http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jul/22/benefit-sanctions-vulnerable-people-hardship-dwp-report

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jul/27/welfare-system-britain-us-social-security

there's now compelling evidence about the state of the current system particularly wrt sanctions. can't quite believe how awful it is sometimes. spoke to a guy the other day who had been sanctioned 7 times and had every one of them overturned on appeal (after 6-8 weeks of not getting paid). he said most of his friends hadn't even realised they had a right of appeal at all. him and his partner have had to go without eating sometimes to make sure their daughter was fed. anyone been sanctioned?