MCAC is working with Manchester Against Benefit cuts to organise a week of action against changes to disability living allowance and the role of ATOS in carrying out “evaluations” for fitness to work which have been linked to over 1000 deaths between August and January following loss to benefits (see press coverage below). Please support this action to highlight this scandal. More details of week of action to follow.
6 June, 7pm: Public Meeting at Friends’ Meeting House on building resistance against ATOS
9 June, 11am: Petition and stall, Market Street
A freedom of information request revealed that between January and August last year, 1,100 people had died after they lost their benefits.
Labour MP John McDonnell asked the Government to investigate whether there was a trend of people with mental health problems committing suicide after being ruled as fit for employment.
He said: “MPs across the House, and ministers, have emphasised the importance that care must be taken in dealing with people with mental health problems as they approach the medical and capability assessments, even if they lose benefits.
“There is some anecdotal evidence of suicides taking place of people who have lost benefits.
“Has the Government explored any of the coroners’ reports in these cases where there has been a reference to the loss of benefits as a contributory factor, and what lessons have been learnt?”
Speaking in the Commons, employment minister Chris Grayling replied: “We will always look very, very carefully indeed where something like that happens. So far my experience is that the story is much more complicated. But that does not mean we are not doing the right thing.
“I passionately believe that we should be helping (people), particularly those with mental health problems. I have met people who have been out of work for years and years and years with chronic depression who we are now beginning to help back into work.
“We have got to be very careful but we do look very carefully when those situations arise.”
Source: UK Press Association 23rd April 2012
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A person who has been through the system and failed/passed been found fit for work. And then had that finding over turned at a tribunal been found not fit for work . Then that person should take ATOS and the DWP to court and claim for damages . mental stress physical pain and aggravating existing medical conditions. also they can claim for financial loss caused by the incorrect work capability assessment. The said person has already won the case for damages as they have been through a tribunal and won their case a tribunal is a court of law and as such the ruling is a legal president. The so called work capability assessment by ATOS disregards medical evidence . The DWP have got round the law by claiming the WCA is not a medical but a test to see what a person can do not what they can not do. The medical condition of any person has to be taken into account by law . The only way to stop this barbaric treatment of the sick and disabled is to take them to court we need to join forces and financially support a case through the courts to prove that this system is cruel illegal and deadly. I would ask every person to Write and email your MP and demand the work test be stopped also get your MP to pass your demands onto the ombudsman who deals with welfare .The ombudsman has the power to stop the DWP and force them to change the rules that apply to ESA and the WCA . If every person who won their tribunal also won damages the government will back down . SUE for damages anyone who has been through the ATOS/DWP system has been damaged. Together people power will win so sue.