Aug 172012
We are really keen to focus on Atos throughout the Paralympics,so any help from DPAC would be great.
I am really keen to speak to disabled people who have had the following experiencing with the WCA:
- Family member who committed suicide as a result of being found fit to work
- someone who turned up for their assessment to have it cancelled because no health professional around
- someone who has inaccurate information recorded by the assessor
I am totally open to anything new – so please do keep ion touch and pass on my details (work number please).
Many thanks
Nina Lakhani
The Independent
News Desk
0203 615 2103
n.lakhani@independent.co.uk
@ninalakhani
I had an WCA back in August 2012 and during the physical examination I was asked to do a leg exercise which produced severe pain in my hip. The assessor called a stop to the examination and informed me that long with my initial health problems that the pain indicated sciatica in my hip joint. During the examination my knee and leg which suffers from a number of problems was never examined in fact the only exercises I managed to complete were hands lifting over my head, finger squeezing and pushing my feet against the nurses hand. After my WCA one week later I received a telephone call from the DWP informing me that I had been passed fit for work.
I received the DWP schedule of evidence which included my physical examination results and I was astonished in what I read within their evidence. It claims that I had completed all the physical normally, and it even showed results of tests that I did not do due the this examination being stopped by the nurse undertaking it. There is no mention of the incident with my hip, although I did take a witness with me who can confirm that indeed this happened. To prove that this is the case would have been a case of our word against theirs but for one very important point. The examination results show also my left knee was tested during the examination which it never was, and indicates full movement as normal, yet after being in receipt of long term incapacity benefit for over 15 years, and having doctors and specialists reports that indicate I also suffer from restricted movement in my left knee and therefore it would be impossible for me to complete that test as normal.
I was put on esa on the advise of my lone parent adviser .A few weeks went past and i was called in for an atos appointment .I scored 0 points like many others .The facts where i had a extremely rare heart condition & i had to have surgery ! During all my medical appointments in my local hospital & guys hospital i was called to go to court ! 18 miles from my house .I attended court & the judge & doctor there were horrified that i had even been called in for a atos medical & court .I looked like death at the atos medical and apparently i looked fit & well .The system is a complete farce & a headache that i could have done without .Ive now got to go through the whole process again & i am still under the care of the heart surgeons & yet again this has been totally overlooked .SOMETHING needs to been done if my heart condition doesnt kill me the stress that our goverment gives us probably will ! I am 37 years old & i would love to work ,but my ongoing heart issues have had such an impact on my life i just dont know what i am supposed to do ?
Hello Michael and all ,
No one is given a proper assessment, it just doesn’t happen. Why would the government hire Atos on a multi million contract to do the work that your local GP or consultant doctor could do with all your medical evidence available to hand for just a fraction of the cost?
It’s just about denying benefits to people that need them the most, it’s not just sick and disabled people that are suffering.
Those who can work but are unemployed are being forced to work on mandatory schemes often 30 hours a week doing a menial job alongside other’s doing community service as punishment for being involved in a criminal act. The sick and disabled are being punished for being ill. The unemployed are being punished for not having a job and are treated the same way as criminals. I scored 0 points on my WCA and have had a chronic illness for years that affects my ability to walk and also sit. On the report it stated that I walked normally to the examination room a distance of 12m. Yet the so called “Doctor” could not have observed me walking 12m, simply because I didn’t know where I was going so they led the way and I followed them. Atos employees have eyes in the back of their heads don’t you know! I am now also waiting on the results of an appeal. It is shocking that so called “medical” professionals are allowed to lie on these forms. Let’s be honest they are liars, these “people” should not in any way be associated with your normal doctors and nurses, those who adhere to their commitment that the care of the patient is their first concern. Atos do not recognise the word pain or patients, we are all claimants. Everyone working in this WCA scam is breaking their duty as a nurse or doctor. The care and safety of a patient is supposed to be their first concern. How can they attribute that concern with incorrectly and falsifying supposedly medical reports to deny people their right to sickness benefits. Their decisions are causing stress, poverty, making ill health worse and causing the deaths of those who have given up and cannot take it any more. Eventually people of this country will realize the extent of this scandal, after all someone might not be unemployed or ill but they will have a friend or relative who is. Make sure you put your appeal in, get help from someone if you need it, go through their report and take it to pieces, pointing out all the errors and misinformation and highlight the things you said that they have excluded. You are entitled to an assessment rate until your appeal is heard make sure you claim it.
Hi, i went for a wca in may, i have failed the assesment due to not having enough points, i feel i wasnt given a proper assesment and that the assesor himself i feel didnt actully get out of his chair to even test me, i was asked several questions on my health and the answers i gave do not reflect on the review sheet i recived stating i only scored 6 out of 15 even though i have a fractured left ankle and priviously had an acl reconstruction using hamstrings on my right leg, i have been on crutches since november 2011 and im still on them, i realy dont understand how im deemed fit for work when both my legs are buggerd and being on crutches for this long. This farcicle is making me become more stressed and anxious and driving me into depression, i have struggled financialy since i had to go on to ssp in november 2011 then i went onto esa in march 2012, i then had a wca in may and didnt recive the decision till september. I feel i have been wrongly done by as have many other people with much worse problems but i feel that a few things such as the assesor and the wca is a joke.
i have had to appeal atos decisions twice and both times won, i have again failed their asessment despite having developed severe depression because of the stress of all this appealing. all the reports they have produced have contained lies, but this time i requested on the form that they recorded it, they did not do it, i forgot to mention it on the day but they are aware i have memory and concentration problems.really they are vile. please continue to report on atos , the paralympics is over but our suffering is not.
I attended a wca in june, told them about my problems and how they effect me. I have had cancer and the nurse said that it was unlikely to return, I have had blood test that are showing that there are anti bodies that indicate it has returned and that this needs to be looked into. I told him about the inflammation I have got in my right foot left knee spine and neck, again just dismissed even though I am in constant pain with this. I get lhermetz sign not mentioned. In the mean time I have been told I have a rheumatoid condition and I have to take steroids and pain relief, 30 tablets a day just to feel mildly comfortable . I scored no points even though he could see I was in pain and discomfort.I have appealed and my benefit is being paid a a lower rate until they make a decision. I am writing this at 02.10 am as I have insomnia from the steroids, I am eating tamazerpane like smarties but they have no effect.When I do sleep the pains in my legs back neck arms and hand soon wake me. I have letters from my g.p who is most supportive and even delayed her holiday to make sure I received them.
I suffer from post. Traumatic stress syndrome and asthma exasperated by stress. I failed and the results of the assessment were sent to me and after reading the first page I didn’t read any more. The answers I gave to the questions were taken out of conext. It was full of lies for example claiming I sketch and knit which I do not and hadn’t said. It is awful that on top of my suffering I get lied about and made to feel a fraud. I am appealing but god knows how I will take the stress. I am on seditives and sleeping pills. I am 55 and have no respect for this country any more. I am glad I am not 30 again. The worst thing is that going through this worsens my health – can’t sue for it.
Thank you -Nina would like to thank everyone who posted here and sent emails through- on August 29th the front page of the independent carries the story of atos and its horrors. Nina has received many responses and as a result the stories will continue beyond the 29th
We want to thank Nina too for getting the accounts out there and all who responded
My husband had an ATOS assessment for DLA today, man introduced himself as Dr. I asked was he a GP? He replied “I am a Disability Specialist, a medical doctor, not a GP.” I asked what that meant and he told me that it means he spends a lot of his time doing assessment like this one???!!! I guess that means he has absolutely no medical knowledge but has been trained by ATOS! We await his report but not with baited breath! What a joke, but not funny!
I would love to help. My husband had a motor bike accident 12 yrs ago, suffered multiple injuries. As a result has extensive internal fixation, has suffered nerve damage and now suffers from chronic pain and arthritis, along with CFS and depression. His specialist referred to him as ‘a long term complex patient’, but according to DWP, he is fit and well! After tribunal last year, we now have had the ordeal of form filling again and an atos assessment tomorrow, no doubt, tribunal again soon.
The treatment of disabled people is dreadful, our Government should be ashamed! The more noise made, the better!
The hcp misdiagnosed my mri result that I showed her in fact she argued with me had me in tears as she said that pid was pelvic inflammatory disease when in the context of the mri I told her it was prolapsed intervertible discs she said no she was the professional and I did not understand the terminology..she was wrong I am still awaiting tribunal as I have appealed I have been in assessment rsa since august 2011
Phillip, been there…Don’t. It is a truism that you have to reach rock bottom before you realise what you are.
Been there, war pensioner…no help…Headley court etc, did what was expected..worked well for years, then it caught me..lost a home, family, a life. Did the deed. Asked myself what the hell I was doing and why should I just go away into oblivion. Don’t. You have a right to live and a right to LIVE. Be at rock bottom but go no further. Why the hell should you. Time to get arsy if you can. Take no prisoners. Dont think no one cares…
Dear Philip, don’t give up. I hope this site has given you as much heart as it has me. The worst was being on my own with it all. Now learning so much, I’m not as beaten down as I was, just getting more and more angry at what this is doing to our society and determined it’s not going to push me under. That’s what they want – everyone to commit suicide. It’s despicable and that’s why it can’t go on. Just hang in until times get better. Love and prayers to you. x
I had my assessment with ATOS on the 25th July, on Monday 13th Aug I had the phone call from the DWP to say my ESA claim is being stopped on the 6th Sept, the letter came on the 17th Aug and I am to see CAB on the 24th Aug. I have nerve damage in my knee and a twisted knee cap, that I re twisted after breaking my leg in 2010 and undone from the op I had in 2007. I use a crutch at all times and need assistance outside, I cannot get up and down kerbs/steps or stairs. ATOS have stated I get a taxi alone which I don’t and can’t. I have spotted a few things that I did not say, the form ESA50 I filled in prior to my assessment wasn’t considered in my assessment or report. It also states that I’m not fit for work for at least three months and would need another assessment, yet, the DWP have ignored this.
I’m under the hospital at pain management, on trial tablets and been advised another op may be on the cards, yet, they’ve taken no notice of any of this and I have provided hospital evidence.
In the assessment the ATOS assessor did not check my leg and never physically assessed me, in the report she stated that I complained of pain so she did not assess – even if I did how can I still receive 0s? Yes, I’m in pain 24/7 but it was an assessment and I was expecting a thorough check!
I also have PCOS, hirutism and depression and they’ve also overlooked all of this.
I had a bad fall and hit my head on a concrete floor and was suffering blackouts. I had a brain scan at the hospital who were still investigating. I had to cancel my first atos medical because of it (and told them why). My second was stopped because there was no doctor available to see me. By my third I still had no results and was still having blackouts but they said if I didn’t attend my benefit would be stopped. I told the man who saw me everything, that it was still happening and I could not do the up and down part of the physical for fear of blacking out. He said, “Just do it anyway”. I was so afraid to say no in case he stopped my benefit, I did, and blacked out in front of him. I felt so bad when I came out I had to sit on a bench in the fresh air before I could go home. I got “0”. I don’t think that man was a doctor at all because what doctor would make you do something like that when you were still under the care of a hospital neurologist?
I too have been subjected to the WCA twice the first time I attended and presented relevant Medical Information from a Harley Street Consultant and asked the nurse to kindly read this and she refused and awarded me 0 points and made up a load of lies on her report.
I went to Tribunal and the decision was overturned straight away and I was awarded 21 Points which I should have been given at Medical and not had to appeal.
I was then called for a second assessment in June 2012 and at this assessment lost my temper and am now in the Support Group but due to this I am now severly depressed and can,t work anymore due to the unfair treatment by Atos.
Had they of left me alone I would have by now been in a Job where as now I have tried to kill myself 3 times now and given up on life.
I had a Atos medical and received 0 points I have fibromyalgia and depression, the medication list is wrong. they also wrote took coat of with ease, funny as I was not wearing one, I get very tired and my hips always hurt I constantly feel like im having a period and I have not had one in years due to gyne issues.but none of this was mentioned, many things where wrong and I’m waiting on a appeal date.
My atos doctor was on her last day, leaving to be a full time mum, she said and I quote” I cant really be bothered, but I suppose I better show willing”!!!! went down hill from there , how can they say to me that was a proffesional and partial medical when she wasnt bothered!!! disgusted and by the way i scored 0 points but at my appeal I scored 15! still no esa tho as I have paid over 20 years nat ins but now as I have done my 52 weeks I’m intitled to nothing!! barbaric , cameron has a lot to answer to and needs bringing to the bar for the deaths hes caused, my neighbour hung himself in 2011 and I witnessed his 2 boys grief, he should have been there!!!!!!!
my wife has a mild learning disability, temporal lobe epilepsy, and mild cerebral palsy. we’ve been married for over 12 years and she was on dla for 10 years. then we had our 2 daughters stolen by the state and forcibly adopted. the reason they gave for the forced adoption was ‘risk of emotional harm in the future’. the whole case was based on my wife’s disability. that was 2 years ago.
on april 25th 2012, my wife was forced to give birth by induction 2 days before her due date. there was no medical reason for this. it was to make sure mother and baby were in the delivery suite at a certain date and time. after the forced birth, a social worker, her boss, and 2 policemen turned up. a midwife pulled our daughter out of my hands and ran out of the delivery suite, the social worker and her boss followed the midwife and the policemen blocked the doorway to prevent anyone from leaving.
the reason for this is again about my wife’s disability.
atos have stopped my wife’s dla, they say my wife has no disability. they should tell that to the family court.
there is a county court reporting restrictions injunction and a high court reporting restrictions injunction to prevent the press from reporting about our case. the injunctions have also covered up my blog where i have a recording of a case conference meeting. a room full of social workers and other “professionals” clearly saying that we are not a danger to our children and we have never harmed our children… also scans of all the paperwork leading up to the kidnap. i use the word kidnap because our 2 eldest daughters were taken by force without a court order and without consent. our youngest was snatched using an emergency protection order that had no court seal.. it is a void order and that makes it a kidnap.
a fb link with some info about the kidnap: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=262692677163924
Due to chronic pain I had to give up working after over 30 years. At my ATOS medical I broke down in tears due to the pain and stress. The medical was stopped for a time whilst I composed myself. My Hospital letters were ignored and the report made no mention that I had broken down.I was found fit for work and my ESA stopped. I appealed and was given the chance to provide further medical evidence, which I did, a new spinal consultants report. At my appeal the Judge said they were only there to see if the original decision was correct and that she could not take into account any new evidence. I lost my appeal. The DWP then said I was entitled to 6 months of Jobseekers allowance. The jobcentre told me to keep quite about my health when applying for jobs and if the pain became a problem when I had found a job then it would be up to my new employer to put measures in place to help me. In need of money I somehow got a part time job but after a few days I was stressed out, hurting bad,full of Tramadol and I sufered a seizure. I lost the job and my driving licence. I appied for ESA again but was told I was not entitled to it. Without doubt the ATOS medical has made my situation and health worse than it was. My medical was carried out and reported upon by Registered Nurse Miss Sara Adams who I complained about and was told by ATOS that she no longer worked for them. The NMC also told me that she was not registered as a Nurse with them.
I still on IB but expect to go through the migration to ESA in the next year. I still cant get a straight answer from my MP or Grayling to say if I request recording and ATOS cant/wont do it that I wont be sanctioned for not having the assessment unrecorded.
My younger brother is severely autistic and has just finished his ESA50, called me to tell me he passed the test but they just wanted to have an informal interview – I have to explain that the ‘chat’ he is expecting is the actual test. We expect them to award 0 points which will in effect remove his entire income and leave him unable to pay rent.
His best friend suffers an incredibly rare disease and in fact is the only current sufferer in the world. It affects his joints and bones, crushing and stiffening them to the point where he cannot move. He is in constant pain and needs a wheelchair. He carries a small pharmacy and has had more surgery than Michael Jackson.
He was awarded 0 points and said to me that he was told there was ‘nothing wrong with him’. His parents are rightfully in a fury about this and fighting back on his behalf.
Id happily offer any interested journalist the opportunity to stick a hidden camera on me when I do have my assessment as well as info about my condition so they can see what fiction ATOS produces as a result. I already know that its likely I’ll have to fight against an wrong decision so I might as well show the world exactly why this is happening and the effects it has.
I was wrongly assessed and appealed. The actual ATOS report bore no resemblance to my actual impairments and most of it was made up. As a result I was not put into a support group and have lost £19.00 per week in benefit.
I also had to attend a tribunal for DLA, which awarded me high rate, despite ATOS only giving me 6 points on the ‘medical’.
My husband has been summoned for an Atos “assessment” (note I left out medical) on more than one occasion. We turned up, eventually were seen by a nurse who had no knowledge of his particular disability. We explained it to her but it was obvious she wasn’t listening as the question she asked next was completely irrelevant (no less than we expected). At the time my husband had also got a tumour in his neck (on top of everything else). Half way through the assessment we mentioned this as he was undergoing tests. The assessment was duly ended as she wanted us to return to see a Doctor! I argued that we weren’t there about the tumour and we would rather carry on and she promptly burst into tears! Her excuse was that the tumour might be causing him some imbalance!!! We were furious and told her in no uncertain terms how infuriating this “system” is and that we fully understand what’s going on with Atos etc. Also that to attend again would mean I had to rearrange time off from my job etc. We dutifully returned a few days later and had to wait over an hour again to see a “Doctor” who carried out the assessment and told us that whatever happens we should appeal!! We knew at that point there were going to be “no points”. On every occasion we have turned up we have been made to wait over an hour. We were turned away on one occasion as the “Health Care Professional” (I use that term extremely loosely) had called in sick!! We appealed and won by the way, went through hell with worry and stress which didn’t help my husband’s condition, but are dreading the next round of torture! It not only affects the disabled person but their partner/carer. I work part time and during my working hours my husband sleeps (due to his disability). I have to rearrange my working hours to attend Atos/Tribunals/hospital appointments etc, it’s hard! To see your partner, already disabled enough, worrying, losing weight and becoming more ill during this process is horrendous. It’s an absolute disgrace what they are putting people through. You are guilty until proven innocent and even then it doesn’t stop!! I feel for everyone who is caught on this horrendous roundabout of torture.
I have had two assessments and each time been found for for work. I have been successful in one tribunal (I was in the court room less than 20 mins). I am now waiting on my 2nd tribunal and have been told the backlog is about 11mths. On the 2nd ATOS assessment I was awarded less points than I was last time yet my condition has deteriorated. I have multiple health problems that stem from a condition called Antiphosphilipid Syndrome. No one at ATOS has ever heard of it not care how it affects my life or others that have the same condition as myself.
Atos said there was a lift at the assessment centre…got there, told ‘Lift not working’, had to struggle with stairs.
I had an assessment and was told I was fit for work. Asked for a copy of the report not only had he not be able to understand that I had Rheumatoid Arthritis he then made up nearly all the report. Thru my MP , my GP and the help of Welfare Rights I didn’t need to go Appeal as it was turned over on review I am now on income related ESA.
I could not understand how the dwp could make a decision without asking me about the differences between my esa50 or without recourse to my GP,clinical nurse, rheumatologist or the T &O surgeon who was about to replace my knee at 52 yrs old very young for this.
I am still angry and would love to help.
David Walsh
first wca i got 0 points, on appeal awarded 18. won. within 3 months thay had me back for ” a wee check up ” awarded 6 points ,on appeal 0 points. i am now on pension credit, istill have 2 cronic conditions and on lots of medication. still cant work.. seen the ch4 and pamorana progs.. i have complained to dwp / atos / own doctor / local mp. shocking, the whole country will rise and protest / riot. .
i have just also been told that i had 0 points and am fit for work. i have had major depression since my heart attack 8 years ago , i have gout , had recent blood clots lower left leg, i have carpol tunnel syndrome in both hands, attempted suicide via cutting in 2009. i take 150mg sertraline antidepressants in the day, 30mg materzapine at night a bucket full of pain killers for my athritis in my lower back. and yes you lead a riot and i will support it 100%
I have had my wca and failed appealed but not overturned. Now awaiting tribunal I’m in a wheelchair but only asked about arms wasn’t even asked to stand stated had medical report don’t know where from my GP did not give one.
I was also assesd in by atos on 14th of december 2011 i suffer from severe depression and i am currently takin 40mg of citalopram for it and also care for my son who has adhd which is extremely challenging and was found fit for work, so i appeal the decision and only then when i got a copy of the papers of my assessment did i find out the true extent of the lies that had been wrote about me at the interview.
Im disgusted that you expect these people to be honest……. pfttttt they are a disgrace!
i have a spinal problem x rays the lot fit for work, im very hard of hearing, fit for work, i cant control my bowls and somtimes soil my self , this is the best bit, atos say, its not that i cant control my bowls its because i cant get to the toilet quick enough because of my spinal problem FIT FOR WORK
I was assesed in january and the atos doctor made out that I could walk ok, but He didn’t see me walking and when I got the report I found 38 faults with the report.