General Chat

If you are placed in the work related group WRAG using your NI contributions, they will only pay for a year...then it reverts to income related so partners income or savings will be taken into account, so you will probably end up with nothing after the year is up, unless you can get placed in the support group

Don't no anything about support groups "yet" but i do no that you get paid from your own contributions for the first 12 months then after that the money comes from social security (like the old dole system) so despite being told I'm on it for 2 years i will only receive basic single mans money for 12 month after that i have to do a separate claim based on the social security system, I don't stand a prayer of them paying me under that system,plus wife still works,
Looks like i will have to revert back to living off my hard earned savings that i saved for my retirement, when thats gone i may stand a chance

Worked between 60 and 80 hours a week and saved all my life in the hope of retiring early and being comfortable in my retirement, Waste of time and effort

looks like my mate who spent all his money every weekend down the pub and never saved a penny was right, :-(

Roy

yes Roy it was :-( :-(

so glad all went well for you :-D :-D

I take it you are getting ESA contribution based and have been placed in the support group Roy?

Roy, so pleased you got an award, welcome to an exclusive club of applicants who haven't had to suffer at the hands of ATOS for more than 6 months (there aren't many)

Sue

Had my ATOS assessment on the 12th of December and received confirmation today that i will be on ESA for the next to years,

Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't ATOS's contract signed sealed and delivered by Gordon Brown's labour government

Roy

if a benifits officer is coming out
they will keep you on the right track hun
and help handle your tribunal :-D :-D

good luck hazel :-D :-D :-D

Joy i like it :-D

I still havent got date for tribunal, but have got a number to ring about someone coming with me. Just wish it was all over

Hazelx

Labour, Conservative, and Liberals, have all defended the use of these companies, and ATOS is only one of hundreds of private companies now providing services for numerous government departments, call me an old cynic if you want, but the phrases "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" and "job's for the boys" come to mind ;-)

AN MP HAS JUST ASKED CAMERON LIVE ON PMQs

IF ATOS WILL GET RICHARD 111 FIT FOR WORK


thats so funny ;-) ;-)

Good luck Hazel I hope all turns out well for you.

I am now trying to get help in understanding it al and for someone to can with me. Just phone a law firm that DASH has given me,Its a law centre i have appt on 2nd Jan. But they dont have anyone that can come with me. So got to find someone, Son works nights so he cant, And my daughter maybe able to come if its after school run, But not after grand daughter comes home as no one to look after her.

Will let you know when i have the date for it and how i get on. The worry is making me ill cant eat and just dont want to do anything.

Good luck to anyone else who has to go to one.

Hazelx

good luck Hazel :-D
i am sorry you have to to the tribunal :-(

Got a letter today telling me i have to go to a tribunal. Dont know when yet. Just so stressfull its making me so ill.

JBA i have read so many story like that. Its just gone from bad to worse. they just dont care. How they sleep at night i dont know. I know i dont with the worry of it all.


Got luck Roy hope you get the result you should have. Thinking of anyone that is having to keep on at these people to got what rightfull ours.

Hazelx

good luck Roy :-D

Had my assessment today,

I was told nothing about what happens next? just that i will hear from them within the next 6 weeks

Roy

I HAVE JUST READ THIS SAD CASE AND ARE SHOCKED


My father has just been through a terrible time, he almost died 2 years ago due to severe pacreatitis, and has since lost his career as a HGV Driver, is a type 1 diabetic and has suffered for 2 years with knock on effects from his illness. At any second he could drop into a coma, and has still not recovered. The DWP said even though he had worked and paid NI/tax for 30+ years, he needed to attend an assessment by ATOS. He went, got asked to move his arms in a circular motion, and the they said that is all. He then got harrassed for the next 3 months to go out and find a job and was told he needed to survive on £37 per week.

Concurrently, my mother, WHO HAS A JOB was recieving letters telling her that if she didn't 'go and find work' they would take all help from my Father. My younger brother was also told by the DWP to leave higher education, care for my father so my mother could do a job she was already doing.

Things c
ame to a head 2 months ago when my brothers girlfriend discovered my father attempting suicide. The NHS immediately gave him crisis counselling which has been superb, and me and my uncle took this case to our local MP, Labours Andrew Miller.

The doctors notes I have seen and the letters sent to the DWP have shocked even me as to how ill, and how vunerable my own father is. After the intervention of our MP, GP and numerous medical specialists, the DWP admitted wrongdoing and have since renumerated my father. However the ordeal they put him and my family through was a disgrace. Our MP has said the department is in a shambolic state and he has seen people who cannot move, are blind, and dying being forced into poverty by the DWP. There have also been numerous suicides.

My father almost took his life due to the rhetoric of this government on 'shirkers' and the feeling he could no longer support our family. The vitriol I feel for George Osbourne and David Cameron is immense. My only hope is that these stories of injustice find their way into the media and the minds of the average voter. The current policies of this government are not only cruel, but are actually leading to peoples deaths. All to placent the tory press. It's disgusting"



:-( :-(

I am still waiting for them to sort mine out, from back in April, I appealed as saying i did things inwhich i couldnt as not possable to do them,

I wrote to ATOS waste of time that was I have to get sick notes every 3 months now until they sort my appeal out, I am £60 short in my money every 2 weeks. But at least my rent and poll tax is being paid now,

I know so many people this is happing to and still happening.

And i have reported people who i know can work and just dont want to. I would love to be able to go to work.

Hazelx

Roy,

Good luck with ATOS, maybe you would be kind enough to report back your feelings as to how you were treated.

Sue

I don't know about the works of George Orwell not being found in schools now, but Animal farm was one of the only books I remember having to read when I was at school....I remember the characters but not the story,but then I did'nt pay much attention in English :-D