I'm reminded of the Joyce Grenfell nursery school sketch:

"We're having a visitor today. Isn' t that nice!............Yes it is, Sidney."

Welcome back, Jamie. I don't know where you've been, but then East Anglians detach themselves from the rest of the country from time to time. :)

Well that's hardly friendly.

The sticky out tongue indicated an element of irony.

I know you Jamie bright lad with a good future.>:) A bit headstrong calls a spade a spade doesn't believe in politcal correcness.I used to be the same calmed down over the years like you do.I like to ask you if you don't mind.Your mother is on disability so is my wife who is 63.My wife has nerve damage to her legs and needs a wheelchair.Does she still have to see these Atos people to be reassest or not?She can't work anymore she is on a pension.Just wondered if you know anymore than me.

Double post please cancel one Avant.

(Done - no problem.)

Edited by Avant on 23/10/2012 at 00:59

My mother is not of pensionable age so I'm not an expert in regards to that but it depends on what your wife is claiming. Pensions are an entitlement based on age, the ages are changing soon but your wife is already drawing hers so there's no change with that. If she's also claiming the Disability Living Allowance - non means tested, based on physical capability only - then she will need to see Atos as they've won the contract to assess people as it changes to the new Personal Independence Payment or whatever nonsense they're calling it.

If she was on Incapacity Benefit then she'd have to see them to transfer to the newer benefit and be assessed to determine which group she goes in, but they're working age benefits so I doubt she was on those anyway.

For what it's worth, the new PIP will be stricter than old DLA as the Government's ultimate aim is to pay out less than they did before so really only those in a wheelchair can guarantee they'll still receive it. Unfortunately your wife is in a wheelchair so most likely has very little to worry about.