A ONE-ARMED man trying to claim disability benefits said staff asked if he thought his limb might grow back.

[esagestapo]

Gary Swift, whose right limb is missing from below the elbow, says he faced the question while being medically assessed.

He had applied for an employment and support allowance — paid to people who can’t work through disability — and went to the meeting with his carer mum Tracey Perkins.

They say the interviewer asked: “Do you expect your condition to improve? Do you expect your arm to grow back within the next two years.”

Gary, 30, of Chesterfield, Derbys, said: “I replied, ‘Well it’s not grown back in the last 30 years, so I can’t see it happening over the next two’.”

ATOS Healthcare, who assessed Gary for the Department for Work and Pensions, said last night: “That question would never be asked. Staff carrying out the assessment are trained doctors, nurses and physiotherapists.”

Gary said he was later sent on a job seekers’ gardening course — and handed a spade.

He said: “If it wasn’t so ridiculous it would be laughable.”

thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/n...

[Malwimmy27]

Souds about right. It would be good if some of the atos bigwigs could see video recordings of these interviews then see just how ridiculous some of these interviewers really are! Becky x

[Tannels]

You could not make it up if you tried. Well it's clear that the interviewer's brain had stunted growth and had not reached it's full capacity. How to these people ever get employed.

Tannels x

[ladymoth]

It worries me terribly that these people are in charge of stuff ...

Moffy x

[mistymeana]

I'm beginning to wonder if these "trained doctors, nurses and physiotherapists" got their degrees from the university of Outer Mongolia via correspondence course. Either that or Atos has a secret training facility that foregoes standard medical training and just brainwashes drivel in its place! If you made a sitcom of this people would be outraged and think it too OTT.

[mistymeana]

PS - no disrespect intended towards Outer Mongolia or it's citizens. Just the most remote place I could think of x

[Hidden in reply to mistymeana]

Timbuktu is pretty remote.

[Cat53]

My husband who is an above knee amputee was told by his doctor that she had to fill out a form for five years running to say his condition was permanent! Nothing changes! I have to say that 17 years on his leg has not re grown yet! We are not holding our breath! Lol!

[tessintrouble]

Perhaps Gary should have helped himself to some "miracle gro" fertilizer at the gardening course - you never know ..............................

[Hidden]

Honestly, you could not make this shit up, though Atos do. Just about says it all.

[esagestapo]

“That question would never be asked. Staff carrying out the assessment are trained doctors, nurses and physiotherapists.”

Does anyone else find anything wrong with this quote from Atos? They are trained, by who and for what exactly!! Surely Atos would not employ medical staff that need training? I would expect them to be qualified to begin with!! Imagine going to hospital and being told, you can have an operation as soon as a DM trains the surgeon to do the op. Or go to your nearest JC and they will show you how to do the op yourself.

[tessintrouble]

According to their own guidelines - they try and match you and your illness with an assessor who knows about that particular thing. I am living proof they DO NOT!! My "nurse" did not know what rheumathoid arthritis is, she muddled it up with osteo arthritis. She acually put in wrting that my pain killer caused some hair loss and nausea. That " pain killer" was methotrexate - a toxic chemo-therapy drug that suppresses the immune system, you couldn't make it up...............

[Slowrunner1]

Completely against the view of this thread- I have one arm- I'm twice this guys age and have worked without any problem for my whole life. Having one arm is not a hardship and should not warrant any government payment- plus I can use a spade,shovel,etc etc

We have a choice when faced with problems. I got on with life