Tory policy inaction: Atos cock-up leaves stroke-victim without benefits and in fear of homelessness
[Image: Knox O (Wasi Daniju) via photopin cc.]
What’s shocking is that this is still happening, nine years after the hated work capability assessments were introduced (yes, by Labour), and seven years after the Tories took over.
The reason? Tory changes have made the assessment system deadly – and that is exactly what the Conservatives, including Theresa May, want.
A stroke-victim has spoken about how an error by a private firm hired by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to carry out disability assessments left him and his wife without vital benefits and in fear of losing their home.
Former businessman Alan Buchanan, 65, has been bed-ridden since suffering multiple strokes and is now fully dependent on his wife Heather and carers. Alan had his first seizure 15 years ago.
Ms Buchanan told the Independent that a benefits assessor from the private company Atos, contracted by the DWP to carry out assessments for Personal Independence Payments (PIP), arrived at their home in Scotland two hours early.
Ms Buchanan said: “A lady came to the house at about nine in the morning. She said she was from Atos. I explained to her that I had asked for an appointment at 11am, because Alan’s carers are here before that.
She added: “I did ask her if she’d like to come in, basically to show her that he was there, in his bed. She could see his wheelchair and everything else sitting about because we live in a very small flat.
“She said ‘no it’s alright, we’ll reschedule’. Then she went away.”
However, Heather says Atos never called to rearrange the assessment and the couple later received a letter from the DWP informing them that Alan’s PIP benefits were ending, because he had not provided “a good enough reason” for failing to attend an assessment.
A few days later the couple received another letter informing them that Alan’s Attendance Allowance, a benefit similar to Carer’s Allowance for older people, would also be ending.
Source: Atos cock-up leaves stroke-victim without benefits and in fear of homelessness
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aktion t4 at its best by the highly trained assassins hcp
ATOS hired to kill the weak and vulnerable!
Atos and the DWP are run by a Fascist Tory party and what they are doing is noting but murder
What a complete ####. Where do they find these lying lazy corrupt reptiles. This wants a root and branch independent review on this apology for a humans conduct such that she ends up on the dole and away from anything to do with humanity ever again. Obviously earnt her jack boots on that probably deliberately out of synch call.
My 56 Ur old brother had a Atos assessment. His DLA was stopping & he had to apply for PIP.
His home assessment was on the 7th April . He passed away at home on the 9th April. Due to heart failure.
Atos were informed that he had heart failure his heart was only functioning at 19% but they still insisted that he needed an assessment.
How ironic would it be if his partner was to receive notification that he would be found fit for work .
Even if you bothered to complain they would come up with some pathetic excuse as to why they did this, disgracefull, local election trouncing required first even bigger general election trouncing needed secondly
Yes, I read about this one last Thursday. I am very glad to say that, as Scotland gets to run some aspects of welfare, the SG has announced that private companies will no longer be allowed to run assessments. If only our esteemed UK government would see that there is no place for profit in health care or welfare. Ooops, I forgot it was them and their’s that make said profits.
Something wrong with the report – you can’t receive both PIP and Attendance Allowance. I think the second letter referred to stopped Carer’s Allowance because PIP stopped.
Nobody is bothered…every man for himself as far as tory tw*ts are concerned everything must be going hunky dory for them after last nights results….the fight will go on though through the caring people in society,tories will come unstook one day trust me..they always do..
Not necessarily a cock-up is it!!! Just a good excuse.