Letter: Benefits department piles on the anguish for needy

This is yet another example of the sheer incompetence of the DWP and demonstrates that it is not fit for purpose unless of course that purpose is to cause anxiety, distress and in the most extreme cases, death. This last point is well documented by the BBC; reporting that 2,380 disabled people died after being found fit for work, see

Another example of the chaos caused by the DWP is the, 'Waspi' fiasco. In this instance the DWP failed to adequately inform 2.6 million women about changes to their state pension age.

Shropshire mother in call on benefits rules after work interview trauma for severely disabled son - read the original article

This resulted in women aged 57-59 years old discovering that their pension age had increased from 60 by as much as six years. Obviously this left them inadequate time to rearrange their financial plans yet they had to find some means to bridge the gap between their perceived retirement age of 60 and their new pension age. In some cases women who have more than 40 years of National Insurance contributions have had to try and find jobs and have been subjected to humiliating treatment at Jobcentres.

The appalling fact is that the government anticipated what would happen and realised that the worst affected women were those who were poorly educated (those who left school at the age of 15), had often had poorly paid jobs without occupational pensions and were unsupported by a partner.

Circumstances are often exacerbated by the fact that some women are in poor health themselves and some are carers for relatives.

After six debates in Parliament within the last 12 months the callous treatment by the government continues with the Minister of State refusing to countenance even the most basic means tested help for 'Waspi' women and declaring that, "We have a comprehensive benefits system."

When sick and disabled people face benefit sanctions, when elderly women (and men) who have worked hard all their lives, rely on food banks, when *13.5 million people live in poverty and of these 55 per cent come from working households, the, "Comprehensive benefits system," is clearly not working (*source: Joseph Rowntree Foundation).

If the system is failing you or you feel you have been treated badly, let the minister know. Write to: Rt Hon Damian Green MP, Dept for Work and Pensions, Caxton House, Tothill St, London, SW1H 9NA. Or email ministers@dwp.gsi.gov.uk

You will need to quote your name, address and NI number.

Christine Jenkins, Shrewsbury

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