[joeysteele]

I have been over the past year or more trying to help people having problems with the ATOS/DWP assessments and changes to the benefits being made.
What is being missed is the trauma, the lack of sensitivity and also the time taken to conclude the applications and get the decisions.

By the time you reach asking for them to look at it again or especially to the appeal time, people have already gone through heavy stress, worry and uncertainty waiting for the decision, the form for ESA is downright ridiculous and disgraceful as to some really stupid questions asked on it.In my view really pathetic.

I have come across claimants family, friends and neighbours who help care for claimants, themselves being really worked up and stressed at their dealing with the DWP and ATOS in particular.
Also, a good number of decisions are 'paper' decisions, Despite what Duncan-Smith, likely the most vile politician there is at present in any party,says.
He stated that all claimants would be seen again,they are not, many are having their benefits removed or reduced without being seen at all,just done on a paper decision.
The process goes on for weeks and weeks then moves into months, that is a long time for people who are 'ill' to have to cope with the uncertainty and stress.

My own guess is that this poor man mentioned in the opening post had issues other than likely his benefits problem that may have been instrumental in the ending of his own life too whatever the cause of his death may be, it is likely he will have got extremely clinically depressed at the DWP's decision so it will have been in part a factor as well.
Money worries can make people do really irrational things and help cause unexpected fatal reactions too.

For me, I am not surprised to read of this and other cases like it,this Govt has set out on a necessary reform admittedly of the benefit system but has put in charge of it one of the most extreme, hard hearted and unjust politicians on the planet.
He listens to no one and has with the help of his party in Govt. and the Lib Dems too, put through some of the most unbelievably heartless policies any Govt has ever done.
Sadly all directed against the weakest, poorest and most vulnerable,especially the sick and disabled.

The sooner some Govt. is elected that will look at these reforms and install some heart, understanding and sensitivity to them the better and moreso treat claimants as indivduals with dignity and not cannon fodder for the govts and media discrimination against them.