Fall in unemployment = number of people on sanctions
![[Image: Drew (Andrew Fraser) http://www.cartoonsidrew.com/]](https://voxpoliticalonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/140813claimantcount.jpg)
[Image: Drew (Andrew Fraser) http://www.cartoonsidrew.com/]
According to a Guardian report, the Lib Dems said the number of sanction referrals has increased from around 60,000 a month in the early part of the last decade to around 170,000 today – and went on to state that around 15 per cent of these sanctions were overturned on the grounds that the decision was flawed.
That means 144,500 jobseekers would be off-benefit at the moment. If the figures show a drop of only 132,000, then unemployment has in fact risen by 12,500 people!
People claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance who have their benefits sanctioned by DWP staff are not included in unemployment counts. Nor are those who have been sucked into mandatory work activity schemes, for that matter…
The Liberal Democrats, you see, want to introduce a “yellow card” system – well they would; yellow is their colour – to give rule-breaking jobseekers a final warning before sanctions are imposed, and DWP bosses a chance to check the facts and avoid mistakes.
On the face of it, this might seem like a good idea – and it would be very interesting to monitor such a scheme, if implemented.
If the claimant count were to rise, we would have proof that the Conservatives have been using sanctions to manipulate the figures.
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those were my thoughts as soon as i read the figures this morning…how many were people who had been sanctioned and how many on workfare and similar schemes not being counted. similarly how many are there who were found fit for work but arent fit enough so when they tried claiming JSA were told they are too ill. where do those figures belong?
Surely, the better thing for “Transparent” Government would be a 7 tier method:
Employed (Full Time)
Employed (Part Time inc. multiple Part Time Work)
Unemployed (Sanctioned)
Unemployed (Training)
Unemployed
Unemployed Sick & Disabled.
Not Working Due to election as MP.
I have read several articles and a lot of them say “A drop in Claimants” not the same as being employed,also Mark Carney BOE stated that he would raise interest rates once unemployment fell to 7%,he delayed this,but even with this “Miracle drop” he has just stated that he will not set a date that interest rates will rise,my feeling is he can read through the BS,but it surprises me that most can’t.
Ive been saying the same thing for months, sanctions up – unemployment down
Now you see why IDS keeps his job.
off course they fixed the figures of course they fibbed and telling those they helping them back to work it seems thats true too but only stacking shelves for the salvation army and the like yet working were how and who it seems telling stories or should i dare say telling porkies is the tory way jeff3
We all know that this government have been cheating on the unemployment figures – sanctions and volunteers are the reasons the unemployment has gone down. cheats
Actually the 15% who win appeals would still be excluded in the jobless figures for the month because it usually takes several weeks for the decision to be reconsidered or appealed.
Good point!
I think the best I could say about that is that I was being charitable.
Makes Thatcher look like a saint
Everybody’s entitled to an opinion, but… Not in mine.
Bear in mind that over-60s can claim Pension Guarantee Credit and and don’t appear in the jobless numbers.
I’ve just seen this line quoted in an article in the Telegraph, “Mr Duncan Smith welcomed remarks from Mark Carney, the Governor of the Bank of England, suggesting that tighter benefit sanctions were behind dramatic falls in unemployment”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/11032429/IDS-doubts-bedroom-tax-disability-figures.html
Presumably, the suggestion is that sanctions force people to find work, and that people who have been sanctioned are now employed. The reality is, that they’re just no longer included in the unemployment figures and the unemployment rates come down? Destitution and employment are very different situations to be in. If the figures are being manipulated it’s time the truth was out.
Then there’s this http://worktestwhistleblower.blogspot.co.uk/
You mean http://worktestwhistleblower.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/work-capability-assessment-and.html