The DWP has refused to follow any recommendations by the Commons work and pensions committee designed to help claimants through the cost of living crisis.

The simplest suggestions made by MPs was that the DWP pause making deductions from benefits where a claimant owes the department money, perhaps because of an overpayment or loan.

This would have cost the DWP very little, but made a dramatic difference to claimants struggling to make ends meet as prices rocket.  It is a measure that was introduced during the pandemic and one which would be very easy to reinstate.

The DWP’s bizarre excuse for not doing so is that it is not ‘in the claimant’s best interest’ because if debt recovery was reintroduced after next April’s benefits uprating claimants ‘may feel no better off as a result’.

In other words, it’s better to make claimants repay debts whilst they cannot possibly afford to than to wait until their benefits have been increased.

Other measures recommended by the committee and rejected by the DWP included changing the way benefits are uprated so that it can be done more quickly when there is spiralling inflation.  They also suggested a formal review of whether current benefit levels are adequate and a review of the benefit cap.

The chair of the committee, Stephen Timms MP, issued a statement saying:

“The Government’s rejection of our recommendations at a time when so many families are continuing to feel real pain from rising prices is disappointing. While a package of support on energy bills is promised, the appointment of a new Secretary of State presents a fresh opportunity to consider whether a change of approach at the DWP could also offer extra help for people through the benefits system.”

You can read the full story on the parliament website.

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    David · 2 years ago
    Actually its does make sense. ATM if your Paying it back you should do so to get it paid back as soon as possible, because something massive is going to happen in April next year and no Benefit price rise is going to cover it. All those people on Phone contracts and Internet are going to see rises of near 14%. Thats if Inflation stays where it is. Come April, those on £80 contracts, which is the average price of a contract these days and would of been taken before the cost of living crisis, will be paying £91.20 per month, a staggering £134.40 per year. when Benefits will only go up 10%. This is just 1 bill that rises with inflation every year. Now add water, council Tax, Rents and electric etc. its going to hit hard. So if you paying it back now and can cope, do so as soon as possible, because April is a killer month. 
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    Doglover2 · 2 years ago
    Starve us out,freeze us out,treat us as inanimate objects that are in their way. Take away any scrap of feeling human we might still cling too, put the able bodied against us, allow the Rags to print utter nonsense that we are constantly getting more and more money increases on our benefits. Yeah, it's all working fine and dandy for the dwp.We are nothing to them but faceless N.I numbers.
    Something to drag down until we cave in. Something has to change,
    And soon,Before our mental health nose dives further and those of us who 'enjoyed' good mental health no longer will.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Richard · 2 years ago
    They waste so much money on crap computer systems and helping their curmudgeonly friends, that there is no room for any kind of altruism or fairness.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    MrFibro · 2 years ago
    Once again the nasty Tory party @ it's finest.  They will never cease to amaze me with the strokes they pull on us all.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Luna53 · 2 years ago
    We have just lost £700 a month in disabled child elements, because my youngest daughter has reached the August after her 19th Birthday. 
    She is staying in non-advanced education and so cannot claim Universal Credit. 
    I also care for her older sister who has complex needs. 
    After outgoings this has left my husband and I with a combined income of £7 a month to live on..
    This is not living.. 
    Along with everything else I feel so utterly desperate. I cannot be alone in feeling totally abandoned by this government.




    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      CCKJ · 2 years ago
      @Luna53 you are not alone I have been totally shoved to the bottom of all lists.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Heather · 2 years ago
      @Luna53 Write to your mp to explain this latest horror! Thankfully Coffey has moved on and her replacement may be more human! This however is not guaranteed’ A local authority adviser happily told me that UC was bought in because it was ‘far less generous’ than the legacy benefit system.
      By way of contrast to your own position Mention to your MP the huge amounts of tax payers funds local landowners are given - in recycled cash - by the Land Subsidy grant!
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Leilah J Zaheer · 2 years ago
    Dear Sir 
    Why are people
    Having to repay
    Debts?
    Yours faithfully 

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    angry person · 2 years ago
    terrible im so glad i dnt vote, im so angry at the goverment right now i feel like saying things i shouldnt. conservative rich people looking after the rich while just laughing at the poor and disabled! bout time we got these people out, westminster is corrupt to the core, screw you government
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      CCKJ · 2 years ago
      @angry person From what I've read and heard, Liz Truss is another 'Maggie, All for the the wealthy and just make the poor poorer,
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      MrFibro · 2 years ago
      @angry person Hi angy person,

      Just an important reminder, people gave their lives so that we were able to vote.  Don't let their lives to have all been in-vain.  Changes won't happen by not voting, it can only change if people vote the nasty Tory part out. They will come the old game @ the next GE and dangle their carrots in order  to get voters on their side.  Don't be fooled by their devious, lies and tricks.  
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Karen Smith · 2 years ago
      @angry person Don't waste your vote by not using it!
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Ann sullivan · 2 years ago
    The deductions should be paused . I have just under £100 deducted . Luckily it not I get LCWRA so have a bit extra otherwise would ge left with just over £200 for the month amongst rapidly rising prices for everything 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Linda · 2 years ago
    The DWP should be more accurately renamed the Department of Wicked Parasites. Because they feed of the sick and disabled, rather than helping them.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Nic · 2 years ago
      @Linda I was on Gov.uk recently and stumbled across a quote from Coffey herself saying it stood for Department of Wonderful People. Nope, I'm not even joking. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Jeff Smith · 2 years ago
    Sadly typical of the new benefits regime that has been introduced with Universal Credit. Now only the very minimum is given out by the DWP. While claimants are forced to run a daily gauntlet of tasks and regulations. Compassion seems to be completely lacking. It is often said there is no rest for the wicked, and with the DWP, not for the unemployed either.

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