18 Aug 2015

DWP admit using made-up quotes from fictional claimants

The Department of Work and Pensions used stock photos to give ‘personal accounts’ of the sanctions regime.

The Department of Work and Pensions has admitted using made-up quotes from fictional claimants in an advice leaflet.

The document carried pictures of two individuals, “Sarah” and “Zac”, next to what purported to be their personal accounts of the sanctions regime.

But following a Freedom of Information request from Welfare Weekly, welfare officials had to concede “Sarah” and “Zac” did not actually exist and the images were stock photographs.

The DWP removed the leaflet, which can be viewed here, then switched the them to silhouettes and added a note making clear the words are “for illustrative purposes” – but has not ruled out using the previous version in future.

A DWP spokesman said he believed the incident was a one-off and not common practice.

In the leaflet, “Sarah’s story” was expressing delight at having been persuaded to draw up a CV and explaining why she had experienced sanctions.

‘She’ said: “I’m really pleased with how my CV looks. It’s going to help me when I’m ready to go back to work,” it continued.

‘You couldn’t make it up’

But “Zac” was more conscientious, telling readers he had not missed out on any benefits because “I had a good reason for not going to the meeting and proof of the appointment”.

The DWP said: “The photos used are stock photos and along with the names do not belong to real claimants. The stories are for illustrative purposes only.”

“We want to help people understand when sanctions can be applied and how they can avoid them by taking certain actions. Using practical examples can help us achieve this.”

Acting shadow Work and Pensions secretary Stephen Timms said: “You couldn’t make it up – but it seems Iain Duncan Smith can: “the only way he can find backers for his sanctions regime is by inventing them.”

Benefit sanctions have been controversial, with some claiming they are a blunt tool which causes “great hardship.”

In a statement Dan Scorer, Head of Policy at the learning disability charity Mencap told Channel 4 News: “DWP’s made up case studies present an unrepresentative view of the sanctions regime and its impact on disabled people… We know many people have been sanctioned because Jobcentre staff don’t understand their needs and place unrealistic demands on them while not providing support they need… To mislead the public on the affects of benefit sanctions in this way is unacceptable.”