Father tells of financial and emotional turmoil after "flawed" work test assessment (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

It's all flawed ! People who get knocked off the sick who can work but won't work head right to the doctors and get a new sick note to hand in ! Do how does that work then ?

I do feel sorry for those who are really too ill to work but the system is half cocked

That's what they get wrong. How can they be so poor at vetting the genuine from the bogus claim

Bemused or bewildered wrote:
It's all flawed ! People who get knocked off the sick who can work but won't work head right to the doctors and get a new sick note to hand in ! Do how does that work then ?

I do feel sorry for those who are really too ill to work but the system is half cocked

I am in a similar situation and have sunk very low with depression I will not let these incompetent medical assessors keep me down and will fight all the way

Although the above article does not go into much depth, and i agree MS is a nasty condition... MS does not mean you have to stop work. I know a few people with it and all continue to work, just with a few changes to environments / conditions.

If you are unfit to work i have no problem with the state looking after you. however if you are are fit to do some sort of work but not what you did before, then im sorry but your illness is no excuse to claim benefit

iandee66 wrote:

Bemused or bewildered wrote:
It's all flawed ! People who get knocked off the sick who can work but won't work head right to the doctors and get a new sick note to hand in ! Do how does that work then ?

I do feel sorry for those who are really too ill to work but the system is half cocked

I am in a similar situation and have sunk very low with depression I will not let these incompetent medical assessors keep me down and will fight all the way

I'm currently fighting the ATOS decision too. I had my medical last August, I failed, like they fail everyone who isn't in a coma. I've appealed and have been waiting 7 months for a tribunal date now. Apparently it's taking 12 months for a tribunal hearing due to the huge backlog.
Keep your chin up, get somone to help you and get all the evidence you can for your tribunal and also take someone with you. The medical is a scam so don't let it defeat you.

chrisby33 wrote:
Although the above article does not go into much depth, and i agree MS is a nasty condition... MS does not mean you have to stop work. I know a few people with it and all continue to work, just with a few changes to environments / conditions.

If you are unfit to work i have no problem with the state looking after you. however if you are are fit to do some sort of work but not what you did before, then im sorry but your illness is no excuse to claim benefit

I agree that some disabilities do not stop a person earning his / her way, however at what point of this progressive illness do you decide benefits should be paid, not least because this guy also has other medical problems, furthermore is there a job he could do or an employer who would employ him with a progressive illness and the issues this would bring to the job...this time the system eventually got it right

thehogman wrote:

chrisby33 wrote:
Although the above article does not go into much depth, and i agree MS is a nasty condition... MS does not mean you have to stop work. I know a few people with it and all continue to work, just with a few changes to environments / conditions.

If you are unfit to work i have no problem with the state looking after you. however if you are are fit to do some sort of work but not what you did before, then im sorry but your illness is no excuse to claim benefit

I agree that some disabilities do not stop a person earning his / her way, however at what point of this progressive illness do you decide benefits should be paid, not least because this guy also has other medical problems, furthermore is there a job he could do or an employer who would employ him with a progressive illness and the issues this would bring to the job...this time the system eventually got it right

thehogman

As stated above, we dont know enough detail on this case to pass sound judgement, i was just stateing that a lot of MS sufferers continue in paid employment until they are unable. the only disability listed in this case is limited mobility. (although im sure there is more)

my comment was not aimed at this gentleman directly, but at people in general who are sometimes very quick to claim the disability card because they can't do there chosen job... but are actually able to do lots of other things.

Ian James wrote:
I am pleased this poor man has had his benefits fully paid back n rightly so. Because, David Cameron and the rest of his Tory Shirt-lifters arn't bothered about the poor n sick and never have been. And these so called doctors who they get at these medicals, arn't real doctors and are just quacks who they ship in from Botswana n Belize City and wherever else they can get them, straight in off the Banana-boat. And the only qualifications they need for getting these jobs is that they speak broken English, so you can't understand them and they kiss David Cameron's **** every time his on tv and vote for him at the next General waste of time! Well aye!!

Ian James

You sir, are a complete idiot. Please take your racist BS somewhere else and leave the conversation to the grown-ups please.

That's nothing, apparently when the remains of Richard III were dug up from a car park in Leicester ATOS declared him fit for work the next day....

i have had the tribunril and still got knoked back, i asked for a reason and in righting they said, i did'ent discribe the simtom's enough and mist key words out, yet all the words that they said i mist out, was in the staitment of resones that i did say all these word's. its because they where not lissoning to me, i am now trying for help from c.a.b, and like some one has said, don't let them get you down,i also had a letter from a doctor which they egnored,

Have you wrestling sharks recently lol

thinkwhy wrote:
i have had the tribunril and still got knoked back, i asked for a reason and in righting they said, i did'ent discribe the simtom's enough and mist key words out, yet all the words that they said i mist out, was in the staitment of resones that i did say all these word's. its because they where not lissoning to me, i am now trying for help from c.a.b, and like some one has said, don't let them get you down,i also had a letter from a doctor which they egnored,

Did you take someone with you to the Tribunal? You really need some support from someone who knows how to deal with them, or at least a relative or friend. They purposefully don't fully inform you before hand of what's required. They do not talk in laymans terms so it's really difficult to get your point across in a manner they find acceptable.
I think you can still take your appeal to another tier but get help from CAB. They are snowed under with appeals but should help you. Good luck.

I'm afraid its the "hangers on" that make it hard for the genuine person

ms isnt a made up illness like me i think people me can work and yes with ms that guy does voluntry when he can good on him, its the spongers that have no intention of working id like to see benefits stopped worked all my life im over 60 now so lets sort the scroungers out

i had mri scans it showed i had lot damage to my back...........throu care work did i qualify for anything did i hell , i now suffer pain have 2 jobs because we need to live i suffer pain as i work but if i cant claim ..we cant live on nothing so i work despite the pain, worked all my life so whats new .... paid ni and tax to cover the layabouts now told i got to work till im 63 , dont qualify a bus pass, or heating allowence , seems im a good payer into the system i get nothing back.

I don't know how any country can call itself civilised when a man so obviously ill is treated in this way. The politicians use weasel words when they try and find excuses for ATOS. It has been obvious for some time that these assessments are flawed and the main reason for persisting with them is to coerce and frighten people off benefits. I know from the experience of helping someone with an appeal that the assessors are not beyond lying when it suits them in order to lower the score. I proved conclusively that the assessor did at our tribunal and the decision went in our favour even before we had time to sit down. Of course people who are fit enough to work should do so (providing they can find a job) but there was a perfectly good system in place. National politicians, from all parties, should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves in allowing this disgraceful state of affairs to continue.

Iain Duncan Smith knows full well that these assessments are causing widespread misery. There have been many discussions in Parliament concerning Atos and the DWP's treatment of very sick people.
A Freedom of Information request revealed that, on average, 73 people die every week, within 6 weeks of being declared fit for work by Atos.
There have been cases where people have commited suicide after having an Atos assessment and having their benefit stopped. Cases where a Coroner has cited the stress of these assessments in their reports.
Although the DWP deny it, they have given Atos targets. Whistleblowers have confirmed that only 12% are being allowed to pass the Atos test, the rest are fit for work.
This results in people being stuck in a hole. They go to sign on but are told by the Job Centre that they are too ill to be considered for JSA but cannot claim any sickness benefit either as the DWP says they are fit for work. Imagine, you work for 30-40 years, you fall ill, you claim sickness benefit but are denied, you try to sign on but denied. Something is very wrong.

This system is all about cutting the cost of benefit payments and nothing at all about fairness. Our Government have been striving to keep the financial sector alive regardless of the cost to the majority of people living here. They alter statistical evidence on a regular basis to justify the politics; they are all about the elite and the upper middle classes who support them. Government is as corrupt as the banking system that they should have let rot; not one person has been brought to book for the banking debacle and the ones in charge never will. Meanwhile the poorest are being driven into deeper poverty and made scapegoats for failed Government policies.

gramps427 wrote:
This system is all about cutting the cost of benefit payments and nothing at all about fairness. Our Government have been striving to keep the financial sector alive regardless of the cost to the majority of people living here. They alter statistical evidence on a regular basis to justify the politics; they are all about the elite and the upper middle classes who support them. Government is as corrupt as the banking system that they should have let rot; not one person has been brought to book for the banking debacle and the ones in charge never will. Meanwhile the poorest are being driven into deeper poverty and made scapegoats for failed Government policies.

Well put and right on target.

Well those disabled people who competed in the oylmpics have alot to answer for.

This government saw how many medals these disabled people got and classed us all together.

My wife won a tribunal in the 1990 which was for life, but these new rules turns this on its head and she has to go though it all again.

But this time instead of three people saying she can have it it is NOW only one, so are they discriminating against the true disabled - I think so.

But the man in this story shot himself in the foot when he said he does Voluntary Work in the hospital.

But unfortunately to me this means to me he can work.

Jonn wrote:

thinkwhy wrote: i have had the tribunril and still got knoked back, i asked for a reason and in righting they said, i did'ent discribe the simtom's enough and mist key words out, yet all the words that they said i mist out, was in the staitment of resones that i did say all these word's. its because they where not lissoning to me, i am now trying for help from c.a.b, and like some one has said, don't let them get you down,i also had a letter from a doctor which they egnored,

Did you take someone with you to the Tribunal? You really need some support from someone who knows how to deal with them, or at least a relative or friend. They purposefully don't fully inform you before hand of what's required. They do not talk in laymans terms so it's really difficult to get your point across in a manner they find acceptable. I think you can still take your appeal to another tier but get help from CAB. They are snowed under with appeals but should help you. Good luck.

thanks jhon, i was trembiling on the day through my health problem's and turning my head so i could hear them properly, yet they asked if it was through drink and keept asking why i turned my head (has if i had two) i since had a ear test becasue the ringing is geting worse and found that i have lost earing in both ear's, i really don't know how the doctor's (so called) who sit on the other side of the table can sleep at night, it was a very good doctor who said atos could not pay enough money for proper doctor's, i really beleave that

thinkwhy wrote:

Jonn wrote:

thinkwhy wrote: i have had the tribunril and still got knoked back, i asked for a reason and in righting they said, i did'ent discribe the simtom's enough and mist key words out, yet all the words that they said i mist out, was in the staitment of resones that i did say all these word's. its because they where not lissoning to me, i am now trying for help from c.a.b, and like some one has said, don't let them get you down,i also had a letter from a doctor which they egnored,

Did you take someone with you to the Tribunal? You really need some support from someone who knows how to deal with them, or at least a relative or friend. They purposefully don't fully inform you before hand of what's required. They do not talk in laymans terms so it's really difficult to get your point across in a manner they find acceptable. I think you can still take your appeal to another tier but get help from CAB. They are snowed under with appeals but should help you. Good luck.

thanks jhon, i was trembiling on the day through my health problem's and turning my head so i could hear them properly, yet they asked if it was through drink and keept asking why i turned my head (has if i had two) i since had a ear test becasue the ringing is geting worse and found that i have lost earing in both ear's, i really don't know how the doctor's (so called) who sit on the other side of the table can sleep at night, it was a very good doctor who said atos could not pay enough money for proper doctor's, i really beleave that

You are not the only one being treated like this by Atos, it's happening to thousands every week.
The medical is actually done with computer software called LIMA. The assessor asks you set questions from the computer screen. When you answer, the assessor types in key words of what you said and the software builds an answer itself. It's designed to fail you.
Atos don't have to use Doctors, most are 'healthcare professionals' (my assessor was a Nurse). They can't find enough Doctors as the medical actually breaches their code of ethics but the pay is very good. Atos also get a bonus for everyone they fail.
I hope you get the help you need to fight the decision as the whole system is corrupt.

I used to work for North Yorkshire Council when they ran' back to work' schemes and they got paid £10,000 then ( 2003) when an unemployed person was put back into work ...and I believe that everytime an agency declares a man fit wor work who has previously been found otherwise ,it gets paid £14,000 today.
The whole system is indeed corrupt

just how qualified are these atos assessors. do they have a reckognised medical degree?

hippyjohn wrote:
just how qualified are these atos assessors. do they have a reckognised medical degree?

I checked this out a few months ago when I failed my assessment. I requested a copy of my medical, which you need in order to appeal, it didn't arrive. When I rang up (about half an hour on hold) they told me they had 'forgotten' to send it. Another common practice. Eventually, they sent it. It's full of lies.
Anyway, turns out my assessor was a Nurse. Atos are only required to employ a certain amount of 'Doctors', the rest are 'Health Care Professionals'. No qualifications in dealing with the disabled or people with mental illness are required.
Working for Atos has become quite toxic, no decent Doctors will touch it as it's practices and the medical itself calls into question the Doctors ethical codes. It has very good rates of pay so we are talking mercinaries working for Atos clearly.
The test itself was used initially in the US for assessing medical insurance claims but was eventually banned, 8 billion in law suits nearly bankrupt the companies using it.
It's not actually Atos who make a final decision, they just carry out the medical, it's DWP who make the fit for work decision. Any discrepencies and they just pass you back and forth. They have it all worked out. It really is a national scandal.

thinkwhy wrote:
i have had the tribunril and still got knoked back, i asked for a reason and in righting they said, i did'ent discribe the simtom's enough and mist key words out, yet all the words that they said i mist out, was in the staitment of resones that i did say all these word's. its because they where not lissoning to me, i am now trying for help from c.a.b, and like some one has said, don't let them get you down,i also had a letter from a doctor which they egnored,

You missed a few key words out here also. Instead of work, I suggest you go back to school to learn some basic written English.

Take it you never took time to wonder if the poor Spelling was because of his Health Problems I " Suggest " you think before pulling People to pieces for no Reason other than Showing you can Spell proficeintly

DOGLAWRENCE wrote:
Take it you never took time to wonder if the poor Spelling was because of his Health Problems I " Suggest " you think before pulling People to pieces for no Reason other than Showing you can Spell proficeintly

Why is it people like you always speculate on the unknown!! I was stating fact, something that you seemed to have overlooked

toffee2 wrote:

DOGLAWRENCE wrote:
Take it you never took time to wonder if the poor Spelling was because of his Health Problems I " Suggest " you think before pulling People to pieces for no Reason other than Showing you can Spell proficeintly

Why is it people like you always speculate on the unknown!! I was stating fact, something that you seemed to have overlooked

As I managed to understand what they were trying to say instead of mentioning Poor English I would keep my mouth Shut and feel Sorry for their Problem with Spelling

DOGLAWRENCE wrote:

toffee2 wrote:

DOGLAWRENCE wrote: Take it you never took time to wonder if the poor Spelling was because of his Health Problems I " Suggest " you think before pulling People to pieces for no Reason other than Showing you can Spell proficeintly

Why is it people like you always speculate on the unknown!! I was stating fact, something that you seemed to have overlooked

As I managed to understand what they were trying to say instead of mentioning Poor English I would keep my mouth Shut and feel Sorry for their Problem with Spelling

Why does their problem have to be everybody else's problem. Get a life & move on!!

It's hard enough finding work when you're 100% fit. How anyone with any kind of health or physical problem does it is beyond me.

toffee2 wrote:

thinkwhy wrote:
i have had the tribunril and still got knoked back, i asked for a reason and in righting they said, i did'ent discribe the simtom's enough and mist key words out, yet all the words that they said i mist out, was in the staitment of resones that i did say all these word's. its because they where not lissoning to me, i am now trying for help from c.a.b, and like some one has said, don't let them get you down,i also had a letter from a doctor which they egnored,

You missed a few key words out here also. Instead of work, I suggest you go back to school to learn some basic written English.

This man has already been humiliated and bullied by the Atos experience and all you can do is speak down to him by criticising his spelling.
Does it make you feel good big man.
Maybe you should apply for a job with Atos. They're always looking for bullies wanting to make good money off the back of sick people.

Jonn ,Some people try to mock my mistakes, but they don't know me,all i can say is they are lucky they can hide behnd their keyboards. As for think why,it looks as if he was a lamb to the slaughter with Atos,he should have had support to speak for him, Think Why, Please do get help from C.A.B., AND ANYONE ELSE YOU CAN,GOOD LUCK.

There are a lot of people who work long unsociable hours and still struggle to make ends meet. There are a lot of people who don't work have no intention of working, riding around in new cars paid for by those who work. So let's get some kind of what is just and what is a gravy train put into proportion. It is the fiddlers and the scroungers who are the problem and a lot of them are not from these shores.