Letter: Benefit frauds and reductions
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Peter Lilley's review of social security once again throws the spotlight on lone parents, by suggesting 18 per cent of their benefit claims are fraudulent. That figure is misleading since it includes cases where fraud is suspected but not proved - the survey actually found proof of fraud in just 9.5 per cent of claims by lone parents. It is vital that these findings are not used to discredit and scapegoat the majority of genuine lone parent claimants, who struggle to maintain their families on very low incomes.
Lone parents do not want to be dependent on the state or to see their children stuck in long-term poverty. The Government's own research shows 90 per cent want to return to work but are prevented from doing so by a lack of affordable childcare, suitable employment and training opportunities, and a system to bridge the gap between benefits and wages. These issues should be addressed as part of a positive strategy to help lone parents out of the benefits trap and back to work, which could also reduce the benefits bill.
Yours faithfully,
Karin Pappenheim
Director, National Council
for Lone Parent Families
London, NW5
11 July
12 July
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments