[Chrysalis]

I expect the mandatory side of it would be very hard to enforce, mandatory can range from just having to speak to the jobcentre on the phone up to having to do a work placement, I dont think they will get very far trying to enforce the latter.

I do think that work is good for self confidence, providing one is able to do that work with confidence and without feeling they are not capable (e.g. colleagues repeatedly having to cover their tasks due to illness getting in the way).

What I find a complete joke is the claim work is good for your health, I have done 5 years of working in a factory, and the type of work I was doing was most definitely not good for my health and is actually a big reason I have the problems I have today. Then there is stress, stress is very bad for your health, and two big causes of stress are work related issues and of course worried about financial security. Someone been threatened with sanctions is only going to go on the defensive and will be less willing with the fear they will appear more able and lose what they have.

I strongly hate government's claiming enforcement, sanctions etc. as been called support. A comparison would be claiming someone who has been sentenced to death is been "supported" its ridiculous.

There was a tribunal case about 4 years ago, the claimant had severe mental problems, fully diagnosed, consultant evidence etc. A tribunal had originally sided with the DWP stating that the claimant could do work activity with the right support and so upheld the decision to place in the work related activity group. This then went to the upper tribunal level in a second appeal and then it was decided that the tribunal got it wrong, the reasoning given was that the DWP had not explained what support they would offer and how they could guarantee enough support would be given, the DWP was asked by the commissioner what level of mental health qualifications did their advisors have in assisting mentally ill claimants, he got a reply saying "none", it was then a black and white decision and because there was no evidence actual proper support would be provided he ruled the claimant was to be put in the support group.