UK: Poor being subject to sanctions, criminalisation & ID theft

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Universal Jobmatch security loophole - millions of jobseekers open to identity fraud

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sourced by Beaulieu

Angry people in the UK are voicing their concerns on social media about the harsh and oppressive treatment they are getting from the Government when they are trying hard to look for a job and also doing voluntary work to help boost their skills.

The Department of Work and Pensions have recently brought out the flagship Universal Jobmatch which, they say, is compulsory for claimants to sign up for.  This would encourage helicopter monitoring by Job Centre staff and open up personal details for criminal activity, dubious and fake employers, and risking people's safety.

Channel 4 have highlighted major personal security flaws within  the system.

If claimants do not take up the jobs without good reason, they will be sanctioned and lose their benefits. Some jobs are  being recommended despite asking  for people who have degrees when the claimant has none or do not fit the DWP job search criteria nor the applicant.

For some reason, mainstream media regards all people who are out-of-work are lazy, drunk scroungers. The people I have spoken too being affected by this are not like that at all, some are even teetotal and hate watching mindless television shows. 

A few weeks later, after the Department of Work and Pensions, said that the Universal Jobmatch (Gov.uk) site was compulsory, but it turns out that due to an European law, it is not but job centre staff are actively being 'encouraged' to direct it, despite the many complaints about it. The site can be accessed without being logged on anonymously but without the monitoring, but there is still the personal safety risk.

Some out-of-work people who have applied for benefits are having to wait over a month, even through Christmas, with no money whatsoever, until a decision has been made.  Some claimants have asked their MP to push the decision as they cannot live on thin air.  The poor, despite being in dire circumstances, can be too proud to apply for a hardship loan, and do not want to face the indignity of half an hour of grilliing by a 18-year-old stranger about  their personal circumstances, particularly those in difficult family situations as this would add even more stress. Not all the poor are allowed to receive a small hardship payment anyway.The Government is playing mind games with these people. Some people are getting so stressed by the system, that they don't even want to jump through the numerous hoops at all, and rather struggle without the constant micromanaging.

To make it matters worse for some, Westminster Council wants to ban soup kitchens and the homeless from their streets, and this has also created another huge tide of anger.

It is not just the unemployed people who are furious but many, who are in work, are  absolutely disgusted with the current Government and at how the poor and vulnerable are treated.  They too could end up in that situation.Some want their taxes to help these people.