No confidence vote from council for Atos
- 21 Oct
The firm running the government's work capability assessments for tenants on disability benefits has been given a vote of no confidence by Islington Council's executive.
Atos is a French multinational IT services corporation that carries out assessment of people's eligibility for a range of disability benefits. These include employment support allowance and the new personal independence payment which has replaced disability living allowance.
The vote of no confidence from Islington Council comes after an investigation raised significant concerns about the performance of Atos. Of 108 ESA appeals made by Islington residents and assisted by the council in 18 months to September 2013, 95 were won, reports 24dash.
Cllr Richard Watts, the council's leader, said: "Many of Islington's disabled residents are already in work or would like to work and Islington Council is proud to support them. However, it's important those who can't have financial security. The government wants to cut the benefits bill by 20% and the assessment process is weighted against the disabled claimant, limiting the number allowed. Disabled residents deserve far better than this over-reliance on dangerously simplistic computer questionnaires. Atos's performance in Islington has been shocking and we are telling the government we no longer have any confidence in them."
Many have complained that Atos methodology is too simplistic, ignores medical evidence and assessors lack the high level of knowledge and understanding required.
Image source: http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/71078
Related articles
- 28 Aug
Figures find thousands of benefit claimants died after found fit for work
Over 80 people a month have died shortly after being declared “fit to work” prompting campaigners to call for an overhaul of the government’s welfare system, reports the Guardian.Figures from...
- 24 Aug
Disability campaigners concerned over benefit shakeups
The Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith is set to announce new reforms to sickness benefits in the hope to get more people into work, reports the Guardian.It is expected the Mr Duncan Smith...
- 07 Aug
Single parents are being hit by benefit cuts
Government statistics detailing who has been affected by the policy have found that in May 2015 49% were single parents with children under the age of five, reports the Guardian.It is being said that...
- 30 Jul
Government to review helping benefit claimants back into work
Led by Professor Dame Carol Black, the inquiry will consider the case for linking people who are entitled to benefits with accepting appropriate treatment or support, reports 24dash.The review's...
- 23 Jul
Call for review of benefits delivery
The inquiry will look at the problems that could occur when benefits are underpaid or delayed, reports 24dash. The Committee invites written evidence on: Frank Field MP, chair of the committee,...
- 15 May
11,400 tenants could be affected by new benefits cut
Inside Housing have analysed data from the government's Stat-Xplore website and has found that 11,449 social housing tenants are set to be affected by the governments plans to remove housing benefit...
- 24 Mar
Deaths due to benefit sanctions should have independent investigations
A report into benefit sanctions by the Work and Pensions Committee has said that suicides linked to sanctions should be scrutinised in a similar manner to deaths in police custody, reports Inside...
- 11 Mar
Charity finds benefit sanctions regime to be flawed
A report conducted for Crisis by the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research at Sheffield Hallam University found that benefit claimants were subject to a ‘postcode lottery' on whether or...
- 30 Oct
Cuts to employment and support allowance benefits
With these cuts it could see new claimants being given just 50p more per week than people who are on job seekers allowance, reports the BBC. The Department for Work and Pensions have said the ESA...
- 10 Oct
Proposed benefit rule labelled ‘worse than poor law'
The Social Security Advisory Committee is currently cons ulting on the proposals which George Osborne first announced in June 2013, reports Inside Housing.The seven day wait would occur on top of the...
What are the Future Funding Arrangements for Supported and Sheltered Housing? "Another informative session provided by Support Solutions, excellent session" P.R. - Wrekin Housing Trust
