Media & Press ReleasesFor the Press
Benefit fraud crackdown will plunge more people into poverty, not tackle its causes
09 Apr 2010
Benefit fraud crackdown will plunge more people into poverty, not tackle its causes, says Community Links.
Most benefit fraud is committed out of need not greed, and harsher penalties will not work, says leading grassroots charity Community Links reacting to Conservative proposals to further penalise benefit fraud.
CEO Geraldine Blake says:
Benefit fraud is a result of need, not greed
“Last year we advised 12,000 people on benefits and housing problems. We know that almost all those defrauding the system, in themselves a tiny minority of benefit claimants, do so out of need, not greed – a few hours of undeclared work, to tide a family over into the next week. The rare cases of real greed covered in the media do not reflect the lives of the people coming through our doors.
Error and underpayments dwarf amount lost to fraud
“Instead of punishing people already struggling to get by, governments should focus on fixing a broken system. Last year already-struggling claimants were underpaid £1.2bn (we alone managed to save our clients £1.3m), while £1.9bn was lost in overpayments due to error. Together these dwarf the £1.1bn lost to fraud. Tackling these problems, and ensuring the benefit system works for people, must be the priority.
Sanctions will leave people with nowhere to go
“Withdrawing benefits will drive people into debt and destitution and homelessness, entrenching poverty rather than tackling its causes.
Benefit fraud crackdowns stigmatise people on benefits
“Crackdowns further stigmatise people on benefits, by giving the impression that most claimants are cheating the system. In fact, over 99% of claimants are not committing benefit fraud.
For more information, contact Will Horwitz, Community Links Communications Coordinator, will.horwitz@community-links.org or 0207 473 9669