Social security 'manifestly inadequate'

Is our social security system too generous? Far from it, it is in fact "manifestly inadequate".

This damning conclusion is in a report published today (pdf) into levels of incapacity benefits, jobseeker's allowance and the state pension.

The finding by the European committee of social rights, charged with upholding the European social charter, ought to be difficult for our government to ignore. The UK is a signatory to the charter after first ratifying it in 1962.

The committee studied the period between January 2008 and December 2011, noting further changes had been made since then.

Ministers have sought to justify massive cuts to social security by peddling the myth that people are choosing a life on benefits.

We are still waiting for work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith to prove that anyone can be better off on benefits than in work.

The latest ludicrous claim from politicians and sections of the media is that migrants are coming here just to claim social security. Something, again, not borne out by the facts.

Our general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "This damning indictment of the UK's appallingly low levels of social security, even before the most recent cuts, exposes the shameful way the unemployed, sick and disabled are treated.

"It ought to nail the lie once and for all that anyone chooses a life on benefits or comes here from another country just to claim them."

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