What is your opinion on benefit sanctions?

Bamboo

I'm really interested to know what people think about them. 

I disagree with them and don't think there is anything that could be said that would change my mind but I am open to hearing opinions. 

Is there a place for benefit sanctions? In what situations do you think they should be used?

janer1967

Hi there 

I think if they are imposed fairly and reasonably then they do have a place but before being sanctioned claimants should be informed and given a chance to give reasons why they have not completed their commitments 

Some sanctions are just unreasonable but what would stop claimants just getting their benefit and not attending job centre appt or not looking for work if there was no consequence 

bg844

My views are as above.

L_Volunteer

Thanks everyone for sharing your views. I think it could be a really insightful thread 

Signon

Hi if you dont communicate with DWP and fail to turn up for appointments then you probably deserve to get sanctioned.

Adeline

Signon said:

Hi if you dont communicate with DWP and fail to turn up for appointments then you probably deserve to get sanctioned.

I don't agree that anyone 'deserves' to have to go without food and risk the roof over their head. 

There are many reasons people don't or can't communicate with the DWP. And sanctions are regularly abused and misused.

calcotti

From 2018
https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/benefit-sanctions-are-harmful-and-ineffective/

https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmworpen/955/955.pdf
"At best, evidence on the effectiveness of sanctions is mixed, and at worst, it shows them to be counterproductive. The Coalition Government had little or no understanding of the likely impact of a tougher sanctions regime when it was introduced in 2012. It said the policy would be reviewed on an ongoing basis to understand its impact and the extent to which it was achieving its objectives. But six years later, it is none the wiser. The lack of any such evaluation is unacceptable....the policy appears to be nothing other than arbitrarily punitive." page 61.

Little has changed since 2018.

poppy123456

Signon said:

Hi if you dont communicate with DWP and fail to turn up for appointments then you probably deserve to get sanctioned.

That's rather harsh in my opinion. Some people are unable to use the phone or go out to be able to attend any appointments. How is a sanction fair in these circumstances?

bg844

Thinking back to 2015, the DWP removed fake posters which shown people happy they had received a sanction as it made them work harder to look for a job!
https://web.archive.org/web/20160107141650/http://dial2donate.org/dwp-uses-fake-claimants-in-benefit-sanctions-leaflet/

I personally agree with others that it really isn’t right to sanction. The two child limit and cap, yes. Sanctions, no.

bg844

with the 2 child limit I'm wondering if you agree with it blanketly?

Not blankety. I like the idea with certain exceptions, like you have said. A couple who have never worked, yes a 2 child cap should apply. Someone who is disabled and has never worked or had to give up their career, they should be excluded from the cap too. I think it should go down to a Decision Maker who would agree if it’s reasonable to pay for more.

I also agree with the current exceptions to this rule.

Grinchy

i'm not a fan of the sanctions, they don't seem to take into account a clients problems, never been sanctioned myself though

JBS2022

It depends on the reasons behind the sanction, if someone who is a jobseeker is not actively looking for work, or deliberately doesn't attend appointments then sanctions are justified (they should get a couple of warnings before sanctioning). I don't agree with sanctions against people with disabilities, although I don't know how often that happens. If people have difficulties that cause potential issues like not being contactible or intellectual vulnerabilities etc then they should be supported by the DWP. 

Signon

I agree that people with disabilities or vulnerable should not be sanctioned.
Claimants who dont have disabilities run the risk of being sanctioned once they agree to their job commitments 

Adeline

I feel as though anyone not keeping to their commitments has a reason. Some may be disability, some may be social or economical or lots of other barriers. I feel those that are able to keep to their commitments would do so regardless of threat of sanction. Those who can't, the sanction clearly doesn't work as a deterrant so it's just needlessly cruel and further penalising people who are already having to survive on very little. 

The standard monthly allowance that a person is expected to live on is less than I pay for my energy bill each month. 

Signon

In my opinion claimants in the vulnerable groups ,with disabilities and mental health issues should be exempt from being sanctioned by DWP

Signon

would like to hear others views on benefit punitive sanctions and commitments