Cecilia Burns RIP. Another Atos Victim.
A cancer sufferer, who had her benefits cut by government officials who said she was fit to work, has died.
Cecilia Burns, 51, from Strabane, County Tyrone, had started a campaign in February to have the decision overturned.
Ms Burns had her benefits cut after she was assessed by government contractor Atos Healthcare.
She had her benefits reinstated just a few weeks ago but died on Monday.
‘Disgusted’
During her campaign the County Tyrone woman said she was “disgusted” after the government cut her sickness benefit and told her she was fit to work.
Cecilia Burns had her Employment Support Allowance reduced by £30 a week even though she was still undergoing treatment for breast cancer.
Ms Burns had described the medical test as a “joke”.
The government is seeking to reassess all 2.6 million people on incapacity benefit – and its successor employment support allowance (ESA) – by 2014 in an effort to encourage more people back to work and to cut the welfare bill.
Stormont Assembly MLA, Michaela Boyle, had helped Ms Burns in her campaign.
“I have known Cecilia since she went for her medical assessment. She received nil points and appealed that assessment.”
Ms Boyle is critical of the assessment process.
“Our office has been dealing with the fall-out of this on a daily basis and that is mainly with the flaws. A lot of MLAs will be facing the wrath of this.
“We have been deeply critical of all aspects of the decision-making process with many claimants being disallowed who have severe disabilities, chronic conditions and life limiting illnesses.
“We have questioned the objectivity of these decisions given that a large number of these decisions are being overturned at appeal stage.
“At 60% of these appeals, the claimant had been awarded nil points in assessment.”
Last week Atos said they would be reviewing their correspondence with claimants after they incorrectly told one woman that assessors were not required to be specifically trained in mental health.
Paralympic protest
Later on Friday, Disabled People Against Cuts and UK Uncut will protest outside Atos headquarters in London to coincide with the Paralympics.
Before her death, Cecilia Burns told the BBC that dealing with the side effects of the treatment were bad enough, but she had been angered by the cut in benefit after she went for a medical.
“I know there’s other people out there and they’re all scared to come forward,” she said.
“I was treated badly. I’ve been working since I was 17, I’ve paid all my stamps, all my National Insurance. The only time I was ever sick was when I was pregnant with my two sons.
“It has had a financial effect on me but it’s more (that) they’re getting away with it. They are just treating you like a second class citizen. That’s how I feel – that I don’t count, I don’t matter,” she said.
In a statement Atos said; “We do not make decisions on people’s benefit entitlement or on welfare policy but we will continue to make sure that the service that we provide is as highly professional and compassionate as it can be.
“We do this through a constant programme of training and education for our staff, a rigorous recruitment process for healthcare professionals and through continual work with the Government, disability rights groups, healthcare professionals and those going through the process on the ground.”
Meanwhile, in Northern Ireland, Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland has organised a public consultation on the changes.
He said said during previous stages of the review, the public response was limited and it was important that people got across their views.
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and the murder’s go’s on, that’s what to expect from a truly sick government
Demonstration Today at Atos HQ Triton Square, London, look at the brave police surrounding the doors, what are Atos frightened of???
Click on image for full size image?
this has to stop and soon!!!!
there are frighten of the truth ever coming out, there are a business consortium not medical.. stick with what they do best, screwing there own kind
Deepest condolences to Celia’s loved ones.
It must have been a harrowing time for Celia and her family dealing with the cancer. The last thing she needed was to be treated badly by an unfair system and money grubbing leeches.
The DWP, Atos and the government have a lot to answer for.
so very sad, my condolences to her loved ones
She’s at peace now, bless her.
The only place they can’t get at you, murderers.
In a statement Atos said; “We do not make decisions on people’s benefit entitlement or on welfare policy but we will continue to make sure that the service that we provide is as highly professional and compassionate as it can be….
what utter crap, they provide the information to the DWP, although never information we give them, What the DWP get is loosely or in most cases not at all based on what we tell them and what they want to know, … what goes on between what we tell Atos and what they supply to the DWP is one of life’s mysteries.
this poor poor lady is another case of total despair and inhumane treatment. May she now be at peace xx
So very sorry to hear of this poor woman’s treatment at the hands of this evil, corrupt organisation. The Government and the DWP are equally to blame. How anybody can put greed above a person’s suffering is beyond me? It is obvious that Atos value this WCA contract far more than someone’s quality of life and will lie through its teeth, time and time again to keep it. My condolences to Cecilia’s family and friends. She didn’t deserve this.
My condolences to Cecilia’s family and friends but it still goes on our fight with this our lovely dave camerooon and his cronies who every day take someone to dispair and death ,while they sprout their properganda about the sick lame and lazy who they award contracts to friends who give themselves bonuses 8.6mill and still they pinch from us to give to his friends shame shame shame on you cameroooon christians you are not jeff3
bunch of cowards ,,,,,always dodging and weazaling out of their incompetence ,they wouldn’t know how to tell the truth any way ,,i pray that the same fate awaits them [but worse], rip you will find justice in heaven. xxxxxx
One less person , it’s working DWP, now you don’t have to pay her anything. So now they want to cut another 10 million from benefits, I thought they had taken pretty much everything.
Oops did I say 10 million, I mean billion, how are they gonna do that? How can they take anymore, why is the most being taken from the ppl that have the least to give, and I’m not talking about money.
Concentration camps would be deemed too obvious,instead they kill by stealth.