DWP Turns Nasty On PIP Claimants- UPDATED

I am reposting this after reading the clarification on why it was originally published. The intention of the original publishers was not to cause worry or distress to readers- that is not my intention either.

A number of comments below have suggested that that this article may be inaccurate and scaremongering. Their concern is that there is no legislative underpinning to the suggested changes.  We did not write this article nor did we speak directly to the ATOS source.  You will need to make your own judgement about whether what you read below is accurate. 

We did speak to the author and felt that they were genuine in promoting this article.  They are a well respected disability activist known to two leading disabled person’s organisations.  We do not believe they would deliberately set out to mislead.  

A number of things about the context for the article are important to think about.  The government’s flagship problem of welfare reform is in a difficult place.  With a general election only a year away, Universal Credit has stalled and PIP is drowning in a huge backlog of claims that cannot be processed because of the length of time assessments are taking.  In this it strikes us that it is reasonable to suppose ATOS management to be looking at ways they can speed up assessments of the backlog.

It is in this context that we think there is merit in this article.  Some things such as treating people who arrive in wheelchairs as fully mobile are unlikely. But others such as only taking into account prompting when it actually happens not when someone says they generally need this seem much more likely.  Much of an assessment like this is down to the interpretation of the Health Professional and it would not be surprising that managers were trying to control that process.  

Will some of these changes speed things up?  Yes.  Would that allow IDS to claim some sucess? Yes.  Would there be a lot more appeals?  Yes.  Would the government care?   

That is why we published it.   If you still want to read the original article after all that, bear in mind that at this point its accuracy is disputed and Click the Read More button below.  

One source was contacted this evening by A Friend of long standing who is a Manager at ATOS.  They are a registered Nurse and have responsibility for PIP assessments.  For the sake of their job and their well being they have asked that they remain anonymous.  One source can attest to their veracity.

As you may be aware, PIP (Personal Independence Payment) Assessments have a long-recorded backlog.  In February this year, it was announced that these assessments has a backlog of around 80,000 people.

This news was eventually recorded by the Press and acknowledged by the DWP,  Accordingly, ATOS were charged with increasing their efforts to alleviate this backlog and permission was given by the DWP to enable assessors to do Paper Based Reviews (PBRs) of claimants.  If it was deemed that a person’s description of their needs caused by their disabilities, matched the medication they were prescribed and the condition with which they were diagnosed, then the assessors were able to award points for the descriptors for which that person claimed without the need for being seen face-to-face.

However, as of 15th May despite the adjustments, the backlog has grown to over 145,000 people waiting for PIP assessments.  The DWP, by law, is required to assess people within 18 weeks of initial application and many people were breaching these 18 weeks, causing some concern to those at the DWP, as this gives claimants a right of complaint and appeal, potentially.

Today, A Friend was summoned to a meeting of high level managers within ATOS.  Prior to entry into the meeting room, A Friend was searched by security to ensure that no-one entered with any recording device, mobile phone, tablet, pen, paper etc.

They revealed to our source the information that was given to the ATOS managers at this high level meeting.

Paper Based Reviews (PBRs)

From today – 23rd May 2014 – ANYONE who has had a PBR during the past three months will now be RECALLED for a face-to-face assessment.  Any claimants who have been awarded benefits based on a PBR may have their benefits stopped for the duration of the assessment period, and if their disabilities no longer match new clarification “guidelines” the DWP has issued in a new directive as of today, it is expected that they will be asked to repay all monies they have received.

“Clarification” changes to PIP descriptors

From Tuesday 27th May 2014 – ALL claimants will now be subjected to NEW descriptors which the DWP is insisting are merely a ‘clarification of existing guidelines”.  These descriptor clarifications have been issued with no consultation as is legally required.

Changes to the PIP descriptors assessors must now adhere to include the following:

1.  The legal application that all claimants MUST be able to do activities safely, reliably, repeatably, sustainably and in a timely manner must now be ignored.  This is no longer to be taken into account.  If a claimant can do the assessing task (ie: walk down a step unaided) once, then they must been deemed fully capable of doing that task and assessors are instructed to award them 0 points for that descriptor.  This is particularly problematic in the case of those with varying mobility needs as if they can walk say, 90 metres one day or at a certain time of day, then assessors must now deem them to be fully mobile and score 0 points.

2.  Claimants who have neurological or mental illnesses who require “prompting” or reminding to do tasks or activities are no longer to be awarded with points.    Prompting is no longer to be taken account of by assessors unless there is legal evidence of need such as carers being made available to that person 24/7.

3.  ALL medical needs must now be evidenced by LEGAL documentation.  No longer are assessors able to take as supporting evidence the accounts of care staff, social workers, support workers and carers etc.  Safeguarding recommendations are also no longer allowed to be taken into account unless there is strong supporting evidence of need. Assessors can ask if a claimant has a need for such support but claimants MUST provide evidence that they are receiving the support now.   Unless a claimant can evidence that they have an actual NEED for support, then assessors will not be able to take this into account and the claimants will be awarded 0 points on the descriptors.

4.  “Clarification” of some of the descriptors

Examples were given of clarifications (which are actually changes) to the various descriptors, which make for very bleak reading indeed.

Descriptor 1 (cooking)

Previously, for anyone who was recorded as “suicidal” or at risk of self harm with unsupervised access to a kitchen, was deemed to be at risk.  For the purposes of the PIP assessment, the kitchen (containing sharp objects, knives, gas ovens etc.) were deemed a “special place of safety” and anyone with an evidenced risk of suicide or self harm would have been given maximum points.  From today, the DWP directive states that this is no longer relevant.  Anyone with suicidal tendencies/who self harm will no longer receive points for cooking.  The DWP has stated that because they could also be at risk anywhere in their home, (by smashing a tea mug in the lounge, which they could then use to slash themselves with, for example) they can no longer deem the kitchen to be a “special place of safety”. 

A Friend went to some great length to point out that ATOS staff argued long and hard for this descriptor to be changed IN FAVOUR of vulnerable claimants.  These qualified doctors and nurses felt that the descriptor was too rigid for suicidal claimants and wanted to include bathrooms as a “special place of safety” also.  However, the DWP has gone in completely the opposite direction and now taken away that assessable safeguard.

Descriptor 3  (Care in a care home)

Previously, the DWP had stated that assessors were NOT allowed to take account of medications or therapies given to residents in care.  They had argued that, because of the care support they received in Care, this meant that they should not therefore be awarded extra disability money to support them with this activity.

However, as of Tuesday, this will now change.

Assessors are now allowed to take account of a claimants needs for medication, therapy (such as Physiotherapy etc.) and award them points accordingly.  It is believed that this is because of the awarding of the right for care home residents the protection of the Human Rights Act as of last week.

Descriptor 7 (Communication)

The DWP has “clarified” the descriptor on communication.  If a claimant is able to express a need using simple words such as “I need the toilet” – even IF these are the only words the claimant is able to say, they are to be deemed by Assessors as

FULLY COMMUNICABLE and will be awarded 0 points.

Descriptor 8 (Reading)

A claimant is to be assessed as being able to read and write with no impairment if they are able to read a simple sentence such as “a cat sat on a mat”. 

If the claimant is able to read two simple sentences, such as “stick out your tongue.  Lift up your arm.”  and carry out the instruction they have read they will get 0 points for reading impairment.

If a claimant is able to use Makaton symbols and other signs or aids to communicate and can use these to follow out a similar simple instruction they will have to be assessed as FULLY CAPABABLE and will receive 0 points.

Descriptor 9 (Engaging)

I have already described how safeguarding recommendations by non-medical professional will not longer have to be taken into account unless legally and medically evidenced.  Under this descriptor, only EXCEPTIONAL circumstances which can demonstrate a clear threat to the general public (not to the person themselves) can points be awarded now for engaging. 

The claimant MUST now produce clear legally verifiable evidence that they are indeed such a threat.  The evidence that will be accepted includes:

– A criminal record for such actions

– Having been sectioned and detained under the Mental Health Act

All other evidence, including prompting to do activities must be ignored by the assessors and such claimants will be awarded 0 points. 

Descriptors 9 through 11

From now on, only those claimants who have been ASSESSED for and provided with FULL time care – whether via paid or unpaid carers will be awarded points.

Claimants must either be in full time residential care or have the support of a carer 24/7 in order to get an award.

Descriptor 10 Budgeting and money handling

Claimants will from Tuesday ONLY be awarded points if they have an appointee, power of attorney for financial affairs, or some similar arrangement.  Unless a claimant can demonstrate that they are completely unable to manage their finances they will be awarded 0 points.

Once again, safeguarding recommendations by social services or care support will no longer be taken account of.

Descriptor 12  Mobility.

As of Tuesday next week, the requirement that claimants must be able to walk fewer than 20 m safely, reliably, repeatably, sustainably and in a timely manner without pain will NO LONGER APPLY. 

If any claimant is able to access an ATOS assessment centre EVEN IF IN A WHEELCHAIR they will be deemed fully mobile and score 0 points automatically.

The DWP have said that the directive WILL be available to anyone from Tuesday under Freedom Of Information Act requests.  They may contact the PIP help desk and request a copy.  Staff are to inform them that the copy “may take between 3 and 6 MONTHS” to arrive.

A further change to PIP assessments has also been implemented by the DWP.  A few months ago, the DWP ran a pilot programme where DWP CALL CENTRE staff – who are not medically trained – were given 200 claimants cases to assess and act as Decision Makers on their cases.

Despite protests from both DWP staff and ATOS staff, the DWP has now decided the Pilot was a ‘success’ and from Tuesday this programme will be rolled out in full for all claimants.  Claimants will no longer be able to guarantee that their claims will be decided by fully trained DWP decision makers.

ATOS staff wish to make it known how deeply distressed and unhappy they are at these changes.

Our source can attest that this is a true statement as it was told to them. 

Our source is  passing this information to you in order that action can be taken to prevent a potential humanitarian disaster from occurring for the disabled population of the UK.

Updated 30/5: This appears to be a hoax, thankfully, for now. However, this is why I believed it, and why it will stay here, as a reminder to me not to immediately believe everything I hear.