Rape Victims Benefited from an Ordeal

Benefit of BREXIT?

Following the new Brexit regime, the benefit cuts will have a huge impact, but particularly on rape victims. It is reasonable to limit tax credits to two children but then allow it for a third child if the child was the result of rape. Proof of the rape will be asked for, and claimants would have to complete an eight page document.

Rape often goes unreported, and, with one's own experience dealing with the police, proof can be an issue. What about situations such as date rape when the whole situation is denied, saying the sex was with consent. Often, victims are in too much shock to go to the police straightaway which makes it easier for rapist's to deny it, as time periods lapse to carry out tests required.

This becomes even more complicated when rape is a result of domestic violence. Any sexual act where there is no consent and it has been forced is rape. However many argue that within a marriage this is not the case. This is a situation when the rape is likely to be unreported. This means if a child is conceived the victim would have to pay for a child that was forced on them.

People often get raped by someone in their own family where there is even more of a shame element. This can make it virtually impossible to go to the police. If a pregnancy occurred as a result of this many may chose termination rather than keeping the child. This is if the pregnancy is detected at the right stage. Police often show reluctance in getting involved in domestic disputes.

Having worked for the civil service and seen cases of fraudsters abusing the system, this is another instance where the system could be open to abuse. There have been been claims with income support for example where women declare themselves as single parents the have more children with the same partner,even making out they were abused by this partner. This is a system that could be open to abuse by fraudsters if it is not managed properly.

It is not just about claiming benefits for this child what about child maintenance. If the victim is left with a child following this ordeal surely they should get maintenance to enable them to look after that child. This is where paternity issues come into it.Would this also mean that rape victims have to share parenting with the person that raped them.

What has been termed as rape benefit has been very ill thought out. Rape is already a violence that can go unreported, even when it is reported there is an ordeal that goes with it. Having to fill out a document to claim the benefit is putting the victims through the ordeal again.

This particular change in benefits has not been well thought out at all as these are the deeper issues involved. There seems to be a lack of cultural awareness as different. Societies look at rape in different ways. The system is very open to abuse and fraud and a whole number of other issues are likely to come with this ruling. In order for this system to to be implemented properly, better training will be needed within the police force and people who process benefits. The police are very quick to fob cases of due to lack of evidence and often don't want to get involved in family domestics. Having worked in the system when these sorts of benefits are processed caution is required and the current system overlooks vital evidence leaving the system open to fraudsters.