How many legs

[DeadEndStreet]

should a 10 year old girl have to lose to be classed as disabled. The new tory/lib government looking after our money or are these cuts trying to make more money to pay our mp's better allowances.

http://www.parentdish...-enough-for-benefits/

[Mamyalynne]

Yes Karen, I was assessed by a doctor from ATOS I believe it is a point scoring system.?

[Sqad]

karen....right ....things have clearly moved on. How long has Atos been providing this service?

[karenmac60]

I think so Mamy - it's a ridiculous situation. How can you learn anything about how someone copes with day to day life by using set questions and points? I hope you got on ok with it x

[karenmac60]

Only since September I think sqad.

[Mamyalynne]

I was called in in September 2008, a whole 3 weeks after my husband died, he was charming and astonished at the timing. I did do ok and the result was right for me, whether they will have another go in this new sweep of cuts has yet to be seen.

[Mamyalynne]

My letter definitely said Atos Karen, back in 2008 unless I have dreamt it.

[Mamyalynne]

Yes their link with DWP stretch back as far as 2005.

[karenmac60]

Really Mamy? I'd never heard of them till recently and when I googled I found an article about them signing up with the UK government last September - so I assumed that was their first involvement. It must be a new deal or a higher profile one or something then.

[bednobs]

just because someone has lost a leg dosen't mean they are disabled (and being 10, and having lost your mum dosen't really come into the equation, sad though it is)
Ok, so she finds it difficult tio "run around" with her friends, but frankly, so what? She can clearly stand and walk and i don't see why having a below knee amputation should necessarily lead to continuance of disability benefits forever As the article says, you can learn to live with it and just find different ways of doing things

[karenmac60]

I agree Bednobs - although my slating of Atos may have given the impression I didn't. My BIL has one leg and gets nothing in the way of benefits, and I don't think he'd want them! He works full time and has no significant detriment to a normal way of life. I do, however, think that assessments should be done in a more personal way. I don't think you can judge a person's fitness with a multiple choice exam.

[owdhamer]

Seems a bit harsh on the child. I could go on but would probably be banned.