DISABLE DRIVEN TO POVERTY-EVEN SUICIDE BY PARALYMPICS SPONSOR ATOS

GUARDIAN: Paralympic sponsor Atos hit by protests

Hundreds chant outside IT group's London headquarters over role in assessing disabled people for benefit payments

The Paralympic sponsor Atos has been targeted by disability and anti-cuts demonstrators in angry protests at its role in testing disabled people to reassess their eligibility for benefit payments.

Hundreds of disabled and able-bodied protesters chanted outside the IT group's central London headquarters, before moving to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in Westminster, the government department in charge of the scheme. There were minor scuffles with police after a small number of protesters occupied the lobby and attempted to blockade the department's front entrance.

Atos has been the focus of fierce controversy over its sponsorship of the Games while contracted by the DWP to carry out "fitness to work" tests, which campaigners argue are part of a money-saving drive to reduce benefit payments.

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