Atos Reports Fail Test

The Department of Work and Pensions has been forced to bring in additional administrators to carry out work capability assessment for disability benefits.

The move follows a government audit which found that two-fifths of reports submitted by Atos Healthcare, the company responsible for testing claims for disability benefits, were inaccurate and unreliable.

Disability Assessment

The Atos process consists of an interview where claimants are awarded points based on the severity of their condition, which are then processed by computer to calculate an overall score.

Critics say the system is too inflexible and unfair to those with fluctuating health conditions.

Review

Following months of complaints, the decision was made to audit around 400 written reports submitted by Atos.  This review found a staggering 40% of assesments to be unacceptable.

Many of these reports were written based on ill informed decisions, whilst recommendations had no evidence and claims were unsubstantiated.

Since the new disability assessment process was initiated, around one third of appeals made by individuals have been successful.