Dire DWP benefit fraud parody video is far more serious than it seems

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has released a new video about benefit fraud. It’s cringe, to say the least. However, when you look beyond the appalling Hollywood parody, it actually shows the department is increasing its hardline approach to dealing with benefit claimants – not that this is new.
Benefit fraud: a right-wing fairytale
It’s worth repeating, as the Canary has repeatedly written, that so-called rampant ‘benefit fraud’ is a right-wing myth. It’s partly based on the DWP guessing some numbers.
In 2020/21, much of the so-called fraud the DWP believed happened was actually due to either organised crime, the DWP changing the way it categorises fraud, or it was based on flimsy evidence. For example, it claimed total fraud that year was £8.3bn. However, £1.9bn of that was from organised crime. It also doesn’t base some fraud on any evidence. As the DWP admitted:
Any Fraud that is Causal Link (Low Suspicion) has been recategorised to a new category of “Failure to provide evidence/fully engage in the process”. Cases with an error in this new category have forgone their full benefit entitlement rather than engage in the benefit review process. We therefore make the assumption that the claim was fraudulent, even though the reason for their non-engagement is not clear.
So, it bases some of its fraud estimates on assumptions. However, this hasn’t stopped the DWP peddling the lie that benefit fraud is a huge problem – as it’s latest campaign shows.
DWP: our skills make us a nightmare for people like you
The new video the department has released is beyond Orwellian satire. Minister for disabled people Tom Pursglove is seen on a police raid, wearing a bullet-proof vest with “DWP” emblazoned upon it. He watches as cops cart-away a ‘fraudster’. The minister for disabled people says, like he’s landed the lead role in Taken 4 (because Liam Neeson didn’t want to be involved in this shit):
Read on...
"We will track you down. We will find you. And we will bring you to justice" – Minister for Disabled People @VotePursglove
At DWP we have a very particular set of skills that we use in conjuction with the police to tackle fraud
Find out more https://t.co/3ZvjWKW5tJ pic.twitter.com/KugSSrIFCG
— Department for Work and Pensions (@DWPgovuk) April 20, 2023
It is beyond parody. However, it’s actually also very serious. As many people pointed out on Twitter, this public display of aggression and force by the DWP is wholly inappropriate when dealing with chronically ill and disabled people:
Disgusting. The minister for disabled people focusing on fraud rather than fighting for disabled people? This has made me furious. We will never gain a fair go with this as our spokesperson. Reinforcing the myth of disability benefit fraud? Honestly I'm spitting! https://t.co/ttMuq0bTLQ
— Mik Scarlet (@MikScarlet) April 21, 2023
Users also pointed out that the Tories have one rule for poor people, and another for rich people and corporations:
Looking forward to the companion macho video where HMRC officials kick in the doors of multinational corporations, trying to reclaim the £42b we're owed in tax. https://t.co/YeDKMHw1Oz
— THE SECRET TORY – CBE 🇬🇧 (@secrettory12) April 21, 2023
Other people said that it was akin to fascism:
Inciting fear among disabled and vulnerable people, making individual interest a punishable offence, so you can treat them like shit and demand they are grateful, is fascism. This can only come from belief in a natural order; that only some people are entitled to a dignified life https://t.co/1mzLkuv3B3
— kate flood (@KateFlood) April 21, 2023
Ultimately, though, we knew this approach from the DWP was coming. As the Canary previously wrote, former DWP boss Thérèse Coffey already gave the department more powers over benefit fraud – like DWP staff being able to arrest people and issue warrants.
The benefits system: working how it’s supposed to
As we’ve seen, this hardline approach is nothing new. This is the department which saw around 35,000 claimants die on its watch between 2011-2018. 90 people a month were dying after the DWP told them they were fit for work. The UN accused it and successive governments in 2016 of “grave” and “systematic” violations of disabled people’s human rights – and in 2017 called the situation in the UK a “human catastrophe“. Clearly, nothing has changed.
The DWP putting out a video, warning benefit claimants it’s coming for them, is not that shocking. Moreover, it is the DWP functioning as it should. The department is not, and never has been, there to “support” people. It is there to force people into work. If they can’t work, it’s there to provide them with just enough money to eek out a horrible, joyless existence. Or, in some cases, the DWP doesn’t even provide this – and it lets people die.
It is another arm of a system, and a state, where chronically ill, disabled and poor people are an expendable burden. The DWP’s job is to dispose of them – or keep them out of sight, and out of mind. Pursglove’s turn as hard-man action hero is just another example of that.
Featured image via the DWP – screengrab
We know everyone is suffering under the Tories - but the Canary is a vital weapon in our fight back, and we need your support
The Canary Workers’ Co-op knows life is hard. The Tories are waging a class war against us we’re all having to fight. But like trade unions and community organising, truly independent working-class media is a vital weapon in our armoury.
The Canary doesn’t have the budget of the corporate media. In fact, our income is over 1,000 times less than the Guardian’s. What we do have is a radical agenda that disrupts power and amplifies marginalised communities. But we can only do this with our readers’ support.
So please, help us continue to spread messages of resistance and hope. Even the smallest donation would mean the world to us.
-
Show Comments
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to leave a comment.Join the conversationPlease read our comment moderation policy here.
“just enough money to eek out a horrible, joyless existence”
Eek! Another spelling mistake on Canary!
Dire DWP benefit fraud parody video is far more serious than it seems.
Firstly!!
Why a black persons only in Video Picture is this so the D.W.P. Minister
can blame his Black employee for being to heavy handed and cover his or her
D.W.P. Minister backside when the truth come out yes or no?
D.W.P. Minister what is the true FULL figures of Deaths WITH Claimant over
sanctions when you stop their benifts cash help???
To D.W.P. Minister
Is this heavy handed Tactics use on Govt M.P.-Minister alike that possibly or could
wrongfully claim exspeneccs back of us Taxpayer or make dodgy claim while off work sick
are they threatened in any way like the Joe public are ?? if found to be screwing the D.W.P. serves out of public (taxpayer money) yes or no?
footnote
To public the U-.Credit Scam is Of Tory party M.P.-Minister alike making that is killing
people off unjustly, also do remember the defrauding and bad claims is going on is
because Tory D.W.P. Minister keep changing the rule on Benefits that leave a backdoor
OPEN to fraud claimer.
How many well off Tory M.P.-Minister of Tory party were involved in putting this U.-Credit scam project together and what taxpayer money did they get paid to come up with this C**P Benefit. (That is not means tested so will not work right to serve all claiments)
Are jackboots part of the uniform? (Asking for a friend!)