Sheffield #unemployed hit by #benefits #mistake Vulnerable #jobseekers in Sheffield have wrongly had their benefits stopped in the past six months, a new report has claimed. Sheffield Citizens Advice and Law Centre has published a new report stating it has dealt with individuals with learning difficulties and mental health problems incorrectly having their benefits stopped. Its report said one woman with severe Bipolar disorder who had recently been rehoused because of family abuse had her benefits stopped for 12 weeks for allegedly giving up a job voluntarily – despite the fact she has never been in work. Another case involved a man in his mid-50s with learning #disabilities who cannot read or write being #sanctioned for not doing ‘enough’ #jobseeking, despite him getting regular support from a local #jobclub. The report also said one man had been sanctioned more than once because his #WorkProgramme provider had sent incorrect information about non-attendance to Jobcentre Plus. Sheffield Citizens Advice and Law Centre is now calling for a parliamentary review of sanctions after claiming the current system is actually making it harder for some jobless people to find sustainable #employment. Sheffield Law Centres Clare Lodder said: “The evidence of our clients is that for many the punishment, that is to say ‘the sanction’, is often out of proportion to the offence. “The knock-on effects of these sanctions can be devastating and, for many, can outweigh the actual sanction itself with #HousingBenefit and debt repayments being stopped or disrupted.”
Posted on: Sat, 28 Jun 2014 11:08:11 +0000
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