Income support and other forms of social assistance exist to help jobless or low-income people cope with the basic needs and daily expenses. Needless to say, there are some people who, out of dire need, take the risk of abusing these
social benefits. Some people falsify documents in order to qualify and amass as much cash as they can. Of course, receiving a financial support, which you are not entitled to or which is more than the amount allotted to you, is a serious crime. Yet people are forced by extreme poverty to engage into this grave offense.
In fact, a recent study conducted by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has found that people who work illegally claim for financial support due to
extreme financial burdens. According to the study, these people were formerly hard-working individuals who strove to meet their daily needs. Yet, they are forced to do such illegal act in order to pay for their food and debts.
Due to the alarming result, the study then recommended a reform both in the benefit and tax system. It must be noted that the JRF research was based on 6 years of study by the East London Community Links program. The said project provides assistance and advice to the poorest citizens of the nation.
