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More than a million benefits sanctions imposed on disabled people since 2010

Geoark
Geoark Community member Posts: 1,463 Disability Gamechanger

Disabled people receiving state benefits have been hit with a million sanctions in less than a decade, according to alarming new evidence that they are being discriminated against by the welfare system.

A comprehensive analysis of the treatment of unemployed disabled claimants has revealed that they are up to 53% more likely to be docked money than claimant who are not disabled. This raises serious concerns about how they and their conditions are treated.

The findings, from a four-year study by academic Ben Baumberg Geiger in collaboration with the Demos thinktank, will cause worry that a government drive to help a million more disabled people into work over the next 10 years could lead to more unfair treatment.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/feb/18/disabled-people-million-benefit-sanctions-since-2010

As an individual I stood alone.
As a member of a group I did things.
As part of a community I helped to create change!

Comments

  • thespiceman
    thespiceman Community member Posts: 6,388 Disability Gamechanger
    Hello @Geoark How are you ?  Thanks for this, I had been claiming on and off claiming job seekers allowance.

    Now on ESA in the support group.  I am too acutely aware of this.  You are told at the very start the rules laid down.  What you can and cannot do, regarding to make sure you will not get a sanction.

    It is ingrained to all of us claiming.  I got told off like a naughty school boy for being 5 minutes late.  The lady who signed me in .  I explained left plenty of time but still got stuck in traffic.

    The staff are looking where and when to give you a sanction.  I do know I had severe mental issues with the whole signing on procedure.  They want you to fail is the impression I got.

    In all the time I was trying to find work.  Finding work impossible, not making an effort, all excuses I heard.

    To me personally intimating place had 10 signing on officers in 6 months of signing on.

    Forced in to even though I could not do anything about it.  Into a Government run training scheme.  This company had sole responsibility for anything I am doing employment wise.

    I said quick as flash do I sign there then .  In reply no you come in here.  Why do I have to come in here, if they have responsibility for me.  Save money, time.

    My signing on days Monday afternoon.  Training scheme Mornings.  So you can see the issues.  I said in no terms close job centres then.  Why do I need this ?  No reply.

    The problems ensued in the sense that these training schemes are a no go.  Nothing ever happened.  I had no job searches, no long term plans.

    Series of interviews for confidence boosting courses.  Had the unique situation do not want to know by the scheme managers and the job centre in limbo.

    All the time of veils of sanctions on my mind by staff who consider you a risk to not doing enough.

    I can not see giving a disabled person a sanction.  If first all the posts of DEA are not employed.  Not in my area.  I did ask where is the Disability Employment Advisor.  Do not have one, do not exsist.

    No employment advice given no help in attaining any support.

    Had a very patronising young girl talking to us about lifestyle courses.  I was in a group of similar like people all in their 50's and early 60's.

    One guy sat down pointed a finger at me.  I do not want to be the same room as him.  Walked out.  I just sat there.  All of us had problems and issues.  Because we were all told to discuss them.

    I felt for all my trainees because who wants to admit there health issues in public.  Some got upset, some did not say anything much.

    I myself very candid but they all were staring at me, felt embarrassed because I just say in so many words.  Also this man who was rude did say a term for my health history I had, not easy.

    So I will wait and see but I do feel the first possible legal action from members of our community.  Understand this if there were employment opportunities for me.  Would be in a position to say so.

    After the last time.  I have been signing on and off for so long.  Then declared fit and then unfit.  Signed off sick.

    Missed opportunities all I can say, yet sanction me why you are not going to ever help me.

    One final point I did say also if you give me a sanction.  The staff member has to bear some responsibility for not ever helping me.  Giving me impartial advice.  It is all very well going on the website looking for employment.  If you are clueless and have no idea what and where to begin.


    Great to talk to you

    Take care
    Community Champion
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  • Geoark
    Geoark Community member Posts: 1,463 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @thespiceman I am doing well thank you.

    Went to see the osteopath as I have previously mentioned but they decided they were not happy treating me until they get the okay from my doctor, then took 3 weeks to get the appointment. They are not happy giving the okay at the moment and insisting I get some blood tests and also want me to get a new scan before approving the treatment.  In the mean time the pain levels are getting higher, but took a couple of days off last week and off this week. 

    It has been a long time since I have any real belief in the  job centre, or the contractors they use. I know someone who was on JSA and was told they had to sign into the government website to log everything, and then told her she had to also write it down in a log book. When they said she was not looking for enough jobs and why she pointed out she was required to log everything twice and was not very computer literate. 

    I know from experience how stupid they can be. I was asked why I was still looking for work and not accepted one of the jobs I had applied for. As I pointed out all I can try to do is my best in applying, I cannot force them to interview me or offer me a job. I also pointed out that as they were constantly increasing the number of jobs I had to apply for I had less time to tailor my applications for the jobs I was applying for. 

    At one point I did suggest they may have more success if they sanctioned employers, but don't think this was taken seriously.

    In the end I stopped arguing with them and just applied for what ever they told me to apply for, including labouring jobs and just made sure they were aware I left my last job because of long term sciatica. In the end I was just jumping through the loops for them and concentrated on 2 or 3 jobs I really wanted in terms of time and effort to try and get the best result.

    In the end I ended up on a 2 year training program someone told me about on LinkedIn. Sadly I was one of the last people to go through it before it was shut down.

    I really have doubts that the way they pressure people actually helps and sanctioning disabled people just seems counter productive to me as for many it causes issues which mean finding a job is less likely.

    As an individual I stood alone.
    As a member of a group I did things.
    As part of a community I helped to create change!

  • thespiceman
    thespiceman Community member Posts: 6,388 Disability Gamechanger
    Hello @Geoark Sorry just seen this . Answered last post you sent me, thanks .. Sorry you are in pain. Let you know as a friend here if you wish to talk about anything.

    I thank you about reminding me, I had that double entry of jobs and the website.  I forgot to tell you, shut down website Sunday for or was it Monday .  For maintenance.  Got a whole trouble.

    I think there are so many failings of all the systems that you say what am I doing now.

    I have to say.  Even they do not know what the hell they are doing themselves.  Catalogue of disasters.

    Should create a comedy skit, so laughable and so sad that you want to cry and then laugh.  The stupidity of it all.



    Take care
    Community Champion
    SCOPE Volunteer Award Engaging Communities 2019
    Mental Health advice, guidance and information to all members
    Nutrition, Diet, Wellbeing, Addiction.
    Recipes
  • Geoark
    Geoark Community member Posts: 1,463 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @thespiceman thank you. The frustration is not with the pain but the delay in getting the treatment as osteopathy was affective for me in the past. I think everyone is just being cautious and wanting to make sure nothing untoward has happened before allowing the treatment to go ahead, and possibly making something worse. 

    What is a little scary is I keep losing my balance - not enough to fall but it has been noticed by a couple of work colleagues. I have had a couple of falls, caused by hitting a slightly raised paving or tripping over my own foot trying to catch a bus and not lifting the foot high enough. But these called far more damage to my ego than me.

    Other than that everything is going well for me, and hopefully will be able to start treatment soon.

    Actually the skit idea is not bad, I have thought more than once that something like spitting image was ripe for a comeback with all the material that the current politician provide.

    As an individual I stood alone.
    As a member of a group I did things.
    As part of a community I helped to create change!

  • sleepy1
    sleepy1 Community member Posts: 297 Pioneering
    Don't worry the HCP will fix you!  Cut out the middlemen eh

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4V3Mo61fJM
  • thespiceman
    thespiceman Community member Posts: 6,388 Disability Gamechanger
    Hello @Geoark Good morning.  That's always the case treatment so long waiting.

    Always a issue.  Sorry about your balance, falls.  Hope you OK.  I have walking problems lot of pain in feet.  So new shoes, new soles.  I thought I was OK.  Footwear specialist says shin splints, lot of pain.  So new footwear everything from a boot with straps now laces a pain plus slippers.

     Do you think you need a cane or stick to help your balance.?  Some of them quite stylistic and modern.

    I know I might have to look at this myself, I think.

    I hope you take care

    Community Champion
    SCOPE Volunteer Award Engaging Communities 2019
    Mental Health advice, guidance and information to all members
    Nutrition, Diet, Wellbeing, Addiction.
    Recipes
  • Geoark
    Geoark Community member Posts: 1,463 Disability Gamechanger
    @sleepy1 LOL

    Knowing that lot it will be, 'no problem Mr Geoark, we will just remove your skeleton.'

    'Yeah but, no but, but... you could then have a career as an ugly fish lookalike - win win.'


    As an individual I stood alone.
    As a member of a group I did things.
    As part of a community I helped to create change!

  • sleepy1
    sleepy1 Community member Posts: 297 Pioneering
    Mr Geoark.
    Nice photo : )  How did you manage to get hold of that without my permission?  I do look a bit pale and sweaty but hey ho so do most folk under the spotlight during an assessment.

    I have seen far more uglier things in my life but best not go there and will just hope some of the more glamorous creatures that occupy our planet realize they are deluded


  • Geoark
    Geoark Community member Posts: 1,463 Disability Gamechanger
    @sleepy1

    Ah it was my one romance by moonlight
    When my stomach and bowel felt tight
    My heart strings broke
    As  her voice did croak.

    That sweet bouquet
    Of Au-De-Toilet
    Still lingers in my nostrel
    The night was unusual.

    She danced
    I pranced
    As I took her hand
    In front of her favourite band.

    No glass slipper
    Or long locks
    Or stolen kiss
    As she laid unconcious.

    A photo of this sweet face
    To make my hear race
    Was left of that night
    Of my romance by moonlight.

    As an individual I stood alone.
    As a member of a group I did things.
    As part of a community I helped to create change!

Brightness

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