AlisonM
Much missed Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1.5 LADA
Fit-to-work tests: Atos contract to end
The firm Atos, which assesses whether benefit claimants in Britain are fit to work, is to finish its contract early, ministers have confirmed.
It follows government criticism over "significant quality failures".
Disabilities Minister Mike Penning said a new company would be appointed in early 2015, and Atos would not receive "a single penny of compensation".
Atos had been due to finish in August 2015. It said the settlement was "in the best interests of all parties".
It also said it would "work hard to support transition to a new provider", adding: "We will be transferring our infrastructure and employees to ensure consistency of service to those going through the process.
"There will be no change for those applying for Employment and Support Allowance."
Last month, Atos said it was seeking to end its government contract under which it carried out the Work Capability Assessments.../
This sentence caught my eye:
So the same processes, the same staff but a different company? How is that going to be any sort of improvement?
Plus, they're only giving up part of the work, not all of it. They'll still be doing the assessments in NI and PIP assessments all over the shop.
The firm Atos, which assesses whether benefit claimants in Britain are fit to work, is to finish its contract early, ministers have confirmed.
It follows government criticism over "significant quality failures".
Disabilities Minister Mike Penning said a new company would be appointed in early 2015, and Atos would not receive "a single penny of compensation".
Atos had been due to finish in August 2015. It said the settlement was "in the best interests of all parties".
It also said it would "work hard to support transition to a new provider", adding: "We will be transferring our infrastructure and employees to ensure consistency of service to those going through the process.
"There will be no change for those applying for Employment and Support Allowance."
Last month, Atos said it was seeking to end its government contract under which it carried out the Work Capability Assessments.../
This sentence caught my eye:
So the same processes, the same staff but a different company? How is that going to be any sort of improvement?
Plus, they're only giving up part of the work, not all of it. They'll still be doing the assessments in NI and PIP assessments all over the shop.