AIBU to want a different Universal Credit work coach?

81 replies

QuestioningEverythingNow · Yesterday 12:19

dons hard hat in advance

I have always worked and have been a solid earner but have been recently told formally (writing was arguably on the wall a few months before) that my job is being outsourced to a combination of a cheaper service centre outside the UK and AI. As I said I saw it coming but assumed I would be able to get a new job quickly or that an exit package would be offered. That has not happened.

I have been looking while still employed, but the job market has handed it's arse to me and it is clear that I will struggle to find a new role quickly. I therefore went to the Job Centre to claim UC from when my employment ends.

My AIBU is that I have NO faith in the work coach that I have been allocated.
She literally struggled to navigate the basic sign up process - not clicking in the right place, not recognising where a response was required, not seeing where answers were already answered so clicking "back" instead of "next". What should have been a 30 min ID check took almost an hour. She doesn't have great typing skills so lots of typo errors when filling in fields etc. I ended up asking her to face the screen towards me and pointing out typos, missed fields, incorrect selections from drop downs etc. No issue with it being collaborative, some people aren't great with typing on screens etc.

This is not personal - I have nothing against her. I just don't think this person is going to be helpful to me in my very urgent job hunt. I have to see her every week which I have no issue with but I just don't have much faith in how she will actually help me and I am DESPERATE - I am job-hunting almost constantly - I am so stressed - I am doing my own searches and applications, sweating my network, applying to anything (not just in my field) etc.

I have never claimed before, never thought I would have to but here I am. I have no issue with her personally but I just can't see how she is going to be helpful when she doesn't seem that capable on a basic ID check and seemed to have zero experience or awareness of my job and what roles would be suitable. My job is basic - I am an accountant, nothing at all to write home about. She kept suggesting applications to things far outside my remit and that I am not qualified for eg SEN teaching assistants, delivery driving (I don't have access to a car) etc.

Is it possible to request a different work coach? At the moment, I can't see how we will work well together.

Is that entitled given that I am seeking to claim benefits, and am fully aware that I am quite privileged that this is an option in itself, something I am very aware of. Perhaps ashamed as well.

I could be panicking/catastrophising so am braving AIBU for more balanced views.

I will attend the next appointment and be polite and engaged - I just wondered if it would be better to switch coach sooner rather than later. Is that possible? Any suggestions, shared experiences, guidance would be so appreciated.

OP posts:

Darragon · Yesterday 12:56

You’re an accountant? At this point why wouldn’t you just start your own business, tide yourself over with a business loan to cover staffing (i.e. your salary), and specialise in an area e.g. accounting for trades that will get you found on Google? If you really want to work for the man, you already know what roles you can do (payroll, bookeeping, financial admin, accountancy, accounts administrator, Exec Assistant with financial reporting etc). Sign up to some agencies! Get your CV searchable on Indeed as well as applying for jobs there. The job centre isn’t an employment agency, it’s a way to get people off benefits by any means necessary. Why would you possibly need the help of a work coach who at best is basically a clueless administrator on minimum wage?

MotherPooperior · Yesterday 12:48

You might as well stick with her.

"Work coach" is a misnomer tbh. She's just there to process your claim at the start, and then to hassle you to find a job. Maybe send you on some extremely basic courses if you don't find a job fast enough. She is never going to actually help you find work!

Pickledonion1999 · Yesterday 12:46

Just to add I'm not even sure whether these work coaches are calling people into the job centre regularly. My new graduate son claimed UC in June, he has only had a couple of appointments with a work coach. He has found a part time job but they won't know that yet as he hasn't been paid yet but even since he has been working very part time they've barely called him in to hassle him to look for more hours. I just get the impression the whole system is overwhelmed with so many new claimants.

TheCountessofLocksley · Yesterday 12:41

If it has been agreed on your Claimant Commitment you can restrict your jobsesrch to your usual line of work for 4weeks max from the date of your claim. After that (or if no restriction aka a permitted period has been agreed) you have to look for and apply for any job you can do (rather than want to do/would chose to do).

The work coach role is just as much about (if not more) enforcement/managing compliance and sanctions as it an advisory role. The onus is on you to take active steps to apply for anything you can do (within agreed restrictions) and get yourself off benefits.

Sadly, you need to lower your expectations of what your work coach can do to help you. There is no problem asking for a different advisor, but there is no guarantee they will be any better.

Pickledonion1999 · Yesterday 12:41

To be honest they don't do that much anyway although my son's has put him on courses to help apply for jobs. I'm not sure why you've signed up so early as if you have final wages from your current job still to be paid that will possibly wipe out any UC payment for the first month unless you would currently qualify for UC but just haven't claimed up until now? Or have you just signed up for now for the job search help? I suspect with the thousands being made redundant right now , the DWP have taken on lots of new work coaches and they are still not fully up to speed with the job.

Teenagerantruns · Yesterday 12:23

To be honest the last two times l was unemployed the work coach did nothing, they just check you are applying for jobs, or try and get you to apply for random jobs on thier system.
I dont think l they can actually help you get a job as an accountant.
Edited to add they expect you to apply for any job you could possibly do, not just one you want to do.

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