Damning Academic Research Shows Tory Sanctions Push Vulnerable into Debt and Destitution

Sandra White, the Convener of the Scottish Parliament’s Social Security Committee, will today  lead a Holyrood debate on the UK Government’s dehumanising and ineffective sanctions system. The parliament will be debating academic research by Glasgow University which shows the UK Government’s sanctions regime has “detrimental financial, material, emotional and health impacts” and pushes those on JSA and ESA into debt and reliance on food banks.
 
The study showed that benefit sanctions were often out of proportion to the offence, such as being a few minutes late to an appointment, and that poor communication meant that some of those sanctioned did not understand why.
 
Those sanctioned commonly turn to borrowing, with some ending up “near-destitute, using food banks” and in extreme cases being “pushed towards ‘survival crime’”.Additional research published last week from the University of Oxford found a “robust link” between the numbers of benefit sanctions and demand for food banks.
 
Commenting, SNP MSP Sandra White said:
 
“The evidence is absolutely overwhelming – the UK Government’s sanctions regime is dehumanising, ineffective and pushes people into destitution and reliance on food banks, often at no fault of their own.
 
“The Tory Government approach to benefit claimants is to presume guilt and to punish disproportionately. Not only does this fail to help jobseekers find work, but it puts many people in the position where they’re simply penniless – which is why food bank providers identify sanctions as one of the key drivers for their growth.
 
“This punitive benefit sanctions regime should be a stain on the conscience of the Tory Government. Theresa May’s Tories need to listen to those who have continually called for changes to this unfair and disproportionate system. An immediate and urgent review is needed of the claimant conditionality and sanction regime and sanctions should be paused until this is done.”