Oxfam: Sick people are 'hassled into work' or lose benefits

Published on Wednesday 15 April 2009 22:01

PEOPLE with genuine illnesses are being "hassled" into work or face having their benefits cut, research from Oxfam Scotland has suggested.

Radical reforms, pushed by James Purnell, the Work and Pensions Secretary, are putting stress on ill people to get them off incapacity benefit.

The report, published today, urges government ministers to implement a more "humane" welfare system.

It quotes the experience of the Clydebank Independent Resource Centre, which helps people to apply for benefits and jobs and to deal with debt.

Janice Dickson, of the centre, said people now seeking benefits had to wait for six to eight weeks for the new Employment Support Allowance.

She added: "We are getting more people from a wide range of backgrounds who have suddenly been made redundant and need urgent access to funds to pay for their housing and other loans."

Mary Collins, also of the centre, said many people had their benefits reinstated on appeal after it was decided they were too sick to work when medical evidence was examined.

The report also condemns the "continuing privatisation" of employment services and the "punitive" approach to welfare to work schemes.

Jim Boyle, the Programme Co-ordinator for Oxfam Scotland, added: "Once again, it is the most vulnerable people in society who are having to justify the money they receive."