Atos Disabled dad ordered to prove he’s unfit for work – two months after he DIED

Reposted from The Mirror

Yet another “mistake” by DWP/Atos – they seem to make an awful lot of “mistakes” don’t they? 

Stuart Mullins, 53,A father from Newport in South Wales who was sent a letter asking him to go for a health check-up for disability benefits – two months after he died

A dad was sent a letter asking him to go on a health check-up for disability benefits – two months after he died.

The grieving widow of Stuart Mullins, 53, hit out today after her late husband was asked to undergo the medical tests for Disability Living Allowance.

Widow Julia, 54, registered his death on October 15 using the Tell Us Once service – meant to ensure a death is reported to most government organisations at once.

But she was outraged to get a letter addressed to her husband from Atos Healthcare to carry out the disability benefits check for the Department of Work and Pensions.

Mrs Mullins said: “It was disgusting, absolutely disgusting. I was so upset and it was really upsetting at the time as you are already missing someone at Christmas.”

The letter, dated December 21, requested that Stuart attend an assessment for his benefit claim at Newport Medical Examination Centre on January 20.

But Stuart, of Newport, South Wales, died from cancer on October 14.

Wales News Service

Letter: Atos sent it months after Stuart’s death

Father-of-one Stuart had using a walking stick and wheelchair due to limited mobility in his left leg and ankle.

He was claiming Disability Living Allowance for his immobility.

Stuart died at his family home in Somerton, Newport, just months after being diagnosed.

Mrs Mullins said: “He was a lovely, wonderful man. He made so many people happy and he is sorely missed.”

Atos Healthcare – which provides independent assessments on behalf of the DWP for a range of government benefit schemes – has apologised for the blunder.

A spokeswoman for Atos said: “We are sorry for any distress this has caused.

“Unfortunately, unless we are asked by the Department to withdraw a case from our system, we will automatically send out a letter.”

A DWP spokeswoman said: “Our thoughts are with the family of Mr Mullins.

“We are sincerely sorry for the mistake that was made and understand the distress that this has caused.”