Poorest punished by benefit sanctions

THERE has been a 230 per cent increase in people seeking help in Oldham, Tameside and Manchester due to benefit sanction over the past 12 months.

Failsworth MP Angela Rayner has hit out at the Government for making the poorest and most vulnerable people suffer.

She said: “Since the Government made sanctions harsher in 2012, some claimants face having their benefits cut for up to three years, and a minimum of four weeks, while they look for work.

“Tameside Citizens Advice Bureau is very clear that harsh and badly applied sanctions are one of the biggest issues facing people in the borough. Since April alone, Tameside CAB has helped more than 2,000 people to make emergency payment claims — most arising through sanctions..

“Benefit is being stopped for ridiculous reasons. One of my constituents who is not computer literate, is dyslexic and has learning difficulties, had his benefit stopped for four weeks for not properly filling out a job search agreement. Another young man who had badly ulcerated legs was admitted to hospital for treatment the day before he was due to attend an ATOS medical. He was sanctioned for non-attendance.

“Another had his job-seekers allowance stopped because he hadn’t attended a work programme — but he was able to provide evidence that he had. He was still sanctioned for four weeks. By the time he won his appeal, he had been evicted from his home for non-payment of rent.”

Mrs Rayner is now calling on Government ministers to urgently review how sanctions are being applied.

email: dawnmarsden@oldham-chronicle.co.uk