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The British government benefits department is literally training their employees for the fact there will be an increase in suicides due to the forthcoming disability benefit cuts. (hexbear.net)

submitted 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Seen on reddit. Someone asked: "What happens after the welfare cuts? I feel this has not been thought through properly. There are currently over 1.6 million people actively looking for work, and around 736,000 jobs available."

Another redditor responded: "*I work in a job centre.

We are openly told by line managers there is no plan. The reforms will mean many people lose out directly (their PIP is cut), but also indirectly (carers of people with PIP are entitled to an additional rate on UC).

The main things we are being trained for is an increase in 6PP situations (suicidal claimants) and additional training on managing those with severe health conditions whilst on UC.

The Work Capability Assessment system is expected to totally collapse immediately after the reforms are implemented due to demand as people denied PIP scramble to get LCWRA classification.

Even the harshest people on my team see it as a disasterous act of cruelty, as someone put it "saying the quiet part out loud."*

What is the government hoping will happen? There aren't enough jobs already. Do they hope everyone just kills themselves? Or turns to crime like mugging and shoplifting?

No wonder the UK is the second most miserable country on earth: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/latest-updates/uk-is-officially-the-worlds-second-most-miserable-country-these-were-the-happiest-and-unhappiest-countries-of-2023/articleshow/108361220.cms?from=mdr

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

so, in the US, the way the powers prevent civil servants from giving people money who don't meet the latest bullshit requirements, but obviously need the money is that they make those people responsible for it in perpetuity.

so, when the system is scrutinized or audited in the future (and they always fully fund that side so everything is tripled checked), the government forcibly takes the money out of their account immediately and renders fines and penalties if their current balance won't cover it. which of course incurs more fines from their bank, and basically cripples them from participating at all in the formal economy for years. it's insanely punitive, so case workers are terrified of giving anyone anything extra.

also, if the case worker makes a good faith mistake and awards "too much" it's the same thing: the client of the program gets obliterated.

it's draconian and in sharp contrast to massive contracts for capital formations who just get the money and openly pocket it without hitting deliverables.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Sounds about right for this shit hole country but it's not something I've heard before. Could you link a source?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

You mean the civil servants have to pay the disabled person's benefits out of their own money if they wrongly award it?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 weeks ago

no, the disabled person does. and if it isn't repaid immediately, they intercept/garnish any other income until it is. and I'd such an interception would create an "extreme hardship", they will take less at a time but never waive what is owed. and that's only if the person has the paperwork/proof of extreme hardship to make the appeal. meanwhile, they also disqualify one from receiving future assistance they do qualify for, until the overpayments are paid back.

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499%2F0414%2FSections%2F0414.41.html

it's an extremely punitive system for the person requesting assistance.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 weeks ago

The beneficiary.