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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/oct/27/the-punitive-treatment-of-our-daniel-blakes-by-the-benefits-system
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| The punitive treatment of our Daniel Blakes by the benefits system | |
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| It is unacceptable that the inhumane benefits system continues to devastate the lives of many people who are already suffering illness (In excruciating pain ... but still apparently fit for work, 26 October). Not only do the deliberately dysfunctional work capability assessments and catch-22 bureaucracy cause immense distress and humiliation to individuals, as portrayed brilliantly in Ken Loach’s film I, Daniel Blake, but this punitive system makes little economic sense. | It is unacceptable that the inhumane benefits system continues to devastate the lives of many people who are already suffering illness (In excruciating pain ... but still apparently fit for work, 26 October). Not only do the deliberately dysfunctional work capability assessments and catch-22 bureaucracy cause immense distress and humiliation to individuals, as portrayed brilliantly in Ken Loach’s film I, Daniel Blake, but this punitive system makes little economic sense. |
| Having worked for years with people suffering from mental health problems and seen how the Tories have piled on the pressure through cuts to support services and reducing access to benefits, it is unsurprising that more people are reaching crisis point and need hospital admission. Mental Health Act assessments continue to increase. More demands are made of an overstretched and underfunded NHS. This is highly expensive compared with the cost of providing necessary benefits and support to help someone to continue to live with self-respect, as a contributing member of the community. The benefits system is causing ill people to feel desperate and worthless by depriving them of the practical means to live and has become another means of promoting an ideology defined by exclusion and inequality.Liz UdallCarshalton, Surrey | Having worked for years with people suffering from mental health problems and seen how the Tories have piled on the pressure through cuts to support services and reducing access to benefits, it is unsurprising that more people are reaching crisis point and need hospital admission. Mental Health Act assessments continue to increase. More demands are made of an overstretched and underfunded NHS. This is highly expensive compared with the cost of providing necessary benefits and support to help someone to continue to live with self-respect, as a contributing member of the community. The benefits system is causing ill people to feel desperate and worthless by depriving them of the practical means to live and has become another means of promoting an ideology defined by exclusion and inequality.Liz UdallCarshalton, Surrey |
| • Lots of people must know victims like John in Aditya Chakrabortty’s article, but is there something that can be done? A dossier of thousands of examples to drop in the lap of the secretary for work and pensions would be a start. Also the directors of Maximus, Capita et al should be required to account for the treatment of their clients. The abuses and inaccuracy of the records can scarcely be accidental, they clearly happen so often. If the companies try and pass the buck to the DWP, they should be required to show how and where the government instructs them to act as they do; they are paid from the public purse and should be accountable to the public.Joseph OldakerNuneaton, Warwickshire | • Lots of people must know victims like John in Aditya Chakrabortty’s article, but is there something that can be done? A dossier of thousands of examples to drop in the lap of the secretary for work and pensions would be a start. Also the directors of Maximus, Capita et al should be required to account for the treatment of their clients. The abuses and inaccuracy of the records can scarcely be accidental, they clearly happen so often. If the companies try and pass the buck to the DWP, they should be required to show how and where the government instructs them to act as they do; they are paid from the public purse and should be accountable to the public.Joseph OldakerNuneaton, Warwickshire |
| • For some years I worked as a volunteer adviser for Citizens Advice Bureau. Tales such as John’s were commonplace. It seemed to me then, and even more forcefully now, that if a person was deemed fit for work by a government agency, then it should be incumbent upon that agency to find that person a suitable job. Meanwhile, the disputed benefit should continue to be paid. After all, employment and support allowance was supposed to be a way of helping people into work, not a device for finding excuses to cut benefits.Roy BoffySutton Coldfield, West Midlands | • For some years I worked as a volunteer adviser for Citizens Advice Bureau. Tales such as John’s were commonplace. It seemed to me then, and even more forcefully now, that if a person was deemed fit for work by a government agency, then it should be incumbent upon that agency to find that person a suitable job. Meanwhile, the disputed benefit should continue to be paid. After all, employment and support allowance was supposed to be a way of helping people into work, not a device for finding excuses to cut benefits.Roy BoffySutton Coldfield, West Midlands |
| • We both watched I, Daniel Blake and cried. Can we suggest that this film is shown at the House of Commons and that it be compulsory viewing for every member of the parliamentary Labour party. It might just remind them what they were elected to fight against and stop them indulging in the destructive, internecine squabbling that has occupied them for 12 months or more. Should Messrs Cameron and Osborne be reflecting on what their legacy might be, perhaps they could be invited along as guests.David and Ann JonesStratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire | • We both watched I, Daniel Blake and cried. Can we suggest that this film is shown at the House of Commons and that it be compulsory viewing for every member of the parliamentary Labour party. It might just remind them what they were elected to fight against and stop them indulging in the destructive, internecine squabbling that has occupied them for 12 months or more. Should Messrs Cameron and Osborne be reflecting on what their legacy might be, perhaps they could be invited along as guests.David and Ann JonesStratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire |
| • Am I the only person not to like I, Daniel Blake? First, the story: there was none – unemployed man has problems with his welfare benefit, meets single mum, is about it. Then there’s the profile of Daniel Blake. He’s a widower, a tradesman and an artisan; he’s friendly to his black neighbour, he’s got pride in his neighbourhood and, most importantly, he listens to classical music and Radio 4. God bless us, he’s halfway to being a Guardian reader already. Now we appear to have the “deserving benefits claimant” and “undeserving benefits claimant”. | • Am I the only person not to like I, Daniel Blake? First, the story: there was none – unemployed man has problems with his welfare benefit, meets single mum, is about it. Then there’s the profile of Daniel Blake. He’s a widower, a tradesman and an artisan; he’s friendly to his black neighbour, he’s got pride in his neighbourhood and, most importantly, he listens to classical music and Radio 4. God bless us, he’s halfway to being a Guardian reader already. Now we appear to have the “deserving benefits claimant” and “undeserving benefits claimant”. |
| Over the past 30 years I’ve signed on numerous times and the one-dimensional portrayal in the film of being on the dole didn’t help the drama. In fact it became the drama: the story centred around the labyrinthine workings of “benefit land” – and for those who have ever been on benefits, no surprise there. And when the story did try to make an appearance in the film, it became comical. Daniel, after a spell at the Job Club, ends up with a CV written in pencil which looked as though he was wearing a boxing glove when he wrote it. | Over the past 30 years I’ve signed on numerous times and the one-dimensional portrayal in the film of being on the dole didn’t help the drama. In fact it became the drama: the story centred around the labyrinthine workings of “benefit land” – and for those who have ever been on benefits, no surprise there. And when the story did try to make an appearance in the film, it became comical. Daniel, after a spell at the Job Club, ends up with a CV written in pencil which looked as though he was wearing a boxing glove when he wrote it. |
| Most of Ken Loach’s films have been very good – especially, Raining Stones and Riff-Raff. But I, Daniel Blake lacked any real understanding of the subject. I believe this was because of Ken and his writer knowing they were pushing at an open door. We are facing the most reactionary and class-based government in living memory. There is a great deal of confusion and uncertainty on the left. The unstinting support for I, Daniel Blake is, I believe, a comfort blanket; something to prove those on the left are doing their bit to understand the “less fortunate”. Recognising his plight and getting upset with Daniel Blake’s predicament could be seen as a badge of honour. If you want to see working-class life in the raw, try Jim Allen’s 1978 TV play, The Spongers. Frank KennyLiverpool | Most of Ken Loach’s films have been very good – especially, Raining Stones and Riff-Raff. But I, Daniel Blake lacked any real understanding of the subject. I believe this was because of Ken and his writer knowing they were pushing at an open door. We are facing the most reactionary and class-based government in living memory. There is a great deal of confusion and uncertainty on the left. The unstinting support for I, Daniel Blake is, I believe, a comfort blanket; something to prove those on the left are doing their bit to understand the “less fortunate”. Recognising his plight and getting upset with Daniel Blake’s predicament could be seen as a badge of honour. If you want to see working-class life in the raw, try Jim Allen’s 1978 TV play, The Spongers. Frank KennyLiverpool |
| • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com | • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com |