Inaccuracies dog 'fit to work' test

[Maggy J]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/20...ther_multiline

A detailed year-long study into the coalition government's controversial work capability assessments (WCAs) has revealed new evidence of widespread inaccuracies in the medical reports that help to determine whether individuals are eligible for sickness benefits.
The research, conducted by the charity Citizens Advice, identified a group of people about to embark on the process of claiming employment and support allowance (ESA), which replaces incapacity benefit, and followed them throughout the process from the summer of 2010, looking at how their claims were handled and the accuracy of the medical assessments.
The report's conclusions are stark: of the 37 individual reports examined, 16 (43%) revealed "serious levels of inaccuracy", and a further 10 contained a "medium level of inaccuracy", a level still significant enough to have an impact on the claimants' eligibility for benefits. Only 11 were entirely accurate or had a low level of inaccuracy.

I bet there will be a resounding silence on this issue. Just how much proof will this government need to see that ATOS are not fit for the job or are ATOS actually doing what the government expect?

[chris9991]

But think of all the fraudsters they are getting

[Maggy J]

Originally Posted by chris9991

But think of all the fraudsters they are getting

Well I've seen no proof as to how many fraudsters they have uncovered..

[Tim Deegan]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

Well I've seen no proof as to how many fraudsters they have uncovered..

I know of one that got caught


Anyway, this is the problem when these things are put out to private contractors. The contractor will make a profit, whilst providing a service for less than the DLA could have done it for. So how can that work unless they are cutting corners (and in many cases messing things up)??

[Hugh]

DLA is a benefit, not a department - you may be thinking of the DCS (Disability and Carers Service), part of the DWP.

[dilligaf1701]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/20...ther_multiline



I bet there will be a resounding silence on this issue. Just how much proof will this government need to see that ATOS are not fit for the job or are ATOS actually doing what the government expect?

None of the people who'm I've spoken with in person that have had any experience with ATOS have had anything positive to say about them.

I am going to have my own personal experiences to draw on soon enough when I get assessed for ESA I guess.

I am not surprised by the findings of the report.

I suspect that nothing will come of it however as it doesn't fit the govt / media agenda at the moment.

[Tim Deegan]

Originally Posted by Hugh

DLA is a benefit, not a department - you may be thinking of the DCS (Disability and Carers Service), part of the DWP.

Sorry Hugh, my mistake. Yes I did mean DWP.

[Hugh]

I liked this recommendation at the bottom of the Guardian article

The Citizens Advice report recommends that the government should consider imposing financial penalties on Atos for every inaccurate report it produces, and also suggests independent monitoring of the accuracy of the medical assessments.

"Every" is probably a little draconian, but it should be a very low threshold.

[Tim Deegan]

Originally Posted by Hugh

I liked this recommendation at the bottom of the Guardian article

"Every" is probably a little draconian, but it should be a very low threshold.

Mmm...maybe I'm cynical, but I wouldn't be surprised if there are "political" reasons why that would never happen.

I don't know how the contract works, but what's the betting that they get paid by the report, regardless of how accurate they are.

[chris9991]

They probably get bonus for each person they say is fit to work

[Tim Deegan]

Originally Posted by chris9991

They probably get bonus for each person they say is fit to work

With no penalty if they get it wrong....this really would explain all the mistakes.

[martyh]

Just to play devils advocate but isn't this type of benefit supposed to be hard to claim? .The main reason why there is so much fraud in all of the benefit systems is because for years they operated on a "pay now ask questions later" basis in order to get the money to where it was needed as quickly as possible which leaves the system wide open to fraud .I have just read in the above link that on apeal 39% of claim refusals are overturned which will inevitably lead to much less fraud .

The most recent appeal figures show that 39% of appeals against decisions not to award ESA are overturned in the claimant's favour.

[Maggy J]

Originally Posted by Tim Deegan

I know of one that got caught


Anyway, this is the problem when these things are put out to private contractors. The contractor will make a profit, whilst providing a service for less than the DLA could have done it for. So how can that work unless they are cutting corners (and in many cases messing things up)??

I've heard of lots being caught but not through ATOS.Usually someone has reported them or the Benefits Fraud unit has flagged them for investigation.

[martyh]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

I've heard of lots being caught but not through ATOS.Usually someone has reported them or the Benefits Fraud unit has flagged them for investigation.

Atos aren't respponsible for catching fraudsters though are they ,they just refuse or approve claims .If they suspect fraud i daresay they have a obligation to report any suspicions but not to activley investigate

[Maggy J]

Originally Posted by martyh

I have just read in the above link that on apeal 39% of claim refusals are overturned which will inevitably lead to much less fraud .

How do you work that out..