Mark Whitehead 22 December 2014

‘Punitive’ benefit curbs means bleak Christmas for 80,000 families

Families hit by the Government's ‘punitive and controversial’ benefits policy will lose an estimated £20m – £250 each on average – according to the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS).

Using DWP data, the union calculates 74,000 people will lose more than £19m in jobseeker's allowance – an estimated 2,000% increase since the Christmas before the Coalition government took office.

It says almost £700,000 in employment and support allowance is being taken away from 6,800 disabled people this month.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: ‘There is no evidence that stopping people's benefits improves their chances of finding long-term employment.

‘Many are being punished for simply turning up late to an interview or refusing to work for free for a profitable company on one of the government's failing workfare schemes.

‘Use of these sanctions has spiraled in recent years, but they do nothing but heap blame and misery on some of the poorest in our society and they should be scrapped.’

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: 'We don’t recognise these figures. What the PCS Union fail to recognise is that sanctions are a necessary part of the benefits system, but they are used as a last resort in a tiny percentage of cases where people don’t play by the rules.

'There are no targets for sanctions and in fact there were fewer sanctions this year compared to last year. We also have a well-established system of hardship payments for benefit claimants who have little or no other resources available to them.'

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Part Time Finance Administrator

Essex County Council
Up to £25081.00 per annum + Pro Rata
Part Time Finance AdministratorPermanent, Part Time£25,081 per annum, full time equivalentLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Senior Customer Services Adviser (Housing Repairs

Mansfield District Council
£28,598 - £33,699 per annum
Mansfield is a town of towns at the centre of things in Nottinghamshire - a place of many strong connections Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
Recuriter: Mansfield District Council

No Wrong Door Deputy Manager

North Yorkshire Council
From £47,181 up to £51,356 per annum pro rata
We’re looking for a passionate, driven, and dynamic professional to join our management team within our innovative No Wrong Door (NWD) service. Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Senior Resource Centre Worker

North Yorkshire Council
£34,434 - £38,220 per annum pro rata
You will work closely with families and other professionals to ensure that you have sound knowledge of the children you are caring for Morton on Swale, Northallerton
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Social Worker

North Yorkshire Council
£38,220 - £42,839 per annum, pro rata
Our Family Assessment and Support Teams you will work with a range of children and their families, carers and networks. Selby, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council
Linkedin Banner