A disabled man who was incorrectly found fit for work under the government's disability
benefit assessment is launching a legal action against the government
and Atos, the private company performing the tests. Patrick Lynch, a
former social care worker who was forced to stop work because of a
condition affecting his brain, is seeking a judicial review of the
controversial "work capability assessment". More than 11,000 disabled
people a week are taking the tests, which involve interviews with Atos
doctors and nurses to identify those who can work.
Charities and
disabled groups say the assessment is "not fit for purpose", with
appeals against 40% of claims that are turned down. They cite cases of
suicide where the coroner has said denial of benefits
was a contributory factor. The BBC's Panorama this year found a case of
a man who died of heart failure just 39 days after being found fit for
work.
Full Article on Guardian Society
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