Originally posted on UNEMPLOYED
IN TYNE & WEAR:
Nearly one in five (18.4%) jobseekers
were affected by punitive benefit sanctions in 2013-14, new analysis
suggests.
Analysis of official Government figures by
Dr David Webster, a researcher from the University of
Glasgow, shows that 568,430 of the 3,097,630 individuals who claimed
Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) during 2013/14 were sanctioned – with some seeing
their benefits stopped more than once.
Furthermore, 22.3% of the total 8,232,560
individuals who claimed JSA between 2009/10 to 2013/14 (inclusive) have seen
their benefits removed. Equivalent to 1,833,035 people.
The findings draw into question claims from DWP
ministers, who insist only a “tiny number” of people are sanctioned and
that they are only ever used as a “last resort”.
Statistically, the percentage of JSA claimants
sanctioned each month stands at an average 6.5%.
However, according to the analysis, this headline
statistic fails to account for the cumulative effect of benefit sanctions,
which can last for a…
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