Why are benefits failing to help the most needy?

When the benefits bill bloated to £202bn in 2010, the government announced plans to dramatically slash it by capping payouts and introducing new restrictions and sanctions.

benefits sanction

by Closer staff |
Published on

On the surface, it appeared to be a success.

The Government claim they have saved £50bn since then and statistics show the number of people on Jobseeker's Allowance has nearly halved, falling by closer to 700,000 in five years.

However, behind the triumphant headlines lurks a very different story.

In the past two years, 2,500 people – many of them society's most vulnerable including those with severe disabilities have died within weeks of having their benefits switched off or delayed due to the sanctions.

Shockingly, many have killed themselves as they face starvation in hopeless situations.

One woman who knows the suffering that can be caused by benefits sanctions is Louisa Ingram.

She used to be fit and active, working as an engineer and had few money worries.

Two years on, diabetes has left her in a wheelchair and out of work. Panicked over her finances, she has even contemplated suicide.

Shockingly, while Louisa was facing having parts of her feet amputated due to an infection, she had to fight for the benefits she and husband Richard badly needed.

They often had no food – resorting to food banks, and selling their possessions.

“I couldn’t see a way out,” says Louisa, 36, who lives in Southampton.

“I was in agony, I lost my job as I couldn’t work and, at times, while we were getting our benefits sorted – which took 14 months – we had no money for food.

"We’ve been through hell.”

**Read the rest of Louisa's story in Closer, out today **

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