BREAKING NEWS - REPEAT WCA medicals to be stopped

[Bookworm]

The story comes from B&W, which I think the link is not allowed, so instead linking to the Welfare News Service report of it, hope that's ok, this is an important story:

 

https://www.facebook.com/WelfareNewsServiceUK

[Michael Browne]

In an urgent memo obtained by Benefits and Work, the DWP have told staff that due to a growing backlog at Atos all current employment and support allowance (ESA) claimants will be left on the benefit, without further medical checks, until another company can be found to do repeat work capability assessments (WCAs). The memo, dated 20 January, goes on to say that this will reduce the number of claimants moving off ESA, but that there are no plans to inform claimants or MPs about the change.

 

Benefits and Work obtained the memo from the DWP via a Freedom of Information request. It is headed: ‘FOR URGENT CASCADE. Control of the Referral of Repeat work Capability Assessments’.

 

The memo explains that back in July a ministerial statement announced that:

 

“in the drive to continually improve the Work Capability Assessment process and bring down waiting times for claimants, DWP had decided to seek additional capacity to deliver Work Capability Assessments.

 

“We are working towards having new provision in place – it will of course take some time for that to become fully operational.”

 

However, the memo goes on to explain that:

 

“The number of cases currently with Atos Healthcare has grown. A decision has therefore been taken to control the referral of repeat work capability assessments. Therefore, with effect from 20 January 2014, further routine repeat assessments referrals to Atos will be deferred until further notice.

Edited February 24, 2014 by citizenB
removed link to subscription site

[citizenB]

I think you will need to use the FB link provided by bookworm earlier today.

[hallowitch]

Man too ill to attend fit-for-work interview but terrified of losing benefits dies after Atos test

 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/terry-mcgarvey-man-ill-attend-3178486#ixzz2uG6MGZLC

Follow us: @DailyMirror on Twitter | DailyMirror on Facebook

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/terry-mcgarvey-man-ill-attend-3178486

[citizenB]

Further to the story above..

 

A spokesman for the Scottish Ambulance Service said: “The call was clinically triaged as a non-emergency based on detailed information provided by the caller.

 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/terry-mcgarvey-man-ill-attend-3178486#ixzz2uGGQbrEy

 

 

 

Hardly detailed or correct information if, based on the information provided, the ambulance service considered it a "Non emergency".

[worried33]

article here.

 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/atos-crisis-fit-to-work-checks-shelved-3180876#ixzz2uI3enIYp

 

this is good news but obviously temporary.

 

I am not convinced they going to let people stay on ESA without any kind of review, instead I think DM's will make decisions themselves without ATOS evidence. Also I think they will probably be manually referring some people still.

[Bookworm]

 

this is good news but obviously temporary.

 

I am not convinced they going to let people stay on ESA without any kind of review, instead I think DM's will make decisions themselves without ATOS evidence. Also I think they will probably be manually referring some people still.

 

Absolutely. There is no concept that this could be permanent, worse luck.

 

BUT is it a major reprieve for now, especially for those who have been stuck on the revolving door of assessment/denial/appeal/win/re-assessment etc, the extreme duress heaped on the most vulnerable, hounded to death in too many cases.

 

Add to this that Atos are seeking early release from their ESA contract, there is no doubt that the thing is in complete disarray (which we all knew, only the DWP didn't know, apparently!), and with the elections looming in May 2015, they may seek to use this as a political lever, you know, "we listened" rubbish, hoping to sway a few people into voting them back in. *shudders*

 

Either way, it is a step in the right direction, even if temporary, even if not everyone benefits, it is still great news for a lot of people, and we have to take comfort in the small things for now!

[rds60h]

article here.

 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/atos-crisis-fit-to-work-checks-shelved-3180876#ixzz2uI3enIYp

 

this is good news but obviously temporary.

 

I am not convinced they going to let people stay on ESA without any kind of review, instead I think DM's will make decisions themselves without ATOS evidence. Also I think they will probably be manually referring some people still.

 

It hasn't been officially released but it has been said that the suspension of Repeat (please note Repeat) ESA WCA's that would have been carried out by ATOS will be suspended for 2 years, however it will not affect new claims.

[2ltr16valve]

What does everyone make of this then.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10661359/Atos-awarded-contract-for-NHS-records.html

[honeybee13]

What does everyone make of this then.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10661359/Atos-awarded-contract-for-NHS-records.html

 

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse...

 

I hope it's OK with you, 2ltr, there's a long-running thread on this scheme in the NHS forum and I'm going to repost your link.

 

Guys, please could we keep this thread for comments about WCA medicals? I'll post a link to the NHS thread for anyone who would like to comment there.

 

HB

[honeybee13]

Here's a link to the NHS records thread for those who are interested in the separate issue of our details being shared.

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?414742-quot-Better-information-means-better-care-quot-Don-t-be-fooled.%282-Viewing%29-nbsp

 

HB

[2ltr16valve]

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse...

 

I hope it's OK with you, 2ltr, there's a long-running thread on this scheme in the NHS forum and I'm going to repost your link.

 

Guys, please could we keep this thread for comments about WCA medicals? I'll post a link to the NHS thread for anyone who would like to comment there.

 

HB

 

Not a prob at all. seems to me there's more to this than meets the eye with atos

[worried33]

can opt out here.

 

http://medconfidential.org/how-to-opt-out/

[sillygirl1]

I honestly think there will be no company willing to put up with the adverse publicity Atos assessments have created for this sector of Welfare Reform.

 

I think the whole assessment process was set up to undermine the GP system and prove that GPs aren't capable of signing somebody off sick without being checked up on.

[osdset]

I honestly think there will be no company willing to put up with the adverse publicity Atos assessments have created for this sector of Welfare Reform.

I dunno, there's A4e, Crapita, G4s, and Serco. Adverse publicity is what this mob thrive on.

[sillygirl1]

If it is Crapita then there may be a confilct of interest with them dealing with lots of benefits for local councils, there would be a vested interest in helping keep the 'benefits bill' down.

[worried33]

Its understandable why ATOS have basically quit.

 

On the change to ESA, they have been 'encouraged' to find more fit for work through various scheming changes in the WCA process, on top of this they also had to do much more frequent assessments and reassess everyone on IB so a massive increase in workload. Then the thing that toppled it all over was the DWP asking for more convincing reports as they were crying on all the appeals they were losing.

 

It would seem since the protests (which I gladly admit I was wrong about) have had the effect that ATOS are now going public on various things that they previously would have been quiet about.

 

But lets not forget its the DWP that is the organ grinder, ATOS have been doing what they are told. A new provider might be backward steps eg. after many years ATOS had finally agreed to do recorded assessments which in my opinion was a massive step forward, I know some claim it wasnt as could do covert recordings, but to me it was a huge step. I also have thoughts my assessments been recorded has affected the results of my assessments.

[Lilly_Monroe]

The problem as I see it, is how can this make any thing better for the claimant.

We are told DWP are looking at charging for appeals.

Whoever takes over will have an equally tough brief, if not harder - new broom sweeps clean and all that.

A massive back log of ESA claimants waiting for medicals plus all those still applying - personally I cannot see it making up the lost time.

ATOS could not cope and they were more or less in from ground zero on these new schemes.

But I don't see any of this being good for those stuck on the end of the line and just waiting.

[rds60h]

The problem as I see it, is how can this make any thing better for the claimant.

We are told DWP are looking at charging for appeals.

Whoever takes over will have an equally tough brief, if not harder - new broom sweeps clean and all that.

A massive back log of ESA claimants waiting for medicals plus all those still applying - personally I cannot see it making up the lost time.

ATOS could not cope and they were more or less in from ground zero on these new schemes.

But I don't see any of this being good for those stuck on the end of the line and just waiting.

 

It is not the DWP looking at charging for Appeals, it is the Department of Justice and they are suggesting a charge for the appeal and a charge for the Tribunal Hearing.

In my opinion it is the government trying to reduce the numbers on Benefits by stealth. Many who are on Benefits would not be able to afford the cost of an Appeal and Tribunal and so will either accept a lower level of Benefit awarded or not bother claiming at all.

The exact same thing happened with Employment Tribunals, which are also handled by the Department of Justice and since the charges were introduced there has been a huge drop in the number of employees/workers taking their employers to Tribunal.

So it looks like there is only going to be justice for the rich !!

[Lilly_Monroe]

It is not the DWP looking at charging for Appeals, it is the Department of Justice and they are suggesting a charge for the appeal and a charge for the Tribunal Hearing.

In my opinion it is the government trying to reduce the numbers on Benefits by stealth. Many who are on Benefits would not be able to afford the cost of an Appeal and Tribunal and so will either accept a lower level of Benefit awarded or not bother claiming at all.

The exact same thing happened with Employment Tribunals, which are also handled by the Department of Justice and since the charges were introduced there has been a huge drop in the number of employees/workers taking their employers to Tribunal.

So it looks like there is only going to be justice for the rich !!

 

Only because they have been prompted to by the Government if I am reading it correctly.

[rds60h]

Only because they have been prompted to by the Government if I am reading it correctly.

 

Totally agree, that is why I said "In my opinion it is the government trying to reduce the numbers on Benefits by stealth"

[debtangel]

Very interesting news. I went through hell last year because they refused a home assessment because I have agoraphobia. They ignored my doctor's appeal and I had to get my MP involved, before they actually backed down. My health deteriorated a lot because of the stress.

 

I actually found this thread via the CAG email, but, I just thought I would let a mod know that the email link wouldn't work for me. (I'm on chrome if it's any help).

[Guest]

with employment tribunals....my son was all geared up to have one, filled in the forms and as was not working due to being sacked, he applied for the financial assistance offered on the website and was not having to pay anything as he was in receipt of benefit.........fortunately his ex employer backtracked and reinstated him, so he didn't have to pursue it.

[Zarbafi]

Well finally I have an explaination for my lack of ESA50, I've been waiting on my reassessment form dropping though the letterbox for weeks now. I figured their was some delay but it looks like I might be one of the lucky ones (touch wood) that is being taken out of the reassessment process for a time. I've been on ESA since 2012 and normally had a reassessment every 6 months like clockwork so its great not to have this hanging over me in the immediate future!

 

Does anyone have any idea how long this deferment is likely to last, I've heard 2 years being mentioned, provided of course there is no change in your health condition anybody know if that is true? Also I am based in Scotland and have read else where that the deferment is only in England?

[rds60h]

Well finally I have an explaination for my lack of ESA50, I've been waiting on my reassessment form dropping though the letterbox for weeks now. I figured their was some delay but it looks like I might be one of the lucky ones (touch wood) that is being taken out of the reassessment process for a time. I've been on ESA since 2012 and normally had a reassessment every 6 months like clockwork so its great not to have this hanging over me in the immediate future!

 

Does anyone have any idea how long this deferment is likely to last, I've heard 2 years being mentioned, provided of course there is no change in your health condition anybody know if that is true? Also I am based in Scotland and have read else where that the deferment is only in England?

 

The deferral time is expected to be about 2 years but that could change at any time, as for difference between Scotland and England, I really don't know although should Scotland become independent then I would expect changes.

The one point that should be highlighted is that the deferrals only concern those who are dealt with by ATOS.