AMA I work for DWP

[PurpleDaisy2114]

Just that really! Not in senior management.

But if she didn't Jazz she could be in your situation.
Do you claim PIP?

I wasn't awarded PIP

When someone's life is on the line, i.e. at risk of prison for debt, street homelessness, suicide, do you think you're remotely equipped to be dealing with such a person?

How can you happily go to work every day, knowing that this system is a ticking timebomb which is very likely to start exploding in 8 - 12 months time?

Jazzhan- I am so sorry for your situation. Have you looked online for your local authority for local welfare assistance or discretionary housing payment to help? Is there a shortfall in your rent?
I have never had a customer complaint and I go above and beyond to help all my customers. I never turn anyone away if they walk in and want to see me, I phone people back when I say I will, I speak to companies on customers behalfs e.g. debt collectors, housing associations etc. I hope you are seeking help for your depression (I have been there myself). I have even argued with case managers to sort out things out. I do not think myself above any of my customers- I have been in some of their situations. Apply for PIP. And if you have continuous fit notes from your GP then this should trigger a work capability assessment. You could ask about the Work and Health programme or local provisions that provide more specialised support. Every Jobcentre has a Disability Employment provider who you could speak to as well

Do you avoid telling people what you do?

Are you ashamed of what you do?

Oh yes, they have already triggered a work capability assessment. Because they know better than my GP obviously.

OP " To be completely honest with you, they forgot about contribution based benefit in the design of UC and it was brought in as an afterthought."

interesting. I thought that perhaps they were deliberately trying to get rid of contribution based benefits. I could have tried to claim universal credit recently, in the past it would have been contribution based JSA.

As far as I can see, they have made it very difficult - e.g. long journey to office with no guarantee I'd get anything - and I thought that perhaps it was designed to ensure that people with savings could no longer get contribution based JSA.

but you think they just didn't think about it, rather than deliberately wanting to get rid of it?

Jazzhan- a lot of my customers are homeless or were homeless. Over 3 months I had 20 who were homeless or facing homelessness and I found 15 places to rent, temporary accommodation or worked with agencies. This is a role that is supposed to be undertaken by local authorities but I assist as much as I can. With regards to suicide- I have had journal messages from customers that feel that low and I have contacted them, persuaded them to come to the Jobcentre, sat with them whilst they called their GP/Crisis team/Samaritans etc or I just talked to them

@jazzhan stop it now. The OP has answered lots of questions but your circumstances are not her fault.

If you were in good health, and offered the OPs job, would you take it?

CatToddlerRising. Do you condone a system that leaves 20 people homeless and several others contemplating suicide?

@jazzhan have just seen your gun comment. Reported. You are disgusting.

Jazzhan- I can’t change the legal side or policies so I do the best I can and I go home every day knowing I have helped every single one of my customers. I am sorry for your current situations and I hope you are seeking help. I hope the work capability assessments goes in your favour

Jazzhan- it wasn’t the system that left them homeless. It was prison leavers, care leavers, asylum seekers, people who spent their housing benefit on things other than rent, substance misuse etc.

How have you helped them? You've kept them alive for one more day? They'll still feel the same in the morning. They will still be running themselves into debt.

But how can you live on what they give you? Riddle me that.

Jazzhan- no one can be 100% certain they can prevent a suicide. And this isn’t just specific to those who claim benefits- suicide happens in all walks of life. I provide the support I can. Just like anybody

If you don't like them, don't fucking read the thread
Your questions aren't proper questions, they are nasty misdirected rage at someone who doesn't control your problems. Perhaps direct your anger into planning something in your own situation, dealing with your depression and getting better.
I think you've said enough.

Is it in your job description to be sitting with clients forcing them to ring the Samaritans?

You have no idea how complex some illnesses are, and unless you're a qualified care co-ordinator with training, you could well be damaging someone even further.
Stop doing that.

Jazzhan- because there has to be a limit to what people can claim on benefits if they are able to work. Public funds are not endless- just like the NHS.

Jazz can you use one off the MSOffice emulators like google docs or open office? (sorry I KNOW that is flyshit but every little helps)

*@Mrspotter12 you are eligible for PIP for three years in this situation and do not have to have a face to face assessment, I can't remember the name of the form but your consultant can sign one (at the top it says used for housing/benefits) and that overtakes all other pieces of paper, you then send in the PIP form with this evidence and it will be granted. Get help from CAB or Macmillan with this, but you don't have to go through the usual PIP process if you are currently having radio/chemo.

My questions are questions. That they might be hard-hitting, is beside the point.