Could You Treat People This Way?

[bainbrig]

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/feb/04/jobcentre-adviser-play-benefit-sanctions-angela-neville

“We were given lists of customers to call immediately and get them on to the Work Programme,” she recalls. “I said, ‘I’m sorry this can’t happen, this man is in hospital.’ I was told [by my boss]: ‘No, you’ve got to phone him and you’ve got to put this to him and he may be sanctioned.’ I said I’m not doing it.”

I suppose it’s possible that conditions have changed since the above interview was published, but from all accounts they have not.

Who could, who does, who is “only following orders”, in what passes for our compassionate society? Anyone here?

[emmie]

no i couldn't, but im one of these people that is being asked to go to a medical review, even though i find it difficult to walk.

[Theland]

IT is disgraceful. Government is bereft of any honesty or integrity, despite being lead by a vicars daughter.
Nothing surprises me about Esther McVey. Cruel woman.

[Theland]

I wish it would be adapted for TV.

[rowanwitch]

There is the other side though. Car boot a couple of weeks ago a bloke was selling a wheelchair to a couple of blokes. They quite openly said they wanted it to go to an assessment. They were walking around perfectly happy. I had people bidding on sets of crutches in the past as well. Could have sold dozens if I had them. All for the same purpose. Short term hire of mobility scooters is a good earner too

[waterboatman]

That's disgraceful rowan. Able bodied people trying to get money that should be going to people that need it!

[Theland]

It always a very very tiny number of people that pull these stunts, then the reactionaries are all over it and use it to batter the majority of decent but unfortunate claimants.

[rowanwitch]

It's folk like that that is the reason genuine people are given a hard time. I went to a counselling group where a woman had been so badly abused she had no bowel control, they said she could work, and said they'd find a workplace which had showers and changing facilities. She tried to explain this didn't happen once in a while it was two or three times a day, but they still cut her benefit. There other suggestion was did she think she would manage better if she had a colostomy and said they would contact her GP. Now that is nasty

[emmie]

am in that boat rowan, i am being treated at the hospital for constant bowel problems and i can hardly move about without pain in my legs and feet, yet they still want me to attend a medical which is an hour away from my home.

[1ozzy]

Sorting wheat from chaff used to be easy.

[rowanwitch]

Stick to your guns and keep asking for a home assessment. If you have trouble write to your MP, this is the sort of thing they are useful for.

[rowanwitch]

I think they should open fake aids stalls at car boots in problem areas and film the customers. They would soon have a rogues gallery to chase up.

[emmie]

rowan thanks, i might just do that. The GP sent them a letter but it seems to have fallen on deaf ears.
i want and need a home visit as i can't be far from the loo. I have some medication to apparently help but it makes me nauseous.

[rowanwitch]

MP definitely the next option it usually only takes a phone call from their office.

[Peter Pedant]

that's nothing !
well ange has got no bills has she ?

My M D announced his intention to report to his directors that I hadnt had Hep B vaccination and I said
that was because I was off ill with cancer and in a hospital bed
and he said
that didnt matter !

[ hold it - arent there live ( ha! pun intended) issues of breach of confidentiality? well not quite - he stated he intended to.... but yes there were and he didnt like it when it when I well and truly screwed him on that one]

people will often do what they are paid to
milgram experiments

[yeah yeah earliest what dey den quip of the day)

[naomi24]

Theland, in 2015/16 £1.9bn was fraudulently claimed. Hardly a 'very, very tiny number' of cheats.

If this report is accurate and if this lady does not have an axe to grind (after all, she stayed in the job quite some time), then it’s definitely not the right way to go about weeding out those who are abusing the system. Nevertheless, weeded out they need to be.

[rowanwitch]

I wonder if the money spent on investigation would be better used targeting the younger offenders who might have years of useful contribution to offer if they were challenged now. I see little point in forgetting older people say 60+ who would find it incredibly hard to find employment and are more likely to have a genuine health problem. Once assessed those younger claimants with progressive problems should be lifetime exempt leaving resources for rooting out the criminal abusers.

[bainbrig]

As per usual , the apologists for the system single out the poor for their attacks.

Maybe if the REALLY big tax dodgers were made to pay up (Google, Facebook, City traders, Quark, etcetera), then there would be enough money to treat people properly.

[Rockrose]

How is google dodging tax?

[anneasquith]

If you believe anyone is claiming benefit unlawfully, report them. It's anonymous.

[mushroom25]

//Maybe if the REALLY big tax dodgers were made to pay up (Google, Facebook, City traders, Quark, etcetera), //

it's important to note that what these companies are doing represents avoidance, not evasion, and it's currently perfectly legal. the government announced tax on royalties relating to uk sales last year, but it's not due to be applied until the start of the next fiscal year.

if there's a belief that a punitive regime needs to be applied to multinational companies then vote for the party the promises to do just that. but be careful what you wish for - companies will continue to look to protect their profits and if that means legging it somewhere with a less stringent tax regime that's what they'll do, and they'll take their tax dollars and people's jobs with them.