CAMPAIGNERS in Worcester took to the streets yesterday to hit out at sanctions imposed on benefit claimants which they claim are hurting the least well-off.

Members of trade union Unite picketed outside the Job Centre in Sansome Street on Thursday, March 19, as part of a national day of action arranged by the organisation calling for an end to sanctions on benefit claimants.

The union claims more than two million people across the UK have had their benefits stopped over the past two years for what it branded “ridiculous” reasons such as being late for a meeting with a Job Centre advisor or missing an appointment as a result of a funeral.

Unite member Andrew Morgan was one of the campaigners out in front of the Job Centre during the day and said the impact of having benefits stopped could be devastating.

“How can people put their effort into getting into work if they’re hungry or attend an interview having been unable to shower?” he said.

“Unlike when you go to court sanctions are instant. Also decisions are generally made in secret which makes them open to abuse.

“There is no evidence to support the idea that sanctions help people into work. But what it does do is get people off the benefits register.”

Mr Morgan, who is himself currently out of work, said Unite had recently launched a community membership scheme for people not in employment and was calling on the government to do more to support people struggling to find a job.

“Unite wants genuine help for people on Jobseeker’s Allowance,” he said.

“The Job Centre should be a genuine and supportive environment – not a hostile one.”

On Wednesday, March 18 figures were released showing the amount of people in Worcester claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance increased in February to 1,257 – 66 more than the month before and 1.9 per cent of the city’s entire working-age population.

Although this is the highest figure since September, it does represent a significant drop since February last year, when 1,909 people in Worcester aged between 16 and 64 were claiming the benefit.

Across Worcestershire as a whole 102 more people are claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance than in January.