Atos Yet Again

[chrisgel]

Sorry but I have no words to go with this.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2332038/Double-lung-heart-transplant-patient-died-days-benefits-stopped-declared-fit-work.html

[emmie]

one of many cases i am afraid. I hope they see this and apologise, but don't hold your breath

[jim360]

I'd want to see the ATOS side of this specific story before passing judgment. I am sorry for her husband at this difficult time.

[EDDIE51]

It is worth repeating that ATOS depend on 'bonus payments' to make a profit.
They get a bonus for every claim they reject or payment they stop. a few years back it was £250 per case , I would think it is a lot more now.
This would be justified if there was a deduction of say £1000 for every case they reject that is subsequently accepted on appeal. The appeals should be by a totally independent body, it is ludicrous that the appeals against an ATOS decision is held by ATOS themselves, where else does that happen ?

[mikey4444]

How much bad publicity does ATOS need to have before our present Government says enough is enough and starts an investigation ? Perhaps as this is from the DM they might treat it seriously.

How can someone with this poor lady's terrible state of health be passed fit to work ? Who wants a bet that ATOS will say that they are very sorry but a mistake was made ? How can a mistake of this magnitude be made in the first place ?

[emmie]

i have been put through the mill from these people, shuffled in and out, believe me the system is horrible.

[friedgreentomato]

I agree with Jim, whilst this is a terrible situation I would like to see ATOS side.

Also, you are only getting to see the bad ones, we don't know how successful this has been getting the work shy off of these benefits and back to work.

[albaqwerty]

our local ATOS place is called Lourdes (as I believe many are also called that)

I've mentioned elsewhere that they found him fit for work one week before his operation.

They stink and are leeches.

[chrisgel]

FGT - Agreed there will be many fraudulent cases that they will find and to that end it is, no doubt, saving money. But at what cost?
If this had been set up as panels of qualified doctors who had full access to each persons medical history then that would have been a fairer way of doing things surely.

[EDDIE51]

Very few 'Qualified Doctors' want to work for ATOS , many of the ones they do have can barely speak English or understand what is being said to them.

[chrisgel]

Eddie51 - Just to avoid confusion I meant government run panels not ATOS. As far as I'm concerned paying a private company to save us money is barmy.
I would love to see a breakdown of cost/savings using ATOS.

[THECORBYLOON]

Eddie, see here about bonuses, https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/atos_pay_scheme

[EDDIE51]

THECORBYLOON, that link is a masterpiece of 'double talk' it does not rule out the payment of bonuses for achieving the 'target' . ie the expected level of benefit reduction.

[EDDIE51]

From your link '' the DWP does not hold any information about the remuneration of ATOS employees'' Unbelievable!!!

[mrs_overall]

I am a mentor to a group of people with a specific disability. I have completed many benefits forms and accompanied people to ATOS medicals.
The one thing in the article that does not ring true is the husband saying he was not allowed to attend the ATOS medical. Everyone attending such a medical IS allowed to have someone with them.
It may have changed, but up to last year the ATOS doctors received £240 for every applicant they rejected, and only £40 for every applicant they approved.
They are instructed on how to word their reports, and ambiguity is the norm.
In my personal experience, I have known them to tell lies.
The last person I accompanied to an ATOS medical was asked to walk from the examination couch to a wall and back - a distance of around 10ft - which he did with difficulty. In the medical report the doctor stated "the applicant walked around the room several times with no difficulty."
As well as this person's current disability, he was involved in a RTA some years ago and was left with a brain injury. The ATOS doctor asked him what he remembered about the accident and he replied "nothing." I was able to give the doctor details of the accident. In his report the doctor said "the applicant had full recollection of his accident and was able to talk about it in detail."
I had to go through 2 appeals and attend a court hearing on behalf of this man before benefits were awarded.
I know of a local man who lost a leg some years ago and has had his Disability Living Allowance stopped because he can get around in a wheelchair.
ATOS is a disgrace.

[EDDIE51]

Thanks MrsO just what I expected. They get round the 'bonus' question by calling it a fee that just happens to be a lot more if they reject the application.
I was surprised by the statement that the husband was not allowed to be present as well. Probably a Daily Wail ''accidental mistake''

[emmie]

yes it is weighted in favour of getting as many people off the DWP regardless of their situation. it is an entire tick the box exercise, i saw a nurse who didn't look me over, just sat at the the computer, after a short interview was told that was it, the process that followed was a nightmare.
and there is very little in the way of mental health in their assessments,
there had been two documentaries on last year i believe, which showed them for what they are, unprofessional, many are unqualified, some barely able to speak English.

[emmie]

no they can obfuscate as much as they like and say what they like, the best thing to do with faced with this is to seek help immediately from CAB and see if they can get you to see a welfare rights officers, because this is a minefield of paperwork, and for some that is the first stumbling block.
I was told that i could take someone with me, but that wasn't from ATOS

[cazzz1975]

I agree with Mrs O, I know people who have been through the whole ATOS circus, they are only there to get their money.

[friedgreentomato]

I agree that Atos is not perfect but something needs to be done, there are too many people claiming benefits that are perfectly able to go to work they are just too bloody lazy.

[mrs_overall]

To continue - one thing that many people don't realise is that the walking test is no longer applicable. You could lose both legs but still be refused the mobility component of DLA if you can propel yourself in a wheelchair. Scandalous.