Inside look: UK benefit system faces unprecedented manipulation claims
Benefit assessors expose major flaws in UK welfare assessment process leading to questionable claims approval. Government faces growing pressure as welfare costs might reach £100-billion mark by end of decade
The UKs welfare system faces serious issues as benefit-assessors speak up about wide-spread problems in the assessment process. Former staff members told Channel 4 Dispatches how some people exploit the system using pre-planned phrases and false mental-health claims
Sarah‚ an ex-DWP nurse-assessor points out a concerning trend: people sharing tips on web forums about getting benefits approval. “If someone mentions being suicidal every day its straight away put in high category; sadly not everyone is telling the truth“ she explains. The system dont properly check these claims which hurts people who really need help
Benefits assessor Michael Clouston revealed how the payment structure creates wrong motivation: assessors get £80 for each case (if they do more than six daily). Phone-based assessments — instead of face-to-face meetings — let some workers process lots of cases quickly: many doing double-digits per day
Current stats show troubling trends: about 2.8-million people now claim long-term illness benefits; approval rates doubled since early-2010s to 80%. The Office for Budget Responsibility says costs might hit £100-billion by decades end
Liz Kendall‚ Work and Pensions Secretary admits problems: “The work capability assessment isnt working for people in system or public finances“. Government plans include:
- Local council involvement in back-to-work schemes
- Job centers complete overhaul
- Benefits cut for young people who dont take work opportunities
These changes wont start till next spring which some say is too late considering the systems current state
