Benefit sanctions ruin lives. No wonder the DWP turned to fiction | Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett

In the real world claimants have been driven to theft and suicide, making the Department for Work and Pension’s invention of the grateful ‘Zac’ and ‘Sarah’ particularly grotesque

It’s inspiring what having your benefits cut will do for your work ethic. Just ask the gormless Sarah, who – bless – didn’t think a CV would help her find work and missed a meeting with her work coach back in March. Thankfully she pulled up her socks and updated her resume. “My benefit is back to normal now and I’m really pleased with how my CV looks,” Sarah grins as she looks over a computer screen into the camera, stopping just short of a tap-dancing “gee, thanks, Mr Duncan Smith” in the manner of a young Shirley Temple. Another benefit-sanctions success story, you might think. The only problem is that Sarah doesn’t exist.

Related: DWP admits inventing quotes from fake 'benefits claimants' for sanctions leaflet

If a funeral, stillbirth or heart attack causes you to miss your signing-on appointment: tough. No excuses.

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