[nomadking]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

It's a perfectly valid question as everytime someone posts something on here about something terrible that's happened to someone, up to and including death, an attempt is made to justify it, whilst others are rightfully dismayed and shocked.

Whilst I wouldn't agree with it, some people do genuinely believe that the welfare state should be abolished and that people should be self reliant. From a personal point of view this would benefit me if it was used to cut taxes even further, but I believe that a civilised society should be judged upon how they treat their most vulnerable.

Much of social security law is left to decision makers to judge what is 'reasonable' or 'appropriate' in given circumstances as it was recognised that people have more complicated lives and circumstances. To help them do this, they use information from various sources, including case law and manuals on policy, procedure and guidance.

Since Cameron introduced his 'Stricter Benefits Regime", the ethos of the DWP being there to help and support those in difficulties and being flexible in their approach to reflect the wide variety of circumstances that people find themselves in has gone out of the window.

Targets to sanction claimants for the most spurious of reasons are now routinely deployed and are affecting decent people, many of whom honoured their side of the bargain by paying all taxes and National Insurance contributions when due.

The point is that the stories are fake news. Somebody has to question and investigate the garbage coming from the media.

No point griping somebody doesn't have any money, when they do. At best, these are borderline cases as to whether they qualify. Most of the rules that don't apply to them have been in place in way or another for a very long time(before 2013).

Sanctions existed long before 2010. If somebody decides not to go to multiple appointments, then sanctions have always been there.

From your post #2331
Link

He had been using his Disability Living Allowance (DLA) of £550 per month to make up the £300 a month shortfall in his rent but since he was reassessed for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which has replaced DLA, he has now been left with only £56 a week as his family’s sole income.

Housing benefit is paid on the basis of income, not receipt of benefits. He would still have been eligible for having zero income. Again been there, done that.

This is where our welfare state falls down completely as Mark’s claim for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) has been ended as he had a severe stroke last August and missed one or probably two appointments for Work Capability Assessments while in hospital so his ESA was stopped.

Are Maximus/DWP expected to be mind-readers? Who was keeping an eye on all the other potential bills etc to be paid?

However Catch 22 - as he isn’t able to take any job due to his disabilities he can’t claim Job Seekers Allowance either so he has had no income for 7 months now and it is likely to be a further 5-6 months before his appeal can be heard. He has been left unable to claim any social security payment to cover his living costs.

Not quite true. On the one hand he could've reapplied for ESA for the new problems, on the other you can claim JSA and not have to look for work for up to 3 months using the Extended Period of Sickness rule as long as you can get the "fit" notes.