Monday, May 19, 2014

Rising ESA sanctions: punishing the vulnerable for being vulnerable


Originally posted on kittysjones:
Details originally posted on the Benefits and Work siteon May 15, 2014.

The number of sanctions applied to ESA claimants rose 334% between December 2012 and December 2013, according to new Department of Work and Pensions statistics.

The report shows that since the new Employment Support Allowance (ESA) sanctions regime was introduced on 3 December 2012, there has been a steady increase in the number of sanctions applied, from 1,102 in December 2012 to 4,789 in December 2013.

The total number of adverse sanction decisions over the period 3 December 2012 to 31 December 2013 was 28,702:

5,889 were applied for failure to attend a mandatory interview and
22,814 were applied for failure to participate in work related activity

In addition, the statistics show that, of the 28,702 decisions:
13,994 were reviewed and in 8,508 cases, the decisions were overturned. This equals a “success” rate of…


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