ATOS

[go.oot.by.dog]

Benefit claimants are now seen as other – less than fully human

 

Research suggests many of us regard people on benefits as part of an 'outgroup' who don't feel the same emotions. This is scary

 

The government's cuts to welfare benefits are causing real harm to a lot of innocent people. Nevertheless, remarkable numbers seem willing to support them, and all too ready to justify them with extreme aberrations. You can probably put some of this down to our straitened times. People struggling to get by in their own lives will find it hard to sympathise with those they feel are getting a free ride. However, at bottom, a lot of the bad feeling towards people on benefits comes from the way we now see them as a distinct, separate social group. Different from the rest of us. Worse than.

 

Full article can be read here -

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/may/11/benefits-claimants-other-research

[go.oot.by.dog]

Lies, damned lies and Iain Duncan Smith

 

The way the work and pensions secretary manipulates statistics is a shaming indictment of his department's failings

When you see rottenness in a system you must ask: does it come from one bad apple or does the whole barrel stink?

 

Full article can be read here -

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/may/12/iain-duncan-smith-fiddling-figures

[go.oot.by.dog]

Work & Pensions Committee: Hold IDS to account for his use of statistics

 

This petition which i posted a link for earlier has now reached 89,863 signatures

 

www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/work-pensions-committee-hold-ids-to-account-for-his-use-of-statistics-2

[paulb]

signed last week

[go.oot.by.dog]

signed last week

 

Cheers paulb

[unlinkedstudent]

...

You want us to listen? A very good friend of mine is 23 and dying of cancer. She has her ATOS interview in a couple of weeks, despite telling them that due to morphine, etc., she finds it difficult to stay awake for more than a couple of hours at a time. Up until a couple of months ago, she continued to work and her boss let her work from home too. She's going to the ATOS interview.

 

ATOS interview cancelled upon receipt of telephone call. ATOS letter confirming the same received. She will continue to receive benefits.

[shetlandpeat]

But but but but, but, we simply must remember that absolutely NOBODY fiddles the system:-

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-22338876

 

Oh, and the guy who committed suicide off referred to earlier in this thread - nobody noticed then that despite the fact he was apparently so disabled he couldn't possibly travel to get a job that he rode his motorcycle 16 miles to where he jumped? A failure of support from the NHS, yes, but wrong of ATOS to declare him fit for work?

 

You want us to listen? A very good friend of mine is 23 and dying of cancer. She has her ATOS interview in a couple of weeks, despite telling them that due to morphine, etc., she finds it difficult to stay awake for more than a couple of hours at a time. Up until a couple of months ago, she continued to work and her boss let her work from home too. She's going to the ATOS interview. Now cases like that where people are terminally ill I have every sympathy with and I don't care if you post reports of that nature, but to highlight and report every single internet news report is, quite frankly, doing your cause no good whatsoever.

 

There's too many borderline cases where people could work if they put their minds to it. No jobs going? Find a niche area then and work for yourself. Oh yeah, I forgot - the state just simply must do everything for people. "I get depressed sometimes and therefore I can't work" (But can go out socialising regularly and study), "I have a bad back" (but can manage to run in a charity marathon and then moan when declared fit for work) - SOME, and only SOME, do make it worse for other claimants, which means the system gets totally fecked with. The world has moved on. There are opportunities available now where years ago there weren't. We have technology. Jobs for life? Forget it.

 

You don't like what I post on "your" thread? Tough.

 

If folk are so depressed that they want to end their life, they can do things "for the last time" sorta thing. You hear of the amazing strength of the dying as they save their fellow comrades. What you quote does not state is exactly how the motorcycle was ridden, can you divulge that from your news feed?

 

Also, we are not stating that everyone who claims is on the fiddle, as you know, it was about 5%. The GOV stigmatisation machine made sure that those who claim benefits are probable on the fiddle, which, by your post, you agree with as you would not make the reference you have made.

 

As for your "friend", who made the phone call that stopped this mighty machine? It would have been a relief that she would not have to attend, however, I would imagine she would still on the list to be assessed again. There are time scales involved as you know.

 

I have no problems with this thread, it is good to have all the information about this in one place.

 

As for your last paragraph, why would you want to get so angry. We have seen you loose your temper on here and post some erroneous views on people. It cannot do anyone any good, really. In a way, it sorta reveals how folk sometimes see those of a right wing persuasion. Why, as well, do you attempt to speak Patrois. I find that a little odd, I did not think you were Jamaican or even had West Indies roots, though it is an anonymous and we can make up anything we want.

[unlinkedstudent]

If folk are so depressed that they want to end their life, they can do things "for the last time" sorta thing. You hear of the amazing strength of the dying as they save their fellow comrades. What you quote does not state is exactly how the motorcycle was ridden, can you divulge that from your news feed?

 

SP, had you been paying attention you would have scrolled back and seen that the news report concerning the man who committed suicide was from a post by Oot by Dog earlier on - within the press report by The Eastbourne Herald it states that he rode his motorcycle; it didn't state he went pillion so you tell me, just how many ways are there to ride a motorbike? Yes, it is amazing what things people can do when they put their minds to it. It is tragic that he didn't get the support from the NHS and other organisations.

 

Also, we are not stating that everyone who claims is on the fiddle, as you know, it was about 5%. The GOV stigmatisation machine made sure that those who claim benefits are probable on the fiddle, which, by your post, you agree with as you would not make the reference you have made.

 

Your point being? My point is that some people on the thread seem to portray the opinion that nobody fiddles and if they do, then it doesn't matter. If people are fiddling the system then yes, it does matter.

 

As for your "friend", who made the phone call that stopped this mighty machine? It would have been a relief that she would not have to attend, however, I would imagine she would still on the list to be assessed again. There are time scales involved as you know.

 

No need for the inverted commas, SP, she IS a friend. I speak with her, make her laugh, listen to her cry in pain, hear from week-to-week how her lungs have less oxygen in them as she sometimes struggles to speak as she gasps for breath. She's actually just up the road from you in Rochdale. Who made the call? the Marie Curie Nurse - she has two of them; one works nights, the other works days. And just tell me how you've reached the conclusion that she would still be on the list to be assessed again? It was her birthday last month - she ain't expected to see another. So hell yeah, we know there are time scales involved. She wanted to attend - she hasn't been able to walk as far as her local shop and decided she'd go "for a laugh". Given that they've just upped her morphine and are talking of having oxygen in the home, she ain't going.

 

I have no problems with this thread, it is good to have all the information about this in one place.

 

Well good for you!

 

As for your last paragraph, why would you want to get so angry. We have seen you loose your temper on here and post some erroneous views on people. It cannot do anyone any good, really. In a way, it sorta reveals how folk sometimes see those of a right wing persuasion. Why, as well, do you attempt to speak Patrois. I find that a little odd, I did not think you were Jamaican or even had West Indies roots, though it is an anonymous and we can make up anything we want.

 

Oh, SP, I'm so terribly sorry. I missed the wink/smiley icon after typing 'tough'; I'm so dreadfully, dreadfully sorry that you read anger into it. But then, whilst you may find it a little odd, some of us have become quite fluent in reading double-dutch.

[go.oot.by.dog]

Benefits: Online system could see vulnerable lose out

 

(Am sure I D S will be happy about that as think on the pennies it will save)

 

OVER three quarters of vulnerable Scots could lose out on benefits because they are struggling with new rules forcing them to apply for help online, according to research released by Citizens Advice Scotland today.

 

Full article can be read here -

 

http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/benefits-online-system-could-see-vulnerable-lose-out-1-2927676

[go.oot.by.dog]

Checks to see if MuckleJoannie is about and then posts link rather sheepishly..... As i previously stated that in my opinion the BBC were biased in their reporting style so i am bemused as to how this one has slipped through the net!

 

Disability benefit assessments 'unfair', says ex-worker

 

A doctor who worked for the private company which assesses people for disability benefits says its methods are "unfair".

Greg Wood, a former Royal Navy doctor, resigned from Atos earlier this month, after working as an assessor for two-and-a-half years.

He told the BBC the system was "skewed against the claimant".

 

Full story can be read here -

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22546036

[go.oot.by.dog]

[MuckleJoannie]

Checks to see if MuckleJoannie is about and then posts link rather sheepishly.....

 

You beat me to it!

[go.oot.by.dog]

Checks to see if MuckleJoannie is about and then posts link rather sheepishly.....

 

You beat me to it!

[go.oot.by.dog]

BMA warns of coalition policies failing children on a grand scale

 

Doctors' union report condemns austerity drive that hits most vulnerable and drives inequality, poverty, and ill health

 

A series of coalition policies threaten to have profoundly deleterious effects on children's lives, driving widening inequalities and sending more families into poverty, according to a scathing report by the British Medical Association.

 

Full story here -

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/may/16/bma-warns-policies-failing-children

[go.oot.by.dog]

http://www.tomgreatrex.org/serious-allegations-against-atos-should-be-investigated---greatr

 

Letter from Tom Greatrex MP to Prime Minister David Cameron

 

Rt Hon David Cameron MP

Prime Minister

10 Downing Street

London SW1A 2AA

 

16 May 2013

 

Dear Prime Minister

 

Atos

 

I have been contacted by a doctor who, until very recently, worked for Atos Healthcare carrying out work capability assessments on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

 

As you will be aware concern has been expressed, including by the National Audit Office, about the performance of Atos Healthcare and the management of the work capability assessment process by the DWP. Recent figures show that 42% of those who appeal the original decision by the DWP, which is largely based on the original Atos assessment, are successful.

 

Government figures suggest that the cost of running the appeal system in 2012/13 will reach £70m. This means that taxpayers are effectively paying for this process twice – first through the £112m contract with Atos, and again for the appeal system to correct those mistakes.

 

Doctor Greg Wood, who served as a medical officer in the Royal Navy for 16 years, has made the following allegations:

 

- “claimants are often not being assessed in an even handed way"

 

- “In my experience HCPs are not free to make independent recommendations, important evidence is frequently missing or never sought in the first place, medical knowledge is twisted and points are often wrongly withheld through the use of an erroneously high standard of proofâ€

 

- If Atos assessors “show deviation from the official line the HCP is instructed to change the reportâ€

 

- “In about a quarter of assessments important documentary evidence is missing but the assessments go ahead regardless.â€;

 

- Training of new HCPs creates an environment where HCPS “expect that they will see in the course of their work score too few points to qualify for ESA. This is often the de facto starting hypothesis, with the effect that the claimant usually faces an uphill struggle before the assessment has even begun.â€

 

- HCPs often “begrudgingly†score claimants

 

- There is an attitude drilled into HCPs “which leans towards finding

reasons not to award pointsâ€

 

- “I believe that this overall bias in many cases affects the outcome of the claim when the claimant’s disability lies broadly in the middle of the disability spectrum.â€

 

These are very serious allegations which merit urgent investigation. I am writing to urge you to personally order such an investigation and monitor its outcome.

 

Those going through the system, and the taxpayers who are funding it, need to have confidence that it is fair and cost-effective. The allegations made by the doctor suggest that this is far from the case at present.

 

I should be grateful for your confirmation that you will ensure these allegations are investigated as a matter of urgency.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Tom Greatrex MP

Rutherglen and Hamilton West