atos under fire

[debt4get]

news report this morning

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19244639

[ee-bee]

its just been mentioned on the news,but not much was said

[debt4get]

yep reading the piece is a bit more gloom as govt is determined to 'make it work' however, this is a problem with cost, as appeals going forward are beginning to bite financially...this lot just wont admit that it 'dont work'

[sillygirl1]

This is the lot who told my 4ft 6" friend she could do 'shelf filling' when she went for her 'assessment' because she was able to put a book onto a table. She is 57 and was a thalidomide victim, so a couple of her 'body parts' are prosthetic, including her right hand! She said the assessor didn't bother with that at all as she was 'visibly capable of full mobility'. Appeal went in and was won hands down.

[debt4get]

perhaps what the govt ought to do is extend the descriptors to people in work, who ring in sick....sorry cant come in today have the flu..

can you mobilise 50m with or without aids? err yes..0 points

can you lift either one of your arms above your head? err yeah 0 point

can you pick up an empty cardboard box? yes....0 point

and on and on...sorry m8 your fit for work we expect you to arrive in the next hour

but ive got the flu!!!! tough computer says no!!

[honeybee13]

It was a disappointingly short interview on Radio 4's Today programme [when I wasn't fully awake], but at least it was mentioned.

 

I wonder if it's because the NAO have a limited brief and were looking at the value for money aspects, as I understand it. Something was mentioned about commercial confidentiality and I wonder if Tom Greatrex asked the NAO because the information couldn't be refused to them.

[debt4get]

yes it is definitely about the value for money aspect, the fact that the damned thing is not fit for purpose is irrelevant, it was also on bbc this morning tv. as the contract is costing a lot more than expected. what will happen though is the govt, will get around it by (a) charging for appeals...(b) stopping them altogether...the one thing that wont happen is they wont be scrapped....

[**Margaret**]

The Atossers:

 

This is the lot we've got a partially upheld complaint against but;

DWATO want to wait for a full tribunal. Seventeen months, and counting, since the messical.

 

Meanwhile the taxpayer's paid thrice; extra medical consultations and drugs, not to mention expensive ongoing psychotherapy.

 

Margaret.

[debt4get]

The Atossers:

 

This is the lot we've got a partially upheld complaint against but;

DWATO want to wait for a full tribunal. Seventeen months, and counting, since the messical.

 

Meanwhile the taxpayer's paid thrice; extra medical consultations and drugs, not to mention expensive ongoing phpsychotherapy.

 

Margaret.

so sorry to hear that margaret, remember at the end of the day, the miracle company that is atos, will 'cure you' you just have to have faith in them.....

(this is tongue in cheek by the way)...the way this country has been brainwashed into not caring anymore is a national disgrace..but until it affects 'you' no-one has any idea of the stress, etc that people have to endure in order to get money they have probably paid into for generations...

[**Margaret**]

The Atossers:

 

Will drive us all to destitution more like. My friend's already lost her home and degree classification, courtesy of Atos. They have a strange effect on spelling as well. Apologies for the mistake. Clearly, the appalling standard of their creative transcriptions is contagious.

 

'...... Atos will 'cure you' you just have to have faith ...... and a few

:flypig:.

 

Off to find some (prescribed) lorazepam. Margaret

Edited August 17, 2012 by **Margaret**

[Dilizjo]

Have spent a long time reading all the posts on the comments section there and was surprised at the amount over 800 and the majority negative towards ATOS, I really hope that BBC read and inwardly digest and stop their "Benefit Scroungers" crusade

[MARTIN3030]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/atos-contract-does-not-offer-value-for-money-says-national-audit-office-8056412.html

[ee-bee]

do you think something will actually get done about atos now?

[count orlok]

Doubt it. for every one person that takes it to tribunal there are probably 3 or 4 who give up and disappear; so all in all they are doing the government's dirty work and reducing the number of sick and disabled.

 

The fact that they have been hired to do the same with DLA to PIP as they are doing with IB to ESA proves the gov are happy with them. Chances are the directors belong to the same club as the half the Tory party anyway.

[Dilizjo]

whilst reading the comment section on The Independent site I came across this article: http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/122682

 

Made excellent reading

[worried33]

the solution is simple, ATOS should pay the bills of any successful appeals.

 

But as others have said the reason they havent been penalised is that the results the government are happy with, 60% may be overtuned at appeal but many people give up before appeal and as a result they are forcing many off benefit.

[sillygirl1]

And a record should be kept so they can see who the 'worst assessors' are, these would be the ones with the most successful appeals against them.

 

Hang on, they can't do this because their assessors are only part timers and not their direct responsibility (unless anyone can confirm otherwise).

[45002]

Has this person http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19244639?postId=113464283#comment_113464283

 

got it right ?

 

Isn't it 60% of appeals are Won at tribunal ?

 

Every appeal that is won,ATOFF should have to pay a penalty for getting it wrong !

Edited August 19, 2012 by 45002

[debt4get]

If you want benefits surely you need to be assessed from time to time. Peoples conditions change.

this one made me laugh...of course they do!!! people constantly grow new limbs, suddenly regain their sight after being born blind...

and many of us on here have been 'cured' by ATOS

[MARTIN3030]

Yes good points.

In reply to ee-bee,There are a few MPs onto this but as always the Con Dems will say it was originally introduced by the last Gov.

What it needs is more high profile reporting and campaigning like Creasey is doing with Payday loan companies....and is doing a fine job going about it.

[unclebulgaria67]

Wonder if the rumours of the government looking to bring the assessments in-house are true ? Not sure how they would do this in-house ? I suppose they could use NHS assessments and feed these into DWP staff who are trained to make decisions based on the assessments. If people are seeing their GP's or hospital doctors anyway, then using ATOS at the moment, is just adding an extra layer, which might not be worthwhile, although perhaps they do something different ?

 

If the system is not working, then it would not surprise me, if civil servants were looking at other options. The Tories faith in the private sector has taken a knock with G4S.

[honeybee13]

Hello UB.

 

The assessments used to be in house. I went to one when I first claimed IB.

 

My best, HB

[worried33]

Wonder if the rumours of the government looking to bring the assessments in-house are true ? Not sure how they would do this in-house ? I suppose they could use NHS assessments and feed these into DWP staff who are trained to make decisions based on the assessments. If people are seeing their GP's or hospital doctors anyway, then using ATOS at the moment, is just adding an extra layer, which might not be worthwhile, although perhaps they do something different ?

 

If the system is not working, then it would not surprise me, if civil servants were looking at other options. The Tories faith in the private sector has taken a knock with G4S.

 

very unlikely if anything and they were really pushed to drop ATOS it would just be outsourced again, they want to outsource as much as possible.

[count orlok]

I had nearly 20 years of in-house assessments, from both NHS and DWP doctors while claiming Invalidity & Incapacity Benefits.

 

In hindsight I suppose they did not work as I kept being found unfit for work!

[**Margaret**]

Memory Lane:

My claim history threw up a 1986 invalidity benefit report from the Divisional Medical Office. Half a side of handwritten A4. Mrs xxxxxx is incapable of work because of xxxxxx.

Decisions made by medics treating the claimant were checked at random by officialdom. The system wasn't perfect (we got accused of colluding with doctors, for the doctor to get 10% of the payout) but it was a hell of a lot better than what we've got now. Suspect the 1980's taxpayer lost less to fraud than the ConDems spend on Atos and unnecessary angst ridden tribunals.

Margaret.