Softer approach to benefit sanctions is quietly dropped – because Tories like persecuting the poor?

Last Updated: February 19, 2018By

Isn’t it interesting how the Tories can find plenty of space on their legislative timetable to introduce more public spending cuts that harm the poor, but don’t have time to help anybody?

And isn’t it strange that they can vary the rules to restrict benefits by Statutory Instrument, which doesn’t require Parliamentary approval, but can’t vary sanction regulations by the same process?

It seems clear that there was no intention to relax the harsh sanctions regime that throws people into poverty and pushes many towards suicide or death due to health conditions.

The announcement can only fuel claims that the Tories are conducting a covert genocide of benefit claimants – particularly the long-term sick and disabled.

Welfare rights advisers on the rightsnet online forum, and from Buckinghamshire Disability Service have voiced their concerns that the DWP has decided not to carry out [its] less aggressive sanctions warning trial after all, because of “competing priorities in the Parliamentary timetable”.

This government decision was included on page 139 of the latest Treasury Minutes Progress Report, published last month.

Last October, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) agreed to trial a less aggressive approach to sanctions, which included the issuing of warnings instead of immediate benefit sanctions when a claimant breaches the conditions imposed on them for the first time.

Source: DWP quietly drop plans for a softer approach to benefit sanctions


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4 Comments

  1. bbbarabas February 19, 2018 at 1:47 pm - Reply

    A COMPLETE BUNCH OF OUTRIGHT “B*****DS”!

  2. NMac February 19, 2018 at 2:00 pm - Reply

    I would suggest that they never ever had any intention of a “softer” approach. These people are evil.

  3. Florence February 19, 2018 at 2:23 pm - Reply

    It’s the difference between the headlines generated by the blatant propaganda of “softer sanctions” (one of last years greater oxymorons) and the reality of persecution and death. But the reality is hidden from those who do not seek, or have the misfortune to have direct experience. What I cannot comprehend is that we have 660+ MPs. Are the majority simply not concerned, or not aware of, or complicit in this democide?

  4. Terminator February 19, 2018 at 5:05 pm - Reply

    I am a member of a conservative club but most the members wouldn’t vote conservative if you paid them plus the club is struggling to attract members, but you’re correct the Conservative government is all about punishing the sick or those who find it hard to get work. I myself am disabled and constantly slate the conservative government, especially when it comes to benefits, and sanctions. I am constantly telling people to ask for proof of postage and receipt of letters in relation to benefits sanctions and if they say “we posted on and you should have received it on.” I say reply with the following quote ASSUMPTION IS THE MOTHER OF ALL F*CK_UPS>” Assuming they will fall for this crap makes me want to go find the person who typed the letter and smash their face in. But I say tell them they have 7 days to reinstate all payments plus so much compensation. The more that do this for letters that don’t turn up the better chance you have of beating the corrupt DWP and jobcentre at their game.

    If they are sanctioned for not applying for enough jobs then I ask them to put in an SAR for a list of all the jobs in the area that they could apply for, they will respond with the FOI response, but SAR has no limit so tell them that the 40 days that I allowed are still counting down as this was an SAR not an FOI request. The DWP might think they will always win but they don’t

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