Annex A

Annex A

Mr S Brisco

Dear Mr Brisco

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request received on 18 December.

You asked :-

(1) What is the number of Employment Support Allowance (ESA) claimants with mental health conditions, to date, who have failed the ATOS medical Assessment compared with those claimants presenting with physical health problems?

(2) What is the number, to date, of complaints received by ATOS Medical Services and Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) in regard to the operation of the new medical assessment process as operated by ATOS?

(3) Can you confirm that ATOS Medical Services are not given incentives of any sort by DWP, to reject potential ESA claimants?

In question 1 you asked:- What is the number of Employment Support Allowance claimants with mental health conditions, to date, who have failed the ATOS medical Assessment compared with those claimants presenting with physical health problems?

I am writing to advise you that neither Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) nor ATOS Healthcare hold the information you have requested.

In question 2 you asked:- What is the number, to date, of complaints received by ATOS Medical Services and DWP in regard to the operation of the new medical assessment process as operated by ATOS?

Following a thorough search of our records, I have established that the information you requested is not held by DWP on a national basis, however ATOS Healthcare have stated that there have been 1,970 complaints received relating to ESA Assessments.

In question 3 you asked:- if confirmation can be given that ATOS Medical Services are not given incentives of any sort by DWP to reject potential ESA claimants

Neither ATOS Healthcare nor Atos Healthcare's approved Healthcare Professionals (HCPs) are required to meet any type of target or obligation with regard to the number of people expected to qualify for Benefit. Benefit entitlement is then determined by DWP Decision Makers considering all available evidence including reports received from ATOS Healthcare.,

If you have any queries about this letter please contact me quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely,

DWP Central FoI Team

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Your right to complain under the Freedom of Information Act

If you are not happy with this response you may request an internal review by e-mailing [DWP request email] or by writing to DWP, Central FoI Team, 5th Floor The Adelphi, 1-11, John Adam Street, London WC2N 6HT. Any review request should be submitted within two months of the date of this letter.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner's Office for a decision. Generally the Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted our own complaints procedure. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF www.ico.gov.uk

DWP Central Freedom of Information Team

e-mail: [DWP request email]

Our Ref:FoI 1182

23 February 2010