We weren’t going to publish a newsletter in August, but we felt this was one item of news that many Benefits and Work members would want to know about immediately.
In a surprising, and for many deeply dismaying decision, the DWP have announced this afternoon that Atos have won the biggest share of the contracts for carrying out personal independence payment (PIP) medicals. A smaller share has gone to Capita.
PIP is due to begin replacing disability living allowance (DLA) for working age claimants from April next year, with all current working age DLA claimants having to be reassessed for the new benefit. The contracts for PIP medicals are worth up to a billion pounds in total and have attracted the attention of many multinational companies.
Atos have won Lot 1 and Lot 3 in the bidding for the contracts. Lot 1 covers Scotland, NE England, NW England & Isle of Man while Lot 3 covers London and South England. Capita have won Lot 2, which covers Wales and Central England.
Lot 4 which covers Northern Ireland has not yet been awarded and Lot 5 is also up for grabs, but the DWP have said they do not intend to use Lot 5 unless things go wrong with regional suppliers.
Atos are deeply unpopular with many claimants and disability organisations due to their methods of assessing claimants for employment and support allowance. On Monday of this week, the company was the subject of a Panorama documentary and a Dispatches documentary looking at alleged failings in the way they carry out the work capability assessment.
Capita, which runs the Criminal Records Bureau on behalf of the Home Office and is invariably referred to as ‘Crapita’ by Private Eye, has no history of carrying out medical assessments for state benefits. The company has been involved in a number of less than successful public service contracts in the past, however, including Individual Learning Accounts which were subject to fraudulent claims on an unprecedented scale and which were shut down after just one year.
Amongst the unsuccessful bidders for the contracts so far awarded are G4S who are still reeling from the Olympics security fiasco, Serco, Avanta, Ingeus Deloitte, APM UK, Reed In Partnership and Vertex.
You can read more about the award of contracts on the DWP website.
And Benefits and Work members can comment on this story in the Members News section.
GOOD NEWS FROM THE FORUMS
We’ve just had time to find a few good news posts from the forums to end on a cheerier note.
Migrated from IB to ESA Support Group
"A sincere thank you to B&W."
Moved from IB to ESA Support Group, without medical assessment
"I am absolutely certain this would not have been possible without your website and guides. Many, many thanks for your assistance."
ESA decision revised during appeals process, placed in Support Group
"I would like to thank the mods and the writers of the guides as I wouldn't have been able to do it without them. So a big thank you."
Success at DLA appeal
"Thanks for the guides, my DLA appeal was upheld last week."
ESA decision revised after appeal lodged, placed in Support Group
"Thanks once again to everyone on this site, all the lovely MODS and Steve and Holly."
Award of high rate mobility and middle rate care DLA confirmed for an indefinite period
"Thanks to B&W for all the help and advice."
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Steve Donnison
Benefits and Work Publishing Ltd
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