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Benefits on Trial
There are over 1,000,000 adults with a learning disability in the UK. For their benefits, they have to battle with the Department for Work and Pensions whose system, with built-in hurdles, is loaded against them.
Benefits on Trial describes the DWP’s treatment of six people which leaves them deep in relative poverty. The book explores the strain not just on their finances but also, inevitably, on their mental health.
Benefits on Trial also examines, however, what happens when they appeal to an independent tribunal: the injustice at the hands of the DWP is set right, with its decisions overturned by a massive margin.
The DWP stands exposed by the evidence of this book.
Benefits on Trial describes the DWP’s treatment of six people which leaves them deep in relative poverty. The book explores the strain not just on their finances but also, inevitably, on their mental health.
Benefits on Trial also examines, however, what happens when they appeal to an independent tribunal: the injustice at the hands of the DWP is set right, with its decisions overturned by a massive margin.
The DWP stands exposed by the evidence of this book.
64 pages, Paperback
Published February 25, 2022
2 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Neil Carpenter
3 books1 followerNeil Carpenter was born in 1950 in Cornwall. After reading English at Cambridge, he had a variety of lecturing jobs in England and abroad before returning to Cornwall to teach English in schools.
Since retiring, he has worked as a volunteer advocate for adults with a learning disability. ‘Austerity’s Victims’ and 'Benefits on Trial' are based on that experience.
Since retiring, he has worked as a volunteer advocate for adults with a learning disability. ‘Austerity’s Victims’ and 'Benefits on Trial' are based on that experience.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 12, 2022
Neil Carpenter, an advocate who supports people in their battles with the benefits system, has returned to the themes of his 2018 book Austerity’s Victims with this account of a group of people with learning disabilities in Cornwall who find themselves at the mercy of the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). In Benefits on Trial we follow the mind-boggling, exhausting struggles of six people against a system seemingly designed to obstruct them at every turn.
Often, and shamefully, after long battles during which people can be deprived of their benefits for more than a year, the DWP will suddenly make offers of payment shortly before a tribunal hearing. The sole purpose of this is to avoid their numerous inaccuracies, inefficiencies, blatant falsehoods and absurd decisions being aired in public. If cases do reach tribunal, DWP decisions are often overturned by the judge within minutes, or even before anyone sets foot in the courtroom. People get their entitlements, but end up exhausted and mentally broken by the battle. This is the impact of the government department designed to support the poorest in society. It is, at heart, a system that abuses those it is meant to serve.
People with learning disabilities are inevitably among those who suffer most. The DWP requires them to read complicated letters, make phone calls involving waits of over 40 minutes to get through, complete 33-page forms within tight deadlines, and attend assessment meetings involving lengthy travel where they face a barrage of difficult questions. If they trip up at any point during what Carpenter calls this ‘obstacle course’ they face losing their benefits altogether – despite their obvious entitlement to them.
In his conclusion Carpenter analyses in detail the shocking inadequacies of the system. In their initial assessments all but one of the people whose cases he describes were awarded no points at all for their needs in relation to daily living and mobility needs. By tribunal stage every one of them was awarded enough points to qualify easily for the benefits they were claiming. One was awarded an astonishing 35 points. For a ‘medical professional’ to have awarded no points to this person in their initial assessment was not an unfortunate error – it was a casual, callous and deliberate attempt to bully a person seen as weak out of their entitlement and out of the support system altogether. Carpenter describes this as ‘a cynical pattern of injustice’
Carpenter is a gifted writer (and clearly a powerful advocate) and describes these stories of injustice powerfully and movingly. It is not possible to read this book without feeling real anger on behalf of those who are abused by this system. The question remains – what is to be done? The author lists a helpful series of issues that the DWP must address, ranging from improved quality of assessors to a change in the attritional culture that grinds people down until they lose the will to fight.
Often, and shamefully, after long battles during which people can be deprived of their benefits for more than a year, the DWP will suddenly make offers of payment shortly before a tribunal hearing. The sole purpose of this is to avoid their numerous inaccuracies, inefficiencies, blatant falsehoods and absurd decisions being aired in public. If cases do reach tribunal, DWP decisions are often overturned by the judge within minutes, or even before anyone sets foot in the courtroom. People get their entitlements, but end up exhausted and mentally broken by the battle. This is the impact of the government department designed to support the poorest in society. It is, at heart, a system that abuses those it is meant to serve.
People with learning disabilities are inevitably among those who suffer most. The DWP requires them to read complicated letters, make phone calls involving waits of over 40 minutes to get through, complete 33-page forms within tight deadlines, and attend assessment meetings involving lengthy travel where they face a barrage of difficult questions. If they trip up at any point during what Carpenter calls this ‘obstacle course’ they face losing their benefits altogether – despite their obvious entitlement to them.
In his conclusion Carpenter analyses in detail the shocking inadequacies of the system. In their initial assessments all but one of the people whose cases he describes were awarded no points at all for their needs in relation to daily living and mobility needs. By tribunal stage every one of them was awarded enough points to qualify easily for the benefits they were claiming. One was awarded an astonishing 35 points. For a ‘medical professional’ to have awarded no points to this person in their initial assessment was not an unfortunate error – it was a casual, callous and deliberate attempt to bully a person seen as weak out of their entitlement and out of the support system altogether. Carpenter describes this as ‘a cynical pattern of injustice’
Carpenter is a gifted writer (and clearly a powerful advocate) and describes these stories of injustice powerfully and movingly. It is not possible to read this book without feeling real anger on behalf of those who are abused by this system. The question remains – what is to be done? The author lists a helpful series of issues that the DWP must address, ranging from improved quality of assessors to a change in the attritional culture that grinds people down until they lose the will to fight.
August 22, 2023
The book itself I felt was very well presented and very easily read. I'm not going to say I "enjoyed" reading it; it just reaffirmed what I believe the DWP to be, (no expletives allowed).
My daughter acquired a brain injury in 2015, and her life just about stopped permanently. After hospitalisation her and her son moved into my home, and as much as her health has improved it is still such a frustration (to us both) that she can't look after herself yet - she was always very single-minded and loved her independence, and I'm not sure she ever will.
So began my life with the DWP, phone call after phone call, no waiting time less than 45 minutes, only to be met with automatons at the other side. You could almost hear them ticking boxes during the conversation. I often wondered whether it was purely a KPI exercise and that they were bonused on low positive applications.
The assessments were less taxing - they were handled by ATOS and I always had supporting documents to fall back on. I suppose we didn't really challenge the final decision though, because the whole experience is very tiring, and we weren't penniless.
My daughter was "lucky" I suppose, inasmuch as she had myself to fall back on - I took early retirement and that's how we'll live our life now. She didn't have the hardships encountered by the "cast" in this book - horrendous reading.
Please don't think the experiences were exaggerated in any way. The inflexibility, the carelessness, the lack of empathy or feeling, the unprofessionalism ... the dirty tricks, they're all there in plain sight.
Everyone should read this book.
October 18, 2023
A small rural community with just a handful of striking of examples of failure and neglect, despite the best efforts of wonderful support workers around them. This is the striking story that Neil Carpenter puts across from his personal experiences of helping 6 claimants who have had their PIP stopped or cut.
It is a real eye opener that this is only a small section of people, when it's not even across a region, county or country. IT is incalculable how many people are going through such distress.
It not only highlights the unnecessary stress and plight that these poor people encountered, but also the massive need for support workers and assistance people with Learning Difficulties should have in their day to day lives, within a society that seemingly looks away from them.
Bravo to Neil Carpenter for a brave, hard hitting and factual account and for the work he does. This is a must read for anyone who has any degree of empathy.
It is a real eye opener that this is only a small section of people, when it's not even across a region, county or country. IT is incalculable how many people are going through such distress.
It not only highlights the unnecessary stress and plight that these poor people encountered, but also the massive need for support workers and assistance people with Learning Difficulties should have in their day to day lives, within a society that seemingly looks away from them.
Bravo to Neil Carpenter for a brave, hard hitting and factual account and for the work he does. This is a must read for anyone who has any degree of empathy.
April 18, 2022
An excellent and quick read. Neil Carpenter informs readers of the woefully inadequate workings of the DWP by telling us of a few case histories. It is upsetting, frustrating and so very annoying to realise that the DWP fails these people and deliberately makes it difficult to claim the benefits that they need and deserve. The whole system is ridiculous and needs to change ASAP. Thank you, Neil Carpenter, for highlighting this government department that really should hang its head in shame regarding these cases at the very least.
May 14, 2022
This is an important contribution to the understanding of a system that does not take into account people's ability to negotiate the complexities of forms, budgeting and contracts.
The DWP expectations of claimants with learning disabilities are unrealistic and Neil Carpenter demonstrates through case studies how this impacts on individuals. His analysis is clear and damning. In Benefits on Trial, he advocates for those whose lives have been battered by an unfair system and finds it wanting.
Required reading for welfare rights advisers, LD advocates and for DWP staff and Ministers.
The DWP expectations of claimants with learning disabilities are unrealistic and Neil Carpenter demonstrates through case studies how this impacts on individuals. His analysis is clear and damning. In Benefits on Trial, he advocates for those whose lives have been battered by an unfair system and finds it wanting.
Required reading for welfare rights advisers, LD advocates and for DWP staff and Ministers.
April 2, 2022
After many years spent supporting children with special educational needs in mainstream school I often wonder how their adult life might have turned out. This book is written by somebody who works as a volunteer advocate with adults who have a learning disability and I found it extremely accessible. It follows 6 people who battle a system which appears stacked against them and we learn how the impact is felt not just on their finances but also their mental health. In my opinion the Department for Work & Pensions have a lot to answer for; they should be supporting these people not subjecting them to such distress. The book is non profit making, is very reasonably priced and I highly recommend it.
January 12, 2023
Shocking
Anyone who thinks living on benefits is easy is an idiot and if you still think so after reading this book you have no humanity. A DWP with no compassion and interested only in saving money, ticking KPI boxes and following a script is no use to the peop!e it is meant to serve. In one of the richest countries on the planet people should not be treated like this.
Anyone who thinks living on benefits is easy is an idiot and if you still think so after reading this book you have no humanity. A DWP with no compassion and interested only in saving money, ticking KPI boxes and following a script is no use to the peop!e it is meant to serve. In one of the richest countries on the planet people should not be treated like this.
November 20, 2022
Society's Invisible Victims
Brilliant expose of the system failures endured by our most vulnerable in society. Highlighting individuals who haven't "fallen through the net" - they were pushed by the very departments and policies set up to protect them. Shocking and relevant - a must-read.
Brilliant expose of the system failures endured by our most vulnerable in society. Highlighting individuals who haven't "fallen through the net" - they were pushed by the very departments and policies set up to protect them. Shocking and relevant - a must-read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2022
Neil Carpenter has given a voice to many vulnerable people who have been disregarded and failed by the welfare benefit system. He is to be congratulated on his tenacity in appealing to benefit tribunals on behalf of those without a voice - and being successful. This record of 6 people winning 6 tribunals should be mandatory reading for all decision makers
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews