UK: "At last, a report that skewers Iain Duncan Smith's welfare policies."

[Bob]

I've posted these in other threads, but perhaps they deserve a new thread.

At last, a report that skewers Iain Duncan Smith's welfare policies
We Are Spartacus releases its 'almanac of condemnation', a devastating critique of welfare reforms backed with case studies.
Alex Andreou.
theguardian.com
Monday 9 December 2013.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/09/iain-duncan-smith-welfare-policies

...
Today also sees the publication of the stunning People's Review of the Work Capability Assessment (pdf). It has been compiled by the anonymous organisation, We Are Spartacus, whose activism in this area has been hugely empowering. The report is a collection of statistics surrounding welfare reform and reactions of MPs, charities and professional groups to the way in which it has been administered. An almanac of condemnation, if you will. Most importantly, the report compiles statements from sick and disabled people actually going through the system.

These are most encouraging developments and point to a sea-change in the way our democracy works in this internet age. There is no doubt that without extensive use of the internet and social media, the compilation of such a detailed report would have been impossible and its publication unnoticed. For too long, this group of most vulnerable people, many of them with serious health and mobility problems, have been too easy a target for cost-cutting governments of all hues to demonise, recalibrate and victimise. This is no longer the case. Vulnerable people have grabbed the issue by the scruff of the neck and are taking the fight to the government. It is inspirational and points the way to a level of democratisation hitherto unseen.

I encourage you to read the report. It is packed with striking statistics and heartrending stories, in the words of people being put through this inhuman and degrading assessment. It contains the stories of those who can no longer speak, having taken their own lives or succumbed to their illness, while being hounded by the very department which is meant to protect them, people like Peter whose leg fused as a result of injury and, having suffered a stroke which meant he couldn't grip with one hand, received a text telling him to attend the Jobcentre. He sent his partner a text which read "I give up". He was found hanging at his home.

...

The People's Review of the Work Capability Assessment.
We Are Spartacus.
http://wearespartacus.org.uk/wp-con...-WCA-Further-Evidence-December-2013-final.pdf


.

 

[Bob]

Related articles published today:


How Atos comes under pressure to declare disabled people as fit for work
A leaked report shows 97% of people undergoing its assessment are 'expected' to recover within two years.
David Gillon.
theguardian.com
Monday 9 December 2013.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/09/atos-disabled-people-assessment-fit-work-report



Iain Duncan Smith confronts claims DWP staff given targets to stop benefits
Whistleblower says staff warned they would be disciplined unless they increased number of claimants coming off register
Patrick Wintour
The Guardian
Monday 9 December 2013
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/dec/09/iain-duncan-smith-dwp-stop-benefits-whistleblower



Iain Duncan Smith questioned by MPs about universal credit and DWP statistics: Politics live blog.
Andrew Sparrow.
theguardian.com
Monday 9 December 2013.
http://www.theguardian.com/politics...and-dwps-use-of-statistics-politics-live-blog

 

[alex3619]

There aren't enough like buttons on these posts! I want to keep hitting like. I was very happy with the earlier report, and look forward to reading this one.

The Fifth Estate may yet save democracy, but its a race.

 

[SilverbladeTE]

this government simply doesn't care and the opposition are useless, corrupt, corporate swine too, with only handful of true "parliamentarians" left
I very much doubt anything short of catastrophe or revolution will change anything
Labour are chasing after the "Daily Mail" vote (ie nasty small minded crap)

 

[Bob]

UK welfare benefits 2010-11

1.1% of government spending went towards Incapacity Benefit & ESA.
2.5% went towards DLA/DAA/PIP.

Key.
DWP = Department of Work and Pensions.
DLA = Disability Living Allowance.

 

[Bob]

Professor Malcolm Harrington describes the work capability assessment (WCA) as "inhumane and mechanistic".


Ministers 'ignored advice on inhumane fit-for-work tests'
Welfare adviser says he wanted a delay to work capability tests but government pressed ahead with reassessments.
Patrick Butler, social policy editor.
The Guardian
16 December 2013
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/dec/16/ministers-ignored-advice-fit-for-work-tests

A government welfare adviser has suggested thousands of ill and disabled people were subjected to "inhumane and mechanistic" fit-for-work tests after ministers ignored his advice not to push ahead immediately with plans to reassess 1.5 million claimants on incapacity benefit.

Professor Malcolm Harrington told the Guardian he believed the work capability assessment (WCA) was "not working very well" when the coalition took power in 2010, and he told ministers a big expansion of the scheme should be delayed for a year to enable the tests to be improved.

 

[Bob]

Two recent media articles regarding ESA (WRAG) including stories of ME patients.

ESA = Employment and Support Allowance
WRAG = Work Related Activities Group



5 benefit changes the government don't want you to know about
New Statesman
29 Nov 2013
See section: '2. Long-term sick people are having their benefits sanctioned ... for being sick':
http://www.newstatesman.com/2013/11/5-benefit-changes-government-dont-want-you-know-about


Benefits overhaul: the system is unfair and cruel
The Observer
1 December 2013
Two letters from ME patients: See second and third letter:
http://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2013/dec/01/the-big-issue-sickness-benefits

 

[Sean]

Thanks for those links, Bob.

 

[Valentijn]

What a nightmare

 

[SilverbladeTE]

If not for all the many innocent folk working/visiting in the area, and a few decent MPs, I wouldn't give a toss if the centre of London was left a crater and a monument to Human villainy for history to retch over

 

[alex3619]

Even the Bible warns that evil has a pleasant face.

When someone wants to do great evil, either intentionally evil or evil by incompetence, first they try to convince you its a great good.

By the fruit of the tree you should know them. How many extra disabled are dying in the UK per week on 2012 data? 41 irrc. That's 2132 per year. That's the fruit from the tree.

Now they refuse to publish 2013 data.

 

[SilverbladeTE]

Alex
one of my favourite films is old black and white horror, "Night of the Demon"
there's a great part in it where the atheist, scientific, logical American researcher and his Indian colleague are having a debate on parapsychology, and the Indian, despite his love of Science, believes in gods and demons and all such things and in the ensuing verbal debate, the Indian doctor notes:
"The Devil is at his most dangerous, when he is being the most charming!"
Very apt

or another take on it: "The road to hell is paved with good intentions"

and another, ever seen the Jack the Ripper mini-series? with Michael Caine and Lewis Collins (who alas just died, sigh)
brilliantly well played and part of it points out that:
"You can convince a small man to do anything, if you make him think it's for a greater cause."