John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why

The social security system for people of working age differs from the other institutions of the UK welfare state in one vital respect.

John-Humphrys-Tony-Blair When there is a major scandal in the NHS, this does not lead people to question the principle of healthcare free at the point of delivery; when schools send young people out into the world without qualifications, pundits don’t line up to argue it’s time to drop the idea of universal education.

But any evidence, however anecdotal, of failure on the part of the social security system leads to calls for its very existence to be put into question.

The NHS and the educational system are seen as having problems: social security is routinely presented as being a problem.

I doubt John Humphrys’s documentary for the BBC tonight will satisfy those who would like to see an American-style massacre of the UK benefits system, but it does look as if it will provide another pulpit for welfare-hysterics like Larry Mead to hold forth on the virtues of cutting people loose with no means of support.

And in an article for Monday’s Daily Mail, Humphrys got very close to endorsing the disagnosis of figures like Mead, concluding:

“Beveridge tried to slay the fifth evil giant [Idleness] and, in the process, helped to create a different sort of monster in its place: the age of entitlement. The battle for his successors is to bring it to an end.”

So it looks unlikely Humphrys will be using this high-profile opportunity to challenge the view social security has fostered what he calls “a dependency culture that has grown steadily over the past years”. Rather he seems to want to balance this assumption with a more sympathetic attitude to at least some people on benefits.

But welcome as this is, his article turns on the idea of a system which is inherently condemned to failure because of ‘welfare dependency’, with no acknowledgment this is a theory which needs to be tested against the evidence.

And the evidence doesn’t support the theory. Three examples from Humphrys’s article illustrate this.

Humphrys goes to visit the ward in Cardiff where he grew up, and notes “one in four people of working age in this area are now living on benefits”. (The figure was 24% as of February 2011). What he doesn’t mention is it is quite exceptional for such a large share of working age people in an area to be on benefits: this is the case in only 5% of wards in Great Britain.

And even if we accepted these unusually high rates of benefit receipt exemplified some more general pattern, it is hardly one of a “dependency culture that has grown steadily over the past years”, for the simple reason the numbers have not grown steadily: 1999, some 9.5 per cent of wards had 24% or more working age residents on benefits.

In 2007, before the recession, this had fallen to 3.7 per cent. This would suggest concentrations of benefit receipt are highly responsive to labour market conditions: the opposite of what is suggested by the ‘welfare dependency’ theory, which stands or falls on the extent to which benefit receipt fails to respond to what’s happening in the economy.

Table 1:

Ward-level-benefit-receipt-1997-2007-2011
The second example is a typical case of big numbers being thrown around without asking what they mean.

Humphrys speaks to a GP in Tower Hamlets and asks:

“What does she think of the statistics that say there are 2.5m people too sick to work? Unbelievable, she says. Literally unbelievable.”

Unbelievable perhaps, but only when you ignore the fact no less than 52 per cent of people claiming sickness benefit (Incapacity Benefit/Employment Support Allowance) are disabled. We know this because they are also receiving Disability Living Allowance, which tops up their income to compensate for the care or mobility costs they face.

‘No less than 52%’, because there is an unknown number of disabled people who don’t meet the DLA criteria in the caseload as well.

Admittedly the way the official statistics are presented is unhelpful. People receiving DLA but not claiming an income replacement benefit (either because they are working or are living with their family and don’t qualify) are categorised by DWP as ‘disabled’, but the great majority who do need to claim IB/ESA are simply included in the sickness benefit group.

So the numbers ‘on the sick’ are more than doubled by the inclusion of this identifiable group of disabled people. And when it comes to long-term claims – which are routinely cited as evidence for the ‘welfare dependency’ theory – the numbers are being tripled: 67% of all sickness claims running for five years or more are combined with DLA.

Among the rest of the sickness benefit caseload, receipt has been falling for years without the use of tough sanctions on claimants or benefit cuts – the opposite of what the dependency theory would lead us to expect. So this vital piece of statistical support for the theory falls apart as soon as we take disability – a word which does not occur once in Humphrys’s article – into account.

Finally, Humphrys rightly points out Beveridge never anticipated changes in household structure which were to place considerable strain on social security, noting:

“Today there are 590,000 lone parents on out of work benefits.”

But lone parents are the group where the dependency theory falls down most obviously. Lone parent employment rates fell from 60% at the end of the 1970s to 44% by the mid-1990s and then rose steadily, reaching 58% today. The kind of get-tough welfare policies advocated by dependency theorists play no role in this history.

The benefits regime didn’t get more generous in the 1980s, and between 1997 and 2008, lone parent employment increased steadily with only the mildest of increases in conditionality and increases rather than cuts in benefits (through child tax credit). The theory of ‘welfare dependency’ has nothing to offer in explaining these changes.

Nobody would argue the UK social security system is perfect, but those who claim it shows systemic failures which throw into question its survival in its current form have no evidence for their assertions: if they did, we would be seeing it, rather than the deluge of misleading statistics and half-truths which dominates debate.

In a sense, this may not matter; Humphrys notes:

“In my decades of reporting politics I have never before seen the sort of political consensus on the benefits system that we seem to be approaching now.”

He may be right, but if this is the case, it is not because the welfare dependency theory has proved itself – it has failed abysmally: it is because the political terms of trade have changed so all parties are engaged in a battle for marginal advantage on this terrain.

All of which raises an interesting question for journalists: if there is a political consensus here, should they not be trying to make politicians’ lives more difficult by challenging it, rather than easier by promoting it?

See also:

• How poor children will get poorer on Cameron’s watch – Sam Royston, October 11th 2011

• On welfare reform, IDS is ignoring the ERAD project; Miliband must not join him – Stephen Evans, October 7th 2011

• Yet again, Tories fawn over the far right – Alex Hern, October 6th 2011

• Cameron’s recycled rhetoric on benefit claimants – Stephen Evans, October 5th 2011

• Tories whitewash the millions set to lose from welfare reform – Sue Marsh, October 3rd 2011

http://twitter.com/drdukeofurl/status/129336468253585409 larryb

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, on soc sec; here’s why: http://t.co/qjkQlSgA; Sov country w sov currency can always pay for ss.
http://twitter.com/isobel_waby/status/129337537700433921 Isobel waby

John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why: http://t.co/t5sfK4ZL by @djmgaffneyw4
http://twitter.com/jeremylhughes/status/129338644052979712 Jeremy Hughes

Superb article by @djmgaffneyw4 on @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security http://t.co/KP2hDuuV
http://twitter.com/matthewjorda/status/129358294048456705 matt jordan

John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why: http://t.co/t5sfK4ZL by @djmgaffneyw4
http://twitter.com/n_l_a_t/status/129394756584357888 NobodyLikesATory

THE WELFARE STATE 3 (of 3): Declan Gaffney provides a response for Left Foot Forward. http://t.co/5bBQiAvd
http://twitter.com/alteredsquid/status/129421726625959936 Altered Squid

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why: http://t.co/Ccq2A19j by @djmgaffneyw4
http://twitter.com/paul_trembath/status/129429646839250944 Paul Trembath

John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why: http://t.co/t5sfK4ZL by @djmgaffneyw4
http://twitter.com/rctunison/status/129435057357205504 RCT UNISON

“@leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why: http://t.co/einVmRc5 by @djmgaffneyw4”
http://twitter.com/cuchulaindundee/status/129442861958692864 Alan Cowan

John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why | Left Foot Forward http://t.co/nHVyFl0r
http://twitter.com/sharpteach/status/129448748525948928 Catherine Sharpe

John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why: http://t.co/t5sfK4ZL by @djmgaffneyw4
http://twitter.com/helengoodmanmp/status/129454395871072257 Helen Goodman

John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why: http://t.co/t5sfK4ZL by @djmgaffneyw4
http://twitter.com/c0ntr0versial/status/129457397902229504 C0ntr0versial

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why: http://t.co/qIdcW8Uf by @djmgaffneyw4
http://twitter.com/c0ntr0versial/status/129457736512573440 C0ntr0versial

@BBCr4today > RT John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why: http://t.co/qIdcW8Uf by @djmgaffneyw4
http://twitter.com/ligomersall/status/129459286593126400 liane gomersall

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/ul7yHfrD
http://twitter.com/therightarticle/status/129459427668537344 Michael

John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/e04vh6Lb
http://twitter.com/katabaticesque/status/129459775158226944 Mrs Lionel Messi

John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/e04vh6Lb
http://twitter.com/russellbryan/status/129461050591555586 russellbryan

John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why – http://t.co/rEPqJZJe – from @Taptu
http://twitter.com/louise_restell/status/129461530298302464 Louise Restell

John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/e04vh6Lb
http://twitter.com/malarky67/status/129467498365067264 StephenH

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/jbmCIwuF
http://twitter.com/higgledygarden/status/129467654103764992 Benjamin Ranyard

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/jbmCIwuF
http://twitter.com/pabloscott/status/129472873436946432 pabloscott

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/ZHesI98M
http://twitter.com/djmgaffneyw4/status/129473022267637760 Declan Gaffney

John Humphrys' 'Age of entitlement' is based on the usual misleading statistics and half-truths http://t.co/2Vjh9N30
http://twitter.com/mtpennycook/status/129473882393542656 Matthew Pennycook

John Humphrys' 'Age of entitlement' is based on the usual misleading statistics and half-truths http://t.co/2Vjh9N30
http://twitter.com/oxchampions/status/129474115299065856 Champions

John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why: http://t.co/t5sfK4ZL by @djmgaffneyw4
http://twitter.com/danielelton/status/129474704842035200 Daniel Elton

@pollytoynbee – How the welfare dependency narrative ignores evidence on @leftfootfwd: http://t.co/bHQpKGjV ( Vs J Humphrys BBC Doc 2nite)
SweetiesMum

My autistic son doesn’t match ATOS criteria but is too disabled to ever work, can’t even speak in a way most can understand, 5 minute attention span etc. Those same 90% who want the benefits he will rely on tightened even further outise his reach- are they going to hire him then? Special school already has to give extra 1-1 for him to cope but the tick box structure does not work for his disability. Sometimes I wish I could just sleep and never wake up (increasingly I wish that) just because I am sick of being scared for my disabled kids. I don’t know what to do any more, although have taken a one week strike from the website Mumsnet in order to not allow the claimant-haters there to target me as they usually do, wishing I was in a workhouse or advocating euthanasia. We’re not lazy- I alsmot have a post grad degree but there’s no work I can do self employed and until my youngest starts school can’t work for soomeone else (will try then, September); husband made redundant but FT student AND self employed but again, work of the really profitable kind hard to come by. Tired, scared for my boys and wishing those who seem to want them to starve would come spend an hour with my delightful little lad then tell me that.
http://twitter.com/suey2y/status/129479647435042816 Sue Marsh

@BBCr4today http://t.co/2ltxJpag
http://twitter.com/labour52rose/status/129480487218585600 Alex Braithwaite

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/rMM8Xkad
http://twitter.com/danielelton/status/129481023271616512 Daniel Elton

@sam_royston How the welfare dependency narrative ignores the evidence: http://t.co/bHQpKGjV on @leftfootfwd
http://twitter.com/danielelton/status/129481169120149504 Daniel Elton

@suey2y @BrokenOfBritain @crimsoncrip How the welfare dependency narrative ignores the evidence: http://t.co/bHQpKGjV on @leftfootfwd
http://twitter.com/suey2y/status/129481596175777792 Sue Marsh

MT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, on social security; here’s why http://t.co/TIEsoP1L Brilliant article! Brilliant! PLS RT B4 tonight
http://twitter.com/suziejones2010/status/129482183948771328 Suzie Jones

I get DLA – that's all. I'm NOT sick and I'm NOT ill and I'm NOT a scrounger. I just happen to be deaf. http://t.co/a7TASWUw
http://twitter.com/yarnysue/status/129482304694390784 Peaceful Crocheter

MT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, on social security; here’s why http://t.co/TIEsoP1L Brilliant article! Brilliant! PLS RT B4 tonight
http://twitter.com/tonyrobinsonobe/status/129482424097837056 Tony Robinson OBE

I get DLA – that's all. I'm NOT sick and I'm NOT ill and I'm NOT a scrounger. I just happen to be deaf. http://t.co/a7TASWUw
StephenHenderson

Fantatstic article! Really superb– reminds me why I come here.
http://twitter.com/suey2y/status/129482717388738560 Sue Marsh

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/TIEsoP1L <<The brilliant @djmgaffneyw4
http://twitter.com/richardbrennan/status/129482927892475904 richardbrennan

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/TIEsoP1L <<The brilliant @djmgaffneyw4
http://twitter.com/suey2y/status/129483055126679552 Sue Marsh

@laurenlaverne Lauren, great, great article exposing mistakes in John Humphreys docco on welfare tonight http://t.co/2ltxJpag Please share?
http://twitter.com/westernshores/status/129483118582304769 Pen

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, on social security; here’s why http://t.co/4OzS0Stf Read all the facts & not the fiction.
http://twitter.com/psychoticlynx/status/129483468265631744 Kim Blake

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, on social security; here’s why http://t.co/4OzS0Stf Read all the facts & not the fiction.
http://twitter.com/woweegoodstuff/status/129483941303431168 Mark

MT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, on social security; here’s why http://t.co/TIEsoP1L Brilliant article! Brilliant! PLS RT B4 tonight
http://twitter.com/paulstpancras/status/129483958760116224 paulstpancras

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, on social security; here’s why http://t.co/OysjKpeU Read all the facts & not the fiction.
http://twitter.com/bernardp/status/129483966947401728 Bernard Purcell

@laurenlaverne Lauren, great, great article exposing mistakes in John Humphreys docco on welfare tonight http://t.co/2ltxJpag Please share?
http://twitter.com/klw678/status/129484201459326976 katie white

John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why: http://t.co/t5sfK4ZL by @djmgaffneyw4
http://twitter.com/isdancing/status/129484247831547904 Mabel Horrocks

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/TIEsoP1L <<The brilliant @djmgaffneyw4
http://twitter.com/hallymk1/status/129484313262694400 Richard Hall

on social security and why John Humphrys is wrong http://t.co/gWAc5oyp by @djmgaffneyw4 via @suey2y
http://twitter.com/jintyg51/status/129484318295863296 Janet Graham

MT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, on social security; here’s why http://t.co/TIEsoP1L Brilliant article! Brilliant! PLS RT B4 tonight
http://twitter.com/morgenmuffeluk/status/129484612450783232 ARW

Good article on social security in the UK http://t.co/Ff8kIHIm
http://twitter.com/richardexell/status/129484739613704192 Richard Exell

John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why: http://t.co/t5sfK4ZL by @djmgaffneyw4
http://twitter.com/catherinbrunton/status/129484892089233408 Catherine Brunton

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/TIEsoP1L <<The brilliant @djmgaffneyw4
http://twitter.com/ncclols/status/129485012545454080 Andy

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/xzrSlRIg <<The brilliant @djmgaffneyw4
http://twitter.com/fnafilms/status/129485068409380864 zahra

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/TIEsoP1L <<The brilliant @djmgaffneyw4
http://twitter.com/foolfromthehill/status/129487332545011712 A bloke from Norwich

Have a read… http://t.co/tOIlBIyr #welfare #everyoneonthedoleisascroungerobviously
http://twitter.com/frdragonspouse/status/129487362257457153 Jill Hayward

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/TIEsoP1L <<The brilliant @djmgaffneyw4
http://twitter.com/oneoffdave/status/129488469411119104 Dave McQuirk

Have a read… http://t.co/tOIlBIyr #welfare #everyoneonthedoleisascroungerobviously
http://twitter.com/suey2y/status/129488528802455552 Sue Marsh

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/TIEsoP1L <<Right to Reply Humphreys? PLS RT
http://twitter.com/roryweal/status/129488740174405632 Rory Weal

Fantastic article defending welfare by Declan Gaffney in @leftfootfwd today – must read http://t.co/UZRJ0mtv
http://twitter.com/shenlack/status/129488761745719296 Stephen Clarke

RT @suey2y: MT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/iZDWYx4B <<The brilliant @djmgaffneyw4
http://twitter.com/timregency/status/129488841198419968 Tim B

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/TIEsoP1L <<Right to Reply Humphreys? PLS RT
http://twitter.com/isobel_waby/status/129488922471448577 Isobel waby

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/TIEsoP1L <<Right to Reply Humphreys? PLS RT
http://twitter.com/macca61/status/129488935939350528 neil mcelduff

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/TIEsoP1L <<Right to Reply Humphreys? PLS RT
http://twitter.com/rnib_campaigns/status/129489344888188928 RNIB Campaigns

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/TIEsoP1L <<Right to Reply Humphreys? PLS RT
http://twitter.com/owenjones84/status/129489510449950721 Owen Jones

@OwenJones84 How the welfare dependency narrative ignores the evidence: http://t.co/bHQpKGjV on @leftfootfwd
http://twitter.com/bigreader101/status/129489983009603585 John Latham

@OwenJones84 How the welfare dependency narrative ignores the evidence: http://t.co/bHQpKGjV on @leftfootfwd
http://twitter.com/woweegoodstuff/status/129490011568611328 Mark

I like John Humphrys for his lambasting of our morally corrupt politicians but inaccurate reporting is unforgivable http://t.co/zQwcBzdE
http://twitter.com/donpaskini/status/129490280649986048 Don Paskini

@OwenJones84 How the welfare dependency narrative ignores the evidence: http://t.co/bHQpKGjV on @leftfootfwd
http://twitter.com/wokstation/status/129491286167257088 Wokstation

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/TIEsoP1L <<Right to Reply Humphreys? PLS RT
http://twitter.com/kacidama/status/129491816432152576 Helen Grogan

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/TIEsoP1L <<Right to Reply Humphreys? PLS RT
http://twitter.com/fibro_girl/status/129492123643936768 fibrogirl

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/TIEsoP1L <<Right to Reply Humphreys? PLS RT
http://twitter.com/michaelje67/status/129492140534403072 michael emonds

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/g7miLSbQ
http://twitter.com/suzyflipp/status/129492143327817728 Suzy Franklin

@OwenJones84 How the welfare dependency narrative ignores the evidence: http://t.co/bHQpKGjV on @leftfootfwd
http://twitter.com/westernshores/status/129492474640089088 Pen

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/TIEsoP1L <<Right to Reply Humphreys? PLS RT
http://twitter.com/lesa50/status/129493455331266560 lesa

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/TIEsoP1L <<Right to Reply Humphreys? PLS RT
http://twitter.com/isabelhardman/status/129493723175321600 Isabel Hardman

After welfare rant this morning, here's interesting post from @leftfootfwd on the Humphrys welfare documentary: http://t.co/s5o6wdPz
http://twitter.com/alisdairc/status/129494459242131456 Alisdair Cameron

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/XqFem9Hm
http://twitter.com/vmrampulla/status/129495202015608832 Vincenzo Rampulla

After welfare rant this morning, here's interesting post from @leftfootfwd on the Humphrys welfare documentary: http://t.co/s5o6wdPz
http://twitter.com/suey2y/status/129495212585263104 Sue Marsh

@DocHackenbush @WokStation @leftfootfwd Hmmmm, this any better ? http://t.co/2ltxJpag
http://twitter.com/jmahlives/status/129495217408712704 jma

@OwenJones84 How the welfare dependency narrative ignores the evidence: http://t.co/bHQpKGjV on @leftfootfwd
http://twitter.com/wokstation/status/129495255530745856 Wokstation

@DocHackenbush @suey2y @leftfootfwd it looks like a repaste of a shortened url – might confuse the phone? How's this? http://t.co/E3josl1r
http://twitter.com/tim_nicholls/status/129497190061182976 Tim Nicholls

John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why – http://t.co/jifFGagd < genuinely good and well researched article.
http://twitter.com/mywifeisjoanie/status/129498338138669056 Tom Robins

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/TIEsoP1L <<Right to Reply Humphreys? PLS RT
http://twitter.com/tillio2/status/129498927497097217 Phillip Tilley

@OwenJones84 How the welfare dependency narrative ignores the evidence: http://t.co/bHQpKGjV on @leftfootfwd
http://twitter.com/lbutcheruk/status/129499690705235969 Lee Butcher

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/Ta92GMWh
http://twitter.com/connecteditor/status/129500390717792256 Martin Reed

Interesting evidence-based blog arguing the case against welfare dependency theory http://t.co/OwZUI6b7
http://twitter.com/leodhasach/status/129500571706200064 Toby

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/LJhEsOa1
http://twitter.com/barsacq/status/129500723879755776 Richard McCarthy

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/TIEsoP1L <<Right to Reply Humphreys? PLS RT
http://twitter.com/annabirdfr/status/129501369114701824 Anna Bird

this article is a must read RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/djut5woQ
http://twitter.com/victoriagemmill/status/129501500593553408 Victoria Gemmill

@OwenJones84 How the welfare dependency narrative ignores the evidence: http://t.co/bHQpKGjV on @leftfootfwd
hindle-a

Just to note the term “out of work” benefit is a statistical convenience-many people that work receive them-Carers,low paid etc
http://twitter.com/narco_sam/status/129501727488618496 Sam Barnett-Cormack

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/TIEsoP1L <<Right to Reply Humphreys? PLS RT
marienbad

Well said. It always makes me laugh when the Tories say “Labour are the party of benefits” when there were how many unemployed in 1983? 3/4 million?
http://www.lartsocial.org Declan

2. You’re right that people often don’t make that distinction, but the figures here are just for out-of-work benefits- they don’t include people who are just receiving DLA or carer’s allowance or tax credits for example.
http://twitter.com/ahbess/status/129508488568254465 ahbess

Excellent article on how the welfare dependency narrative ignores the evidence http://t.co/EpMCOUeu on @leftfootfwd
http://twitter.com/bad_educashun/status/129509569826258944 Emma Semple

Why John Humphrys is wrong on social security: http://t.co/sgWXasiy
http://twitter.com/billkruse/status/129514300967624704 Bill Kruse

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/TIEsoP1L <<Right to Reply Humphreys? PLS RT
http://twitter.com/digitalben/status/129516421205073921 ben ssssss

LFF on Humphrys http://t.co/KJC10hJ2
http://twitter.com/brokenofbritain/status/129517559698558976 Broken OfBritain

John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why | Left Foot Forward http://t.co/fidd3maQ
Alex

“the age of entitlement” ha! If there’s anyone with a sense of “entitlement” it’s highly educated, well-off, older men like errrr, Humphys!
gwenhwyfaer

The consensus on benefits has mainly been achieved by ensuring that the people making decisions about benefits are as isolated as possible from the people who actually have to suffer under a system that would make Franz Kafka’s nameless, shameless bureaucrats blush.
http://twitter.com/snoid/status/129518480776101889 Snoid

john humphrys full of shit on welfare state http://t.co/TtFSowhG
http://twitter.com/firingback/status/129519878217547776 Colin Smith

John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why: http://t.co/t5sfK4ZL by @djmgaffneyw4
http://twitter.com/shevekuk/status/129521320215052288 Michael

@OwenJones84 How the welfare dependency narrative ignores the evidence: http://t.co/bHQpKGjV on @leftfootfwd
http://twitter.com/chocolatewig/status/129521479137247232 Vanessa Wigmore

John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why | Left Foot Forward http://t.co/fidd3maQ
http://twitter.com/leni_lava/status/129521881094176768 K

John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why | Left Foot Forward http://t.co/fidd3maQ
Barry

Great article but its a shame it isn’t as straightforward so I can show this to my non-politico colleagues. Thank you for the figures though!
hindle-a

Declan-OK thanks for reply.My wife and I received “out of work” benefits I was in paid work and she is an employer.The system is complicated because peoples’ situations are often complicated-the tax-payer versus recipient(“scrounger”) scenario often painted by the media is a false dichotomy!
http://redbrickblog.wordpress.com/2011/10/27/john-humphrys-hubris-and-welfare-dependency/ John Humphrys, hubris, and welfare dependency | Red Brick

[...] a genuine counterpoint, I strongly recommend Declan Gaffney’s retort to Humphrys on Left Foot Forward. Gaffney is a real expert and doesn’t need to spend a year and a lot of licence fee payers’ [...]
Rachel Fleming

John did an excerpt of this report on the today programme this morning, in each of his interviews the benefits recipients explained that the minimum wage was not enough to live on. He implied this was scandalous, but if the wage won’t cover the basics like food, rent and bills, plus the expense of work: travel and childcare; of course people are forced to stay on benefits, they are trapped rather than being work shy. Tsk humphreys, tsk tsk
SweetiesMum

If I had a sense of entitlement (carer, self employed husband) why would I feel so ashamed that we need help?
Angry

I note you do not comment on the father who suggested it was OK for him to stay on benefits instead of working 40 hours per week – because it would reduce the amount of time he could spend with his kids!

I assume too that you now regard Diane Abbott as part of the political consensus. It was after all she who recently observed on “This Week” that many of the youngsters in her constituency wouldn’t accept a job because they would not enjoy it.

My father’s generation, and much of mine, worked long hours, often in boring and/or unpleasant jobs simply to support their families. I imagine Declan Gaffney regards them simply as mugs!
http://www.soylentdave.com Dave

Nicely put.

You (or perhaps Humphrys…) inspired me to finish my own post, as I’ve had some figures knocking about for a while that put the lie to this idea that people claim out of work benefits for ‘generations’ (or ’20 years’ as Humphrys claimed in the Mail) – DWP figures clearly show that the vast majority claim benefits only in the short-term.
Jullie

I do think welfare has got out of control if you can receive benefits of more than £20,000 per year. Coming out of welfare into work may not mean a lot of difference to start with but the idea is that you work hard and get promoted or learn additional skills to get a higher wage. I know this is anathema to the left to suggest people need to take some responsibility for themselves but out of my family and friends none of us have been on welfare but we would take any work while looking for something better. We do need some level of welfare in particular for the disabled but it should only be treated as a temporary safety net for all able bodied people.
Rick

Declan, what rubbish. Nothing to worry about, eh?

In 2008/09, gross income tax receipts were £152.5 billion. In the same year, social security benefits cost the Exchequer £150.1 billion.

In 2009/10, the Treasury is expecting to take in £140.5 billion in gross income tax receipts. Social security benefits are projected to be £164.7 billion.

According to an official Treasury forecast, benefits will cost £170.9 billion in 2010/11. That is equal to what the Government will spend on the NHS, schools and universities combined.

Denial is not the way forward – I would have thought you lefties would have learned that by now.
http://wheresthebenefit.blogspot.com DavidG

What exactly is so _wrong_ with an entitlement culture. Isn’t the entire point of society to provide for individuals who need the help of the group. Isn’t an entitlement culture the measure of a healthy society, not a flawed on?

Ultimately, isn’t a society in which providing for the needs of those who need society’s help draws so much opprobrium the real thing we should be worrying about.
Kat

Good article but missed one thing – statistics on welfare spending and labour market statistics show that spending on put of work benefits has been falling steadily since it began to be measured separately from pensions in 1993 (as % of GDP) and is lower now, despite the recession and the increase in unemployment, than in 1993. Also, the numbers of people entitled to unemployment benefit but not claiming have risen consistently since 1993, recently outweighing the numbers unemployed, entitled and claiming.
Mark Dragilocevic

Complete and utter leftist rubbish. Propose sensible solutions for necessary welfare reform instead of whinging about Humphrys.
Katie

This bs makes me want to kill myself, people make me feel like such a burden on the world. As if I can help that the doctors can’t find any ways to treat me because there is no money going to researching my condition.
steve odlum

Agree with much in declans article. Watched the programme and argued these points thruoghout programme minus the statistics given above.
Principles the same and YES where is the responsibility of the Press/Media to challenge. I hated the straw polls which sensationalised the programme 1003 adults age 18yrs etc etc
Angiem

This programme was so one sided as you would expect from a State run media organisation, on a par with Al Jahzeera and Russia TV. It did not show a comprehensive enough look at the ATOS assessment centre. Deciding that them not wanting to be interviewed was enough of a put off. They can pull out all the stops as they did in the care home abuse case by Panorama! The most appalling part was interviewing the young mums on the training course in Liverpool. One young mum broke down in tears as she tried to explain how hard her life is and said would it have been better to have an abortion, just to alleviate the burden on the social security system? This had me in tears as some young mums have no family support, no partner, and want to do the best for their kids. They did not touch either on people like myself who have worked my whole life paying 40% tax but since becoming disabled I have to rely on the benefits system.Why can’t we get some of the money we paid in back when we become ill or disabled? Why do we have to jump through hoops to prove we are ill? The American system is a model our government wants to attain? Would you like to see soup kitchens and free food stores in your town with queues right around the block? that’s what is happening there with their successful scheme to get people back to work, who get paid but don’t have enough to pay for basic essentials like food. So if it ain’t broke why try and fix it?
http://twitter.com/tasha_a7/status/129707468178731008 tasha

If you just watched #TFSOWWJH #futurewelfare #futurestateofwelfare please read RT this too http://t.co/2ltxJpag
http://twitter.com/shefanticuts/status/129708142064963584 Anti-Cuts Alliance

Reminder of our rebuttal of John Humphrys's #TFSOWWJH welfare documentary frm @djmgaffneyw4: http://t.co/t5sfK4ZL
http://twitter.com/jaxrafferty/status/129708699366326274 Jackie Rafferty

RT @suey2y: If you just watched #TFSOWWJH #futurewelfare #futurestateofwelfare please read RT this too http://t.co/IYiQOeX7
mickelmas

Humphreys has always been a right-wing bigot and a perfect mouthpiece for Tory propaganda and misinformation (as was also evident in his diatribe on State Education). What concerns me is the lack of critical attacks expected from our Labour front bench.
http://twitter.com/creativecrip/status/129725951985729536 TheCreativeCrip

RT @wheresbenefit: RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/zQ5jbkCX
http://twitter.com/williwycombe/status/129734158950993921 William Geldart

John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why: http://t.co/t5sfK4ZL by @djmgaffneyw4
http://twitter.com/profjscourfield/status/129793108333432834 Jonathan Scourfield

RT @suey2y: If you just watched #TFSOWWJH #futurewelfare #futurestateofwelfare please read RT this too http://t.co/IYiQOeX7
http://twitter.com/wladyslawmejka/status/129808654806421504 Wladyslaw Mejka

Thanks to everyone who's retweeted this- we can't match Humphry's viewing figures but we can piggy-back on them http://t.co/2Vjh9N30
http://twitter.com/gaipajama/status/129810748007399424 Gaipajama

Interesting take on Humphreys' analysis of the Welfare State. http://t.co/nQvCnM4q
http://twitter.com/andyprg/status/129811038160957440 Andrew G

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/6m83sjTr @bbcr4Today
http://twitter.com/extraditiongame/status/129813482773282817 Extradition Game

RT @leftfootfwd: Reminder of our rebuttal of John Humphrys's #TFSOWWJH welfare documentary frm @djmgaffneyw4: http://t.co/X31J6NrZ #NewsClub
http://twitter.com/shaw_trust/status/129818869438218240 Shaw Trust

Important article via @leftfootfwd John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why: http://t.co/RK69UQnU @djmgaffneyw4"
http://twitter.com/occupysl/status/129821715856502784 OccupySL

RT @wheresbenefit: RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/zQ5jbkCX
http://twitter.com/johndi1worth/status/129822789573148673 John Dilworth

John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why: http://t.co/t5sfK4ZL by @djmgaffneyw4
http://twitter.com/martinhinds/status/129827233027198977 Martin Hinds

Reminder of our rebuttal of John Humphrys's #TFSOWWJH welfare documentary frm @djmgaffneyw4: http://t.co/t5sfK4ZL
http://twitter.com/themingford/status/129828259469860864 Thomas Hemingford

RT @leftfootfwd: Reminder of our rebuttal of John Humphrys's #TFSOWWJH welfare documentary frm @djmgaffneyw4: http://t.co/X31J6NrZ #NewsClub
http://twitter.com/ljhal/status/129835679571120128 Lynsey Hally

If you just watched #TFSOWWJH #futurewelfare #futurestateofwelfare please read RT this too http://t.co/2ltxJpag
http://twitter.com/bottletop_uk/status/129844604135673856 John

RT @Gaipajama Interesting take on Humphreys' analysis of the Welfare State. http://t.co/dTPRISng
http://twitter.com/labourlewis/status/129857794340962304 Clive Lewis

@NorwichLabour You can't believe everything you see on TV http://t.co/6XdpUVFX
http://twitter.com/crimsoncrip/status/129858561781149697 Crimson Crip

@suey2y @BrokenOfBritain @crimsoncrip How the welfare dependency narrative ignores the evidence: http://t.co/bHQpKGjV on @leftfootfwd
http://twitter.com/paul_trembath/status/129862568146767872 Paul Trembath

@suey2y @BrokenOfBritain @crimsoncrip How the welfare dependency narrative ignores the evidence: http://t.co/bHQpKGjV on @leftfootfwd
http://twitter.com/jerryhall/status/129872319907770368 Jerry Hall

John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why: http://t.co/t5sfK4ZL by @djmgaffneyw4
http://ronsrants.wordpress.com Ron Graves

Why feel ashamed?

I have been sick and disabled all my life. At 15 I was told I must never work, as it would be massively detrimental to my health (it was). Despite that I managed to work until I was 40, losing almost every job along the way through excessive sick leave.

Do I feel ashamed that for the last 27 years I have been dependent upon disability benefits (though now a pensioner I still need my DLA to make ends meet)? No, I don’t, not in the slightest. This situation is not of my making, and shame is simply not a factor – no reason why it should be.

@DavidG Exactly.
http://twitter.com/occupysl/status/129892406479945728 OccupySL

@suey2y @BrokenOfBritain @crimsoncrip How the welfare dependency narrative ignores the evidence: http://t.co/bHQpKGjV on @leftfootfwd
http://twitter.com/darkestangel31/status/129892790166495232 DarkestAngel

@suey2y @BrokenOfBritain @crimsoncrip How the welfare dependency narrative ignores the evidence: http://t.co/bHQpKGjV on @leftfootfwd
Lisa J

How can Humphries be so stupid that he used statistics from the Daily Mail.
He said three quarters of people applying for ESA “were deemed not to merit the benefit”

This figure has already been upheld as false by the Press Complainst Commission some months ago and the Mail issued a correction. He made the schoolboy eror of combining those in the WRAG and withdrawn before the medicalwith those found fit for work and didn’t even mention the high success rate of appeals. This is Tory propaganda at its worst. Where is the BBC programme on all those suicides and people living in abject povrty while seriously ill?
http://twitter.com/posh_jock/status/129911725859405824 MAYANN

http://t.co/2ltxJpag We really do need a few 100,000 more ppl to read this retort to John Humphrys before his docco airs tonight. BIG RTing!
http://twitter.com/postpolionews/status/129931392028127232 Chris Salter

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/IxIPSWyG #ppnews
http://twitter.com/henrypath/status/129938145834844160 Henry Path

@jazzifull @polleetickle http://t.co/Oohnp3TY
http://twitter.com/videonasty/status/129951214220754944 Doilum

The facts vs John Humphrys http://t.co/l6UeTQQx
http://twitter.com/lowquay/status/129958904569397248 Loki

In possibly ironic,maybe meta move I'm RTing this before actually reading it RT @VideoNasty: The facts vs John Humphrys http://t.co/aVFIYJVb
Bernard Crofton

Excellent quick response. Imteresting to see what the shadow ministers have to say.

declan, given the particuklar assault on the disabled by the Liberals and Conservatives, do you have some more on this? I recall in the sixties there was evidence that the number on “sickness benefit” went up and down in direct relation to the number unemployed. In other words disabled people were “accepted as too sick to work” when there was no work around, and when there was work available they would get jobs.
MRadclyffe

None of those who bang on about the disabled being scroungers have the first clue of how life is for them, the Government with its Millionaires’ Cabinet most of all, and forget that life can change in an instant. Millions of disabled paid in to the system and yes, they are entitled to claim.
BTW. Would they suggest the part of the welfare bill paid to pensioners be cured with ftee bus passes to Dignitas?
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/10/look-left-%e2%80%93-cameron%e2%80%99s-euroscepticism-comes-home-to-roost/ Look Left – Cameron’s Euroscepticism comes home to roost | Left Foot Forward

[...] week’s most read: 1. John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why – Declan [...]
http://twitter.com/alexacts2v4/status/130008365760913408 Alexander Shannon

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/TIEsoP1L <<Right to Reply Humphreys? PLS RT
http://twitter.com/anfortas_fisher/status/130123683103637504 Anfortas_Fisher

Left Foot Forward: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/cw8RgPUp @leftfootfwd << trial by media!
http://twitter.com/yarrumniai/status/130127983318020096 Iain

Reminder of our rebuttal of John Humphrys's #TFSOWWJH welfare documentary frm @djmgaffneyw4: http://t.co/t5sfK4ZL
http://twitter.com/nobull_of_vt/status/130191564495523841 Verbal Terrorists

A MUST READ! RT @leftfootfwd our rebuttal of John Humphrys's #TFSOWWJH welfare documentary frm @djmgaffneyw4: http://t.co/SEm6rnFP
http://twitter.com/richardaburns/status/130200966338314240 Richard Burns

Thought John Humphrey's documentary Future State of Welfare was good. though this was just a bit better though http://t.co/ujJmk2HF
http://twitter.com/rosiejanele/status/130335752356773888 Jane Leach

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/wjsGL7hp
http://twitter.com/davidtaylor85/status/130571149510840320 David Taylor

Excellent article rebutting John Humphrys benefits programme on BBC http://t.co/mY3yuqCI
http://twitter.com/willhorwitz/status/130576060940173312 Will Horwitz

Excellent article rebutting John Humphrys benefits programme on BBC http://t.co/mY3yuqCI
Kate

Good piece dissecting the figures, but it’s a pity you began it by making assumptions about what Humphreys would say in the programme. It would have been worth waiting til you’d seen it.
http://twitter.com/twttimestop/status/130599181659279360 Tweeted Times Top

John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong …: http://t.co/hXgeMMt0 most discussed on @jimboeth/mentalhealth (http://t.co/NxzhpFBw)
Alexander

I do not think the Humphreys programme advocated “Tory Propagnanda and misinformation”. He questioned the justice and fairness of the American welfare system as well!!!Were you watching the same programme? Or do you selectively ignore information that does conform to your existing opinions and views. He is hardly a right wing bigot, that is just an abusive and unhelpful comment. Also the picture with Humphreys and Blair at the top am I supposed to read something in to that?

From my experience of providing welfare advice to migrants I find there is a “sense of entitlement” amongst many and some are quite candid about their lies and manipulation. However I belive there is a sense of entitlement culturally so benefit claimants are no different to other members of society.
tony arno

Have you asked yourself why so much thrust towards unemployed and disabled people all over the media,and just a few words on tax evasion or banker bonuses?We are an easy target,mr cameron and his millionaire friends are unopposed on their policies towards the most vulnerable part of our society,nobody is confronting them about the daily savage attack and lies all over papers and television towards disabled and unemployed of which they are the instigator.Do these tactics remaind you of somebody?
http://twitter.com/sharmanprince/status/130996548673880064 Sharman Prince

http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/10/john-humphrys-is-wrong-on-social-security/
John Manning

Neatly avoiding the fact that many people who claim disability benefit don’t require it either. My Father who recently died from mesothelioma required disability benefit in the final few months of his life. He worked from the age of 15 in the same place until shortly before he died. He fell foul of the new “tests” for disability which were very upsetting and a trial for him despite it begin obvious he qualified. However on his street alone there are three other disability claimants who have nothing wrong with them. They get free cars, one of them even runs a car washing business on the side. In the small town he lives in he kew personally at least 20 people fiddling the system using every trick in the book. These aren’t just a few bad apples, it is endemic and all pervasive. This does not diminish the need of genuinely disabled people but you need to acknowledge that there is a very real large scale problem of benefit fraud.Not very PC I know but true all the same.
Ray

Just caught up with this on iPlayer. Humphrys idiotic tutting about numbers claiming -but then finding those who can’t find work anyway- is just blaming the victims. Its no good waving the Beveridge report around, Beveridge assumed full employment & the labour market has changed out of all recognition in the last 40 years. Disappearance of much skilled manual work, unemployment blackspots, free migration of labour, sky high housing costs, increased gap wealthy-minimum wage, etc etc. Many disadvantaged job seekers have little chance of success, surprise surprise they give up & make the best of life on benefit.
http://twitter.com/devonianguy/status/131451125244239872 John Temple

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/NkKsIHSl – Humphrys made NO judgement.
michael

i found the whole programme to be inaccurate. firstly how many disabled people or the mentally ill dont work or are not on benefits either. firstly i have anxiety and autoimmune conditions and wouldnt qualify for DLA as i have.otherwise invisible conditions despite having chronic aches and pains. most disabled by mentally/physically want to work, but his whole programme ignored the fact that the jobs market and jobs have utterly changed since the 1950′s. my mom started in the 1950′s and barely had an interview or filled.in a form and had two jobs lined up at 15, she hasnt any qualifications, today you wouldnt even get a reply without a GCSE, its much tougher to get work and you almost have to be qualified in interviews and filling forms than doing a job. its an employers market not. an employees one as before. the disabled stand little chance compared with outgoing candidates. also multitasking has forced many disabled onto benefits, my mom remembers a number of disabled in her workplace. there was.also on the job training. my parents remember employers on the streets offering work. if there was a disabled they would find a suitable post for them, taking into account what they couldnt do. now employers are much harsher on who they employ and look at what they cannot do not what they can.

Mr Humphries seems to belong to another era and ignored the subtilties of the problem. A harsh attitude to work and business produce harsh attitudes to people. There are new ways of working now, new ways to deal and approach people. i found the whole making cupcakes madness! basically treat people like children and waste their confidence and skills that they have gained. it seems madness that this country cannot create basic work that people can do. most people work to keep occupied and for money to survive. employers have got away with getting one person to do the work of 4-5 people instead like the 50′s where one person did the job of one person. He used statistics to reinforce his own ideas. people today in work, work long hours, the longest in europe, have less family time and work/life balance and basically work for others with little say on how their work is done, they feel powerless and most of the money earned is eaten up, they are unhappy and cannot enjoy life, and they are now undercut by cheaper. workers. They employ people to pick food despite the fact we overproduce and waste food each week and its thrown away, all for profit, profit is driving cheap wages. employers no long seem to have moral codes in how to try to help the wider community. shouldnt we be working together to get us out of debt (which isnt most of our fault anyway). not blaming and attacking people with harsh attitudes.

co-operatives work very well in America. In America harah benefits attitudes havent led to.no poverty and starving people to work, hasnt led to more employment, no more than it did in the victorian era and poorhouses didnt either infact there was more suicides and hopelessness. this form of capitalism clearly hasnt worked. what needs changing is business and employer attitudes to work, spreading work out, how to divide work to make things more efficient. how to organise businesses etc,. access to work should be relaxed to make it easier to get very basic work, job trials etc,.provide jobs that the disabled can actual do. create real equality! we are not all born the same, but we all can contribute, we cannot all fit a mould! cheers
michael

hold on with no benefits wasnt there 20% of poles unemployed before the recession and i dont see many disabled eastern europeans come from poland, actually i know of some who couldnt find work and committed suicide!
michael

i work voluntary as well as being a carer and get little money despite being. constantly busy, and saving the government millions in unpaid work a year. i want part time work but finding anything that fits around other commitments and having anxiety and autoimmune conditions which limit what i do means finding things hard most are customer services positions or multitasking involved a combination of reception/public dealing (cannot do) and data entry (can do). the work i do in museums rarely pay but its great work to do. its so frustrating!
michael

we have a mad system. people moan about people not being in work, yet ask those same people, ‘if you had a job, would you give it to someone unemployed who wanted it’, they would say well they have to have the right qualifications, experience, go for interviews etc despite the job being shelving or something basic, and most people only need some training. if they couldnt read or write or add up, how do they order a KFC each week or buy food? tesco has an application form and three interviews to do basic work and people i know have been rejected. the work isnt just shelving but also counter work. no wonder most disabled end up doing voluntary work, as voluntary work only requires people to do what they are capable of. but most people who do voluntary work and get jsa are harried, despite doing work and benefitting the community, there should be voluntary schemes specifically for certain groups as lets face it they are earning their money anyway. wouldnt this encourage people to do some form of work, infact eliminate jsa and get a basic amount for a basic number of hours, most of the time they force people off volunteering and jsa for paid work, they make people feel guilty for volunteering, especially the mentally ill or disabled who dont qualify for DLA etc despite the fact most employers don’t want to employ them and there isnt suitable positions.
Michael

We live in a mad system. People moan about people being on unemployment benefit but ask those same people ‘if you had a job available and there was an unemployed person wanting that job, would you give it to them’, they would probably say well they need the right qualififications, experience, go to a job interview etc – so automatically creating barriers to that job, despite the fact it might only being shelving, where people could be trained quite quickly and need very little experience and qualifications. Tesco has an application form and three interviews including a group one just for shelving. Most mentally and physically diabled people would be put off especially the mentally ill who would have a group interview and the job involves customer service and not just shelving.I know loads who have gone for Tesco, ASDA jobs etc who have been rejected despite having qualifications. Being over qualified also seems a barrier despite those people wanting a simple job.

They could easily have a system for people who volunteer. Most who volunteer have to go on other benefits for money, but actually many also work hard each week and earn those benefits anyway. But the system means many are tried to be shoved off JSA and volunteering etc into paid work. Why not have a volunteer scheme where people can work and receive a set amount of money for a number of set hours as they earn the benefit money anyway. People like John Humphries seem to think volunteers should be punished for doing some work, how about being rewarded! Most mentallity ill have to do volunteering as they want to work, feel as though they are earning but cannot find paid work as no-one wants to employ them and a lot of the work they cannot do, many people who are disabled/mentally ill have no benefits or paid work and are in limbo – how about them Mr Right Wing Mr Humphries!
michael

we have millions of people working in offices not making anything, doing as far as i can see very little and getting paid loads. at least musicians, singers make things and sell things especially abroad.
http://twitter.com/paul_trembath/status/131821077369331712 Paul Trembath

Reminder of our rebuttal of John Humphrys's #TFSOWWJH welfare documentary frm @djmgaffneyw4: http://t.co/t5sfK4ZL
http://twitter.com/suey2y/status/132104070608596992 Sue Marsh

@SoniaRothwell Also, both have used incorrect statistics and misleading research. http://t.co/2ltxJpag No coverage of Hardest Hit.
http://twitter.com/norbet/status/132439518967115776 NORBET

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/VAL4A8YQ
http://twitter.com/agmcat/status/133629158432571392 Andrew Miles

@nefbusiness @theneweconomics @BBCr4today Of course Humphrys has form when it comes to misplaced, prejudiced moralising http://t.co/eo3OJPcV
http://twitter.com/jnewton94/status/135473419264335872 J Newton

I'm behind the times but this is good: http://t.co/IQcP1YTV
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/12/look-left-23-12-11/ Look Left – Look back at the year | Left Foot Forward

[...] John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security: Here’s why, Declan Gaffney, October [...]
http://twitter.com/maxlawsontin/status/150353771778686976 maxlawsontin

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/OyQfylSy blog of the year (2)
http://twitter.com/smcinally/status/152110084485431296 siobhan mcinally

#LFFMostRead2011: #6: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why: http://t.co/t5sfK4ZL by @djmgaffneyw4, Oct 27th
http://twitter.com/jobob_80/status/152110428120547328 Joanna McKenzie

#LFFMostRead2011: #6: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why: http://t.co/t5sfK4ZL by @djmgaffneyw4, Oct 27th
http://twitter.com/cheema10/status/152112733507166208 Hussain Cheema

#LFFMostRead2011: #6: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why: http://t.co/t5sfK4ZL by @djmgaffneyw4, Oct 27th
http://twitter.com/shabbirghewalla/status/152112989691056128 shabbir gheewalla

#LFFMostRead2011: #6: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why: http://t.co/t5sfK4ZL by @djmgaffneyw4, Oct 27th
http://twitter.com/davidbush/status/152114582431862784 david bush

#LFFMostRead2011: #6: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why: http://t.co/t5sfK4ZL by @djmgaffneyw4, Oct 27th
http://twitter.com/davidmccrae1/status/152118217706446849 david mccrae

#LFFMostRead2011: #6: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why: http://t.co/t5sfK4ZL by @djmgaffneyw4, Oct 27th
http://twitter.com/sparkscomeforth/status/152122229969264640 E’Liza Gedrych

#LFFMostRead2011: #6: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why: http://t.co/t5sfK4ZL by @djmgaffneyw4, Oct 27th
http://twitter.com/yrotitna/status/152138504992858112 Yrotitna

#LFFMostRead2011: #6: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why: http://t.co/t5sfK4ZL by @djmgaffneyw4, Oct 27th
http://twitter.com/unisonnuth/status/152156353916448769 UNISON NUTH

#LFFMostRead2011: #6: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why: http://t.co/t5sfK4ZL by @djmgaffneyw4, Oct 27th
http://twitter.com/msmixima/status/152158316519366656 Michael Smith

#LFFMostRead2011: #6: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why: http://t.co/t5sfK4ZL by @djmgaffneyw4, Oct 27th
http://twitter.com/carolynanderson/status/152321524727152641 Carolyn Anderson

John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why | Left Foot Forward http://t.co/tsbB6keK
http://twitter.com/johnrcurtis/status/152351244751609856 John Curtis

#LFFMostRead2011: #6: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why: http://t.co/t5sfK4ZL by @djmgaffneyw4, Oct 27th
http://twitter.com/debbiegeorge65/status/152351324300775424 Deborah George

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/Wn5QycOw
http://twitter.com/chill4uscarers/status/152351915756367872 wendy

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/Wn5QycOw
http://twitter.com/poutingpou/status/152354559627505664 Kyron Hodgetts

RT @leftfootfwd: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why http://t.co/Wn5QycOw
http://twitter.com/dodgydosser/status/152356472418877440 Mr D Dosser

#LFFMostRead2011: #6: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why: http://t.co/t5sfK4ZL by @djmgaffneyw4, Oct 27th
http://twitter.com/twirlypen/status/152367320382177280 Penny Phillips

#LFFMostRead2011: #6: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why: http://t.co/t5sfK4ZL by @djmgaffneyw4, Oct 27th
http://twitter.com/doctormagiot/status/152689919259717633 piyush pushkar

#LFFMostRead2011: #6: John Humphrys is wrong, wrong, wrong on social security; here’s why: http://t.co/t5sfK4ZL by @djmgaffneyw4, Oct 27th