e-petition Stop using Atos and private profit driven companies to assess the disability and health of benefit claimants. Responsible department: Department for Work and Pensions For the chronically sick and disabled, the current system of assessment is inadequate and makes many peoples conditions worse and causes undue stress and upset. I, as a person with primary progressive multiple sclerosis, would ask the government to stop using Atos, who are driven by profit. This obviously creates a conflict of interest. To once again rely on specialist evidence from doctors and consultants as opposed to tick box evidence from non specialist privately employed individuals. http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/1191
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Yes, me to, signed a few days ago in fact and hope every one else does as well. XX S 
Done after spending ten mins trying to do the post verification CAPTCHA lol (thanks bubs)
Being a person with ppms not that it really matters what flavour of MS you have I have just signed. Having spent a year waiting to go to a tribunal to be placed into the support group, I went at the end of May and won within minutes of being there. Today after ringing the job centre plus to find out why my money had not increased, I find out I had been reassessed in feb (without a medical) and so am now back in the work related group.The poor man at the other end got an ear full I did recieve a ESA50 back in Feb and my condition had got worse although they ignored the fact I could only walk a few yards yet again. I did’nt realise I should of appealed back then but as I was awaiting an appeal date from the year before I did’nt think it would matter and would be wiped out if I won I now have to appeal again hopefully the man will send me the form jax
I would love to sign this petition but I’m unable to do so as I have RRMs and not primary progressive multiple sclerosis as the petition states. I’m just wondering how many others feel unable to sign because of this reason
Just because the person who started the petition has PPMS you feel you cannot sign.???
denny wrote:
I would love to sign this petition but I’m unable to do so as I have RRMs and not primary progressive multiple sclerosis as the petition states. I’m just wondering how many others feel unable to sign because of this reason
I think the main sentiment of the wording “For the chronically sick and disabled” says it all. the proposer is only indicating his disability as one that is affected and from a stand point of authority on the issue. I don’t see an problem at all… As far as I read it, it is a petition for all disabled people regardless of condition.
That is just what I said in my post last night Strudders If anyone has had to go through what I have for over a year and to win an appeal then find it was a waste of time because while appealing they had decided I should be in the work related group without a medical this time…it is making me ill I hav’nt slept since I found out yesterday…I’m sure this is doing me the world of good jax
jax111 wrote:
That is just what I said in my post last night Strudders If anyone has had to go through what I have for over a year and to win an appeal then find it was a waste of time because while appealing they had decided I should be in the work related group without a medical this time…it is making me ill I hav’nt slept since I found out yesterday…I’m sure this is doing me the world of good jax
I am sorry to hear that Jax. I tried to see my MP when the march was on in London, however he refused and would only see me in one of his surgeries. There are so many issues effecting us all now that I am loosing count. I am in the support group and I am expecting my call to see them soon. However the medicals are done in Portsmouth which is 20 miles away. That means I will have to take my wife or a carer as I can’t get there alone. It’s not just ESA. My DLA has been refused twice for higher rate mobility. Even after the forms where checked by my team it was turned down and the again in July when my entiltalment should have been automatic due to me being registered blind. So I now have to get another CVI done as I can hardly see at all (hence my horrific spelling on these boards) just to show that I am blind… Again. Also when PIP’s comes in, in a couple of years time there is now allowance for that hard fought and won entailment to remain. So thousands of blind people will again have there money cut. The obsticals put in our way our just horrendous. I will most probably never work again. I have never been unemoyed since I was 15 and if I could do something then I would. But they just do not realise how crap and destroying this condition is. I really do feel for you.
jax I am sorry to hear that Jax. I tried to see my MP when the march was on in London, however he refused and would only see me in one of his surgeries. There are so many issues effecting us all now that I am loosing count. I am in the support group and I am expecting my call to see them soon. However the medicals are done in Portsmouth which is 20 miles away. That means I will have to take my wife or a carer as I can’t get there alone. It’s not just ESA. My DLA has been refused twice for higher rate mobility. Even after the forms where checked by my team it was turned down and the again in July when my entiltalment should have been automatic due to me being registered blind. So I now have to get another CVI done as I can hardly see at all (hence my horrific spelling on these boards) just to show that I am blind… Again. Also when PIP’s comes in, in a couple of years time there is now allowance for that hard fought and won entailment to remain. So thousands of blind people will again have there money cut. The obsticals put in our way our just horrendous. I will most probably never work again. I have never been unemoyed since I was 15 and if I could do something then I would. But they just do not realise how crap and destroying this condition is. I really do feel for you. I also do not live alone and I would find it very difficult if I had too I am able to deal with my personal care although it is a struggle, but cannot put my own socks and shoes on and sometimes need help putting trousers on. I have not been able to cook a meal for myself for two years and although I still have a drivng licence have not driven for a year. I was thinking of having adaptions done to my car…but what is the point I would need someone with me to help me get in and out . I have not travelled any further than 10 miles in the last two years and that was only to go to my tribunal, I have not visited any friends or gone out for a social meal or drink in this time, I cannot visit my children as they live 70 miles away and they do not have a downstairs toilet…I feel trapped. I had no trouble at all getting DLA two and a half years ago indefenatly HRM and MRC but ESA support group has been a nightmare. When I went to my tribunal I was in and out in minutes and was put in the support group based on my walking, so how they can say more than six months later it has improved without seeing me plus the ESA50 said I could only walk a few yards is behond me. So I had a year of worrying about this appeal to be awarded £194 back pay which does’nt even cover a weeks rent…it was not the extra money I was after I just needed to feel secure, but is that going to happen??? I have gone from running around a busy restaurant as a waitress 9 hours a day to just about managing to get to the bathroom ten foot away in three years…It’s heartbreaking jax
strudders wrote:
denny wrote:
I would love to sign this petition but I’m unable to do so as I have RRMs and not primary progressive multiple sclerosis as the petition states. I’m just wondering how many others feel unable to sign because of this reason
I think the main sentiment of the wording “For the chronically sick and disabled” says it all. the proposer is only indicating his disability as one that is affected and from a stand point of authority on the issue. I don’t see an problem at all… As far as I read it, it is a petition for all disabled people regardless of condition.
The petition clearly states “I, as a person with primary progressive multiple sclerosis,” I don’t see how that can be misunderstood. I Totally agree with everything else but part of what I was asking was, would more people sign if primary progressive ms was not specified.
strudders wrote:
denny wrote:
I would love to sign this petition but I’m unable to do so as I have RRMs and not primary progressive multiple sclerosis as the petition states. I’m just wondering how many others feel unable to sign because of this reason
I think the main sentiment of the wording “For the chronically sick and disabled” says it all. the proposer is only indicating his disability as one that is affected and from a stand point of authority on the issue. I don’t see an problem at all… As far as I read it, it is a petition for all disabled people regardless of condition.
The petition clearly states “I, as a person with primary progressive multiple sclerosis,” I don’t see how that can be misunderstood. I Totally agree with everything else but part of what I was asking was, would more people sign if primary progressive ms was not specified.
So If she had said “I am a person with MS” that would be ok then you would sign? Most people seem to think primary proggressive is the worse kind of MS to have yet there is nothing out there for us and we are still treated as though we are pulling a fast one when we go for these medicals. Whether you have RRMS, PPMS SPMS it does not matter if you feel ATOS should stop assessing us sign the petition jax
For those who would like to sign the ePetition but have concerns here are the terms & conditions. Source http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/terms-and-conditions Terms and conditions The purpose of e-petitions is to provide an easy way for the public to engage with politics in this country. All e-petitions will be accepted and published on this website providing they: • call on the government for a specific action • do not substantially duplicate an existing open e-petition • meet the further criteria below Submission Conditions An e-petition may freely disagree with the government or call for changes of policy. There will be no attempt to exclude critical views. Decisions to accept or reject will be made on an impartial basis. However, to protect this service from abuse, e-petitions must satisfy some basic conditions. To create or sign an e-petition, you must be either: • a citizen of the UK • a resident in the UK (you normally live in the UK) To submit an e-petition, you must use the online form to provide: • the title or subject of the e-petition • a clear statement that covers the subject of the e-petition and what action you want the government to take • the government department to which the e-petition is addressed • the name of the person submitting the e-petition (the ‘petitioner’) - names of organisations cannot be accepted • the petitioner’s email address (this will not be published on the website) • the petitioner’s home address (this will not be published on the website) • the length of time you want the e-petition to be open for signatures E-petition guidelines All e-petitions must call for a specific action from the government. If an e-petition does not include a clear statement explaining what action you want the government to take, it will be rejected. 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Find out how to submit nominations for honours at: Nominate someone for an honour or award: Overview - GOV.UK This link opens in a new window E-petitions that do not follow these guidelines cannot be accepted. In these cases, you will be informed by email of the reason(s) your e-petition has been refused. We will publish the full text of rejected e-petitions, unless the content is illegal or offensive. It is not possible to alter a rejected e-petition, and no correspondence will be entered into regarding rejected e-petitions. Rejection of an e-petition does not stop you from submitting a new e-petition which meets the terms and conditions of the site. Government departments and e-petitions When submitting an e-petition, you must choose the government department that you believe owns the issue you have raised in your e-petition. Individual departments will check e-petitions. We reserve the right to transfer an e-petition to a different department, based on ministerial responsibility. It will usually take up to seven days from the time an e-petition is submitted for it to appear on the website. During busy periods it may take longer. Once accepted, e-petitions will be made available on this website for anyone to sign. Anyone signing the e-petition must provide their name, home address and email address. No personal details will be published on the site. This information will not be used for any purpose other than in relation to the e-petition. The government may contact you by email to: • confirm you have submitted an e-petition • confirm you have signed an e-petition • provide updates about the e-petition You will only receive a maximum of five emails for each e-petition. If you sign an e-petition (are a ‘signatory’), you will only receive updates if you choose this option when you sign it. All petitioners and signatories will receive a first email that asks you to confirm your email address. Paper based Parliamentary Petitions The e-petitions system is not intended to replace the current paper based system of public petitions in the House of Commons. For more information about the paper based Parliamentary Petitions, you can visit the UK Parliament website " In signing, you are agreeing with the petition to stop ATOS; you are now saying that you have MS… only the petitioners is saying that they have MS I Hope this helps. V
denny wrote:
The petition clearly states “I, as a person with primary progressive multiple sclerosis,” I don’t see how that can be misunderstood. I Totally agree with everything else but part of what I was asking was, would more people sign if primary progressive ms was not specified.
Hi Danny. It really is only you who can decide if you want to sign the petition. The way I see it is this. The person proposing it has clearly stated the case against ATOS. They have qualified it by showing they are a person effected by it. When I contact my MP/MEP regarding these issues always mention my disabilities so they also know I am coming from the stand point of someone who is effected and as someone who has first hand knowledge of the subject matter. It is the same with this petition. I have never seen a difference between people with MS regardless of what label they have been handed. We are all suffering from MS. As I say it’s up to you. However to your question of will it put people off signing? Will I can only say that if it does, fine, but at least somebody bothered to actually get off their behind and do something about it. So credits where credits due. Cheers Strudders.
Sorry that should have been Denny. I do apologise
Signed. Kx
Hi Strudders Sorry meant to reply yesterday, I’ve signed the petition. At the end of the day it is more important to protest against this injustice than worry about a few words.
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