Results for "SURVEY: The human impact of benefit sanctions"

Showing the last 50 answers

It is a system set up to make the claimant fail and feel like a criminal.

Not knowing elegibility rights

Attending appointments as a single parent and having to get 2 buses to get to job centre

lots of forms and doctors letters

Job centres have to deal with too many work related problems so they are very vague about how to help individuals. They are not really in touch with how employers want to work. The system is slow and unfair.

Being rejected and having to appeal despite having a debilitating chronic illness. Travelling to appointments is especially difficult.

The amount of time it takes to be paid

The medical professionals expecte!d me to be able to do more. They should not use voice recognition to enables you to get to the department you ntookeed

unnecessary paperwork required to obtain help while searching for employment after redundancy

Filling in a vast form asking non relevant questions

Lack of clarity with filing out the forms and having to wait for benefits to come in.

the forms you have to fill in are so repetitive,being disabled I had to jump through hoops, they would not take doctors advice

Staff did not know enough about childcare limits so I got a job but childcare fees were too high and the advisor didn't know this for several weeks.

It was in the 1990’s needing supporting documents that I didn’t have.

I need to show my NHS Blue card as well as my NHS badge where I work.

When applying on behalf of my daughter who has severe mental illness, there were so many hoope to jump through that she became very stressed, especially when turned down.

getting PIP is impossible if you have mental health problems

You're treated as a scrounger. I was a lone parent, I had no choice but to claim, I was seriously ill. I went back to work full time eventually and am happy to contribute towards tge welfare state, so people who need help can access it.

Unemployment benefit,never got it for lomg

My son has mental health proberms. He and his partner had money taken from their bank account through universal crédit as he had earned more than he was allowed to even though he had phoned them and it had been recorder explaining his position. He was penalised à ridiculous amount fir going over some limit. I wrote to them and they stopped taking any more but no apology and no return of the money they had raken

In a medical assessment for pip they twisted my word and made errors saying I said something I didn't etc basically lied about what I said

When I was made redundant was made to feel utterly worthless

I'm disabled, physical test aren't accurate

Getting no money if you don’t earn enough in a particular month regardless of reason why

assessments on disability benefit, benefits, cut.

The assessment for disability is so unfair they twist what you say. I had to appeal their decision, I finally won my case but it was so degrading and it had an effect on my mental health.

Being treated like I was the shit the professionals had trodden in.

Hostile, arrogant attitude of the official I had to deal with. In addition, they baulked at paying for a train ticket for a job interview, when my account was empty. They wanted me to catch the National Express coach, leaving at 3am. Fortunately they paid for the train in the end. The man also saw that I was pregnant and that was another issue for him. It was all very unpleasant. I am an Oxford-educated academic, too, so having to apply for benefits was just about the worst thing (apart from not getting the jobs I interviewed for). Thankfully, I was only on benefits for a short time and hope NEVER to go there again.

The whole process is daunting and long

I was on job seekers allowance. After a while it goes to income based. Was receiving £17.50 per week and just couldn't live. My mental health was severely affected which made getting a new job even more difficult. If it wasn't for my family and friends. It scares me to think where I would be now!

Constant need to prove you're seeking employment. Targets of staff geared towards treating individuals as useless pieces of meat. 'Direction' to apply for any old job to get you pff benefits. Extremely poor treatment by centre staff. Bad affect on mental health and self-esteem.

No

Forced onto the Restart programme for more degrading punishment!

Too much conflicting advice. Universal Credit/Adult Disability etc all brought different (inconsistent) advice from service providers. There is also a sense that the rules/policies are worked to deny benefits.

Expectations on me as a disabled person to do things they feel I'm able to but I can't

i had to claim when i was diagnosed with cancer it was a minefeild never claimed before all of it was confusing and frustrating

They treat you as if your lying

Trying to prove my crohns disease and personality disorder

Benefits cut taken off dla for 3 yrs, had to fight n appeal against decision.

Managing after benefits stopped before being paid, paying childcare up front

Just even getting an initial payment to start off with.

Just even getting an initial payment to start off with.

The assessment process was brutal and demeaning.

N/A

Ive worked with blind/sight impaired and met with truculence and aggression.

Having to give certain things multiple times

My disability and access made it harder.

PIP applications are hellish, and you're not even assessed by people who know what they're doing - especially if your disability is neurodivergence and/or mental illness

It was challenging to say the least especially as I had mental health issues at the time

Mine field of poorly trained staff.

Showing the last 50 answers

Thankfully not.

My Wife has with previous evil Tory attack on Disability benefits

Not as of yet, but that remains to be seen - although I should think that for as long as I'm looking for my next work opportunity, it most likely won't happen to me (on Universal Credit).

Yes, I was unable to buy food and top up my electric

no

Na

I have not, but I know people who have. It makes things very stressful and difficult for them.

No

No

no

Took months to get the money sorted when I came out of hospital after 2 strikes which left me locked in

the decision between feeding the family and spending limited income on travel costs to attend job interviews

No

Yes. It meant that I struggled to have food, pay for transport, or do much of anything.

no

No - I am obedient and know they are brutal where non compliance applies and do want to work as well as parent and need to ensure my child is provided for whatever the conditions.

No my son who has children has. I was fuming as his boss was unprofessional and laid my son off to keep him quiet. Benefits didn’t care and thus the children went without.

N/A

No

Struggling

no

No sanctions

No

No

no

Yes when they said my health conditions wasn’t severe enough. I had to wait for an appeal then go through everything again.

N/A

No.

Yes it was the lowest point in my life.

Threatened with this, but managed to move signing on location.

Ye

No but was threatened with them!

No but I can imagine how badly this would affect the entire family unit. Folk in this situation don't have any savings to fall back on.

No but I know people who have.

Devastating /huge debts and embarrassing use of foodbanks

No

No, but threatened, a reduction in benefits if I didn't give the details of my son's father

No

no

No

no

No

Debt! Thousands behind in rent and council tax!

No

Hardship

No

No

No

Under UC, myself and my partner were both handled as a joint claim. As part of my attempts to find work, I agreed to provide a CV which I could use to seek clerical or data input roles, despite having several years experience in IT Support and Delivery. The day before I was due to sign on, I attended an interview for an IT Role but as it was the first time I'd been able to go out without the aid of a walking stick, I was very tired. I completed the required CV for the following day but didn't upload it that night. The deadline for uploading the revised CV was the day I signed on, but the clerk who handled my sign in, claimed I should have uploaded it for the start of the day, not by the end of the day. She then sanctioned me without taking into consideration my health. I appealed but we were without any benefit payments for a few weeks. I still applied for the types I roles I was suitable for as well as those which I knew I would not get a chance as I would be considered far too experienced. As it happens, I was able to start a contract role in IT, and on the 3rd day of working on that I had contact from the DWP about my appeal. The appeal was successful and the outstanding money in my account was paid in the same day. Very frustrating and stressful for me and my partner

no

Showing the last 50 answers

It chips away at you bit by bit. Every time you feel like your winning you are dragged in by a work coach who undermines you.

Stressful and made to feel worthless

I can only mention how it has kept my overall bank (or financial) balance afloat (or at a stable level) - although my money will only end up being worth less over time due to the effect of inflation.

helped me to survive

Too little money to live on. Affects mental health I have never secured a job via job centre during approx 5 years of needing assistance over my working career

I worry every time I receive a letter from the DWP. I am finally at a position where I can live on what I am given and I fear that the rug will be pulled out from under me. My illness will not improve but that doesn't matter when they assess you or the government decides to move the goalposts.

Mentally low and made to feel lazy

No

I have to scrimp and save for basic necessities

Have to think about what Im buying and all equipment I need costs a lot. more!

lack of financial help delayed job seeking success

Restricted what we can afford to do and buy

It has affected my confidence, and it seems like I'll never get out of it.

It makes me anxious and worry when they move the goalposts and disregard the role of parent. They try to dismiss parenting as 'work' and assume people have support networks when single parents particularly and I do not.

More support should be around help to get work. The amount of pay is never enough. Food prices have gone up

Speaking for my daughter, she could not exist without the Benefits as she is unable to work

Adds extreme stress and panic disorder

N\a

concerned

I couldn’t survive without benefits

It's a stress as you never know what they will do

I never want to have to claim anything ever again

Everyday is a struggle, unable to plan for the future survive day to day

stressful as never know when can get penalised

I get by ,I have to budget and have no money left for what people would call luxuries

More able to pay the bills.

It was a low point and something I am deeply ashamed of.

My mental health was destroyed by the process and lack of support.

Badly. Operated on 'survival' mode for a great number of years. Health suffered (physically and mentally), although lucky enough to have a supportive university (emotionally and financially).

They stopped when i need mosted

I can't afford much of a life on benefits and living alone. My mental health certainly suffers greatly from there always being something to fight for and I am currently LWCRA!

Did nothing beneficial for Wellbeing and did not provide adequate cover for bills.

You are made to feel like a criminal

Not starving

Mental health has really deteriorated with what has been going on. I need to bath 10-15 times in 24 hrs and heating the water and putting on the heating has caused me to fall into debt. I have a very low immune system due to my monthly infusions. Also my husband has sleep apnea and has an electric mask to wear in bed and when he falls asleep on the arm chair

It's been worst ever, became Ill ended up becoming house bound, no money for food, having already had depression since I was 16 yrs old, this became even moreso. Don't interact with anyone any more. I worked from age 14 till time came I cldnt deal with life anymore. Changed me forever.

Struggling on a low income, feeling embarrassed as a claimant

It hasn't

We survive we don't live, it is so difficult to get by.

During the epidemic, all jobs have been suspended, and the only way to survive is to apply for universal credit, so government benefits are still somewhat helpful.

N/A

it was horrendous , ended up having to do daily sign ons yet having a part time job, treated like I had no job. From the job centre and the work program , the fact I even had to go on the work program despite having a part time job. Doing pointless training over and over.. Never felt more depressed in my life

Depressed as you worry about money and it affects mental health

We have to scrimp on money so much and it's hard when you can't afford presents or have any savings for the holiday season

It was extremely traumatising and left me suicidal

Paid for help food energy

Repeated worry and stress about whether a review is going to stop my benefits again and lead to another lengthy process. It's taken over a year to get some reinstated.

1, It is a long time since I was personally on benefits, but it was hard when i was given a constant stress about searching for jobs and being pushed to apply for everything, even when it wasn’t relevant. 2. The other instance was when I started living with someone. I was working full time and not on any benefits but he was self-employed working a lot of hours for a low wage. He received working tax credits - this was however cut when we started living together. Basically I was expected to support him. So what was he meant to do to ‘earn that support’? He was doing work that needed doing but which didn’t pay enough to live on properly. Which is why he had been able to claim the benefit. But then it was cut because of me. He would not let me help, because he is independent, as am I - he wanted to pay his share, but instead I was expected to pay him (what for: sex or other services?!! It seems like authorised prostitution to me - and not conducive to successful relationships) I would be perfectly happy to pay more tax, so the system can be made more fair/equal, since wages are not - but it is deeply distressing that he has now expected to live on less just because we share a house.

Wasn't on it long but that short time was stressful.

Cutbacks on food, gas, electric

Showing the last 50 answers

How about reduced travel, cinema and gym memberships for the unemployed. If seats are empty maybe the poor could make use of them.

Make it fairer, those who can work help them into work, especially long term unemployed

Aside from getting rid of benefits sanctions (at least without reasonable cause), I don't have any original ideas to contribute here.

System of benefits needs to be easier to understand. You should be able to call the individual job centres. Employ more staff or automate certain things. Have depts within job centre for those that need money (eg families who cant work atm) and others who are already in the system and need help finding a jobneed a job

More money is neede for PIP as people struggled to pay for equipmen

free travel passes to attend job interviews would be a significant benefit that would prevent financial benefits being abused

Greater emphasis should be made in paying people to transition into work, on top of the benefits that they already receive through vocational training. Punishing people by stopping benefits is a Victorian practice that needs to be abandoned yesterday.

I see in my work there are many single young people who do not work and have no intention of doing so slipping the net. Whilst single parents who do work are bullied to do more with plans to increase their workload. The original target- young people who could work but don't want to are not cooperating- some just live with sanctions, turn to crime or feign illness. Those who wouldn't turn to crime or feign illness and already work are easier targets.

Benefit money should be much more as the cost of living has escalated so much. It doesn’t meet needs.

More money for voluntary work pay or education

Provide it only to those who really need it.

There is emphasis on people with physical disabilities; very little consideration for people with mental ill health

The universal credit doesn't cover the current cost of living.

Make eligibility fair and more realistic

Pay benefits for ALL the children, not just two, as UC does. That's Dickensian and appalling , an utter disgrace

MORE TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH WHICH HAS BEEN UNSUPPORTED

DWP should believe gps

Better support for those who are genuinely disabled. Reassessment can be very stressful for them!!!

Politicians need to see the real world and acknowledge what life is really like

Well I couldn’t claim for my husband when he was alive because I was contribution base and that also stopped me getting other benefits which would of helped.

Stop cutting it. Stop using private companies to assess whether people are fit for work

Now more than ever he’ll I’d needed and not having that support has impacted the lives of the most vulnerable it’s frankly quite disappointing and just so wrong!!

Benefits need to go to those that need it. However there are too many that don't deserve or need it. I am worried that those who need it will have benefits reduced or taken away and those undeserving getting it. There needs to be individual assessment but it needs to be simple unjudging and fair.

More supportive environment for those who require state aid. Help, rather than a punitive, threatening regime.

No need

Better financial support and social tariffs for all utilities. Better treatment at appointments, not being spoken to like a naughty school pupil or worse treat like a criminal and not being forced into work you cannot do because of health and mobility issues or that isn't financially viable!

If someone had a track record of employment & suddenly lost their job through no fault of their own, they should receive at least up to 6 months of their former wages in order to cover them through to finding re-employment.

Those long tern unemployed need support and help not sanctions.

people are living hand to mouth adults going without food so they can at least give their children 1 meal if they are lucky its disgusting

We are not all work shy,stop humiliating people for something they have no control over,and at least let us have some sort of existence

Not so much putting on disabled, the way we are talked to and questioned for our PIP renewal is disgusting degrading and embarrassing. These people have NO MEDICAL BACKGROUND BUT WE MUST EXPLAIN EVERYTHING IN DETAIL. IT IS SO UNFARE

When genuine people through no fault off their own are treated like second hand citizens and only looking for easy access to money.

Tax credits were adequate universal credit is not

A decent level of income, a supportive rather than punitive system

Uprate.Moderate sanctions

People with long term deteriorating conditions should not to go through reassessment every year. People who carry out these assessments should know about the conditions they’re clients are living with

some people do take advantage of the system

Benefits only to people with disabilities, proved health issues, very low income and not able to work.

Help those in need. If we need to raise money in UK raise basic rate of IT and no exclusions, no clever accounting, no offshore monies.

Give them enough to live on

I think making PIP more accessible would be a start

Deal with claims quicker and get them right. I am still paying back the money they overpaid me through no fault os me own.

Having all forms able to be completed online, as well as on paper. Different media suit different situations and abilities to interact better.

One family member has a disability and only had to job search for half a week rather than a full week. With support of a mentor at the Job Centre they could entre part time work while still getting support. This worked well. I would hope others have the same level of support.

Make it easier to apply - Ensure contact staff can speak English - Who speak slowly and coherently

I think there needs to be a complete over hall. It seems that there are the occasional individuals whom do abuse the system, but as a whole, people on benefits would prefer not to be in this position of relying on Government handouts. It seems that certain groups get financial support, when there would be better ways to address their issues. There are other groups who have to continually jump through hoops to prove their need for support. It appears to be a chaotic system.

end stigma. make the system complety accessable and easy

I don't know.

I've experienced many different types of benefits during my adult life. There was still UB which gave you 80% of last wage/salary during those early days but that sadly was changed to a flat rate. Various governments since 1979 have made it harder for claimants to seek and receive the necessary financial support during those times of unemployment. On time, I was sharing a flat with a fellow who I didn't really know too well, but the JC insisted that for my claim to go through I should provide bank statements from his account, rather than taking into account we were not friends/family, and were co-habiting as tenants, not as partners/friends.

make it easier to apply for

Showing the last 50 answers

I worked until 2010, when I first signed on it was a happy place, lots of investment. Since the Tories took over most jobcentres have closed so they do massive drives to punish the unemployed then leave you in Limbo as there will be another round of redundancies . It's a cruel system.

Under the evil Tory regime it is appalling

I will only mention that I've been on Universal Credit for over 2 years now (aside from my 5.5-month stint at the London Borough of Merton), and have no real noteworthy experiences of the benefits system to mention here.

Apply for benefits is a stressful, sometimes humiliating process and should be made more streamlined and less stressful for those already on them. People in need shouldn't have to struggle so hard just to be able to get by.

disabled don't get enough

The tax credit system was stripped back in sneaky ways and I remember the tax credits halving gradually when my income did not changed and believe this was so they could say universal credit wasn't less but in real terms is much less. And I hasten to add I worked full time at the time when my eldest child was old enough for me to do so and the wages too low to live on. I've also lived under threats of redundancy for over a decade as I have worked for three local authorities in that time. Forever cutting and underfunding. Its depressing not to have job security, for everything to be cut around you and frightening to have no way out and a rubbish safety net at the same time as poorer pay and work conditions.

Rewards the more effort of rework and or education should be given until a job is started

NHS workers need to have benefits eg free parking !!

No problem

I've slipped through the benefits net. I have autism and symptoms of Complex Post traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) so am eligible for PIP on mental health grounds which PIP assessors fail to acknowledge at least initially. With over £16,000 in savings I am not entitled to means-tested benefits. I have a PhD in psychology, am currently on sick leave from work after just ten months so get so zero occupational sick pay

Im so lucky that my claim was 30 years ago, before lone parents were persecuted in the ways they are today. I received an allowance for all of my four children and wasn't forced into work too soon. It meant I could study and get qualifications, which meant I then earned a professional wage and no longer need any benefits. The way line parents and other claimants are treated is a disgrace.

Pip assessment should be held accountable for the lies they tell

Horrendous benefits officer who made my life a misery soo much so I left the area so in didn’t have to have that benefit office, I also stopped being self employed because of the horrendous sudden that they have in place for declaring expenses, the information they require is not straightforward accounts what your accountant would record, there’s so many restrictions making it very confusing, I was made to feel thick and small because I was having difficulty submitting the c expenses monthly but this was what I previously had my accountant do so was never required to know this. They wouldn’t give me another benefit officer, I lost out on benefits because she didn’t give me proper advice on what my rights were

Only that they make you feel like you’re begging , i hah worked since I was 15 even when I had my two children I went back to work . The only reason I had to give up work was because of ill health.

A nightmare and very stressful in an already difficult situation

No

Very few CHOOSE to be on benefits. Help those who rely 9n benefits grow, by offering support, training and understand. Being on benefits is its own prison; it does not require wardens to 'screw' you further.

No

There is no respect shown by those in "authority". Whilst I realise there are some who milk the system they are a minority, most people are looking for work but it needs to be a job that suits the individual not one that ticks work coaches or restart advisors boxes, we are human beings just like them and deserve the same respect!

Benefits don't cover a mass of people that should be in receipt of some benefits. There are a percentage of people not included in the figures for one reason or another (usually a failed benefit claim where they don't have the energy to appeal). The state should include them in their technically unemployed/unwaged figures and find ways to constructively help them claim.

They system hates disabled people

Terrible attitude to those in desperate need

Not being degraded by the PIP BOARD

My worst experience was having to go for assessments in Glasgow, feel like and no they're not concerned bout your daily needs. The worst system ever with interviews who don't no what they're doing. Went down hill after this

It seems to be a form of punishment . Stop your benefits first and ask questions later

My sister has Parkinson’s which regularly means she struggles to get out of bed in the morning. However she has to cope with being retraining courses and being told she needs to apply for jobs that are totally unsuitable with the threat that if she doesn’t she will lose her benefits

Its made as difficult as possible for the poorest. This government are a disgrace!

Be more fair to people who have part time jobs

Remove sanctions waste of paper work

It was a complete shambles and the staff training was non-existant.

It was a long time ago and the system was less difficult to navigate.

Tribunal wait times need to be much shorter.

Worse thing is being passed from department to department

I appreciate the support I get, no matter how minimal, or how it leaves me feeling.

i have had a very positive experience

No.

It should be more concerned about your health and welfare rather than trying to pay you the bare minimum your household needs to live on.

I didn't know how to sell myself to potential employers, either with a better CV or at interviews when my confidence was so low. I had to lower my expectations of job and salary far below what I was getting in order to get a job again. Hanging on in case a better job came along was fruitless and I had to accept far lower pay and start all over again which was hard. Basic paid jobs need to be sold as a step up even when the earnings still leave you at a poverty level. Need to help people get out of poverty mentality

N/A

Still in debt, can't afford to get my car fixed, pay council tax arrears. I don't smoke, don't drink, just can't afford to live.

Yes - the comment "you can't get job, you don't SHUT UP! Gareth - Bromley job centre

It was horrible

No

Let's get landlords into work, they do absolutely nothing for society other than rake in money on the backs of the poor. Let's sanction them instead of disabled people.

Yes pay a decent living amount I've now lost 1300 a month due to being on esa assessment period and now only pick up 339 esa and 81 ctc being on benefits is hard and people are suffering.

Unfair, unjust and stigmatising for those who use it

no

No

No

it's not been great - even those with genuine reasons to claim what they're entitled to are made to feel like scroungers and have to jump through hoops to get a claim made.