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SALFORD DAY OF ACTION AGAINST PIP
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Star date: 10th July 2016 ACTION AGAINST `POVERTY PIMP INDUSTRY' HITS SALFORD National Day of Action Against PIP
Wednesday 13th July noon-3pm
PIP Consultation Centre Units, Trinity Way PIP, or the Personal Independence Payment, replaced Disability Living Allowance, which campaigners claim is an excuse to remove people's entitlements to vital support. This Wednesday, 13th July, a National Day of Action Against PIP has been called by MHRN, Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) and WinVisible, with a protest outside the PIP Consultation Centre Units on Trinity Way against what they call the `poverty pimp industry'. Full details here...
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This Wednesday, 13th July, sees a National Day of Action Against PIP, the Personal Independence Payment, which has replaced Disability Living Allowance (DLA), with major flaws and unfairness. While DLA provided support for the extra costs of being disabled, campaigners say the change to PIP is removing people's entitlements to such vital support. They claim that thousands of people have lost out, while there are more reports of shoddy assessments every week... "Atos, Maximus and Capita are literally making a killing from conducting sham assessments which are seeing thousands of legitimate claimants having their benefits refused, their incomes slashed and their motability cars removed" state the organisers of the Day of Action – MHRN (Mental Health Resistance Network), DPAC (Disabled People Against Cuts) and WinVisible (Women with Visible and Invisible Disabilities). "Whilst the success rate at tribunal is high, it is taking up to six months or longer for cases to be heard, leaving disabled people struggling unnecessarily" they explain "Medical 'professionals' usually trained at public expense are deserting the NHS in order to conduct these murderous sham assessments in return for higher rates of pay. "We say that all assessments should be carried out by the treatment teams in the community, and that rather than pouring taxpayer money into the poverty pimp industry, the state should be properly funding the NHS and benefits should meet the needs of all that are eligible" they insist "It is time to step up the struggle and to demand that the corporate assessors Do No Harm." The local protest for the National Day of Action Against PIP takes place We3dnesday 13th July noon-3pm. PIP Consultation Centre Units1 and 2
The Brewery Yard, Deva City Office Park
Trinity Way Salford M3 7BB For further details see the Facebook page – click here Or see www.dpac.uk.net Update: 13th July: For full report on the Day's action click here
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Sharon Hooley (Independent Housing Advocate) wrote
at 06:41:12 on 15 July 2016 |
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| I feel I need to point out two thoughts of my own here
1) The stats mentioned relating to Atos and the percentage of failed applicants has changed drastically since the "findings" of 2011 onwards. Yes, people have died because the assessments were horrendous. It's disgusting that those people have been brushed aside in a bid to continue criminalizing Atos.
By all means... Action towards Atos as a company should be to make them responsible for those deaths however, people are beginning to know vital information on how to deal with Atos where this wasn't the case before and is now reflected in the 61% increase in successful applicants. Surely we should praise the Actions of those who are fighting to make these changes. So far, I have a 100% success rate of people I have helped/ advocated in doing their PIP claims using literal and truthful information of the client. Hence, Mr Chakotia is quite correct in saying that it is how you answer the questions that makes them more successful.
2) With respect...Surely it is the in which we need to protest rather than ATODWPATOS the number of homelessness, poverty and sanctions are now far worse than ever.
I do hope things change soon and I still praise both Mr Dar and Mr Chakotia for their continued efforts in trying to make a difference to others. Xxx |
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Tahir Chakotai (Independent Housing Advocate) wrote
at 17:18:34 on 13 July 2016 |
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| Dear Dar, I now see that you are not interested in being helped or supported. You seem, in my opinion, to enjoy dwelling in statistics that are far from accurate, and revel in causing unnecessary distress to those who are deemed vulnerable and / or disabled. I awarded Stephensons Solicitors five stars because of their ongoing achievements, which include saving the vulnerable from unlawful evictions, and helping / supporting the disabled by ensuring they receive the right benefits. Stephensons Solicitors also offer their more mentally disabled clients further moral support, and genuinely see their clients as human beings, and not just as pots of money. I have worked along side them since 2013, and have lost count how many vulnerable adults tenancies they have saved within a court of law. While you and your fellow associates spend their time revelling in your own misery, and causing unnecessary alarm and duress to the vulnerable and needy, some of us use what time we have left on this planet, finding solutions to the problems that effect the disabled. I have shown accuracy, respect and consideration in all the comments I have had published on the Salford Star, however, you and your associates have, in my opinion, revelled, and enjoyed putting me down, and inferring that I am using somewhat inaccurate facts and figures. If you and your associates are the future, god help all of us. |
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Dar... wrote
at 14:35:19 on 13 July 2016 |
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| @Tahir - You might want to reflect on your own tone in these comments before making any further denigrating remarks. Your personal experience of ill health is unfortunately far from unique. Many people suffer. I'm slowly dying of an incurable illness, have been for some time, and will do for some years to come. I have considerable first hand experience of debilitating illness and the work place and benefit system. I've met many others whose personal experiences are just as traumatic and valid as mine or yours, and you don't have any right to attempt to diminish them and claim a lofty superiority for your own experience. Your enthusiasm to advertise the services of a specific law firm are very evident. You gave them a five star review on their web site too, I also noted that other reviewers only gave them one star. Everything Rick Burgess said below is factually correct. Legal aid is definitely not available at the stages it's most required. It's only available for significant challenges to points of law. The cost of retaining a solicitor or barrister will be beyond most claimants ability to pay. To access voluntarily provided, professional, legally qualified representation, people should seek legal recommendations via unbiased professional registered charities and disabled rights organisations. You also need to stop and think about what that 61% stat represents. If you were referring to the successful appeals recorded by organisations helping disabled people fight Atos, then that means that Atos got their assessment completely wrong 61% of the time. The organisations would also say that the other 39% were also wrong assessments but the system won on technicalities. 100% of those people should never have been put through it at all. Furthermore there are no reliable stats on the many people who go through the system unrepresented by any organisation. Many don't even try to appeal because they are too ill to fight the system. If you have come through Atos unscathed then I'm genuinely glad for you, but please accept that your experience is very much in the minority and you are not helping the majority of us by suggesting it is. |
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Tahir Chakotai (Independent Housing Advocate) wrote
at 08:05:39 on 13 July 2016 |
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| @Rick Burgess You have taken everything I have said personally, and have certainly missed the points I wanted to make others understand. 1. There is legal help out there, and I have proved this by supplying the name of a qualified solicitor and contact details so anyone who feels that they have been assessed wrongly by Atos can get some legal assistance. 2. I am a high functioning Autistic Adult so I can number crunch, and digest statistics quicker than most people can blink. I would agree in 2011 the stats clearly showed that there was a problem with the Atos Healthcare Assessments, however unlike you, I have now number crunched and digested the new figures concerning Atos Assessments for 2016 and those who are succeeding in gaining a positive outcome has gone up by 61%. So although the Atos Healthcare Assessments still need to be improved, the figures or stats clearly indicate a trend that shows things are improving. That does not mean things are perfect, and every Atos Assessment is being done properly, but does show some improvement within the benefits system. 3. It is a fact that my Atos Assessor was polite, professional, curtious, and certainly efficent, and as a result, I ended up receiving more money per month, than I was receiving on the old DLA System. In conclusion I believe that all this "he said", "she said", "my neighbour said", third party nonsense is not helping those undergoing an Atos Healthcare Assessment, but scaring those who are most vulnerable unnecessarily. We all know that the benefit system could be better, but things are starting to improve. And yes, mistakes are made, which is certainly unfair for some disabled individuals, which is why I suggested those who have been wrongly assessed seek help from the named solicitor, I mentioned earlier. So I would appreciate a little less attitude and a little more gratitude, as I do care about the disabled, and have often, and still do, put my neck on the line everyday, in order to support the vulnerable, elderly, homeless, and destitute within Salford. |
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Rick Burgess wrote
at 16:20:13 on 12 July 2016 |
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| Tahir Chakotai there is good independent advice available on PIP assessments here
http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk
or here
http://www.shop.cpag.org.uk/big-book-of-benefits-and-mental-health-201617
Your anecdotal experience is not supported by evidence of the system as a whole, Atos produce fraudulent reports, the DWP rubber stamp them and disabled people are left penniless. There is no legal aid until your appeal goes to the upper tier tribunal, this is only after two other appeal processes.
What you are saying here is very dangerous, wrong and ill informed and I would urge anyone one reading to disregard and get impartial independent advice. |
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Tahir Chakotai (Independent Housing Advocate) wrote
at 16:19:43 on 12 July 2016 |
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| Dear Dar, your comments seem to rely on third party information. My information is based on first hand evidence. I probably was a very lucky disabled adult to have a professional and friendly Atos Assessor undertake my medical assessment, but I certainly cannot believe that every single Atos Assessor is victimising disabled / vulnerable adults. There is legal aid out there, and I know that this information is correct, because Nyan Lei, from Stephensons Solicitors offered her legal services, in case I got wrongly assessed as being fit to work. So whether she offered her legal services free of charge or she was going to use legal aid is not important. What is important is that there is a Solicitor willing to give up her time, to help those who are challenging a decision made by an Atos Heathcare Employee. I feel that disabled people need to stop listening to third party information relayed by another third party, and only rely on information they have witnessed first hand. Those who I know, and are disabled, have passed an Atos Assessment without any problems. I hope my information helps support you Dar, and gives you some well deserved hope. Kindest Regards, Tahir Chakotai (Independent Housing Advocate) |
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Dar... wrote
at 06:29:44 on 12 July 2016 |
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| @Tahir - just a bit of further detail on the legal advice I received re: legal aid & benefits. If you can get a benefits related case to the stage where you're challenging a fundamental point of law, want to get it to the Lord's etc, then legal aid might be possible if you meet the criteria. Most people aren't going to be challenging points of law though. I might be doing so soon depending on how things go this month. For the meat and bones first tier challenges to decisions and appeals etc (where 99% of the time most people actually need the legal help) that's what doesn't qualify for legal aid. That's the gist of the legal opinion I've received so far. I'm seeing a barrister this month so I'll see if her opinion differs. |
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Dar... wrote
at 06:29:36 on 12 July 2016 |
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| @Tahir - I hope you're right about one bad apple but the stats on Atos don't support this view. Also on the point of legal aid for benefits cases I've just been specifically advised by a solicitor doing pro bono for CAB that you cannot get legal aid for benefits related cases. This advice was echoed by a second opinion I paid for. The government do not permit legal aid for benefits cases. You might be able to get a solicitor whose prepared to do it voluntarily. Your best chances for this kind of pro bono is via a charity or rights group etc but two solicitors so far have been adamant about legal aid not being available for benefits related cases. |
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Tahir Chakotai (Independent Housing Advocate) wrote
at 20:56:31 on 11 July 2016 |
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| Hiya Dar, sounds like your friend had an inappropriate interview with a person from Atos Healthcare, however you can get "Legal Aid" to challenge the decision of an Atos Healthcare Employee. The best place to go would be Stephensons Solicitors, of Wigan, Leigh, or Altrincham. Throughout my whole Atos Healthcare Assessment the word "varies"appears on practically every page. However there is always going to be at least one rotten egg within every company, and it sounds like your friend was assessed by this individual. Atos Healthcare Legislation clearly states that they must type or write down everything you say, even if that means replacing "yes" and "no" with the words "It Varies". Unfortunately your friend has been treat badly, however we should not tar all Atos Healthcare Employees with the same brush. My Atos Assessor was polite, friendly, observant and was certainly very efficient. Therefore I would strongly advise that your friend get in touch with the Manchester Branch of Stephensons Solicitors and request the services of a woman called Mrs Nyan Lei. Their number is 0161 979 0216 or you can call Mrs Nyan Lei directly on 01942 774 254. There is "Legal Help / Support" out there, you just have to know where to find it. I hope this helps your friend get the benefits they so rightly deserve. Kindest Regards, from Tahir Chakotai (Independent Housing Advocate). |
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Dar... wrote
at 15:09:13 on 11 July 2016 |
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| @Tahir - Spoke recently with a neighbours professional carer who attended an assessment with a disabled client and attempted exactly the strategy of complete honesty you used, because the circumstances were the same 'it varies' was the actual true answer. Her assessor point blank refused to cooperate and would only complete the forms with yes or no answers or indicate that the the question was 'refused to answer' if yes or no couldn't be the answer in truth. It depends who you get, you were lucky but it shouldn't depend on luck. Check out the late Michael Meacher MP's battle against Atos. Back in 2011 he had stats that over 10,600 people had died and/or committed suicide as a direct result of Atos 'assessments'. He even addressed a question to the relevant minister "how many people have Atos killed today?" The same story is true of ESA 'assessments'. Although your GP or even a Senior Consultant Specialist could of diagnosed you and given recommendations, the DWP can completely ignore expert clinical opinion and have you 'assessed' by a private company employed 'allied health care' OT with minimal qualifications whose never even heard of your condition and take away your ESA on their very limited subjective opinion alone. There's no legal aid for fighting benefit cases in court either. It's bare naked fascism, the intentional victimisation of the most vulnerable, and if it kills you so much the better in their view. Anything goes to get the benefit numbers down. |
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Geoffrey Maloney wrote
at 07:37:02 on 11 July 2016 |
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| I am on DLA And I am due to have a medical on August 2017 |
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Tahir Chakotai (Independent Housing Advocate) wrote
at 07:36:26 on 11 July 2016 |
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| I have quite an unusual political stance when it comes to the PIP Atos Assessments. Recently I was assessed for the 3rd time by Atos Health Care. However, instead of saying "yes and no" to a question, I insisted that this was crossed out, and the words "It Varies" was put in its place. For example, one of the questions asked of me is "can I walk 50 meters or more". My answer was "It Varies, "as I have severe arthritis in the back", "which obviously", "at times", "restricts my movement". I was asked many questions and insisted that the answer "yes and no" be removed, and replace with the words "It Varies". I agree with the masses of disabled people out there that say "the PIP Assessment does not fully cover a persons needs or fully assesses the level of support they need". However, there is absolutely nothing to stop that disabled adult telling the Atos Healthcare advisor "that their needs vary", "from day to day", thus tailoring the PIP assessment for our disabled needs. As a result of doing this at the Atos Healthcare Assessment, I went from low rate mobility, and middle rate care, to "Enhanced Daily Living Costs", and "Enhanced Mobility Costs". In other words by telling the truth and substituting the words "yes and no" with the words "It Varies", I ended up receiving more Income. So if you are undertaking an Atos Healthcare Assessment for PIP, tell the truth, be very literal about how your illnesses effect you, and request that they scribble out the words yes and no, and replace it with the words "It Varies". Always ensure that you hand the Atos Healthcare Team as much supporting medical evidence as possible as this will speed up the decision making process. So in my case, thanks to the Atos Healthcare Assessment, I was awarded more money, rather than less money. So I don't really think the problem lies with the Atos Healthcare Assessments, I think the problem lies with those who published the Atos Questionaires, which come directly from the DWP. I hope this helps all those out there who are either applying for PIP or are being changed from the DLA to PIP. Remember the more information / evidence you give them, the quicker the decision will take, and in most cases, "a positive decision". |
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