Atos Medicals - Questions, Answers and Support

[Greebo]

<snip>Well, everyone, prepare yourselves to be gobsmacked. The guy I spoke to yesterday phoned at precisely 9am today. He had reviewed all my documents, and decided that I am not fit for work. I'll have to go onto what they call WRAG (Work Related Activity Group), but that sounds fair enough, I think.<snip>

In that case, I'll give a very quiet two cheers and break open a small bottle of sparkling cider - full on celebration can wait. But at least this is better than being told that you're well enough to work when you're obviously not.

 

[culder]

Absolutely!

 

[audiotech]

Don't want to rain on your parade, nevertheless, the Orwellian sounding 'Work Related Activity Group' (WRAG) doesn't mean they find you a job, that's still down to you and they will put pressure on you to find work, or send you to a provider to be talked down to. The one saving grace is that you get an extra £29 supplement for being in the WRAG. Be aware that your job advisor is not your friend and despite having no medical qualifications will, more than likely, make assumptions about your illness. Don't put up with any crap and don't sign any document without first checking it fully.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Heavens. I was just phoned by a Decision Maker who is going to look at my case first thing tomorrow and then phone me to discuss it.

I almost feel as though I've achieved something.

Everything crossed for you

 

[culder]

Okay, Audio, I will be careful! But I do have a boyfriend who works for the DWP and will advise me where necessary.

I agree that it sounds Orwellian. To be honest, Orwell is probably spinning in his grave as we type, along with Dickens and Robert Tressell.

 

[Greebo]

<snip>Be aware that your job advisor is not your friend and despite having no medical qualifications will, more than likely, make assumptions about your illness. Don't put up with any crap and don't sign any document without first checking it fully.

Good advice there. It's all too easy to be talked into something if you're feeling rough and don't expect to be tricked.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Good advice there. It's all too easy to be talked into something if you're feeling rough and don't expect to be tricked.

Which is why I always deal with them based on the dictum "nothing is true. Everything is permitted!".

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Wish people would stop bumping this thread.

Reminds me I have forms to fill in

 

[Glitter]

Okay, Audio, I will be careful! But I do have a boyfriend who works for the DWP and will advise me where necessary.

I agree that it sounds Orwellian. To be honest, Orwell is probably spinning in his grave as we type, along with Dickens and Robert Tressell.

Excellent news Culder! I worked with M until a couple of weeks ago and have been asking about you and following your progress on here. He won't let them fuck you about x

 

[josef1878]

That's a very good idea!

Well, everyone, prepare yourselves to be gobsmacked. The guy I spoke to yesterday phoned at precisely 9am today. He had reviewed all my documents, and decided that I am not fit for work. I'll have to go onto what they call WRAG (Work Related Activity Group), but that sounds fair enough, I think.

Until I've got it in writing I still won't feel quite out of the woods yet, and it hasn't really sunk in that this might all be over. But I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. (Of course, my Mum said, "As long as it isn't a train coming in the other direction!")

That's really good news, your other half seemed a bit gobsmacked when he told me this afternoon! Really pleased a bit of the stress is over. Have a beer tonight, you deserve it!

 

[Greebo]

Wish people would stop bumping this thread.

Reminds me I have forms to fill in

Back to the grindstone, Minnie, there'll be more time (relatively speaking) to enjoy yourself when this is out of the way.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Back to the grindstone, Minnie, there'll be more time (relatively speaking) to enjoy yourself when this is out of the way.

Been too busy gardening for the last 3 days. I have house to clear up before a house guest on Thursday 'til Monday as well and the place is a tip, and more gardening to do tomorrow.

It's the walking distance that always prevents me moving on

 

[culder]

Thanks Glitter and Josef, and everyone else who has been so supportive.

 

[audiotech]

New facebook group has been set-up for claimants to discuss current issues regarding ESA and Incapacity Benefits, particularly to monitor the proposed changes to be made to the benefits system.​

 

[josef1878]

Thanks Glitter and Josef, and everyone else who has been so supportive.

Perfect time to get the chap to sort a drink after work to celebrate?

 

[Greebo]

New facebook group has been set-up for claimants to discuss current issues regarding ESA and Incapacity Benefits, particularly to monitor the proposed changes to be made to the benefits system.​

Thanks but I prefer not to use FB for things like that.

 

[culder]

Audio, thanks for that link. I've already e-mailed my MP about the Early Day Motion linked on that page

- http://www.parliament.uk/business/p...dmnumber=295&orderby=Name&orderdirection=Desc

 

[Glitter]

Perfect time to get the chap to sort a drink after work to celebrate?

Let me know when. I'll bob over for an orange juice.

 

[audiotech]

Audio, thanks for that link. I've already e-mailed my MP about the Early Day Motion linked on that page

- http://www.parliament.uk/business/p...dmnumber=295&orderby=Name&orderdirection=Desc

Well done, as I have too.

 

[audiotech]

The blurb:

Atos is an international information technology services company with annual 2011 pro forma revenue of EUR 8.5 billion and 74,000 employees in 48 countries. Serving a global client base, it delivers hi-tech transactional services, consulting & technology services, systems integration and managed services. With its deep technology expertise and industry knowledge, it works with clients across the following market sectors: Manufacturing, Retail, Services; Public sector, Healthcare & Transport; Financial Services; Telecoms, Media & Technology; Energy & Utilities.

​

Atos is focused on business technology that powers progress and helps organizations to create their firm of the future. It is the Worldwide Information Technology Partner for the Olympic and Paralympic Games and is quoted on the Paris Eurolist Market. Atos operates under the brands Atos, Atos Consulting & Technology Services, Atos Worldline and Atos Worldgrid.​

​

http://atos.net/en-us/Newsroom/en-us/default.htm

 

[Frankie Jack]

MP Johm McDonnell has tabled an Early Day Motion debate on Atos. If you can, get an email off to your MP asking him to sign it. It was tabled on Thursday so many of them won't have seen it on house business yet. Get emailing peeps.

Early Day Motion 295

• • • Session: 2012-13
    • Date tabled: 28.06.2012
    • Primary sponsor: McDonnell, John
    • Sponsors:
      That this House deplores that thousands of sick and disabled constituents are experiencing immense hardship after being deprived of benefits following a work capability assessment carried out by Atos Healthcare under a 100 million a year contract; notes that 40 per cent of appeals are successful but people wait up to six months for them to be heard; deplores that last year 1,100 claimants died while under compulsory work-related activity for benefit and that a number of those found fit for work and left without income have committed or attempted suicide; condemns the International Paralympic Committee's promotion of Atos as its top sponsor and the sponsorship of the Olympics by Dow Chemical and other corporations responsible for causing death and disability; welcomes the actions taken by disabled people, carers, bereaved relatives and organisations to end this brutality and uphold entitlement to benefits; and applauds the British Medical Association call for the work capability assessment to end immediately and to be replaced with a system that does not cause harm to some of the most vulnerable people in society.

 

[Greebo]

MP Johm McDonnell has tabled an Early Day Motion debate on Atos. If you can, get an email off to your MP asking him to sign it. It was tabled on Thursday so many of them won't have seen it on house business yet. Get emailing peeps.

Early Day Motion 295

Doing that now.

 

[WouldBe]

MP Johm McDonnell has tabled an Early Day Motion debate on Atos. If you can, get an email off to your MP asking him to sign it. It was tabled on Thursday so many of them won't have seen it on house business yet. Get emailing peeps.

Early Day Motion 295

1100 dead.

ATOS have killed more Britons than the Taliban. Never mind the early day motion what happened to war on terrorism?

 

[Frankie Jack]

1100 dead.

ATOS have killed more Britons than the Taliban. Never mind the early day motion what happened to war on terrorism?

Sad isn't it that seriously and terminally ill people are going to their end with this shite hanging over them and their families.
DWP keep no record of what happens to those thrown on JSA *Like me* It'a only when we read or hear about people like the lad who set fire to himself at his JC+ that our struggle becomes known.

I've been at the edge of reason myself over the past few months through DWP sanctions, benefit lost in the ether, thrown of JSA because I had a real nice huge gum abscess and couldn't get in to sign on and and other general fuckwittery.. including being thrown to Ingeus WP.

I haul myself back from the brink, but, at times I really wonder why I bother as this shit aint gonna change.

 

[culder]

because I had a real nice huge gum abscess and couldn't get in to sign on

That should be something you can appeal against. If you informed them that you couldn't attend because of illness, they should send you a form to fill in so that you'll be covered for that week. They don't go out of their way to tell anyone, but even JSA claimants are allowed a certain number of sick days.

 

[Frankie Jack]

because I had a real nice huge gum abscess and couldn't get in to sign on

That should be something you can appeal against. If you informed them that you couldn't attend because of illness, they should send you a form to fill in so that you'll be covered for that week. They don't go out of their way to tell anyone, but even JSA claimants are allowed a certain number of sick days.

I'd already used up my two weeks self sick twice in the year culder and was only a few days from my next self sick allowance.

I actually called them the morning I was supposed to sign on and explained while sounding like I had a bag of marbles and a bog roll in my gub and was told to come in when I was able and fill in the relevent forms. The call wasn't registered.

I didn't even get notice I'd been thrown off until I went in to sign on when I was able.

As soon as I was told I was heaved I came home and reapplied online. Appointment all fixed for the next day.

Also found out yopu can't apply6 for JSA from JC+ phones.. as.. the advisor actually said.. "We'd have everybody in here using the phones to apply if we let them"

JC+ staff are.. as someone said on twitter the other day 'akin to plumbers on the death star' They bang about thinking they're brilliant yet there are still too many fucking leaks.

 

[Frankie Jack]

More pissed off GPs.

The Government scheme aims to give everyone on incapacity benefit a ‘work capability assessment', but LMC leaders say it has resulted in rising numbers of patients requesting sick notes while they appealed the decision to have their benefits withdrawn.
Dr Deborah Colvin, chair of City and Hackney LMC, said each of the 10 doctors at her practice now see three to four patients a week in this situation when it used to be an occasional occurrence.
She said: ‘I can't bear seeing patients with major disabilities being told they can go to work when there are no jobs to be had even if they were fit- and they're not. What do they expect us to do? Are we supposed to leave people with nothing?'

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

More pissed off GPs.

Would be good if all GPs published the amount of sick notes they're having to now issue for such people to see how much of an increase there's been

 

[equationgirl]

I've emailed my MP about the early day motion.

 

[audiotech]

After submitting a complaint in April, I've finally received a letter of apology from Atos. The details contained within the letter, that I won't go into here, highlight the utter shambolic nature of how this organisation is run.