News

Charities urge Government to halt benefit sanctions during pandemic

The End Benefits Sanctions campaign is led by charity Rethink Mental Illness and supported by 18 other organisations

EPA/Andy Rain

Charities have urged the Government to halt benefit sanctions for the remainder of the Covid-19 pandemic amid concerns vulnerable people are living in fear of having their Universal Credit cut during lockdown. 

The End Benefits Sanctions campaign is led by charity Rethink Mental Illness and supported by 18 other organisations including Mind, The Child Poverty Action Group and the Disability Benefits Consortium. 

The groups are calling for the Department for Work and Pensions to issue a six-month suspension of sanctions and conditions attached to benefits. 

Kelly, 20, who has a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder and claims Universal Credit, said navigating the benefits process had affected her mental health. 

“It’s really hard to find work because of the pandemic and I’ve found the process to claim Universal Credit more confusing, difficult and scarier than it needs to be. It has a massive impact on my mental health at a time when I’m already struggling,” she told Rethink Mental Illness. 

A DWP spokesperson said: “We understand this is a challenging time and we want to reassure people that claimant commitments will remain reflective of public health advice, a person’s local jobs market and their personal circumstances.”

Rethink Mental Illness said rising unemployment combined with a flatlining economy is making life harder for those experiencing mental health issues.

The charity added people shouldn’t have to “jump through hoops” to receive benefits during a pandemic. 

The Government reintroduced sanctions at the start of July after a three-month pause at the height of the crisis. 

Charities claim these sanctions were extended by the Department for Work and Pensions on November 2 as England entered a new lockdown. A safeguard was removed meaning sick or disabled people could have benefits cut if they miss a telephone assessment.

Kelly said the thought of being sanctioned terrified her: “The thought that I could be sanctioned for one missed call terrifies me. I missed a call from the DWP about a week ago and it made me feel anxious for the entire day.”

Mark Winstanley, chief executive of Rethink Mental Illness, said ministers needed to carry on offering support now many were struggling with their mental health. 

“The Government acted quickly to do the right thing and suspend sanctions at the outset of the pandemic, and there’s no appetite from any political quarter to punish people who will struggle to find work in the current climate of cuts and uncertainty,” he said.  

“A pause in sanctions would be a welcome move to provide greater clarity and reassurance to people supported by benefits.” 

One person with several disabilities faced more than £1,200 in Universal Credit sanctions and was left without money to pay bills or buy food, the Big issue reported in October. 

Rethink Mental Illness have launched a petition calling on the Government to “take the pressure off” people who need benefits. At the time of writing, it has over 1,500 signatories. 

The charity says there is widespread public support for suspending sanctions during the pandemic, and polling suggests six in ten UK adults back the call for a six-month suspension. 

In addition to the six-month pause, the organisations are asking the Government to improve employment support for people living with mental illness and end sanctions for disabled people for good.   

Winstanley added: “If there is to be a silver lining in the challenges we face at the moment, it could be the opportunity to pause and develop plans which could create a more compassionate social security system, ending sanctions for disabled people such as those living with mental illness”. 

Big Issue vendors need your help now more than ever. More than 1,000 vendors are out of work because of the second lockdown in England. They can’t sell the magazine and they can’t rely on the income they need.

The Big Issue is helping our vendors with supermarket vouchers and gift payments but we need your help to do that.

Please buy this week’s magazine from the online shop or take out a subscription to make sure we can continue to support our vendors over this difficult period. You can even link your subscription to your local vendor with our new online map.

Thank you all so much for your ongoing support.

Support the Big Issue

For over 30 years, the Big Issue has been committed to ending poverty in the UK. In 2024, our work is needed more than ever. Find out how you can support the Big Issue today.
Vendor martin Hawes

Recommended for you

View all
I started doing crime by age 6. I didn't know any other life – all my birthdays were in prison
Crime

I started doing crime by age 6. I didn't know any other life – all my birthdays were in prison

Local housing allowance is finally going up. But is it anything more than just a short-term fix?
Jeremy Hunt announced local housing allowance rise
Benefits

Local housing allowance is finally going up. But is it anything more than just a short-term fix?

Calls to nationalise Thames Water as Brits face 40% increase in bills: 'A con and a disgrace'
Water bills

Calls to nationalise Thames Water as Brits face 40% increase in bills: 'A con and a disgrace'

Will free school meals and vouchers be offered over the Easter holidays?
Free school meals/ Easter holidays
Free school meals

Will free school meals and vouchers be offered over the Easter holidays?

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Here's when UK households to start receiving last cost of living payments
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Here's when UK households to start receiving last cost of living payments

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know
4.

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know