AS part of UNITE the Unions Community initiative, the People’s Assembly Fife is holding a National Day of Action Against Benefit Sanctions throughout the UK.
To this end The People’s Assembly Fife and the UNITE Area Activist Committee are holding a demonstration outside Kirkcaldy Job Centre on Thursday March 19th at 11am.
Ballingry man Tam Kirby, of PAF said, this week, “Fife PA have been leafleting outside local Job Centres over the past couple months and have been distributing information to claimants on how to avoid, and if required, appeal against any sanctions.
“We have had contact with over 200 people so far and 30% of them have been sanctioned at some point. People are sanctioned for being a few minutes late for appointments. One claimant we spoke to, was sanctioned because he did not complete a job search at Christmas”.
He added, “Job centres do not now even provide claimants with an appeal form and it is only available as a download from the DWP web site.
“The numbers of those being sanctioned for little reason is on the increase and is forcing more and more people to use food banks. Once Universal Credit is fully implemented those in low paid employment and receiving benefits, will also be faced with sanctions to their benefits if they do not comply fully with the DWP”.
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