Press release: Sense comments on the awarding of PIP assessment contracts to Atos
02 August 2012
Commenting on the Government awarding contracts to Atos and Capita for assessing Personal Independence Payment (PIP), announced today, Gillian Morbey OBE, CEO of the deafblind charity Sense, says:
“We are concerned that the Government has awarded another contract to Atos. Their track record of poor initial Work Capability Assessments is costing more in the long run, both in terms of money and anxiety to the individuals concerned. We have little confidence that the assessments for PIP will be any different.
"Sense believes the Government is not listening to the views of disabled people who have again and again expressed their serious concerns about Atos’ inconsistent approach and limited understanding of disability.
"As a charity supporting deafblind people, we are calling on Atos and Capita to ensure the assessments are fair and accessible. As a minimum everyone should be provided with the necessary communication support and information in accessible formats."
Sense is part of the Disability Benefits Consortium, who are now calling on Atos and Capita to sign up to ten pledges to help deliver a PIP assessment process that is fair to people with disabilities.