Errors block benefits to disabled

By Geoff Adams-Spink
BBC News website age & disability correspondent

One report had 20 alterations which affected the claim

Almost 80,000 sick and disabled people a year are being wrongly denied benefits, according to a BBC investigation for Radio Five Live.

It has emerged that medical reports on people claiming some benefits are unreliable or inaccurate.

As a result, thousands claiming Incapacity Benefit or Disability Living Allowance have had to appeal.

The government says that it is "responding positively" when criticisms are made.

The investigation found that some handwritten medical reports were altered so that the meaning was completely changed, while in other cases a computer-based medical questionnaire produced misleading or nonsensical information.

As a result, tens of thousands of people have had to challenge decisions in order to obtain benefits to which they are entitled.

Campaigners say that the relationship between a private contractor - Atos Origin - and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has often been to blame.

Worst case

Jim Allison, a benefits adviser based in Cumbria, came across one case in which an applicant for Disability Living Allowance had had 20 alterations made to her medical report.

The corrections had the effect of invalidating her claim: only when she decided to appeal did the alterations come to light.

Jim Allison advises claimants via the internet

For example, the word "unsteady" had been altered to "steady" when describing her ability to walk.

In another part of the report, the doctor had originally said that she was able to walk 30 metres. The "3" had later been turned into an "8", thereby making it less likely that she would be awarded DLA.

"This particular case was the worst I'd seen," said Mr Allison.

"Twenty alterations were made and as a result it reversed the outcome and the lady was actually turned down."

Sitting comfortably

In another case, Paul Hailey, who lives near Swansea, had his Incapacity Benefit in 2004 withdrawn following a periodic check-up to determine his level of disability.

In order to improve the efficiency of the medical reporting service, a computerised questionnaire was introduced and this, according to campaigners, is producing inconsistent results.

Paul Hailey can only watch TV by reclining on the sofa

In Mr Hailey's case, the computer had assumed that he was able to watch TV for an hour, and therefore was able to sit comfortably for this period of time.

The computer system inferred from this that he was able to work.

In fact, Mr Hailey has a painful back problem and has to watch TV reclining on a sofa.

He subsequently appealed and had his benefits reinstated.

Atos Origin doctors send their reports to civil servants who make a final decision about a person's entitlement.

I'm not immune to the fact that there may be criticisms Anne McGuire, Disability minister

Here again, our investigation found inconsistencies: in the case of 11-year-old identical twins with autism, one had her Disability Living Allowance uprated while her sister - who has exactly the same level of disability - was turned down.

When this was pointed out to the DWP, the twin who had initially received the increase had it withdrawn.

The twins' mother took the case to appeal and both children now receive the higher rate.

Disability Minister Anne McGuire said the overwhelming majority of claims were dealt with satisfactorily.

But she said the government was always keen to improve when bad practice came to light.

"I'm not immune to the fact that there may be criticisms," she said.

"What I think ought to be recognised is that we are responding positively where those criticisms are made."

The BBC approached Atos Origin for a response to the criticisms of its medical reporting but the company has declined to comment.

Geoff Adams-Spink's report, Not Feeling The Benefits, can be heard on Five Live Report on Sunday 21 May at 1100 BST and 1930 BST and will also be available at the Five Live Report website