Hi SC, I need some help, below is my formal complaint to the company Maximus in relation to the assessments, I have posted on here previously about my situation, which has been helpful, after years of abuse and torment from the DWP I have also logged an official complaint with them, I need someone who knows how I can resolve my issues or start the steps to take legal action towards these departments, my health has suffered greatly due to the ill-treatment going on for many years now, this needs to end otherwise there will be me in a box due to all of this :(
Any feedback on my complaint will be greatly appreciated.
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing to formally file a complaint regarding the unfair treatment and breaches of the Equality Act 2010 that I experienced during my recent assessments conducted by Maximus on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). My treatment throughout this process has been unjust, and discriminatory, and has caused me significant distress.
Incident 1: False Claims About Phone Reception
On my first scheduled assessment, I was informed on the initial call that I could not take part in the evaluation from my car due to poor reception in my flat. So I needed to go up the road in my car to be able to undertake this call, This was completely false, as I looked online and found that your company uses an internet-based call service to make calls. There are no issues here with the internet, just the 4G/5G network, and I was fully able to participate. I believe this was an intentional act to prevent my assessment from taking place, causing unnecessary stress and delaying my claim. This constitutes a failure to provide reasonable adjustments, as required under the Equality Act 2010.
Additionally, I was later able to receive multiple calls while inside my flat, yet I was repeatedly told that my assessment could not go ahead due to poor reception. All calls are logged and recorded by me to demonstrate this contradiction. When questioned, the person handling the call was unable to explain how they could call me multiple times, yet the assessor allegedly could not call back as promised. Furthermore, I had clearly explained the poor reception issues and was assured that they would call back if the call dropped—yet this did not happen. This further indicates negligence and unfair treatment on your part.
This, along with the dismissive nature of the assessment, was exacerbated by the fact that during the few questions I was asked at the beginning, I was mocked for being out of PAYE work for seven years. The assessor failed to ask any further questions or acknowledge that I have been self-employed since 2018 through the Jobcentre scheme, which has consistently failed me over the years. The supposed commitment to helping people with disabilities find work is evidently misleading, as even when I have taken steps to do what I am capable of within the limits of my lifelong conditions, I have faced constant disregard. This includes my arm, shoulder, and wrist injuries sustained in 2017, which have caused me significant suffering over the years, yet have been continuously ignored along with my other conditions.
This along with being pushed on this call by the handler to come into the job center for the assessment, then a video call, etc everything to keep on pushing me to commit to this to ignore my conditions and my request for reasonable adjustments for my conditions, by way of doing my assessment on a telephone call.
Incident 2/2nd assessment: Gaslighting and Dismissive Treatment
During my second scheduled assessment, I was subjected to gaslighting tactics. My conditions were unfairly used against me, and the individual handling the assessment behaved in a manner that was dismissive and unprofessional. In addition, the assessor hung up on me during the evaluation, and I have received no follow-up response since. This has left me without clear information on the status of my claim, further exacerbating my distress and insecurity.
Due to my conditions, I often need to express my thoughts unfiltered. During the call, I merely pointed out the excessive waiting time, which was met with hostility from the assessor. Given the ongoing mistreatment I and many others have endured, I must state that the actions of your organization have contributed to immense suffering, with many disabled individuals even losing their lives due to this systematic neglect. Those who actively participate in this mistreatment for personal financial gain, at the expense of the most vulnerable in society, must recognize that the universe balances all actions. The harm inflicted upon the disabled and mentally ill communities will not go unanswered from the universe's law of balance, and the repercussions of such inhumane treatment will inevitably come back upon those responsible tenfold from the universe's law of action. The way you treat others will reflect back upon you all, and I urge you to reconsider your role in this ongoing injustice towards me and the wider disabled community by making positive changes in your lives from the ill-treatment you are putting out to the universe on a daily basis.
Breaches of the Equality Act 2010
The actions of DWP/Maximus have resulted in significant disadvantage to me, violating my rights under the Equality Act 2010, particularly:
- Failure to Make Reasonable Adjustments – I was denied the opportunity to participate in my assessment under reasonable circumstances.
- Discrimination Arising from Disability – My condition was unfairly used against me, leading to mistreatment and an unjustified delay in my assessment.
- Harassment and Detriment – The repeated failures in communication, misleading statements, and lack of follow-up have caused me undue stress and anxiety.
Requested Actions
- A full written explanation for why my assessments were mishandled.
- Immediate rescheduling of my assessment with clear guidelines ensuring fair and accessible treatment.
- An apology for the distress caused and confirmation that corrective measures will be taken to prevent this from happening again.
- A review into the conduct of the assessors/call handlers involved in my case to ensure that they adhere to fair and lawful practices.
If I do not receive a satisfactory response within a reasonable timeframe, I will escalate my complaint further, including taking this matter to the Independent Case Examiner, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, or seeking legal advice regarding disability discrimination.
I look forward to your urgent response and a resolution to this matter.
