Punitive sanctions regime 'is clearly not working'

The SNP accepts the need for conditionality in the social security system. There have to be terms and conditions attached to social security support. Conditionality has always existed, as have sanctions, but what we have seen in recent years is a sharp rise in the number of social security claimants who are being sanctioned and those who, as a result, seek emergency food aid and that has to draw concern.

We cannot allow conditionality and sanctioning to be a fig leaf for social security cuts. There is strong evidence that sanctions are being applied too quickly and half of them are being over turned on appeal. How many more would be overturned if everyone was to appeal? In the meantime, disadvantaged people up and down this country are being left without money to live on, of no fault of their own. People cannot live off fresh air and it is therefore understandable that the Trussell Trust, the Poverty Alliance, Oxfam and others have directly linked increased foodbank dependency to social security sanctions, delays in payments and low incomes.

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Recent research from Liverpool and Oxford Universities, entitled First Do No Harm, links 590 suicides to the controversial Work Capability Assessments. It doesn’t take much extrapolation to suggest removing the incomes of job seekers and others over a period of weeks, and often on repeated occasions, would do anything other than push people to the wire.

So we have strong evidence that sanctions force people into temporary and long term destitution. Where is the evidence to suggest that this stick is forcing people into work, as is the stated aim of this government as it applies them? How does removing people’s ability to pay their bus fare to a job interview, or buy an appropriate interview outfit, or buy the food they need to think clearly help a job seeker into work? My argument is that it doesn’t.

In order to help people into work the government needs to reform the currently punitive sanctions regime. The Secretary of State's announcement of minor reforms in response to the DWP Select Committee report are welcome, but don't go nearly far enough. I am not convinced the 14 day Yellow Card system will work as the DWP returns to automated sanctions lettering. There is also a desperate need to expand the 'at risk' group, protected from the most excessive sanctions, to the homeless and those with mental health conditions. 

The yellow card system trial was supposed to start in the new year, but no detail of where or when or how has come forward. Nor has any decision been made on the 'at risk' group. 

The sanctions regime is clearly not working, it needs to be fully and independently reviewed, not just tinkered around at the edges.