Benefits Culture

[sir.prize]

There havewbeen many column inches this week related to Benefits Culture, particularly following George 'Smirking' Osbourne's comments.

I am sure he will sleep well at night - he personally isn't afflicted with a work capability problem. What would he think if he was in a similar situation to the young lady from Burnley, Lancashire. She's a partially blind and deaf thalidomide victim awaiting spinal surgery. She uses a wheelchair and stairlift but has lost her £110-a-week benefits and been declared ready for work training.

Soon another third of disabled people lose their disability living allowance.

Nice one George. Keep up 'Darling' Dave will be proud of you.

[anneasquith]

i really dont think they care.

[DSJ]

I think he was referring to the Philpott family.

[sir.prize]

DSJ - The Benefits Culture goes beyond the Philpotts.

The story I quote above is shocking.

[vakayu]

As you say sirprize really shocking,I take it this is down to the ATOS deciders,who seem to be clueless and have to justify their existance by proclaiming many people fit to work when indeed a great percentage are not,but they have to do this to achieve their targets and thus get paid!!

[sir.prize]

Wonder what - or if - these assessors have medical qualifications.

[DangerUXD]

Can you supply a link to this?

[vakayu]

According to ar article I read there are supposed to be specially trained medical professionals,but nevertheless they do get paid on how many fails they have as in preventing or stopping certain benefits,so basically it is in THEIR interest to pass someone as being fit enough,which stinks!!

[EDDIE51]

ATOS are a shower of sh!t , they get a bonus of £250 for every claim they refuse or cancel. They do have to have a few doctors but the one my mate had to deal with could barely speak English.

[DaisyNonna]

Culture and the Philpotts?

[sir.prize]

DangerUXD - here's the link. Scroll down to Polly Toynbee, Guardian columnist

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/4875901/Did-benefits-culture-turn-Mick-Philpott-into-a-killer.html

[THECORBYLOON]

ATOS do not make the decisions on benefit entitlements. The DWP employ Decision Makers who look at all the evidence from the Healthcare Professional AND the claimant.

[sir.prize]

THECPRBYLOON - they are apparently incompetent decision makers in Burnley.

[furrypusscat]

Whilst I agree that there are many deserving cases and many that are treated unfairly there are an awful lot that are like the Philpotts and live in luxury by cheating the system running expensive cars, having all the up to date technology, council tax paid, free prescriptions etc etc. whilst the honest working people cannot afford luxuries and have to pay mortgage, full council tax, prescriptions etc.

[THECORBYLOON]

sir.prize, neither of us has seen the evidence on which the decision was based but as part of the appeal process, a different Decision Maker would have looked at the original decision, the evidence it was based upon and any evidence in the appeal. As it has gone to an Appeal Tribunal, the second Decision Maker must have agreed the entitlement to ESA should end. No-one is perfect and mistakes or different interpretations of the facts can be made which is why an Appeal Tribunal is there to give their view and reverse decisions if appropriate.

[sir.prize]

Good points THECORBYLOON . . let's hope they reverse the decision for this young lady.