Many on the dole are being “sanctioned” when common sense dictates that they should not lose the cash, the cross-party Commons select committee said
Many
on the dole are being “sanctioned” when common sense dictates that they
should not lose the cash, the cross-party Commons select committee said
Jobless people are being forced to use food banks after wrongly having their benefit docked, MPs warn today.
Many of those on the dole are being “sanctioned” inappropriately when common sense dictated that they should not lose the cash, the cross-party Commons select committee said.
Some are having to rely on food handouts as a result, experts told the Work and Pensions committee.
The way that Jobcentres assess claimants does not take enough account of their circumstances, the MPs said in a damning report.
And the system pressurises staff into getting them off of benefits rather than into work.
Chairwoman Dame Anne Begg called for a review of the Jobcentre Plus (JCP) targets and sanctions system.
The Labour MP said: “JCP’s performance is currently measured primarily by the proportion of claimants leaving benefit by specific points in their claims.
“This takes no account of whether they are leaving benefit to start a job or for less positive reasons, including being sanctioned or simply transferring to another benefit.
“We believe this risks JCP hitting its targets but missing the point. JCP must be very clearly incentivised to get people into work, not just off benefits.
“The processes by which JCP currently establishes claimants’ needs are haphazard and prone to missing crucial information about a person’s barriers to working, including homelessness and drug dependency.
"A more thorough and systematic approach to assessing claimants’ needs is required.”
The civil service PCS union that represents Jobcentre staff said that political pressure had led to more people having their benefits docked.
General secretary Mark Serwotka said: “No one joined the employment service to be in conflict with the people they are there to help, but this government is seeking to punish the unemployed, sick and disabled.
“This political pressure is making life intolerable for claimants and staff alike and we fully support the MPs’ call for a much wider review of the effect that sanctions are having.”
Mirror
