I hate Atos with a passion, but they don't actually make the decisions. It's a penpusher with even less medical knowledge than Atos that ultimately makes the decision. They don't even always pay heed to Atos.


I've had my DLA taken off my after the DWP "Decision Maker" decided, without a report from my GP or either of my consultants or sending me to Atos, that I am "at no risk from fits or blackouts". I do wish they'd told my brain that because it isn't playing ball. They are so arrogant that after a "reconsideration" they still didn't bother to get anything from any of the Doctors or even look at the last Atos report I had done. Basically hoping people will give in before getting to tribunal. It's farcial. It's all very well them saying "if you win at tribuneral we'll backdate all the money", but that doesn't pay the expenses now.

Between 60 and 70% of people are winning at DLA tribunals atm. There should be an outcry about that, but because it's being portrayed that everyone is at it its not. Stop the stupid decisions and you'd slash the number of tribunals which would save a fortune as it can't be cheap to have them. Get the decision right first time and you'd save way more than treating people like scumbags for having the tenacity of being ill or disabled.

So are you pleased with the ethics shown by this government in their proposed treatment of the sick, disabled and unemployed?

I read that article this morning although it won't affect me. Why? Because they are taking my ESA off me in September because hubby dares to work and earn more than £7,500 p/a so I will no longer be part of their statistics or back to work programmes. They can't threaten me with taking my ESA off me if I don't comply because thats already gone in the 365 day rule. I'll be on my own, thrown out by this government because I have a condition. I feel like I am being punished for my illness by this nasty Tory government.

I've also noticed no one uses the term "coalition" government anymore, imo because its clear that this is no longer a coalition, its the Tories, using the same old Tory cons, tricks and lies.



I hope you are proud of yourself for voting this shower in and what they are doing to me and 3.5 million other disabled people.

It's similar in my line of work. Stupid refusals challenged and around 40% allowed, increasing every year. The staff are under so much pressure to push decisions out that they don't consider the cases properly (or in DLA etc, I suspect that the push from above is to tighten the criteria so much that refusal is the only option).

Bob on there Chris. Just a few examples of questions on my ESA50 form and you can make up your own minds as to whether they are loaded or not:

[iCan you reach above your head? Yes/No

Can you pick up an empty cardboard Box/ Yes/No

Can you transfer from one chair to another with someones help? Yes/No

Can you hold a pen? Yes/No

Can you press down one computer keyboard letter/touch dial pad on telephone? Yes/No

Can you mobilise 50m even with aids (including wheelchairs, motorised aids, crutches and walking sticks) Yes/No.[/i

No wonder everyone is failing when you can only answer yes/no and there isn't room to eleborate. But the likes of the DM would have you believe that 8 out of 10 ESA claimants an work. They failed to mention that on appeal it would only be around 1 out of 10.

Get a grip please.

I don't think its me thats lost the grip, you need to look a lot closer to the Tories for that.

Nice to know what you think of the disabled of this country, shows you for what you are.

Yes everyone who voted for the tories must hate diabled people. Like I said, get a grip, you ae hysterical.

I have every right to be "hysterical" after what the Tories are doing. I will lose all my income in September because Mr Cameron doesn't think I am ill anymore. Cancer patients can only be on Contributory ESA for one year, children born disabled will not be able to claim ESA when they reach 18. Now today we find out we will have to stack shelves at Tescos for nothing but our benefit. Just a thought but will disabled peoples carers be working stacking shelves along side their patients too?

Again, I'm not the one whose "lost" the grip. You voted for them, you reap what you sow.

and why do you think they have to make cuts....go on take a wild guess...

Is that my fault ... go on take a guess given that I'm neither a banker or Gordon Brown
and is that a reason to take ALL my income from me?