The number of employment and support allowance claimants being hit by sanctions has increased by 25% in a single month, DWP figures released today reveal. The vast majority of sanctions are for failure to take part in work-related activities, often because claimants are too ill to do so.
The latest statistics, which run up to the end of December 2014, show that ESA sanctions have increased from 2,626 in November 2014 to 3,274 in December. This is the highest number of sanctions since May 2014.
Just 16% of sanctions were for failure to attend an interview. The other 84% were for failure to participate in work-related activity.
Previously released statistics show that a disproportionate number of ESA claimants who are sanctioned have a mental health condition or learning disability
Very often the failure to participate stems from the fact that the claimant was not able to undertake the activity, for example because their health condition meant they could not travel or they could not cope with attending a group activity at an unfamiliar venue.
The reality is that the work programme has primarily become a means to stop ESA claimants’ benefits rather than a method of helping people move closer to employment. Benefits and Work expects to see the sanctions numbers continue to rise over the coming months and years.
You can download the latest sanctions statistics from this link.
Same Difference 
Reblogged this on sdbast.
LikeLike
Now now the government have been telling us there are more people in work it is n’t the sanctions they are working, it must be true it’s in the Mail, and on the beeb.
LikeLike
When you look in-depth at the reasons for sanctions it is chilling. This trump up ideological eugenic rhetoric has no place in a civilised society such as ours. Not since the second world war has the disadvantaged portion OUR society be so demonised, ridiculed and brainwashed into compliance and ultimately become so demoralised that they “do the right thing” and kill themselves.
Well done DWP. Hitler would be so proud of you.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on HUMAN RIGHTS & THE SIEGE OF BRITAIN POLITICAL JOURNAL.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Britain Isn't Eating.
LikeLike
Been on ESA 5 years and never got sanctioned, but believe they do sanction people on ESA just because they can by provoking the claimant into an action that can cause a sanction. It’s been over 27 months since I had a WFI but record everything and they clearly know I do as I have put it on the last 2 ESA50’s.
In 5 years I have had 3 WFI’s, 2 proper WFI’s and one where the PA was supposedly called away and they tried to call me on an old number I don’t have, but turned it into a maternity form trip for my pregnant daughter. At both WFI’s I was told I should be in the support group. The last WFI lasted just 3 minutes as she said I should be in the support group and tried to get a phone number from me, I don’t have a phone connected to the landline I use that for BB and nothing else, and they sure as hell weren’t getting a mobile number, that’s for friends and family neither of which the DWP/ JC+ or their third party’s are, once you give the JC+ a phone number then any third party acting on their behalf can access it as they are given access to the persons files
LikeLike