@Fletch70 I don't know how you ended up thinking that. If your sick, those involved with dealing you would be doctors, nurses and all the clerical staff, Dwp staff, Call center staff, Atos staff, council staff, etc., etc., If you were getting DLA and used the payment to lease a car, there would be Garage staff, sales staff, administrative staff, Mechanics, staff at Motability (the non profit organisation), staff at motability Finance Ltd (the private company) owned by the banks, etc., This all creates employment and also tax for the government. There is a lot of people are employed in the system because people are unemployed, sick and disabled. It's the same as there are lots of people employed in the Justice system because of crime. The more things the government can find the unemployed, sick and disabled to do, in order to obtain their benefits, the more the jobs will be created and tax payed. It's a knock on effect that keeps the economy going.

The whole thing is about employment, but not so much for the unemployed or those who are disabled, they are a secondary action. The unemployed and disabled are a major asset to the economy. How many are employed because of the unemployed and disabled? How much tax is paid to the government directly and indirectly? How much does the unemployed and the disabled contribute to shareholders and the stockmarket? In one way, you could say that the unemployed and disabled are a major employer in society. How many Police, Solicitors, Barristers, Judges depend on crime to make a living?

IDS doesn't care, plain and simple. He's already stated on a number of occasions that the only reason he entered parliament was to reform the welfare system. Wansbeck MP Ian Lavery opened a question to David Cameron today (19th Dec) holding the suicide note of a man who he said had taken his own life after he lost eligibility to ESA. You can see what IDS thinks near the end of the video. http://vimeo.com/55937747

I'm on the Atos/Dwp diet. No money for over three months and the weight does enarf drop off you.

I think it may be time for an Independent Ombudsman for Social Security, that can investigate and deal with complaints about all Social Security and also all the Private Firms that are used.

Upcoming business Friday, 25 January 2013 Welfare Cash Card Bill - Second reading – Alec Shelbrooke Legislation http://www.theyworkforyou.com/calendar/?d=2013-01-25#cal31386 Here's some more info on his speech about the Welfare card Bill. (hope it's acceptable to post the link) http://conservativehome.blogs.com/parliament/2012/12/tory-mp-alecshelbrooke-introduces-bill-for-welfare-cash-card-to-stop-claimants-buying-cigarettes-and.html

Thank you DX, I was trying to find it on the dwp website.

Does anyone know when they finish their holidays and re-open?

"or if their personal data is published on-line" It's already online. Anyone online can access the data. http://www.nmc-uk.org/Search-the-register/ Originally Posted by osdset "The problem with this is, laptops have by virtue of size only one DVD/CD recording device, so the assessment would in reality have to be recorded onto the hard drive and then 'burnt' on to a disk, then another recordable disk would have to be inserted for copy two, the HCP could reasonably argue that they were not in possession of any equipment to play back their copy to verify that it had not been altered in any way." That's easy sorted. The Hummmmm can verify that it's not been altered. :lol: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20629671

You'll have to ring the Esa office that deals with the claim first and tell them you have a 'fit' note. They will try to book an emergency appointment with Jcp. Everything has to go through the Esa office first. Once the Esa office has received the 'fit' note, they can move to it to the payments department so the payment can be released. remember, just because one person has told you something on the phone doesn't mean it's true, you could ring back two minutes later, get another person and get a completely different answer.

As they've previously said: 'All in it together' and they certainly are. The only one's who won't end up on the system are those who fit the 'ViP' status. Mp's, Members of the Royal Household and certain celebrities, who have a dedicated person to deal with their benefit(s) claim and nothing is put onto the Computer System. This is for security purposes.

They only suspend the payment until they get the 'fit note'. If you can get another 'fit note' ring them again and ask to see if you can take it to the Jcp and for Jcp to fax or e-mail a copy to the Esa department that deals with your claim. They can do that.

I thought the Benefits cash card was going to be part of the 'Social Banking' thing. a4e was on about introducing it a while ago. They and the government believed that people on lower incomes couldn't manage their finances. Pot, Kettle, Black springs to mind.

Shazajo, from personal experience try to stay with the same benefit, otherwise you'll just be jumping off one merry-go-round on to another. I went onto Jsa for a very short time. It's the worst thing i did. I only had a physical disability to start with, and the pain and problems that go with it. Now i've ended up with clinical depression and i haven't had a payment for over three months. Once you go onto Jsa, if you then go back onto Esa, you are a new claim and it causes more problems than enough.

Maybe the government should start by giving to humans, the five freedoms that they already give to animals. The five freedoms as currently expressed for animals are: Freedom from hunger or thirst by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour Freedom from discomfort by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area Freedom from pain, injury or disease by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment Freedom to express normal behaviour by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal's own kind Freedom from fear and distress by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_freedoms

They could try this website to see if there is something similar in their area. If not, an e-mail to the site may be able tell them what is available. http://www.transportforsickchildren.org/index.html

The Government are opening up Data for Transparency You can look through what Data is available and download the csv files. Here's the link for the Dwp Data available. http://data.gov.uk/data/search?q=dwp

You can see how much the companies get paid monthly. The Data is Available, you can download the csv (Comma Separated Values) file(s) and then import the data into a spreadsheet like excel or similar. Just make sure when you import the data to click the Comma box, so that the data opens up correctly in the spread sheet. http://www.dwp.gov.uk/supplying-dwp/transparency-in-procurement/what-we-spend/ How to import a csv file into excel

I think this say's it all.

History repeats itself, ask Mr Boswell. http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240078362/DWP-scraps-core-benefits-processing-programme

Public Order and Political Protest "Organisations such as companies, Government departments or religious institutions may also be subjected to harassment, in furtherance of a political or other aim. In some cases, this activity will include the harassment of individuals who work for, or who are otherwise associated with, the organisation. When considering such cases, it is important to balance the right to legitimate protest, with the rights of any individual to be free from harassment. Section 1(1A) of the PHA would potentially cover a campaign against a particular organisation, which involved actions relating to different members on different occasions." Police Information Notices to Suspects about potential offences under the PHA There is no concept of official 'warnings' under the PHA. However, there are some circumstances in which it can be useful to inform a suspect verbally and/or in writing that their alleged actions may constitute an offence under the Act. Examples of such circumstances include the following: the suspect may be genuinely unaware of the provisions of the PHA and that their actions may constitute a criminal offence, or they may try to use such ignorance as an excuse for their activity; Source: http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/s_to_u/stalking_and_harassment/

Maybe claimants should send a complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman? ** Medical Services ATOS Healthcare is not a body in jurisdiction but its actions on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions are. http://www.ombudsman.org.uk/responsive-and-accountable/statistics/appendix Putting things right: Complaints and learning from DWP. http://www.ombudsman.org.uk/improving-public-service/reports-and-consultations/reports/parliamentary/putting-things-right/1

I thought going out in your PJ's was all the fashion these days. I've often been in shops when women have wandered in to do shopping wearing their PJ's or Dressing gown.

90%, You couldn't make it up. This is from the dwpatoscontract:- "APPENDIX 1 30 - Claimant Satisfaction Rate as specified in Paragraph 7.1 of Schedule 4.1 - National Claimant Satisfaction Rate to be at least 90% across all benefits - Monthly" source: http://www.whywaitforever.com/dwpatoscontract.html

This is only happening in Scotland. http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?368508-Some-good-news-for-Scotland By the looks of things, it's down to the daily record newspaper publishing whats been going on with Atos. "THE NHS boss taking over the assessment of claims for a new disability benefit from scandal-hit Atos promises patients will be treated with “dignity and respect”. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/health/nhs-chief-in-dignity-and-respect-vow-1373842