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A Future that Works - for all!

Issue date

11 Dec 2012

A Future that Works - for all!

Welfare reform: Busting the Myths

Government and right wing commentators have undertaken a sustained attack on benefit claimants, in a clear attempt to provide a rationale for their savage cuts in the budgets for welfare and the regressive elements of their welfare reform programme.

The most pedalled myths are focused on:

Alleged benefit Fraud:

The latest Department for Work and Pensions estimates show that in 2011/12 just 0.7 per cent of all benefit expenditure was overpaid due to fraud and just 0.3% overpayment of Incapacity Benefit due to fraud - contrast that with the £120 billion of tax lost through evasion, avoidance and non-collection.

Fitness for work:

The key issue is the lack of jobs, nationally there are more than 5 unemployed workers chasing every vacancy and in areas in our region - for example; Manchester, 12 adults on working age benefits are chasing every vacancy.

Life- style choice:

The evidence is that most benefit claimants are short term, which is not surprising as benefit levels are well below what is regarded as minimum income levels - can you really 'live' on £71 per week JSA?

The myths are deliberate; they undermine support for the alternative by shifting attention from the tax avoiders and speculators. Scapegoating the most vulnerable is an old tactic to defend the unequal status quo, which is one of the reasons why we must combat the myths.

We need to:

*ensure that all our activist have the information to challenge the myths when they arise in informal discussions in the workplace

*be organised in local communities to respond to media attacks and reports of ill informed comments - concerted letters to the editor campaign can work

*support campaigns of disabled people and others against the 'welfare reform'

*promote a positive modern welfare system as part of our alterative.

What follows are a series of links to a variety of on-line resources to support union and local action.

Pleases use them - and let us know of other resources so this bulletin can grow and be a useful tool in our campaigning.

Resources:

Recent article covering a range of myths peddled as smokescreen for 'welfare reform':

http://www.redpepper.org.uk/mythbuster-welfare-reform/

Specific piece on Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) myth-buster, produced by the Disability Alliance:

http://www.disabledpf.org.uk/documents/dbcmythbuster.pdf

On-line resources

Disabled people campaigning:

http://wearespartacus.org.uk/