Benefit sanctions are out of control

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"MORE than 80,000 out-of-work Scots had their benefits stopped for at least four weeks since the controversial sanctions regime was introduced over two years ago."

"Payments were suspended for claimants’ failures to conform to strict rules including being late, missing a Jobcentre appointment or failing to apply for work."

"Figures released by the Work and Pensions Secretary’s department show a total of 81,980 men and women - including parents with young children - were hit by 143,671 sanctions which saw them barred from receiving Job seeker’s Allowance, currently £72.40 a week for those over 25..."

"Critics said the number of sanctions continued to push unemployed Scots into further destitution. Dr David Webster, honorary senior research fellow in Urban studies at Glasgow University said: “These figures are absolutely disgraceful. “It shows that claimants are being persecuted. It doesn’t matter if people are doing their best to find work, they are highly likely to be sanctioned. It’s very unfair.”

"John Dickie, director of Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland, added: “The UK government’s approach to benefit sanctions is out of control, doing nothing to support people into work and too often pushing families into acute crisis without warning or justifiable reason, leaving them without money even to pay for food or fuel."

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/critics-slam-disgraceful-figures-show-5219466