"In an urgent memo obtained by Benefits and Work, the DWP have told staff that due to a growing backlog at Atos all current employmentand support allowance (ESA) claimants will be left on the benefit, without further medical checks, until another company can be found to do repeat work capability assessments (WCAs)."
“The number of cases currently with Atos Healthcare has grown. A decision has therefore been taken to control the referral of repeat work capability assessments. Therefore, with effect from 20 January 2014, further routine repeat assessments referrals to Atos will be deferred until further notice."You can read more HERE
We warned MPs repeatedly that ESA would implode. We even pressed Mark Hoban very hard on this issue when we met him last year. We suggested that it was repeat assessments causing ESA to grind to a halt and suggested that he pause the national of Incapacity Benefit claimants until the backlog could be cleared.
And now they've done just that!!!
So rejoice my friends. YOU did this. Moments of pure satisfaction only come along once in a while, so promise me you'll celebrate.
Great news!
ReplyDeleteWill this also pause DLA/PIP assessments?
I am joes candra, I promise to share this testimony all over the world once my boyfriend return back to me, and today with all due respect i want to thank DR.OSAUYI for bringing joy and happiness to my relationship and my family. I want to inform you all that there is a spell caster that is real and genuine. I never believed in any of these things until i loosed my boyfriend, I required help until i found a grate spell caster, And he cast a love spell for me, and he assured me that I will get my boyfriend back in two days after the spell has been cast. Three days later, my phone rang, and so shockingly, it was my boyfriend who has not called me for past 6 years now, and made an apology for the heart break, and told me that he is ready to be my back bone till the rest of his life with me. DR.OSAUYI released him up to know how much i loved and wanted him. And opened his eyes to picture how much we have share together. As I`m writing this testimony right now I`m the most happiest girl on earth and me and my boyfriend is living a happy life and our love is now stronger than how it were even before our break up. So that`s why I promised to share my testimony all over the universe.All thanks goes to DR.OSAUYI for the excessive work that he has done for me. Below is the email address in any situation you are undergoing a heart break, and I assure you that as he has done mine for me, he will definitely help you too. OSAUYILOVESPELL@YAHOO.COM that is his email address bye or you can call is hot line on +2347064294395
DeleteHi Sue
ReplyDeleteYes, I have a smile....it's slight but it's a smile!
What I wish, hope , (& yes I might even pray) will happen is that other firms will see the problems implementing the DWP policy, and will not be keen to take them on.
However I think that is a folorn hope. But a delay is very welcome. It is common sense that someone with an incurable condition does not need re-assessing every year.
It is also common sense that a condition lasting many years is highly unlikely to change (in my case 29 years).
OK.......I'll smile
It is after all a piece of good news amongst the torrent of bad we have had for the last couple of years!
U- KIP IF YOU WANT TO THE REST OF US ARE WIDEAWAKE TO YOUR AGENDA OF DIVISION
DeleteRelief here - Incredible (smiley) relief. *Does a little spoonie dance* WOO_HOO!
ReplyDeleteReblogged at 'Stuck In Scared' .... Tears here now #relief X
ReplyDeletedespite this news a word of caution in that another death has been noted from a relative of a sick person as outlined here
ReplyDeleteRIP Terry McGarvey
How many people have done what he did in the past and not gone to the media?
A SERIOUSLY ill man died hours after he was hauled into an Atos fit-for-work assessment.
Terry McGarvey knew he wasn’t well enough to attend the hearing. But he was terrified his benefits would be stopped if he didn’t turn up.
He dragged himself to the assessment but had to be taken to hospital in an ambulance. Terry, 48, died the next day.
His brother Charlie, 50, said: “He said he felt terrible and didn’t think he could leave the house.
“But he was worried they’d take his benefits away if he didn’t go.
“When he went in, he sat down with a young woman who started asking him questions.
“I pointed out that he needed an ambulance, not a medical.
“They put us into a room next door and lay him on a bed. We waited more than an hour for the ambulance without anyone coming in to even ask how he was.”
Terry, who had blood disorder polycytheamia, died in Glasgow’s Victoria Infirmary from pneumonia last month. His death certificate also lists liver disease.
Charlie, from Glasgow, said Atos’s trained medical assessors should have realised his brother, a former lorry driver, was dangerously ill.
He added: “I think that if they had a doctor in there, they would have got an ambulance immediately.
“The girl who was supposed to be doing the examination never brought out a stethoscope or anything. They just put him in the room next door and that was the last we saw of her.”
An Atos spokesman said: “We would like to express our condolences to Mr McGarvey and
his family.
As soon as we were made aware that Mr McGarvey had taken ill, we offered our assistance and called for an ambulance.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Ambulance Service said: “The call was clinically triaged as a non-emergency based on detailed information provided by the caller.
“The caller was advised that the response to a non-emergency call at that time could take up to an hour but to call 999 again if the patient’scondition deteriorated.”
On Friday, victims of fit-to-work tests welcomed the news that Atos are ending their contract to carry out
Work Capability Assesments for the Department for Work and Pensions.
Thousands of seriously ill and vulnerable people have been deemed fit to work by the tests, only for the verdicts to be overturned on appeal.
https://www.fastmail.fm/mail/Inbox/?u=53b04197#/mail/Inbox/f1d623eea211ada5-f20829737u28059
I cannot believe the Atos reply ".....we offered assistance and rang for an ambulance..." Big deal! That is what anyone would have done! But, they are supposed to be health care professionals, why did they not get one of their doctors to see this man? Why didn't one of their nurses sit with him until the ambulance arrived? Disgusting behaviour, health care professionals my ar*e!
Deletewho ever is reading this testimony today should please celebrate with me and my family because it all started like a joke to some people and others said it was impossible. my name is Michael i live in Chicago i am happily married with two kids and a lovely wife something terrible happen to my family along the line, i lost my job and my wife packed out of my house because i was unable to take care of her and my kids at that particular time. i manage all through five years, no wife to support me to take care of the children and there come a faithful day that i will never forget in my life i met an old friend who i explain all my difficulties to, and he took me to a spell caster and and the name of the temple is called, DR Okundonor, i was assure that everything will be fine and my wife will come back to me after the wonderful work of Dr Okundonorgreatspell, my wife came back to me and today i am one of the richest man in my country. i advice you if you have any problem email him with this email: dr.okundonorgreatspell@gmail.com and you will have the best result. take things for granted and it will be take from you. i wish you all the best.
DeleteContact:( dr.okundonorgreatspell@gmail.com), or call he with this phone number, +2348137828640
i sent my esa form off back in jan. ive been very ill with ME for 16 years,i have a neurologist support and an excellent gp who write supporting letters but they kept reassessing me every year( 3 years) causing great stress to myself and it has worsened my condition.how a long term bed ridden woman can suddenly get better in a year is stupid.its not reassessment, its harrassment
ReplyDeleteWhat about repeat WCA that have already been referred and are scheduled? Do they proceeed if so how is that legal?
ReplyDeleteLong overdue but I fear IDS will press on regardless and relet the contract to capita, our only hope is that the process takes a while and that in 2015 (MAY) we have a new Labour Government that amends the test to fairly reflect the needs and capabilities of those who are disabled and vulnerable,
ReplyDeleteMy first ESA50 for migration from Incapacity Benefit was sent to ATOS in May 2013, and I've heard nothing since (still getting IB). Will this situation affect me, or will they still go ahead with my assessment anyway?
ReplyDeleteYes I am confused on that point. The article referred to seems to be saying no new WCA referrals will be carried as of 20th January.
DeleteI sent my ESA50 back the end of June 2013 and still waiting to hear anything.
I am very happy about this good news, not for myself, but for the thousands of disabled and mentally unwell people who must feel like someone has just lifted a ton weight from their shoulders. God bless everyone who had to suffer from Atos assessments and RIP those people who died as a result of unfair Atos ignorance. I hope the government doesn't think it will be seen in a better light because of the end of Atos, because everyone knows that Iain Duncan Smith and the DWP are responsible for the terrible way disability claiments have been treated over the last five to ten years, if not further back. But it is very good news that Atos are gone, now a ruling body MUST make certain that future assessments are carried out by patients doctors and qualified, caring medical staff, who understand peoples need for fair honest assessments and dignity and respect.
ReplyDeleteATOS nearly had my life on two occasions when I could not cope with the relentless refusal to consider any medical information from my GP.It is only by my own ineptitude at my attempted suicide and an overworked NHS casualty department who resuscitated me twice am I able to write this now. I fear every brown envelope that comes to my door. Yes I eventually got the result that I was entitled to, but at a terrible cost to my own and my family's health. I am now a broken man, cynical and trust no one. So to the DWP and the rest of the filth that this non elected quasi administration that rules not by consent. but by fear, your day will dawn when you need the help that you have denied millions of ill and disabled people and been complicit in the deaths of the most vulnerable in society. You will get the support that we have been denied because unlike you we still have compassion and a sense of fairness.
DeleteI wish I hadn't read what I did this morning (25th Feb) - its got me all stirred up again and I feel genuinely sick and frightened as I have been all along :(
ReplyDeleteNow it seems that Atos is not going to be called that anymore for the WCA - it's now going to call itself OH Assist - so nothing has changed except for the name.
Well, they can change the name but they won't change what they do and what they stand for! And we will still keep on fighting!
I waited in all day for my home-based Atos WCA medical which was scheduled for 10am. By 4.30 I was out of my mind with worry and climbing the walls. My support worker rang DWP. They rang back at 5pm to say I no longer needed a medical. This sent me into crisis and, if it wasn't for some critical support, I would have taken my own life.
ReplyDeleteOMG! Jennifer, I am appalled by what you have had to go through :( Please sit and relax and think of all the support you can get right her on the internet, or by emailing someone who cares.
ReplyDeletePlease don't be another "number" for Atos and the DWP - you are stronger than that - don't give in to them, never give in to them.
I hope you are feeling a little calmer now? Thinking of you.
What company would want to be known as one that takes money from disabled people? It's not the sort of thing that gets kudos from bragging about it.
ReplyDeleteThe sort of company that a greedy corrupt capitalist government loves, one that values money more than care and fairness for people. I lost faith in this government about a week after it started in 2010 and so have many people in this country, so i can't see it being given another five years in power, which is small mercy after the way it has tried to destroy the social fabric of our lives.
DeleteWatching WOW debate seems Labour still insist on WCA sanctions etc.
ReplyDeleteThere as bad as Tories. Old documents on ESA show they were all for cuts to sickness benefit. 2008. Utopian dream to benefit charities with "CAN DO"
Paul
Unfortunately this WCA postponement came 2 weeks too late for me as I had my ESA50 arrived in early January. I have been in the Support Group for 2 years and due to get my State Pension in Sept so can just hope that ATOS do the sensible thing, but as we know they are not well known for their sense.
ReplyDeleteI assume from what I have read elsewhere that all assessments already referred WILL happen but may be a longer wait due to the backlog - just hoping it will be as long as possible in my case!
Good news. I am glad we are starting to all fight back against this harsh system of facism. Maybe we can make sure they are kicked out of this country next. They are not to bother me until 2016. But DWP have been sending me very confusing letters with odd dates on. And those odd dates don't tally or add up correctly.
ReplyDeleteI have a small smile as mentioned above.......
ReplyDeleteBUT
The WCA still hangs over our heads even if we have a relatively short reprieve.......
& PIP is still happening with it's 20 metre rule - yes some chaos but it'll come.
My problem is that even if nothing changes B4 the election, I can't see it change after even if Labour win!
Sorry - pessimistic tonight - just all get's to be too much!
After a series of unpleasant run-ins with atos and now hearing that they are suspending wca meetings indefinitely, I neverthelessreceived a call yesterday (3.3.14) from atos cheerfully announcing that my request for a home visit has been approved and they would get back to me within the next two weeks to let me know the date. Which is it?
ReplyDeleteBeing a Jeremiah I would emphasise that none of this has any "certainty." The DWP will, in the light of this information leaked by Benefits & Work redouble their efforts to bring on board new contractors as rapidly as possible.That is likely to mean with the same callous disregard as ATOS to continue this despicable flawed process. It is NOT a guarantee of deferment for 2 years for any of us (and were it to prove so, only for the few!) I would suggest that people cogitate on the following - IDS has mooted removing the WRAG altogether and moving people onto JSA.It's taking too long to move them toward work and sanctions are even more readily used among JSA claimants! Moreover the year 5 review of the WCA by Paul Litchfield (apologist for the governments flawed WCA process) has in it's terms of reference an evaluation of the regs surrounding work related activity which clearly signals a move to further reduce the numbers accessing the support group via exceptional circumstances clauses. Be afraid be very afraid and ANGRY.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Mrs Ray Voom i am from Chicago am 34years old i got married at the age of 27 i have only one child and i was living happily and started having much much weight that could not help but disgrace me in most cases .After one year of my marriage my husband behavior became so strange and i don’t really understand what was going on,he packed out of the house to another woman i love him so much that i never dream’s of losing him, i try my possible best to make sure that my husband get back tome but all to no avail, i cry and cry seeking for help, i discussed it with my best friend Sharon Kennedy and she promise to help me. She told me of a man called Mr Bethnam she told me he is a very great man and a real man that can be trusted and there is nothing concerning love issues he cannot solve and she told me how he has help countless number of people in restoring their relationship also helping people to lose their weight without taking any any drug I was really convince, I quickly contacted his email bethnamgerey01spelltemple@gmail.com .I explain all my problem to him, he told me that i should not worry that all my problems will be solved immediately. He told me what to do to get my husband back and i did, he said after 3days my husband will come back to me and start begging, and it really happen as he said, i was very surprise, this is so amazing.
ReplyDeleteTo God be the glory our relationship is now very tight and we both live happily again. If
you having similar problem, Contact him and get your problem solve once and for all. i am a living testimony to it.
1) If you want your ex back.
(2) if you always have bad dreams.
(3) You want to be promoted in your office.
(4) You want women/men to run after you.
(5) If you want a child.
(6) You want to be rich.
(7) You want to tie your husband/wife to be
yours forever.
(8) If you want your weight lose
(9) How you been scammed and you want
to recover you lost money.
(10)if you want to stop your divorce.
(11)if you want to divorce your husband.
(12)if you want your wishes to be granted.
once again the email address is
bethnamgeremy01spelltemple@gmail.com
HELLO,I am out here to spreed this good news to the entire world on how I
ReplyDeletegot my ex love back.I was going crazy when my love left me for another girl
last month, But when i met the prophetolukorjesu the great messenger to the
oracle that he serve,I narrated my problem to prophetolukorjesu about how my
ex love left me and also how i needed to get a job in a very big company.He
only said to me that i have come to the right place were i will be getting
my heart desire without any side effect.He told me what i need to do,After
it was been done,In the next 12 hours,My love called me on the phone and
was saying sorry for living me before now and also in the next one week
after my love called me to be pleading for forgiveness,I was called for an
interview in my desired company were i needed to work as the managing
director..I am so happy and overwhelmed that i have to tell this to the
entire world to contact prophetolukorjesu through his email
prophetolukorjesu@gmail.com
I am joes candra, I promise to share this testimony all over the world once my boyfriend return back to me, and today with all due respect i want to thank DR.OSAUYI for bringing joy and happiness to my relationship and my family. I want to inform you all that there is a spell caster that is real and genuine. I never believed in any of these things until i loosed my boyfriend, I required help until i found a grate spell caster, And he cast a love spell for me, and he assured me that I will get my boyfriend back in two days after the spell has been cast. Three days later, my phone rang, and so shockingly, it was my boyfriend who has not called me for past 6 years now, and made an apology for the heart break, and told me that he is ready to be my back bone till the rest of his life with me. DR.OSAUYI released him up to know how much i loved and wanted him. And opened his eyes to picture how much we have share together. As I`m writing this testimony right now I`m the most happiest girl on earth and me and my boyfriend is living a happy life and our love is now stronger than how it were even before our break up. So that`s why I promised to share my testimony all over the universe.All thanks goes to DR.OSAUYI for the excessive work that he has done for me. Below is the email address in any situation you are undergoing a heart break, and I assure you that as he has done mine for me, he will definitely help you too. OSAUYILOVESPELL@YAHOO.COM that is his email address bye or you can call is hot line on +2347064294395
ReplyDelete