Pissed off now, over a month with no money and sleepless nights

[biscuitsandrage]

I put in a job seekers allowance claim online on 5th of July and they called me on the 9th. They booked me an appointment for the 11th, or so they said. Turned up at the job centre to find they had no appointment for me! They then booked me in for the 13th and I signed my forms.

Went back to sign on on the 27th to be told 'oh they haven't processed your claim, don't worry, it should be done this week.'

I phoned when I got home because at this point it had been 22 days without processing my claim! I was told that my claim was being taken from the 13th rather than the 5th because I failed to attend the first appointment! The appointment that I turned up for and the job centre told me didn't exist!!

They said they can't chase it up until 14 working days so I can call back on the 3rd August. Well I did, and they said someone would call me back by 4:30pm. They didn't. I called again on the 4th, 6th, and 9th each time being told my claim still hadn't been looked at and someone would call me back by 4:30pm. They never did. I even gave another number in case there was a problem with my phone (there isn't).

I have to sign on again tomorrow, which will be my 4th trip to the job centre, 4th set of bus fares, on top of all the calls to an 0845 number, and they have not even processed my claim yet! Is there anything they can do for me at the job centre? Does my advisor have any power to phone them?

I can't sleep worrying about this, why are they so fucking incompetent? Am I supposed to just not eat until they can be bothered to deal with me?

I'm sorry this is so confusing and long, I am tired and stressed and needed to moan.

[peedoffbird]

Oh Biscuits that's horrendous. My dp had a similar experience with the appointments.

I have no advice really apart from maybe googling who you can make a complaint to because that's totally unacceptable. They like to make you jump through hoops for a crappy sixty quid.

Take care and hope things improve for you soon x

[Iheartpasties]

oh, not good.

[BlackandGold]

If you are desperate for food can you get someone to give you a slip for your local Food Bank?

I know GPs, Health Visitors and Social Services can recommend people; not sure who else can.

[FuzzzyDuckosaurus]

I had to chase up my claim for income support. I was on the verge of having zero money. Finally spoke with a lovely lady who went through my claim and phoned me back when she had answers.
Keep on at them, good luck