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Churches attack benefit 'sanctions regime'

The coalition of major Churches, including the Methodist Church, the Church of Scotland and the Church in Wales found that benefits claimants judged as unfit to work due to mental health problems are more likely to have their benefits stopped by sanctions than those suffering from other conditions.

In a freedom of information request by the Methodist Church it was found that more than 100 people per day with mental health problems are having their benefits sanctioned.

In March 2014 – the last month for which data is available - approximately 4,500 people with mental health problems who receive benefits because of mental health problems were sanctioned. 

Paul Morrison, Public Issues Policy Adviser for the Methodist Church, said: "We believe that the number of people with mental health problems who have their benefit stopped due to being sanctioned is in fact a great deal higher than 100 a day.

"Not included in these figures are people who receive ESA [benefit] due to a physical illness, but who have a higher risk of mental health difficulties."

These figures - and other new data on what the Church calls 'the sanctions regime' - will feature in a report that is due to be launched in the spring.

Revd Sally Foster-Fulton, Convener of the Church and Society Council of the Church of Scotland, said: "With others in the Scottish Leaders' Group on Welfare, we are, sadly, well aware of the negative impact of sanctions on vulnerable people, often left with no income and no security and no way out of the deeper hole they have fallen through.

"We welcome the publication of the upcoming report. It is important that we highlight these facts and begin to counter this troubling trend. 

"We will use the new data in our 28 February conference looking 'Beyond Food Banks', for which sanctions are a key trigger."

A DWP spokesman said: "Every day Jobcentre Plus advisers work hard to help claimants into work, and where claimants don't do the right thing they risk having their benefits suspended.

"These decisions aren't taken lightly, and less than one per cent of ESA claimants have their benefits suspended each month for not taking up the jobs support that is offered to them."

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