AMA I work for DWP

[PurpleDaisy2114]

Just that really! Not in senior management.

I've just said, I have contacted them. To get out of contract, I have to pay the full amount of the contract now. So no, you don't get out of a contract.

Jazz you just stop paying sky and the gym and then you call them. It really is that simple.

You just don't pay them jazz! They would prefer to get a pound a week from you than nothing. I have done it!

@PurpleDaisy2114 4 months ago, I was unable to attend a UC appointment as I had been having panic attacks during that day and didn't feel I could make it in.

I left a note on my journal explaining this and asking for another appointment as I didn't feel able to make a phone call and talk to someone at the time.

That month, I didn't receive the money I was entitled to and informed I had been sanctioned for not attending the appointment.

I went for the rescheduled appointment with the same work coach 2 weeks later and asked why I had been sanctioned when she'd seen and replied to my message to reschedule it and knew I had a legitimate reason (I could have gotten a doctors note if needed as my doctor is aware of how awful my panic attacks get, think trembling, throwing up, high heart rate to the point that I have to lay down). She replied: "You deserved that sanction".

I wasn't paid the next month either and didn't take the hardship loan as my mum (whose a social worker) said it was a bad idea.

The next month I was paid half of what I am entitled too, the same for this month. I've been told many times over the past 2 months by UC phone operators that I shouldn't have been sanctioned and that my payment would go back to normal (this has been 2 months of these calls now!) as I'd let her know and had a legitimate reason, they said she should have reversed it, which she hasn't done.

My mums coming with me for my next appointment with her (3rd Jan) for support as I hate confrontation.

Surely you cant blame the OP or any other DWP employee for your choices and decisions in taking on several contracts for what I see as unnecessary purchases?

I rely on credit to get me by. There is no way I'm fucking up my credit rating.

Michonnes. Unnecessary purchases? Such as?

@Jazzhan Look at Open office/Libre. You don’t need to spend money on a monthly Office subscription.

The gym subscription was very necessary me as it kept me the right side of sane. TV was from when I moved in, and to be honest, I don't watch tv really, but I would hardly consider it an extravagance. At the time, I had a boyfriend and a job.

Tippexy, I don't know about those things, but most companies require CVs in Word format.

waterplease- they shouldn’t have sanctioned you. You can ask to speak to a team leader. We are told not to apply sanctions ourselves - it has to go through the case manager or decision maker. So for example- if you miss an appointment and don’t make contact- I would have to do a failure to attend. But it states in there that the reason for non attendance has to be sought. If it falls within a good reason e.g. childcare issues, family emergency, illness, interview etc then it would be closed with no further action. If you were my customer I would not have raised a failure to attend as you made contact- I would have rescheduled the appointment and offered it to be a phone appointment instead if that was preferred.

You can get gym prescribed for mh

You're all great at disparaging the great unwashed for having something as simple as a TV. Oh gosh, if I don't laugh, I'll cry.

Jazz. I've done it in the past
The gym suspended my membership and sky cut my bill in half. You can use your mobile as a hotspot then you don't need broadband.

Gym, Sky, office?

I wish everyone would ignore jazzhan

I sympathise with predicament but my word she is coming across as bloody unpleasant.

Please let’s just all ignore to stop useful thread detailing

Oh fuck off jazz with your great unwashed remark.
I am a single mum of 4. I don't/can't get maintenance for 3 of them. I recently got a job after being made redundant despite no fucking ms office, cancelled contracts by speaking to people, hand delivered my CV, couldn't afford the fucking gym to keep me sane so I walked or did stupid exercises in my kitchen with tins of beans. I have been homeless with 4 children. You do not have the monopoly on misery. Stop being angry at people who actually want to help you and listen to what people are saying.

The fact being you are expecting the government to pay for it now?

This is what makes it unnecessary.

You can still have a TV without Sky. (plenty of people do, myself included)

Agree kiki. It's deliberate goadiness to detract from what is a very useful and informative thread which is helping lots of people. Depression is one thing but bitterness is totally different and gets people nowhere in life.
Let's concentrate on the helpful posters who are kind enough to help others.

Orchiddingme thank you - will ask at radiotherapy tomorrow!!!!

I have sky now but only because it's bundled with broadband and I only have the cheapest package. For a long time (10 years) I only had freeview

Sky- if you phone them and explain you are having trouble paying their standard is to offer half price for 6 months; you might then be nearer the end of your contract.

Gym- the GP can ‘prescribe’ the gym if it directly helps with your MH, but it will probably be a LA gym as long as there is one in close proximity. They will then honour cancelling the contact early.

You don’t need to be paying for Office.

Oh now we have the ganging up.

Anyway, I hope the OP comes back and answers my questions. It is ask me anything.
Everyone else cluttering the thread up with disparaging comments about me, are hardly contributing anything apart from detracting from the premise of the thread. Ask a question or don't. I didn't ask any of you questions, I asked the OP.

I was in a very different financial position when I took out the most basic of contracts (the basic package) with Sky. I needed the gym as exercise keeps me well. The gym is beside my work, so far from where I live, so advice about a GP prescribing the gym, ain't going to help on that particular contract my dears.