The Government's work capability processes are unfairly discriminating against, and even killing, the vulnerable, reveals Dick Skellington.
The 'misery and hardship' is a direct quotation is from a report released by the Government's Public Accounts Committee in February, which criticised the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) for decision-making based on inadequate and ill-judged Atos assessments.
The report concluded: "The Work Capability Assessment process is designed to support a fair and objective decision about whether a claimant is fit for work, but in far too many cases the department is getting these decisions wrong at considerable cost to both the taxpayer and the claimant."
During the London Paralympics, Atos came in for significant criticism, and this latest riposte from MPs is hardly likely to help the credibility of Atos or the DWP.
The main objection lies with Atos' assessments which invite people with incurable conditions to prove they are not able to work, despite medical evidence that they are not, causing them much anxiety and even risking suicidal responses. The Atos tests are damaging public confidence in the treatment of people with a disability.
The plight of such vulnerable people came to mind when I read about a Thalidomide victim and mother of four, Martine White, whose condition means she will soon face spinal surgery. Atos assessed Martine in a category which meant she was capable of 'work related activity', which requires her to attend a work-related interview once a month in order to continue receiving benefits. Martine's son had recently given up work to help care for his mother, who also has a full-time carer (see this story).
Martine is not alone. Evidence exists which suggests that Atos assessments, as well as causing distress and hardship, can cost lives. Some Atos assessed claimants died or committed suicide shortly after being told they were fit for work.
In January, the MP Michael Meacher told the House of Commons that there had been over 10,600 deaths during Atos processing. The disturbing evidence presented to the House prompted a heated debate on the credibility of Atos procedures, but resulted in no prospect of reform.
Calum's List is a memorial page to those who have died, which seeks to persuade the Government and Parliament to improve assessments. So far there are 30 names on the site. Victims of Atos assessments have also created their own website which further catalogues the dismaying chronicle of incompetence and insensitive treatment.
The British Medical Association (BMA) recently condemned Atos systems. The work capability assessments harm patients, said the BMA, and should be scrapped. People with terminal cancer, it revealed, have been assessed as fit to work, as well as people with severe mental health issues, and those with complex illness concerns.
The Chairman of the BMA's GPs Committee urged to Government to intervene to reform the flawed Atos system, saying 'the government needs to look again at the whole assessment process and replace it with one that is fit for purpose'.
- New changes to disability benefits are being phased in from 8 April. Disability Living Allowance (DLA) will be replaced by Personal Independence Payments (PIP), a process which will be completed by 2016. This spring PIPs will be introduced gradually for new claimants, starting in northern England. These payments will depend on new face-to-face assessments, administered by Atos, one of two companies to be involved in new claimant assessments. It isn unclear yet whether the culture at Atos so criticised by the BMA has been changed in time for the new wave of assessments. Given their performance so far, it is not surprising charities remain sceptical about the latest change in our welfare system.
- Atos has apologised to long-term sick people for 'fit for work' assessments, but places responsibility on the Department for Work and Pensions.
Dick Skellington 18 April 2013
The views expressed in this post, as in all posts on Society Matters, are the views of the author, not The Open University.
Cartoon by Gary Edwards