Demand for fairer benefits tests as two die,atos scandal.

[Guest jsa12]

THE deaths of two people who were waiting for appeals to be heard against the loss of benefits has prompted calls for a fairer assessment system.

The two claimants, both from West Dunbartonshire, died from the conditions which caused them to claim Incapacity Benefit (IB) while waiting for appeals to be heard against cuts to their benefits.

One was deemed fit for work during a work capability assessment, despite having a deteriorating chronic illness, and lost both incapacity benefit and disability living allowance.

When his support worker appeared at the appeal tribunal she had to report her client could not be there because he was dead. The appeal was upheld and the backpayment will become part of his estate.

 

Herald Scotland

 

Here.

 

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/demand-for-fairer-benefits-tests-as-two-die-1.1085915

Edited July 10, 2012 by antone
Shortened excerpt for copyright reasons

[watchinginvestigation2011]

Wont post as I am ranting to much but so sad too read:sad:

[Nystagmite]

Disgusting. I shall say no more.

[JrnyFan4Life]

It's a ******* disgrace.

[sparkles2010]

That is outrageous

[jadeybags]

Sounds awful but it was inevitable to happen eventually?

But look at Sally Clark, miscarriage of justice, spent 3 yrs inside for something she didn't do, then killed herself with alcohol. Not the first & wont be the last. Have changes happened where miscarriages of justice are concerned? Nah. No one that can actually change it cares really.

[jacob18]

It is xxxxxxxxxx outrageous !

[antone]

I've shortened the OP as the Herald holds copyright on the article. An excerpt and a link is fine, but they might well get sniffy with us if we reproduce the entire thing.

 

As to the content of the article, well, it was only a matter of time, really. I personally input at least one death cert for someone who died after failing the WCA.

[Dilizjo]

Another media report on the atrocious WCA that shows the inadequacies and heinous consequences of ATOS/ dwp and the Condem's actions.

Whilst they covered the assessment failings well it would have been better if they had included every claimants right to have their assessments recorded.

[Slatted]

I bet there are a whole load of similar cases that just never make it to the Press for one reason or another!!! It is diabolical:-x

[Slatted]

Another media report on the atrocious WCA that shows the inadequacies and heinous consequences of ATOS/ dwp and the Condem's actions.

Whilst they covered the assessment failings well it would have been better if they had included every claimants right to have their assessments recorded.

 

Whilst recordings will certainly help I believe the whole WCA descriptor system is flawed and that is the fundamental problem.....

[Dilizjo]

Agreed Slatted

[ErikaPNP]

This post is over a year old. Not that, that makes the issue any less relevant - just pointing it out, mainly because there appears to be a trend of old threads being posted on really!

[antone]

This post is over a year old. Not that, that makes the issue any less relevant - just pointing it out, mainly because there appears to be a trend of old threads being posted on really!

 

Heh, even I missed that. I suppose if the Herald was going to complain we'd have heard about it by now