Well, this is it, the time for change is upon us, and as a disabled person I’m dreading it. I have been watching the three main parties battle it out on T.V. and to date, with the exception of the occasional sound bite, not one of the major party leaders has openly discussed the methods they intend to employ in their pursuit of reducing the numbers of people claiming sickness or disability related benefits. All are quite clear that they view disability claims as a problem, all claim they will be “helping” people back to work, all claim it will improve the economy. I think not.
This is simply the spin they put on reducing the amount of money they see as wasted on people who are not contributing to society. Yes, wasted, that’s the view they take and unless we stand up to be counted they will get away with it. Just think, if we allow the present Government or the Tories back into number 10 then they will take the view that we, the people of Great Britain have given them a mandate to attack those in receipt of disability benefits. Sounds harsh, doesn’t it? but its true.
When you approach the ballot box next week, I would like you to consider thinking carefully where you place your x. If you put it against the Labour Party, you will have more of the same with the addition of further attacks on our rights to benefit. If you put it next to the Tory candidate you will have more of the same but with an unknown quantity which will put disabled people under further unnecessary stress. It is our right to claim disability benefits, whether it is long, medium or short-term. We must let them know where we stand as an influential and important group of voters, who do contribute to society. We have a vote, lets use it to our own advantage, not theirs.
They all say it is far too easy to get sickness and disability benefits. They are wrong, have they actually tried to claim benefits? have they actually had a look at the rules and regulations DWP healthcare professionals can apply to DLA claims? Have they ever had a letter from a decision maker, based hundreds of miles from their home, who has relied upon the opinion of a “Doctor” who judges your level of disability without examination, consultation or any other form of contact with you on the “balance of probability”. The balance of probability? its unreal! Its time to change the system for the better, its time to change the draconian rules used to assess a persons level of disability in this manner. Its time to say, “No, you can’t ignore the evidence from G.P.’s, Specialists and experts”. Its time to say “you as a “Doctor” are bound by the same laws governing the NHS and as such are liable to suffer the same consequences as they would under Law when you are wrong”. What about the huge number of people who battle with the DWP for a year or more for DLA or other benefits to which they are rightfully and legally entitled? ITS NOT EASY TO GET DISABILITY BENEFITS AND I DEFY ANYONE TO PROVE OTHERWISE.
So when you go to the polling station next week, think of what your Government can do for you as a disabled person. Think of the impact 3 million disabled votes against the Tories and Labour will have, think about how you will be forced to attend a ”medical” which you know you can not fail, think of the effect it will have on you, your family and even your home. You have far more to lose than the politicians do, they will still have jobs after the election, they will still have an income, they will still have access to expenses, they will still be better off than you. So why not stand up and be counted, vote for whatever party you see as being for the rights of the disabled population. Lets stand together and put the Great back into Britain. Remember, the pen is mightier than the sword and you have the power to prove it.
I’ll be back
I worked for thirty four years before being diagnosed with cancer, I even worked for DEFRA on the Foot & Mouth outbreak in 2001. I was diagnosed with cancer in February 2009, I started chemotherapy in March and continued to work when I could up to twenty hours per week until the end of June 2009. By this time I could physically work no longer. As of 1st July 2009 I finished work and started claiming Employment & Support Allowance. I had major cancer surgery on 22nd September 2009 after which I needed physiotherapy to get the movement back in my arm before I was able to have radiotherapy. I had radiotherapy for three weeks in December 2009 taking me right up to Christmas Eve. When I arrived home on Christmas Eve feeling very relieved that my treatment was over, breathing a sigh on relieve as I opened the door after three weeks struggling through the snow and icy conditions and Christmas shoppers to get to the hospital every week day morning for 9.12am, to receive my radiotherapy, you can imagine my annoyance when I found a letter that had come through the letter box, the form we all know and love, the Medical Assessment form. They could at least have given me a little respite time!
After Christmas I filled in the form and sent it back; I was sent a letter to book a medical and booked one for 12th February 2010. Never having been through this experience before I did not know what to expect but thinking that they would have my interests at heart, being ‘Medical Professionals’, and expecting that they would want to return me to the work force in good health, I expected to be able to discuss my health concerns with the so called ‘Health Professional’. How foolish was I!!!
There was no concern for my health at all, the only concern was to get me off benefits as quickly as possible. Hence, after a thirty minute grilling about my personal hygiene and how I spend my day the interview came to an abrupt end. I left the Atos offices in shock. I could not comprehend that what I had just been sujected to could be termed as either a ‘Medical Assessment’ or a ‘Limited Work Capability Assessment’. As soon as I got home I rang the Jobcentre Plus and complained that what I had just been subjected to was a complete waste of time and tax payers money. I requested a copy of the full assessment and related papers as soon as it became available.
On 23rd February 2010, the Jobcentre sent me a letter advising me that I was no longer eligable for the ESA and I would receive no further benefit. I could appeal or I could claim JSA. I again requested the full Medical Assessment/Work Capability Assessment both by telephone and by letter as I didn’t know what I was appealing against until I had copies of these. I didn’t receive the assessments until 3rd March 2010. When I sat down to read them I was so angry I was shaking, I rang the Jobcentre again and was extremely angry. I was sent the GL24 appeal form and a complaint form. I also rang Atos and requested their complaint form. I got an appointment for the 12th March 2010, with my own GP, this was the earliest appointment available.
By the time I saw the doctor on the 12th I had no money left in my bank and my gas and electricity bills were due to go out, I put some money in my bank to try and cover these but I still didn’t have enough money to cover my mortgage. I was going to travel through to the Jobcentre with my GL24 after I had been to the doctors but I didn’t have enough money to put fuel in my car or for bus fare. I rang the Jobcentre to see if I could e-mail my GL24 and sic note, I was told that they didn’t have the facility to accept that and that I would have to borrow money to put fuel in my car. I could not even post my documents because I live in a village where the Post Office has been closed down.
I shouldn’t be put in the position were I have to borrow money from family or friends but that’s what I did and I took my GL24 to the Jobcentre on Monday 15th March 2010.
I rang my mortgage supplier to explain why, for the first time since I took my mortgage out, I would not be able to meet the monthly payment; all they could do was suggest that I ring the National Debt Counselling Service, which I did but all they wanted to do was help me work out a budget, I stated that I was capably of working out my own budget but one can not budget an income that one hasn’t got. As it happened my utility direct debit’s were returned so my mortgage did go through. I then had to start ringing my utility suppliers to explain the situation to them and to apologise to them. I rang my bank and as it was the first time this had happened I managed to get one fee quashed so they only charged me one £20.00 fee instead of two.
My internet was cut off from 25th March to 12th April 2010. All this time wasted ringing around my bank and suppliers when I could have been looking for a job!!! Not to mention the huge amount of stress and tension this all caused me at a time when I am supposed to be avoiding stress because as the true ‘Medical Professionals’ will tell you ‘cancer thrives on stress.
My benefit was eventually re-instated on 24th March 2010.
They now want me to fill in another Medical Assessment form and start the whole disgusting process yet again. Having seen first hand how Atos so called ‘Healthcare Professionals’ conduct themselves and having read many horror stories from other genuinely sick and disabled people, I am not happy with my personal data being released to the likes of Atos ‘Healthcare’ and God knows how many other profit making orgainsations. Infact I feel violated that a government department would release my data to such a company. Talk about data protection, don’t make me laugh.
The Labour Party is proposing more and more of these IT systems to gather more and more of our personal data and we don’t know were that data ends up, I don’t think they even know where that data ends up!
I recent months I have had numerous calls from companies who try to make themselves sound like they are the National Debt Counselling Agency and trying to extract personal data from me on the pretext of offering me help, who are these companies and how are they getting my data? My phone number is supposed to be ex-directory.
I tried to get on to the BBC Ministerial Debate but to no avail, I also sent a question to the Jemery Vine show but to no avail, I am beginning to think the only way to get our voices heard it to take up a career in politics, if you can’t beat em, join em!!!
Comment by Kate — May 1, 2010 @ 9:59 am
A truly horrific experience, but not surprising I have to say having read all of the other emails and comments I receive daily. First, you are not alone, many other people are in the same, similar or belkieve it or not, worse position than you. Next, here in our little community we all know how you feel, the levels of ignorance of these so called Healthcare Professionals knows no bounds. Also I dont see why you shold have to go through this again in such a short time, isnt once enough? If it takes two goes at you to stop your benefits isnt that unfair? I think you should sontact your Local Authority Welfare Rights Officer or the C.A.B. Both are extremely professional and both will help you, though they will not step on each thers toes so choose one of them only. Next I would write to your local Jobcentreplus demanding a copy of your first medical assessment report, I am informed it is your right to have it and god knows I have had a few so I know it is true. Then write to your M.P. send him/her the full details of your degrading experience, also write to ATOS and complain about the conduct of the so called HCP and the quality of your examination, and while you are on, do as one reader in the North East has done and make a F.O.I. request for information ATOS hold on you. Above all, try not to let this get you down, be as positive as you can and take the battle to them. Next time they have you in, take someone with you, get them to take notes, use the form on the assessing ATOS page to help you remember what has happened. Keep a record of any conversations you have by using the contacts form on the same page, print it off and keep it by the phone.
Comment by dwpexamination — May 2, 2010 @ 7:24 am
WHY WHY WHY…. are the most vulnerable people in our society being treated with such negligence. I have been subject to the most despairing year of my life whilst suffering appalling illness.
AND regardless of recently winning my appeal which took twelve months to be heard, I have recieved another request for an ATOS examination ???? I know exactly what is going to happen, and I’m pretty sure this year I WILL become homeless. I’ve lost everything else in the process including most of my eyesight, which is a bit of a bind, as my career as a designer depends on it so how the arrogant DWP are going to get me back into work with thier jolly incentives defies me !!!
I have read your blog, and most of your readers comments etc….. and I applaud you for constructing this website, but untill this arse of a benefit is exposed for what it is, I feel we will just keep trawling through readers despair and fury.
WHAT are the steps needed to take all this evidence to the next level, HOW and WHEN will it be done ?…..
Comment by Joolz — May 5, 2010 @ 12:18 am
I agree, and thank you for your comments. I started this blog to bring the abuse of the rights of disabled people by our own Government and thier enforcement arm ATOS to the attention of the general public. I think I am making headway but need further support. The more people are aware of this and other protest sites, the more evidence will begin to arise to support a movement to force change. As I have said many times, the disabled people of the UK are in a minority, and are often portrayed as scroungers by the media, this needs to change. The system is clearly flawed and seriously biased, it gives so called Healthcare Professionals unbelievable power over weak and vulnerable people who are then subjected to an alleged “medical” which ATOS htemselves admit is not a “normal” medical but is there to assess what you can do rather than what you cant. This type of organisation is naturally going to attract those individuals who have an axe to grind, or crave power, maybe they have been caught commiting fraud, been sacked or suspended from practicing, maybe they are just plain greedy and see attacking disabled people as an income to cover the cost thier gambling habit. All I can say is, ATOS offers power to anyone with the vaugest medical training and if I had my way, anyone who wanted to work for this foul and abusive organisation should immediately be barred from doing so. I can honestly say, on the neumerous occasions I have been unfortunate enough to end up in front of one of these fools I have have been examined by a seriously flawed individual with some sort of personality disorder. So, all I can suggest is that you complain about them to ATOS and the GMC and you M.P. Demand an investigation and when they write back and say its done and they found no evidence of mallpractice, challenge that. When they tell you your chalenge has been rejected, challenge that, then you should reach the upper echelons, by this time of course your medical has actually cost more than it was worth to ATOS and you are eating away at thier profits. Thats the way to hurt them, in thier pockets. Think carefully where you put your cross tomorrow, do not abstain this will allow the Tories ot Labour back into No 10, vote for the party you think has the rights of the disabled at heart.
Comment by dwpexamination — May 5, 2010 @ 7:34 am
I note your comments with regards to challenging this corrupted system to the top and I am only too happy to do so, so thanks for your direction.
I have no fear of them anymore, as a result of thier ridicule last year I have re-educated my nervous system, and I can now play this merciless game. Trawling back and forth to stupid interviews/assessments and appeals is no bother to me now, I have little else to do whilst I am waiting for a resolve to my current illness, and as you mention every challenge eats away at thier profits, that is far more satisfying to me NOW than any point scored in a ludicrous examination.
I will of course think carefully where I place my vote tommorow, but I struggle to believe our welfare is of any concern to those who hold the whips, so what exactly am I voting for ?
Also I would just like to add, there is a huge need for crisis intervention here, many people trapped in this situation need one to one support to get through this, my recent illness left me for nine months unable to understand or hold a conversation, suffering extreme confusion I was housebound and blinded in one fell swoop, I don’t deny that the Cab or Welfare Rights organizations are an enormous help, but they don’t visit people in thier homes, and thus the trawling to and fro and hours of packed waiting rooms is merely part of the charade. I could not get a telephone response from my local CAB and when I did finally manage to get somebody to take me there it was closed for re-decor ! At the height of my illness that stress put me in bed for two days ?.
You say you need further support to advance with this fight, please don’t hesitate to ask in your blogs, as they say…. ‘ ITS NOT ONLY WHAT YOU KNOW, ITS WHO YOU KNOW TOO ‘…. and there are a lot of people here.
You mention you need further support to make headway with this campaign ?
Comment by Joolz — May 5, 2010 @ 12:18 pm
I seem to have repeated my last sentence, my apologies.
Comment by Joolz — May 5, 2010 @ 12:22 pm
Hello Joolz
I have been reading your blog, I intend to take this matter all the way to the top and we need to join together to do so. I have been reading a website called Benefits and Work which seems to be quite a useful website, worth checking out. Also check out Whywaitforever.com another website written by someone in the same boat as us.
I am trying to get back to work now but after taking time off to fight cancer getting back into employment is proving to be quite difficult.
Mr Brown refers to the ESA system and the Work Capability Assessment, in his Manifesto, as being ‘Tough but fair’, I’ll tell him about tough.
Tough is:
Bringing up a child with special needs
Working to educate your children and helping to finance your child through Uni
Looking after a mother with Dementia
Fighting cancer
Fighting the Jobcentre Plus when they stop your benefits retrospectively
Trying to get back in to employment after fighting your way back to health
These are all tough but where is te fairness?
Comment by Kate — May 5, 2010 @ 1:05 pm
Hi Kate,
Your struggles aren’t unsimilar to mine, although I don’t want to share those stress’s because it unhinges my capabilities to deal with them during this carnage called ill health.
I will put my voice and vote and time, of which I have rather a lot at the moment, to any campaign geared towards justice for the sick and vulnerable.
I watched powerless as this government stripped my mother on her deathbed of her hard earned savings, nursed my grandmother to the age of 94, listening carefully to her tales of war and politics, and how this country for which many of her peers and family fought and died for.. had as she politely put it been conned and taken to the dogs by corrupt policies and politicians intent on lining thier own pockets, she died before the scandals of mps expenses and and the banking crisis was brought to light.
I will have a look at the webpages you suggest, thankyou for hearing this x you have my full support and attention.
Comment by Joolz — May 5, 2010 @ 2:13 pm
i had a rejection letter just today. i have a severed TFCC ligament in my right hand, which has rendered it virtually unusable until i have keyhole surgery. my GP and TWO specialists have told me that under no circumstances should i work due to the delicate nature of the injury on a critical joint, and that using it to perform regular day-to-day tasks could render it inoperable.
with this information in hand, and seeing me have to physically pop the bones back into place after one of their rushed, botchy “examinations”, they scored me ZERO.
zero on someone who’s been strictly told not to work. i’m genuinely shocked and appalled by the decision. i then went on to talk to friends about it, and found that when one of my close friends suffered from severe ME a few years ago (to the point she couldn’t walk, look after herself, and on most days even leave bed) they also rejected her.
it’s a disgusting situation. specialist diagnoses overturned my suit wearing, pen pushing pseudo-doctors.
ok, my situation is far from the worse possible, but i have professional qualifications that i poured my life and wallet into getting, both of which are impossible for me to do now due to the partial manual nature of them, and impossible for me to do if my condition irreversibly worsens due to being forced to do work.
so, i’ll sneer at these supposedly warming comments certain politicians say about “investing in our future”, because they seem to have so far decided that this professional, motivated, intelligent tax payer of 26 years can be consigned to the scrap heap because i need help to get by while i need to claim benefits for a few months while i get back to a position where i can put my hard earned skills to use.
Comment by xae — May 5, 2010 @ 4:26 pm
Thanks for that “J”, first let me congratulate you on your new found strength, this is the first of many positive steps you will take in yur own personal fight for justice. I too believe in the old saying “No quarter asked, none given” as ATOS have to be met head on, on thier own terms and to do that we must be prepared. On the assessing ATOS page you will find 2 useful forms to help you with your battle. One is designed to help you remember the details of the events on the day of your examination, the other to help you to record your conversations with ATOS and the DWP, print the contacts form off and keep it by your phone, you can feel the terror when you ask them to speak slowly as you are taking notes and hear the gulp when you make them accountable by asking thier name. It is excellent news to hear you have lost your fear of them, however, take care, do not become over confident or complacent. The CAB and Welfare Rights do an excellent job, thier resources are limited by Government requirements placed upon them and which they must meet to qualify for thier funding. The Governement know what a good job they are both doing and are determined to make it as difficult for them as possible to do thier job as thier help is now resulting in far more of us having our benefits reinstated and thier foul and unfair decisions overturned. As for support, just spread the good word, the more readers and contributors I get the more aware people will become of the situation the disabled people of Great Britain face on a daily basis. Tell as many people as you can adout the DWPexamination blog, the more information we have the more armed we become against thier onslaught.
Comment by dwpexamination — May 5, 2010 @ 10:25 pm
There is no fairness in anything he says in his manifesto, tough but fair means tough for us and fair for him and his cronies. We need to highlight as many cases as possible on blogs like this one and those you have mentioned here today. I applaud your wish to return to work, I am sure many of us feel the same way, however, we are tarred with the same brush as the scroungers who are fiddling the system knowing full well that the Law is too weak to punish them properly and the risk is outweighed by the money they can get. No account is taken of those of us who say they want to return to work, so we must fight on. You can begin by keeping this fool and Camaron out of number 10 tomorrow.
Comment by dwpexamination — May 5, 2010 @ 10:30 pm
Then you must do as we all have done and fight, challenge everything, make ATOS and the DWP work for every penny they have taken away from you. Write to ATOS the DWP and you M.P. and complain. How on earthe they can ignore the advice of a specialist I dont know, especially if it puts you at personal risk of permanent injury.
Comment by dwpexamination — May 5, 2010 @ 10:38 pm
Hi,
I thankyou for your comments, and your invaluable resources on this website, I have been through everypage available on my crusade. I do hope that you understand my strength and determination to overcome this farce, has not been a recent development, I have been disabled since childhood and battled with its restrictions everyday of my life, I may come across as confident, but truthfully I am worn to the bone.
Also, please note my comments with regards to the CAB etc.., Two of my close friends work with the CAB and I am more than aware of thier constant struggle with the government over funding, it is appaling that the very people who voluntarily give up thier time to help the vulnerable are being penalised for doing so.
As a result of my disabilities I have trodden a hard road over the years, meeting many people in similar and worse situations, what I have learned along the way is that life IS more than difficult for us and the sad fact of the matter is we have few options really, other than to get on with it…. This is no heaven on earth.
To everybody who is currently suffering this plight I would just like to say, You are NOT alone, it is NOT a personal attack, and DONT try to take too much on in one go, you may have been able to spin plates whilst well, but this becomes nigh on impossible when we are ill, and believe me I have learnt that invaluable lesson this year having been the head of department, reduced to a paralysed wreck unable to stand let alone spin a plate… stress can cripple people, it has me !
Today I will ring the ATOS med exam people and book my second examination ! bearing in mind I have just won my appeal ? would it be presumptious of me to expect that they are determined to stop my benefits again ? I will let you know in due course, But my point is…. that is the ONLY thing I will deal with today, and this is how life is for me NOW….
Comment by Joolz — May 6, 2010 @ 11:00 am
PS. Can anyone here enlighten me with regards to form ESA56 Score from physical assessment sheet, page 2 of 3. top column lists CUSTOMER/HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL/DECISION MAKER.
WHO IS THE CUSTOMER ?
In my case THE CUSTOMER has awarded me 9 points in the Vision section…. which is then followed up by a 6 points score from both the HCP and DM, this has then been totalled up to 6 points ????
Comment by Joolz — May 6, 2010 @ 2:10 pm
One step at a time kiddo, one step at a time.
Comment by dwpexamination — May 6, 2010 @ 10:45 pm
Looks like you are the customer and your own estimation, taken from what you put on your ESA from of your own level of disability gives you 9 points. This is then challenged by the “Doctor” who has awarded you 6 points which is then not surprisingly agreed to by the Decision Maker (who has neither the knowledge or sense to do anything else). Looks like they have awarded you 6 points. The mind boggles…..
Comment by dwpexamination — May 6, 2010 @ 10:54 pm
I’M THIER CUSTOMER…….. – what bldy ridiculous terminology, perhaps I should approach Trading Standards !
BBCI player radio5 wed 05/05/10 Gordon Brown Live, it would appear good old Gordy is taking individual ESA cases on if challenged, godbless and praise to the poor fella who dared to tackle him over this mess, lessons learnt it’s time to stalk the pm methinks :-]
once again thanks for your help.
Comment by Joolz — May 7, 2010 @ 12:12 am
I hope I can bring a smile to everyones face just for a second….I have received, over the last few months,three letters from Jonathan Shaw the Minister for the Disabled and MP for Chatam replying to my queries re.ESA.
Quote”ESA WCA is a more robust examination of the sick and disabled concentrating on what they can do as opposed to what they cannot do” same answer three times.
As Jonathan has just been defeated in his constituency I thought I should send him my condolences……
I wrote to him.
Dear Jonathan as you may have noticed this election has been a more robust election concentrating more on what the electorate can do as opposed to what they cannot do,you have failed the examination and on this occasion there is no appeal.I am sure Jobcentre Plus and A4e await your attendance,you may be employed as an intern at Morrisons,for the privaledge of receiving £65 per week,unless you already have a position with Atos Healthcare,clearly you meet their requirements.
Have a nice day
ESA WCA Victim
Comment by stan — May 8, 2010 @ 9:23 pm
Sweet :] !
Comment by Joolz — May 8, 2010 @ 10:29 pm
Outstanding comment. Oh how sweet the taste of victory eh? All we need now is for Brown to go, with the same comment too.
Comment by dwpexamination — May 8, 2010 @ 10:32 pm
Love your comment Stan, it really made me chuckle!!!
Comment by Kate — May 9, 2010 @ 12:26 pm
Hey “S”, why not write a similar open letter to Gordon Brown, post it on the blog, then we could all print it off and bombard Dwning Street with it? It certainly sums up the way I feel.
Comment by dwpexamination — May 10, 2010 @ 7:09 am
Dear Prime Minister?
The result of the recent election tends to show the Labour Government is Sick and or Disabled,perhaps an examination by Atos Healthcare would be of some assistance.
Atos Healthcare will certainly find you fit to work and fit to govern.Unfortunately Prime Minister what Atos Healthcare states is usually lies,you will still be unfit to work and unfit to govern,there will be no suitable employment for you.
As millions of sick and disabled people have already discovered the Atos Healthcare miracle cure is a sham.
Whether in power or in opposition a review of the entire system by you and your party is demanded by the very people who are part of the Labour Party power base,the sick and disabled.Until Atos Healthcare and the ESA WCA are investigated and Atos Healthcare removed from their position the sick and disabled vote will be withheld from your party.From all the VICIMS of ATOS HEALTHCARE
Comment by stan — May 10, 2010 @ 9:43 am
Nice one “S”, but I must say I much preferred your previous one which looked like the MP in question had been assessby the electorate who then in doing what they can do rather than what they cant, stopped his access to benefits. Mind if I have a go along these lines? oh and if anyone else has any ideas for an open letter to Mr Brown, please feel free. What they can and cannot do, tee hee how I laughed, well done “S” you the man.
Comment by dwpexamination — May 10, 2010 @ 2:16 pm
How about this one then “S”
Dear Mr Brown,
I write with reference to your recent Personal Capability Assessment, during which your claim to be Prime Minister was assessed under the guidelines laid down by democratic process.
As you are aware, you were tested in several main areas, which included the following;
Area Assessed Points
The Economy 0
The National Debt (or deficit) 0
Employment (or unemployment) 0
Sleaze 0
Personality -5
Our Decision
You were tested under the “Tough but Fair” programme recently introduced by the Government to make life more difficult for those in your unfortunate position. I am sure you will agree that this new “robust” method of Personal Capability Assessment employed by the electorate has had a profound effect upon your governance and has resulted in a “Hung Parliament”.
You have the right to try to hang on to power as long as you want, however, I am sure Mr Clegg and his Colleagues in the Tory Party will do all they can to assist your transition to the benefits section of the local Jobcentre based at 5 Hunter Street, Kirkcaldy, KY1 1ED Our Jobcentres in Fife are open Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm. and can be contacted on Tel:- 0845 604 3719 or by Textphone: 0845 602 2581. Please note, you will be held in a queue for several minutes and if you are calling from a mobile the cost may be higher than that normally incurred when calling from a land line.
I regret to inform you that you scored -5 points and as a result your party and particularly you are now no longer eligible to claim the Premiership you were previously paid to deliver by the proletariat. You can appeal but please note, this process may take several months.
What happens next
You should contact the electorate within a month of this letter by the usual method and call a general election. Your appeal will then be forwarded to 45 million Decision Makers who will look again at your claim to be Prime Minister. If our original decision is upheld your case may be forwarded to a Tribunal who are made up of independents who will look again at your claim to be Prime Minister. But then again, the independants dont like you either.
A copy of this report has been sent to your Benefits Advisor at your Local Jobcentre who will contact you in due course to explain the action plan, they have drawn up to assist you in your search for employment.
I think you might have started something very entertaining here mind “s”………….
Comment by dwpexamination — May 10, 2010 @ 3:06 pm
In 6 months a similar report should be done on Conman Clogg & Co.
Comment by Dean — May 23, 2010 @ 11:25 am
Then they will argue who gets to read it first.
Comment by dwpexamination — May 24, 2010 @ 7:46 am
My experiences with Atos so called ‘healthcare professionals’ is that despite my GP signing me off for 6 months, a young girl did my medical assessment and she gave me 0 points. Even though my anxiety level is so bad that I cannot leave my home unattended, I was deemed fit for work. My serious mental illness is so bad that I was sectioned under the mental health act.
I appealed and in December after undergoing much stress the tribunal doctor and judge awarded me ESA and concluded that if I was found to be fit for work, this would have a severely bad affect on my health.
January this year I got the letter from the DWP placing me in the Support Group.
I started from that point to make slow but steady progress.
I was then horrified only 12 weeks later to receive yet another ESA50 form. The fact that these forms end up Lord knows where being read by goodness knows who and because of my previous experience my anxiety levels catapulted to an all time high. My anti psychotic medication had to be virtually doubled just to keep me out of hospital.
It took me many weeks to fill in the ESA50 and stupidly I trusted what Atos had said in the form that if you have a severe physical or mental illness you may not be called to a medical. Believing they would actually read what I put on the form, and also trusting that they did have a modicum of intelligence they could work out that my health is still far too frail and my health was ongoing suffering because of their actions.
No, common sense alluded them and I was sent a letter telling me to make an appointment for another ‘medical’.
I was so shocked that they were demanding I have another medical, they could not have possibly read the contents of my ESA 50. So determined to find out who was responsible In Atos and what qualified them to evaluate a severe mental illness, either without reading my ESA50 form or by some kind of Voodoo religion that gave them knowledge enough to determine that I should go to a medical without the evidence in my ESA50 form.
I was pushed from pillar to post DWP blaming Atos, Atos blaming DWP! After a countless number of phone calls I learned that our completed forms ESA50′s went through a ‘Scrutiny Department’. I managed to obtain the telephone number of the said department and was advised by the young girl who answered the phone that I should not worry about my medical as it is standard procedure and almost 100% of ESA benefits people were referred to a medical examination upon completion and submission of their ESA50. Her boss clearly overheard her and qualified the figure as actually 95% of people!
Mr Duncan Smith needs to be aware of this gross wastage of public funds, and remove once and for all this thick layer of bureaucracy that renders the ESA50 as useless.
It’s a disgraceful waste of public money and Atos and the DWP need to be held to account.
Comment by Justme — June 29, 2010 @ 12:42 pm
Useful information there “j” Just proves how bizarre the system is. Why not register with the new forum, its at http://dwpexamination.myfreeforum.org where you will meet many other victims of ATOS and DWP abuse.
Comment by dwpexamination — June 30, 2010 @ 6:53 am
Hi,
I am confused,distressed and have become increasinly depressed by the DWP and ATOS.They just seem like Bullies to my,who are wasting my time,their time and my GP’S. I had to give up work in 2004 due to increasinly bad health.I claimed nothing as I did’nt even have a proper Diagnosis.It took me almost 4 years to get one.I was diagnosed,after many tests with a condition called Fibromyalgia/Me (chronic fatigue)
My condition has continued to deteriate.I started to receive Disabilty allowance 2 years ago,and have just been awarded this for a further 3 years,due to the letter my Proffessor wrote to them.He is the top man in my condition and says I will never work again,as my condition will never really improve only get worse and stress is so bad for me and these people continue to harass me and make me sicker.I had a home visit from Atos,and there Dr stated in his opinion I would be fit to resume work in 6 months !!! I now have them on my back again,countless worrying letters.I have had to get another letter just recently from my GP,who throughly backs me to state I will need a home visit again,I practically home bound because of my health.
I actually spoke to Atos today !! about another appointment that they had sent me AFTER receiving my Doctors letter.They told me “their” Dr was looking in to it and I would get an answer shortly,if not I must attend !!! I dont undertand how they operate.I am under the my GP and a Professor of imunology who both agree I am unfit to work ??? yet they keep the pressure on even thoe my GP has told them that this all aids to making my health worse.I feel they are sending me mad,and I dont feel I have anywhere to turn to,and there is nothing I can do about it..
Can anyone here advise me pleaseeee
Gabby
Comment by Gabby Hassan — July 9, 2010 @ 2:57 am
You need help urgently, contact your Local Authority Welfare Rights Officer or the CAB. Either organisation will help you. ATOS use this method regularly and there are many examples of it on this blog and the forum http://dwpexamination.myfreeforum.org Remember, you are not alone, they want you to think that so you wont fight back. It is your right to claim sickneww/disability benefits and if, as it appears in your case your specialists are being ignored then you need to take this matter further. Dont give in, read the blog and forum and you will see how people have gained strength and the means to fight back from one another.
Comment by dwpexamination — July 9, 2010 @ 7:23 am
Hi,
I have read these posts and it only serves to back up concerns my partner and I have. I am a carer for her, she has a lifelong disability that will progressively get worse. She is unable to attend a ‘normal’ job as it is – and so holding down the normal nine to five is impossible.
As a carer I have moaned about many injustices in this country. I have always been political, but over the past years my partner who was normally quite apolitical has suddenly felt enough is enough. To my surprise a few weeks after the MPs expenses scandal she applied for an unpaid position with a political party:
http://www.democraticreform.org.uk/
She explained that she would need to do what she could from home on her laptop – and wouldn’t always be on top form, but she got a position – and the party is growing.
As a disabled person she is seriously worried about the Atos test. We have both prepared ourselves for the fact that we will probably need to appeal. But I think being a part of an organisation that is trying to balance these wrongs that we have all seen in current politics, banking and the press helps her. I for one and very proud of her, because whilst I was complaining about the government scamming the tax payers, the bankers lining their wallets (and now the revelations of how our press corrupted politics and created sensationalist gutter news) she became part of something.
For my own part I have spent a lot of time researching various companies, the government, banking and so on. The level of corruption in this country is insane. We attend protests in London – and I am writing some articles about various things connected to economics and the environment. Atos is just part of the reason why Britain is so unfair to live in, another example of government and private companies taking the voting public for a ride.
There is so much we can do. We need to unite everyone and anyone who suffers from some level of hardship. We all have a voice.
The Democratic Reform Party (DRP) has been set up partly to join those voices, but also to challenge the MPs with safe seats, the back handers and our corrupt political system. Please take a look at the website – they are trying to provide UK people with an alternative to the two party system.
Comment by Concerned Carer — July 27, 2011 @ 1:06 pm
Hi CC.
DRF, I think you will find that most people have never heard of them, and I agree with you, there has to be a credible alternative to these bloodsuckers who are ruining our country, I would vote for the DRF at least once just to see if they were credible, and probably a lot of others would too.
Let’s face it, nothing could be any worse than the scum that’s running Britain at the moment.
Click on here http://dwpexaminations.blacktrianglecampaign.org/index.php and let the forum members know about it.
Comment by dwpexamination — July 27, 2011 @ 1:29 pm