This page is published in the public domain and is uncopyrighted. Feel free to copy. See Copyleft (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/)
This website provides information on how Atos runs its business, extracts from the Contract between the DWP and Atos including the MEDICAL CONDITIONS that mean a face to face medical assessment is not always necessary, ASSESSMENTS AND POINTS, the breaches of Contract that occurred in my case, my unsound medical report and the correspondence showing how difficult it is to obtain justice or advice.
You can click on a date to link to the item on this page.
| Press 2010 | 8 February | Incentives for informers. | Guardian |
| 9 February | Disabled people without support. | Guardian | |
| 10 February | Stasi. | Guardian | |
| 9 March | Response suggests many people wrongly judged fit to work. | Guardian | |
| 27 May | Absurd welfare dependency. | Guardian | |
| 1 June | Ignorance about welfare. | Guardian | |
| 15 June | Poverty. | Guardian | |
| 23 June | Fairness. | Guardian | |
| 24 June | Benefits enable work. | Guardian | |
| 28 June | Welfare crackdown. | Guardian | |
| 28 June | Savings. | Independent | |
| 29 June | Not scroungers. | Guardian | |
| 5 July | All suffer. | Guardian | |
| 6 July | Rushed reforms. | Guardian | |
| 6 July | Cynical ruse. | Guardian | |
| 23 July | Social Injustice. | Guardian | |
| 23 July | Draconian benefit tests. | Guardian | |
| 13 August | Job seeking. | Guardian | |
| 19 August | Benefits cull. | Guardian | |
| 23 August | Welfare Advisers. | Guardian | |
| 9 September | George Osborne cut 4bn benefits welfare. | Guardian | |
| 11 September | George Osborne slash sickness benefits. | Guardian | |
| 12 September | Welfare budget cuts Danny Alexander. | Guardian | |
| 1 October | Iain Duncan Smith questions. | Guardian | |
| 2 October | Conservative Party better fairer country. | Guardian | |
| 23 October | Benefits trap Government reform welfare. | Guardian | |
| 9 November | Poverty plus a pound isn't enough. | Guardian | |
| 9 November | Welfare: the 18th Brumaire of Iain Duncan Smith. | Guardian |
8 February 2010 - Incentives for informers
Benefit informers could be given share of cash saved. Proposals to encourage people to inform on benefit cheats... Some critics have claimed that the hotlines reduced social cohesion and made innocent citizens the victims of deranged neighbours determined to cause misery.
by Patrick Wintour, The Guardian, 8 February 2010.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/feb/08/benefit-informers-snitch-policy
9 February 2010 - Disabled people without support
Disability tests in need of overhaul. The tough Work Capability Assessment is stopping disabled people get the support they need for a return to employment.
...Those who feel that they have not been properly assessed can complain directly to Atos. But very often a poor assessment will lead to an appeal, a tribunal and delays, as well as extra expense to both the individual and the taxpayer. Most importantly, of course, every time the test doesn't work appropriately it can mean someone missing out on the support that they need to find work, and the financial support that they need because of their impairment...
by Guy Parckar, The Guardian, 9 February 2010.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/feb/09/work-capability-assessments-disabled
10 February 2010 - Stasi
The real benefit cheats? The Stasi ranks of Hard Labour. The supergrass wheeze is just another example of coarse, wilfully ignorant rabble-rousing from the top ranks of government. I'd love to see the benefit cheat advertisements remodelled, to target public sector expenses fraud.
by Zoe Williams, The Guardian, 10 February 2010.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/feb/10/benefit-cheat-stasi-hard-labour
9 March 2010 - Response suggests many people wrongly judged fit to work
Readers detail experience of being found fit when not able to work
by Amelia Gentleman, The Guardian, 9 March 2010.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/joepublic/2010/mar/29/reader-responses-fit-to-work
27 May 2010 - Absurd welfare dependency
Iain Duncan Smith vows to tackle 'absurd' welfare dependency. Work and pensions secretary unveils plans to attack 'persistent poverty' by reducing the number of people 'parked' on benefits.
...It was a "tragedy" that people on incapacity benefit for more than two years were more likely to retire or die than get a job, he said....
...Sanctions will also be introduced to benefit claimants who refuse to take up jobs, while all those on incapacity benefit will now be reassessed...
by Press Association, The Guardian, 27 May 2010.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/may/27/iain-duncan-smith-welfare-dependency
1 June 2010 - Ignorance about welfare
Iain Duncan Smith displays a worrying ignorance about welfare. As a former Jobcentre Plus worker I am far better informed than the minister about our benefits system.
...In a BBC interview he described ESA as a "disability benefit" for those with the potential to work. This is highly inaccurate. It is a benefit intended for those suffering short-term illnesses as well as long-term disabilities, and is intended as a replacement for incapacity benefit, not to supplement it....
...A major factor behind long-term unemployment is that the slender rewards of taking poorly paid work aren't compensated for by the additional stress involved in taking some of the worst jobs in society....
...With this in mind, Iain Duncan Smith's promise to re-incentivise work has sinister implications. The easiest and cheapest way to do this is to slash benefits to a level where they can't sustain a tolerable lifestyle. This is what I suspect is planned, despite all his talk of reform.
The Guardian, 1 June 2010.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jun/01/iain-duncan-smith-ignorance-welfare
15 June 2010 - Poverty
Poverty: a job for John the Baptist? IDS knows he will have job tying Frank Field's loose cannon to the deck
...Now in charge of a gargantuan £135bn a year at the Department for Work and Pensions, IDS knows he will have a job tying Field's loose cannon to the deck, but is determined to do his best....
Michael White, The Guardian, 15 June 2010.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jun/15/michael-white-ids-frank-field
23 June 2010 - Fairness
Cutting disability benefits is not 'fair'. Osborne's softening-up process worked - but cutting disability allowance without improving the social care system is wrong
...The squeeze on people claiming disability living allowance is predicted to save the government £1.4bn by 2015. This is the weekly allowance that can be claimed by people so physically or mentally disabled they cannot wash or dress themselves; can't eat unaided or use the toilet independently. It helps them pay for a helper....
Jackie Ashley, The Guardian, 23 June 2010.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jun/23/cutting-disability-benefits-not-fair
24 June 2010 - Benefits enable work
Why should I again prove my disability to satisfy George Osborne? The disability living allowance treats us as ordinary people with some extra needs. Spare me talk of a focus on 'genuine' cases
...DLA helps claimants by enabling us to meet the extra costs of our disabilities, enabling people to do what would otherwise be too costly. These extra costs can range from wheelchairs, other care equipment, care services, transport, and dietary needs, to computers and other assistive technology, to more individual needs and unexpected expenses incurred as the result of disability. Many DLA claimants use the benefit to enable them to work and many more want to do so but are hampered by employer attitudes and social negativity....
Rhydian James , The Guardian, 24 June 2010.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jun/24/disability-living-allowance-george-osborne
28 June 2010 - Welfare crackdown
Welfare crackdown begins with drive to reduce incapacity benefit claims. Coalition's plans include taking people off higher rate of benefits if tests reveal they are fit to do some work
Ministers are to signal a tougher approach to incapacity benefit this week as the next stage of its welfare reforms, by reducing the benefit levels of those tested if they are found capable of doing some work...
The Guardian, 28 June 2010.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/jun/28/welfare-incapacity-benefit-claimants-assessment
28 June 2010 - Savings
Osborne eyes incapacity claimants for savings
A controversial drive to reduce the £12.5bn a year paid to sick and disabled people deemed unfit to work will be at the heart of the government-wide spending review this summer....
The Independent, 28 June 2010.
29 June 2010 - Not scroungers
Disabled people are not scroungers. It's time the government stopped using incapacity benefits as a political football - those who got us into this mess should pay
...George Osborne is talking tough on incapacity benefits and suggesting that many recipients are fraudulent. There is no evidence to support this, other than a few, extreme anecdotal cases. He claims he will support the long-term sick and most vulnerable, but let's look at it realistically...
The Guardian, 29 June 2010.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jun/29/disabled-people-not-scroungers
5 July 2010 - All suffer
These cuts won't only hit the scroungers. We'll all suffer
Millions believe Britain is being held back by single mothers or immigrants. But the pain will be felt by 'us', not just 'them'.
The Guardian, 5 July 2010.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jul/05/cuts-scroungers-all-suffer-pain
6 July 2010 - Rushed reforms
Osborne's haste will undermine incapacity benefit reform.
Rushed reforms and claims of huge welfare savings threaten the goal of helping disabled people into work.
Paul Gregg, The Guardian, 6 July 2010.
This is by one of the designer's of ESA who had thirteen years of Labour incompetence to fix things. He is now blaming the current Government. For shame.
6 July 2010 - Cynical ruse
Let's assess this government's cynical ruse rather than the mentally ill.
The intangibility of mental illness, the lack of a definitive test, provides opportunities for exploitation.
The Guardian, 6 July 2010.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/jul/06/disability-living-allowance-reassessment-mental-health
After thirteen years of Labour incompetence to fix things attempts are made to blame the current Government. For shame.
23 July 2010 - Social Injustice
If Labour can't fight social injustice, what's it all for?
The party must paint a bright red line linking itself to those who'll suffer most from the coalition's atrocious cuts.
The Guardian, 23 July 2010.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jul/23/if-labour-cant-fight-social-injustice
23 July 2010 - Draconian benefit tests
Draconian incapacity benefit tests are failing the sick
Inaccurate medical assessment and an inflexible benefit system are putting the most vulnerable at greatest risk.
Melissa Viney, The Guardian, 23 July 2010.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jul/29/incapacity-benefit-failing
13 August 2010 - Job seeking
I was a jobseeking STAR (Sod This Appalling Racket)
Don't blame the recession - to find work in filing or pest control all the jobless need is vision. Or so the motivational guru told me
Owen Hatherley, The Guardian, 13 August 2010.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/aug/13/jobseeking-star-vision-motivational-guru
19 August 2010 - Benefits cull
Benefits cull bloodies IDS and Osborne
Planned cuts in welfare have set chancellor and pensions secretary at each other.
Michael White, The Guardian, 19 August 2010.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/aug/19/michael-white-benefits-cull
23 August 2010 - Welfare Advisers
Forget 'efficiency savings' - we need our specialist welfare advisers
Plans to replace experienced welfare rights advisers with generic benefits staff are almost laughable
The Guardian, 23 August 2010.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/joepublic/2010/aug/23/disability-welfare-rights-advisers
9 September 2010 - George Osborne cut 4bn benefits welfare
George Osborne to cut £4bn more from benefits
Proposals which chancellor says will target those who view welfare as 'lifestyle choice' draw fury from leftwing Lib Dems.
The Guardian, 9 September 2010.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/sep/09/george-osborne-cut-4bn-benefits-welfare
11 September 2010 - George Osborne slash sickness benefits
George Osborne's secret plan to slash sickness benefits
Chancellor plans to slash welfare bill by £2.5bn for people who are disabled or too ill to work.
The Guardian, 11 September 2010.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/sep/11/george-osborne-slash-sickness-benefit
12 September 2010 - Welfare budget cuts Danny Alexander
Welfare budget cuts defended by Danny Alexander following leaked letter
Chief secretary to the Treasury reiterates pledge that all cuts will be 'fair' and says things have 'moved on' since 19 June memo.
The Guardian, 12 September 2010.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/sep/12/welfare-budget-cuts-danny-alexander
1 October 2010 - Iain Duncan Smith questions
Iain Duncan Smith is the Work and Pensions Secretary of State
The Guardian, 1 October 2010.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/oct/01/iain-duncan-smith-questions
2 October 2010 - Conservative Party better fairer country
The Conservative party will prove it can cope - and that it cares
This government is determined to build a better, fairer country that lives within its means
The Guardian, 2 October 2010.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/oct/02/conservative-party-better-fairer-country
23 October 2010 - Benefits trap Government reform welfare
Our reforms give people on benefits the chance to show what they can achieve
We will offer jobs and opportunities to claimants, while ensuring those who need long term support will keep it
The Guardian, 23 October 2010.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/oct/23/benefits-trap-government-reform-welfare
9 November 2010 - Poverty plus a pound isn't enough
All governments promise welfare reform. Very few deliver. In 1997 Labour promised to "cut the bills of social failure" and to "make work pay".
Nick Clegg, The Guardian, 9 November 2010.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/nov/09/poverty-plus-pound-not-enough
9 November 2010 - Welfare: the 18th Brumaire of Iain Duncan Smith
In copying the failed US 90s model for getting people off welfare into work, IDS is playing out his own farcical repetition of tragedy.
...I know the tragedy because it unfolded in the United States 15 years ago: it went by the name of "welfare reform".
...We will see a weakening of a well-meaning opposition, and a sea-change in the politics of welfare, even with no improvement in joblessness and poverty. If it weren't so tragic, it might be farce.
John Krinsky, The Guardian, 9 November 2010.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/nov/09/welfare-iain-duncan-smith-brumaire