Petition Don't introduce essentials-only benefit cards and protect claimants’ freedom
Do not introduce benefits payment cards restricted to “essentials only” and keep benefits paid as normal money via bank accounts or cash access. Address fraud through targeted enforcement rather than blanket restrictions that affect all claimants.
More details
Restricted benefit cards could stigmatise disabled people, carers and low-paid workers, treating them as a lower class of citizen. Cash benefits are spent locally, supporting jobs, VAT and GDP. Evidence shows cash payments are not widely misused. Real-world essentials like transport, bills and repairs cannot be reliably restricted without causing hardship.
24 signatures
Show on a map the geographical breakdown of signatures by constituency
10,000 signatures required to get a government response
At 10,000 signatures...
At 10,000 signatures, government will respond to this petition
At 100,000 signatures...
At 100,000 signatures, this petition will be considered for debate in Parliament