The Guardian today published an article about a man who cared for his disabled, addict son. He ticked the wrong box on a complex form applying for a carer’s allowance, and as a result was overpaid (the article says the benefit was in the end worth 30p per week). He was taken to court, convicted of fraud, and had to sell his modest home to pay the debt, amounting to almost £20,000.

The Department of Works and Pensions (DWP) subsequently “acknowledged he made an innocent mistake”. But in spite of rendering him homeless, damaging his physical and mental health, driving him to near suicidal despair, let alone the shame of the conviction, they refused his appeal for reimbursement, but did “apologize”.

Apologize must be put in scare quotes, because these are the words they used:

I am so sorry that you feel that experiences with DWP have contributed to your financial problems, severe emotional trauma and mental health.

I am so sorry that you feel... I am so sorry that you feel... What is that for an “apology”? There is no expression of regret for the DWP’s actions and their devastating consequences, no ownership of responsibility for his broken-down state—only a sense of “sorrow” for his feelings.

This is a classic non-apology apology. It uses language from the realm of repentance and forgiveness, but it places all the responsibility upon the victim, and acknowledges no culpability or remorse for the perpetrator’s actions.

It is also bureaucratic cowardice: if, evidently, the carer made an innocent mistake, then the legal pursuit amounts to a cruel injustice. “Welfare”? Hardly.