Firstly, I learned that the Department of Work and Pensions sold their Gabalfa Health Assessment Center in Cardiff to some completely unheard of company called Atos. All the staff now work for Atos, not the DWP as before, and all of them look very disenchanted with their new lot. They didn't even have any leaflets on Atos - about where they were, what they do or - most importantly - how they came to be a sub-contractor of the DWP in the first place. Nobody knew a thing, but as I accompany patients there, I thought a word of warning would be appropriate, because, no matter what your capability really is ( Mentally or Physically ), you will be declared 'Fit for Work'. Am I serious - yes I am; Is this test a Confidence Trick - yes it ruddy well is, and even worse than the 'Three Card Trick' that took everyone's money.
Having been to several of these 'interviews' I have discovered that people who were originally tested as being Unfit for work, have to be re-assessed regularly, with the second test taking no account whatsoever of anything said or seen in your first test. So the lucky ones who were CORRECTLY assessed as being UNFIT for work the first time, all fail the second test, because they refuse to consider ANY evidence at all. I was horrified, and so should all of you be too, because none of the 'nurses' chosen to handle these interviews are qualified to handle the 'meetings' or make any judgement on anyone. They are dummies employed to make sure that they never see the same client twice, and NEVER take into account either the first interview, or any written evidence from doctors or psychiatrists. I proved this on every occasion ( that I knew was 'rigged' ) by asking the 'nurse' - Are you fully qualified to conduct a psychiatric assessment, or even a physical one ? And none of them are - in any way - sufficiently qualified to conduct even a physical assessment, neither do they ask any questions but those on the computer screen in front of them. The answer to everyone of these pre-meditated and deliberately biased questions will make certain that you end up being declared fit for work. The 'Trick' here is a psychological one, based on the fact that every question is a closed one ie. "You got here alright ?" - answer yes ( 0 points ). "You can dress yourself can't you ?" Answer yes ( 0 points again ). The inevitable result is that you score all Zeros in answer to every question, which gains you a reject letter showing your 'score'.
Thus, having been judged ( unfairly ) as fit for work by the Atos-created algorithm, your money will drop to Job-Seekers allowance and you will forced to join a job club or lose even the lower Job Seeker's allowance if you refuse to attend. My advice gives you two options; 1. Refuse to answer any question with a 'yes' on 'no' answer 2. Ask them ( exactly as I did ) if they are qualified etc. and then enact option 1. 3. Alternatively, ask them 'Do you mean 'to what extent can I do this', or 'At what point does the pain /dizziness affect your working?' or answer "well, I can put my shoes on but only with help as bending over causes chest/back/ head, neck, leg etc etc" This stops the trap of answering 'yes' or 'no' to every answer, when you know the answer will give you a zero score, because all of the questions are made 'open' ones to which you may reply at length about how, when and where your disability affects you.
Once faced with your inevitable declaration as being fit for work, you must appeal. Make sure that you point out that the test is unfair as it doesn't take into account any supporting evidence, and it is unfairly biased against you because all of the questions are closed, in order to trick you into giving them the answer they want. Get any and every bit of help you can - from the Citizen's Advice Bureau ( which is being closed in Cardiff - I wonder why ?), from a solicitor, or any recognised Patient Group, or an advocate such as myself. DON'T QUIT, whatever you do - if you have a disability , you have a right to the same financial benefit you received before, so fight for it and send a big 'No you cannot steal our money as is being done with our pensions' to David Cameron, his deputy for being a bloody hypocrite, and the Welsh government especially ! R.W.
Aaaaaand to prove it, here is further evidence researched by my brilliant colleague, Lynnette Spragg:-
Atos, company paid to drive people off disability benefits, slammed by
MPs after blunders ........................by Tom McTague, Daily Mirror 26/07/2011
THE firm paid to drive people off disability benefits has been slammed by MPs in a scathing report out today.
More than 150,000 people deemed fit to work by French IT company Atos have won appeals in a process costing taxpayers more than £30million a year, it found.
And some had their benefits stopped for “failure to attend” a test when they had not even been booked in.
The Commons work and pensions select committee condemned the blunders.
Tory MP Simon Hart said people were deemed totally fit to work in one test, only to be found in the appeal they were unfit to get a job.
Committee chairman Dame Anne Begg said some of the blame needed to fall on the Government for designing “flawed” assessments which Atos had to work with.
She said “considerable efforts” had been made to improve things, but more needed to be done
And some had their benefits stopped for “failure to attend” a test when they had not even been booked in.
The Commons work and pensions select committee condemned the blunders.
Tory MP Simon Hart said people were deemed totally fit to work in one test, only to be found in the appeal they were unfit to get a job.
Committee chairman Dame Anne Begg said some of the blame needed to fall on the Government for designing “flawed” assessments which Atos had to work with.
She said “considerable efforts” had been made to improve things, but more needed to be done
Read more: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/2011/07/26/atos-company-paid-to-drive-people-off-disability-benefits-slammed-by-mps-after-blunders-115875-23297366/#ixzz1gX93h8NW
Aaaaaaand - if THAT ISN'T ENOUGH - READ ON FOR MORE . R.W.
Twelve doctors employed by the firm that is paid £100m a year to assess people claiming disability benefit are under investigation by the General Medical Council over allegations of improper conduct. The doctors, who work for Atos Healthcare, a French-owned company recently criticised by MPs for its practices, face being struck off if they are found not to have put the care of patients first.
The Observer has found that seven of the doctors have been under investigation for more than seven months. The other five were placed under investigation this year following complaints about their conduct
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