Atos pays off government to escape disability assessment contract early
Hated work capability assessment (WCA) company Atos has had to pay off the government to be allowed to escape its contract a year before it was due to end.
The French firm's contract had been due to end in August 2015, but it has paid a "substantial" amount of money to be allowed out of it early.
Mike Penning, the minister for disabled people, said:
"Today we are announcing that we are seeking a new provider to replace Atos, with the view to increasing the number of assessments and reducing waiting times.