Re: A 'Hostile Environment'

Read my post properly

Re: A 'Hostile Environment'

Those stricter checks are in place now. Read the article about how genuine sick and disabled people are treated in the assessments. Medical evidence is required so the fully fit cheats are quite rightly found to be fit for work.

Re: A 'Hostile Environment'

I completely agree.

I once knew a chap (a parent at the school where I worked) who was a world expert in the matter of claiming benefits. He knew all the ins and outs and, of course, took full advantage of that knowledge.

Disgusting.

Re: A 'Hostile Environment'

Fact is that the government doesn't care who is genuine and who is a cheat, they want to reduce the spend on both. It really is that cynical and that simple. The more difficult you make it to access the money the less money you spend. Ethics are irrelevant. Cheats are a convenient excuse.

Re: A 'Hostile Environment'

And I thought I was a cynic!

Re: A 'Hostile Environment'

They've made claiming benefits so difficult now that some who aren't able to understand what's required may give up trying. Not only that but unless you have access to the Internet or can gain access to it you can't claim. Job Centres and Libraries have closed in many places, if you can't afford to travel and you don't have broadband you're stuffed!

Re: A 'Hostile Environment'

It's the same with everything. Presumably to save money, but it just means that those people with more complex needs who cannot navigate modern technology end up unable to access the system. Then more money is saved.

These people could have complex mental health issues, learning disabilities, visual impairment, sensory disabilities where they cannot use a keyboard or smartphone (e.g. even with something like raynauds it's hard to use a touch screen as it doesn't recognise the touch). I know older members on this forum do really well but many elderly struggle with computers when they have arthritic hands and their sight is failing.

I wonder how many benefits go unclaimed by those who really need them because the system is inaccessible to them.

Re: A 'Hostile Environment'

I fear far more people don't get what they're entitled than cheat the system.

But but those calling for fraud detection and severe punishments for cheats never seem as interested in demanding investment in making it easier for people to claim what they're entitled to, getting back payments or compensation when they've been treated unfairly.

For some it's all about labelling benefit claimants as fat, fag smoking cheats because it's easier than dealing with the real problems of social injustice.

Re: A 'Hostile Environment'

Well they should not have shown that photo of over weight fag smokers then.

Re: A 'Hostile Environment'

There's just something about the people in that photograph that doesn't suggest they are your average deserving claimants. They look like the disabled version of rent-a-mob, trouble makers.

And that Frances Ryan at the top of the page looks like she needs a toilet and fast.