ATOS contract shambles exposes a rift with the Department for Work and Pensions

The long-term contract to carry out assessments ran out three months ago and now the company has pulled out from much of the work

'Monstrous': Dennis Skinner

Is there a rift growing between ATOS, described by Dennis Skinner as “monstrous”, and the Department for Work and Pensions?

Doctors employed by ATOS used to advise DWP decision-makers on the more difficult claims for Disability Living Allowance as well as other benefits.

But the Disability News Service has learned that the long-term contract to carry out this work ran out three months ago, and now the company has pulled out altogether from most of the work.

This leaves the civil servants who decide whether or not a disabled person will receive the benefit without any expert medical advice to call on. Labour has called it assessment by Google.

We call it just another day of #DWPchaos.

Quote of the Week:

Home truths: Sophie Christiansen

Scott Heavey / Getty

Sophie Christiansen – Paralympian who took three equestrian golds at London 2012 – on how disabled people face losing benefit due to a new 20-metre rule.

“It’s not just a yes or no question. I could write a whole essay on whether I could walk 50 metres. It all depends on terrain, what I’m doing afterwards, what I’ve been doing that day, whether I have got someone with me. It’s not that simple.”

Mirror