Sadly the ICE investigation was a sham in most parts.
They disagreed with most points of complaint made. This is despite the DWP agreeing with many of them!!!
They stated that there were no delays (in this weblog you can see many responses from the DWP that admit this was not the case).
They stated that the complaints were handled properly and within timeframes (in this weblog you can see many responses from the DWP that admit this was not the case).
They stated that some letters had been destroyed and so some points could not be investigated and that it cannot be proved that these letter were received (despite me providing copies of these documents, they would only accept originals… which the DWP had destroyed! and also providing internal memos from the DWP stating that they had made mistakes by ignoring these documents).
They did not investigate some points at all, but referred to different matters (despite very clearly made points).
They changed to wording of some very clearly made points and then investigated those, claiming that I had agreed to this wording {as one example, I complained that the parliamentary correspondence unit has very clearly told untruths to my MP, they changed this to “DCS” and as the DCS had not done so, this point of complaint was not upheld).
As with so many other posts in this weblog, if I had read this happening to others, I would have scarcely believed them.
I have totally lost any faith I had in not only the benefits system but also the organisations who are supposed to monitor them.
I have now forwarded all of this to the last step of the procedures, the Parliamentary Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) – I have received several letters of delays. I have every expectation that this will reach the same conclusions of ICE. It seems such an unjust system which just covers up it’s own negligence despite conclusive proof to the contrary.
I wish I was the person the DWP and ATOS say I am 
I, too, have UC, and have been through a very similar scenario. After a year long battle I was placed in the SG last August. My GP used exceptional circumstances (regs 29 and 35) to achieve this, although it still took my MP to force them (the DWP) to comply.
I am now putting together a claim for compensation and, if I get the same sort of BS you did, or any feet-dragging whatsoever, I will go straight to the Ombudsman or consider the small claims court.
I’m also tempted to report the fraud to the police (although I doubt they’d know what to do with it) – just for the hell of it.
Have you considered going for compensation? It’s not really about the money, but it seems to be the only punitive measure one can take.
Whilst I’m here, you may be interested in contributing to this:
HCPs – Name and Shame, is a blog I have started that attempts to list all the HCPs that carry out WCA and PIP assessments for the DWP via Atos, Capita, and any other companies that are shameless enough to take on the contract.
We could help each other tremendously if everyone who has had an assessment would get their HCP on that list.
Please go to: http://nicolasite.wordpress.com
Another blog with DWP DMs names listed on it will follow in due course.
Thanks.
Thanks for your reply and well done on succeeding. Will check out the blog mentioned.
Currently still going through the complaint process, ICE were useless and not it is with the PHSO but expect a similar result. Wouldn’t know where to go with a court case to be honest and really doubt if it would be successful, sadly. I feel the DWP really are unaccountable for their actions as their overseers don’t really want to do their job
Thanks again and best wishes.
I get where you’re coming from. I’ve actually contemplated suicide with it all – right up to getting out the pills – but there weren’t enough to do the job, and as I was housebound… Anyway, ended up in hospital, instead.
That said, I think the pen-pushers and failed doctors making these life and death decisions (for which they are supremely unqualified) should be forced to face the consequences of their actions. I doubt they’d be so quick to dismiss claims or sanction people if they did – a bit like when criminals have to face their victims as part of their punishment.
Anyway, you may be interested to know that individuals working for a company or organisation CAN be taken to court in person. Suing the DWP as an entity is an entirely different matter. You’d need a good lawyer and, therefore, deep pockets (since the government has decimated the legal aid system). It would be an interesting idea to see if a few of us (with BD) could instigate some sort of legal action with funding from the NACC, perhaps. If we had a couple of other people in our position it may well be worth approaching them.
Just putting it out there…