Individuals convicted of murder and placed in hospitals under court orders may lose the ability to claim benefits following public outcry over the case of Valdo Calocane in Nottingham.
These offenders, already provided with accommodation, meals, and medical care, could potentially receive over £800 per month in Universal Credit.
Keir Starmer has raised concerns, stating that it is unjust for serious criminals to continue receiving unnecessary benefits funded by taxpayers.
Unlike prisoners who are ineligible for state benefits, individuals under hospital orders post-conviction can currently access benefits. The government plans to consult experts on excluding these individuals, convicted of crimes like manslaughter and rape, from Universal Credit while in hospital care.
Outrage sparked following reports that Valdo Calocane, a paranoid schizophrenic who admitted to the manslaughter of three individuals, was receiving around £360 in monthly welfare payments. He was sentenced to indefinite detention at a secure hospital.
The parents of Grace, one of Calocane’s victims, applauded the government’s actions, seeing it as a positive step towards justice. Similarly, the family of Kennedi, another victim, supported the reform, emphasizing the closure of a significant loophole.
The Prime Minister expressed determination to bring fairness and logic back to the welfare system, prioritizing victims’ rights and taxpayer protection.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) aims to differentiate between individuals receiving long-term hospital treatment without criminal backgrounds, who will retain benefits, and those detained under court orders for serious crimes, who may lose access to benefits.
The DWP Secretary emphasized the need to rectify the system, ensuring support reaches those in genuine need while upholding fairness and justice.
Advocates, like Julian Hendy from the Hundred Families charity, strongly oppose providing benefits to violent offenders sentenced to hospital orders, citing it as disrespectful to victims and their families.
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