Last summer, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) identified "significant quality failures" in the written reports Atos produced after tests and put a plan for improvement in place.

But in February, the DWP said standards had declined unacceptably.

Mr Penning said the government was looking for a provider to replace Atos "with the view to increasing the number of assessments and reducing waiting times".

He said: "I am pleased to confirm that Atos will not receive a single penny of compensation from the taxpayer for the early termination of their contract.

"Quite the contrary, Atos has made a substantial financial settlement to the department."

The DWP said "one national provider" would be appointed to take over the contract early next year.

In the longer term, it said, it planned to take on "multiple providers to increase competition".
'Flexible' provider
Atos chief executive Ursula Morgenstern said: "We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the government to allow us to exit this contract early and we remain committed to delivering essential services to the UK government as a strategic supplier."

She said the company would "work hard to support transition to a new provider".

"We have supported and been flexible in implementing all the changes asked of us from the reviews of the work capability assessment process," she added.

Atos said it would continue to carry out assessments for the personal independence payment (PIP) - another welfare change introduced by the government - in Scotland, the north of England, London and the south of England."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26766345



It's a bit confused, as to what is happening.

ATOS have quit, with immediate effect, and no provider will be in place until 2015.

Anyone due to attend a medical assessment with ATOS, in the near future, should ring and check what is happening, but it appears that new claims will be dealt with by the DWP, using submitted evidence. The DWP will give advice as to where to send stuff, as currently, the ESA50 and evidence has to go to ATOS, first..

Welfare Rights are trying to check if this will affect current PIP claims, (ATOS currently are contracted to deal with parts of Britain), as it seems ATOS have lobbed all of their toys out of the pram, and their reassurances aren't cutting much ice!.

Not a good situation.

Lin

Richie-from-the-Boro

""We will be transferring our infrastructure and employees to ensure consistency of service to those going through the process. There will be no change for those applying for Employment and Support Allowance""

""Infrastructure and employees"", I assume to mean the same trained monkeys operating the same DWP owned system and ATOS designed software called LiMA will continue to be used, ATOS continue to provide the NI contract as before. Who will provide structure and training systems to the dozens of NHS trusts and private hospitals that had committed to carrying out PIP assessments for PIP assessments in the future I've no idea but I'm sure ATOS will continue to process ESA WCA as they have done in the past until this new named company is contracted.

925dancer

"In the longer term, it said, it planned to take on "multiple providers to increase competition"."

Just what sort of competition are we talking about here? Cheaper contracts promising more assessments which will risk more poor quality assessments and more appeals.

They need to rip the whole thing up and start again!

Morglin

It seems all a bit of a mess, as this announcement is everywhere, as something announced today, and not a rehash of the previous announcement.

There seems to be some consensus, amongst certain groups, that ATOS are walking away at this point, and that there will be a gap before another provider is appointed.

I suppose that is why reviews are suspended, but I wonder how new claims will be dealt with, if ATOS are going earlier than planned.

Lin

925dancer

I'm a sort of new claim. I applied in December and as of last week my file was still to be assessed by them to see if they want to call me in for an assessment. I await with baited breath to see how they handle it. If my experience with PIP is anything to go by I don't have terribly high hopes.

Crisp_£_note

As of today I have been waiting 7 1/2 MONTHS for anyone from ATOS to tell me what's happening with my PIP claim I submitted to DWP back in July / August last year! Everytime I call to chase they say its waiting for someone to look at it who will call me for an appointment. ATOS have had it for 7 1/2 months and I still get the same answer each month!!!!

My ESA (which was accepted it seems without the need for medical assessment) is about to come to an end as its reached its expiry after 2 years as my contributions or something have dissipated. Now my husband and I are left with an almost imminent shortfall of £430 a month - money we used for basic survival to keep a roof above our heads and food on the table rather than additional support it is meant for.

I wrote to my local MP to raise awareness of the situations we face yesterday who has said they will look into what is happening for me, but I dont hold much hope it will speed things up now!

Im in despair as to how were going to manage and the stress is adding to the ill health now!

lauriee

my o/h put in his esa50 (review one) in March 2013 he is currently on Esa, first assessment date given was January 14th 2014 we turned up only to be told they were 3 hours behind so they would have to reschedule, another appointment Feb 14th 2014 again we turned up and was told there is a problem, you need to be seen by a doctor not a nurse we don't have a doctor here so we will have to reschedule, a third appointment made 14th March, this time they phoned the day before it was due saying again they don't have a doctor so we will have to reschedule again so still waiting