How Can Benefits System Be Improved By Head Count Cuts?

Written by Vincent Cable MP and published in Online Exclusive on Tue 14th Sep 2004

Today in his Westminster Hall adjournment debate Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Dr Vincent Cable MP, will highlight the complex nature of the benefits system and show how the system fails to benefit the people who need this support the most.

Dr Cable will say: "This is complex system that both claimants and staff have difficulties understanding. I have had a line of constituents who have come to me in distress over problems with payments.

"People who are juggling finances have been told they are entitled to tax credits and given these only to later be notified that there has been overpayment and that they need to repay.

"Government IT projects have not had a brilliant history. In the last month many pensioners could not get their pension because the computer went down. No wonder that there is such hostility amongst pensioners to give up their pension books in favour of an automated system.

"These sort of problems are made worse by the lack of information. How can people access the myriad of credits if they don't understand what they are entitled to?

"How will the Government make the system clearer and effective by cutting more than 40,000 staff within the Department for Work and Pensions."