[Josy]

This program is on Channel 4 at the moment.

In October 2012, the coalition introduced a new stricter sanctions regime. Benefits can now be suspended for up to three years– or reduced indefinitely for people claiming Employment and Support Allowance.
Channel 4 Dispatches has investigated how the stricter sanctions regime affects some vulnerable claimants and has interviewed former Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) staff who claim that there are targets for sanctions despite the government’s constant assurances that there are no targets.
New exclusive figures:
•Latest figures show 93,000 children were affected by sanctions over 12 months.[1](opens in a new window) The DWP told us they do not recognise these figures.
•Of DWP ‘peer reviews’ of 49 deaths following sanctions or when claimants had their benefit cut, 40 were carried out following a suicide or apparent suicide.

They were talking to Jobcentre workers who actually got suspended from work for not sanctioning enough jobseeker claimants, they have a target of sanctioning 80% of people claiming..

The DWP have also been ordering jobcentre employees to give out unrealistic targets to claimants knowing there is no way they can do what's being asked.

Opinions


My opinion is that it's completely disgraceful.

I know they are trying to get as much people into employment as possible but these actions are just another case of making the most vulnerable suffer.

And also these have been proven so I want to know what's going to be done about it.