Letter: New benefit rules making life miserable for needy claimants

Recently I have seen at first hand the stupidity' of the changes that have been made to the benefits system.

I attended several interviews with the DWP Jobcentre Plus helping a disabled person who was having difficulties claiming benefits. This person is suffering a serious, rare, complex and disabling illness that is permanent. I feel this person is being let down by the benefit system as they are being required to attend regular work placement interviews with the aim of making them fit to work. This person's illness is such that they will never be able to work again, however, because they are unable to meet the criteria set out in the DWP ESA regulations they are required to attend these interviews, or face sanctions and lose their benefits.

Attending these interviews is making the person's health worse, adding to the depression that is already being suffered.

I call on the leaders of all the political parties, Cameron, Clegg and Miliband to answer letters and e-mails that have been sent to them regarding the DWP ESA regulations, not just ignore the correspondence.

Not all people are scroungers, there are people who are genuinely ill and disabled, who are being let down by the system and the sad tale of David Clapson will be repeated more often in the future unless the powers-that-be change the way, the DWP deal with benefit claimants.

I feel the DWP should reinstate the list of specified illnesses that existed under the old incapacity benefit regulations. It seems the ESA Regulations have been designed to be a 'One Benefit Fits All System' this is impossible, because not all people who suffer serious illness have the same symptoms and degree of disablement.

I feel not enough research has been done by those who were responsible for changing the benefits system – they seem to have been focused more on cutting costs than focusing on the effects that these benefit changes would have on genuine claimants.

Ian Webb

Shrewsbury