THE Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) faced a huge backlash online after using Valentine's Day as an excuse to attack welfare claimants.
Despite it being a day normally associated with love and kindness, the DWP, staying true to form, urged the public to "declare your true living arrangements".
Claiming to be living alone is one of the most common types of benefit fraud – don’t ruin #ValentinesDay by failing to declare your true circumstances https://t.co/tZuNYZ5fer pic.twitter.com/ahutOO6NUy
— DWP Press Office (@dwppressoffice) February 13, 2018
SNP MP Alison Thewliss was one of those who responded to the tasteless tweet, pointing out the hypocrisy on display.
Apparently there is no celebration that @DWP won’t try to ruin... 💔 #ValentinesDay https://t.co/GNuMwH75Mj
— Alison Thewliss (@alisonthewliss) February 13, 2018
Taking this opportunity also to point out that families with children from previous relationships will lose their child tax credits/UC entitlement by coming together in a new r’ship. Or if there are 2 children from a previous r’ship and want to have a 3rd in new r’ship.
— Alison Thewliss (@alisonthewliss) February 13, 2018
Basically giving families the choice to give up child tax credit/UC entitlement for third child, or not to have that relationship at all, because then there would be benefit fraud. Social engineering by @DWP; how romantic. #ValentinesDay
— Alison Thewliss (@alisonthewliss) February 13, 2018
The DWP's call for truthfulness also came despite huge numbers of welfare claimaints winning appeals over errors made by those carrying out the assessments.
And not for the first time this year, a DWP social media PR stunt was met with fury on Twitter.
How about making someone's Valentine's day by making sure you pay all of the unclaimed benefits to which people are entitled. It's the thought that counts.
— Annette (@annettesjl) February 13, 2018
What an awful disgusting message, but I suppose when so many people have died waiting on benefits or having them removed, a false love message fits well with your horrendous department.
— September Rising 🏴 (@JmJohnpj) February 13, 2018
I think MPs claiming for houses in London that they're not using is more common
— Crazy Dog Lady 🐶 (@longtallshazza) February 13, 2018
So cynical. So judgemental. So threatening. Despite overwhelming evidence that the DWP is, in fact, depriving thousands of people of their rightful benefits through mendacious sanctions & bureaucratic incompetence, the dept still feels justified in this sort of shaming PR stunt.
— Nicola Spurr (@NicolaRSpurr) February 13, 2018
I hand over my taxes so that the elderly & frail get decent support. You show lack of compassion by creating a toxic environment against these people
— Linda (@SE25A) February 13, 2018
Nah just ruin normal lives all year round instead, right?
— Hannah Rutherford 👑 (@lomadia) February 13, 2018
Seriously? Someone actually spent their working day making this. How do you feel at the end of that day? Do you think you made the world better or worse? Making a festival about love into a way to push your mean spirited agenda? Look within and consult your conscience.
— Stephen Lingwood (@SJLingwood) February 13, 2018
So the default assumption is people are scroungers is that it? Words can't express the awfulness of this tweet.
— AliceHeywood (@22carrots) February 13, 2018
Can you remind me how much benefit goes unclaimed every year in comparison to the amount lost through fraud?
— Mark Gillies (@5goalthriller) February 13, 2018
Stay tuned to find out how the UK Government spin Easter as an attack on benefits...
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