[BB_Eye]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

As someone who has undergone the ATOS assessment myself a while back...I know this is a load of bollocks. ATOS are pretty much paid to find people fit for work, no matter how ill they actually are, so they can throw out statistics like this. The 'doctors' who assess you are not always qualified either. I had a ex midwife doing my mental health assessment. I was given 8 points, which made me 'fit for work' as you need 15 points to remain on IB. Even though at that time I could not leave the house on my own due to severe panic attacks and general anxiety. The midwife acknowledged this on my form. Along with my GP confirming it. Yet they tried to kick me off the sick, as I did not have the full 15 points. I appealed and won...but it was common sense anyway that if at that time I couldnt leave the house on my own...yes, technically I COULD sign on, only if someone came with me to my signings, but I could not look/take for a job. How many employers would take on someone who was severely depressed, took panic attacks at regular intervals, and had to have someone they knew around them on every shift?

The 'medical assessment' itself, is only someone sitting asking you questions. And they also twist your answers to suit themselves. They try to pressure you into certain answers. And in some cases even totally make up things that you are supposed to have said.

I know a few people who have said exactly the same thing too...they also appealed, and were found by the tribunal to be unfit for work. The tribunal panel DOES actually have a qualified doctor on it. This makes a hell of a difference IMO.

This is pretty accurate.

My workplace often deals with people who have been taken off Incapacity Benefit or Employment and Support Allowance following a medical, only to later take it to appeal and win, only for the DWP to call them back for yet another medical and another and another until it runs on for years on end. It's bad enough that one medical and one round of form-filling alone is a degrading and humiliating experience.

A guy with cerebral palsy we dealt who is unable to walk more than a few paces or pick up objects for longer than ten seconds has been dealing wit them for almost a decade and you are right. Most medical panels never bother to hire qualified physicians and they are usually presided over by a nurse and a couple of DWP bureaucrats. They've often been known to ignore the diagnoses of doctors who stick up for their own patients in these situations.

God knows how much all of these medicals and appeals are costing the taxpayer in the long run. I expect it is far more than every benefit fraudster put together.