graphista there was nothing I could do to change the system, except voting for a different political party at election time. The things you describe - campaigning, protesting, rallying, petitions - would have lost me my job. As a human being I wanted to keep a job and continue getting paid, so I didn't do anything to jeopardize my employment. I think feeding and clothing myself more important than some misguided notion of morals which do nothing anyway
If you bother to do a search on Me you will find that i commented on one a few weeks ago. Someone was basically arguing that Thier relative was commiting disability fraud and how wrong it was. I did a good long post about how rare it is, the affect that false allegations on vulnerable peoples already fragile mental health, the fact that pip and ESA are already hard enough to get, the impact such attitudes have on disabled people and the fear and stigma they face. I actually wrote two long posts advising posters on there how to approach the DWP and details of what to do if things go wrong. I'd left the job at that point, so yes I was doing something I didn't need to..
The staff aren't 'allowing' anything. What power do you seriously think telephony staff and case managers have ? Look around. We're in a world of 0 hour contracts. The DWP contracts themselves are fixed term with no job security. If you start campaigning on FB etc, you could well lose your job through putting the dept into disrepute. And you might think 'good, enough go and the government will change'. That comes back to the world of 0hr contracts. Security and alright money, no matter how short term, ensures the DWP staff will always be queuing for work. We don't allow anything, as we don't have any power in the first place!
Perhaps it isn't so much heard about as the stories don't quite fit the sun's 'dwp are all evil bosses ' agenda. In fact I know of someone who was sacked before I started, for looking up her own benefit history. They take data breaches extremely seriously.
I've left now but yes, when I was there I filled in surveys, I voted within pcs etc. It did nothing. It will not change anything. Giving more training etc is too expensive. There is a shortage of staff which means training is thin on the ground. Again I'm not sure what you expect floor staff to do about a decision made by someone quite a few positions above? We can voice our opinion til were blue in the face but it doesn't change anything.
The forms are confusing. I actually went in and simplified some forms (not the pip2 but ones like how to register for a recon) for vulnerable people. I also spent many half hours explaining by phone exactly what each question meant. It wasn't perfect but it was a solution and it did help.
Let me rephrase my statement. There is nothing the front line staff can do to change the actual system bar excersising our right to vote. There's plenty front line staff can do to support vulnerable claimants with he process. We can break it down for them, we can give them a list of things to do, we can send out simplified letters reiterating the phone call of the person has memory problems, we can be sympathetic, we can give the best advice we can. We can't change the system, we can hopefully make it easier for some vulnerable people. And I'm certainly not ashamed that I didn't do 'more' when doing so may have cost me my job. I helped how I could.
Blank it certainly sounds like it will be a paper based review. You're right not to worry just yet. 😀
Thank you what I did the best with what I had which wasn't always much
Cal that sounds bloody awful, you poor thing! They do absolutely follow through on complaints of any nature, even if it's bullshit ones ('the advisor hang up after I threatened her etc') they investigate thoroughly. If staff are at fault there's retraining and if serious enough loss of job or even criminal convictions. It does depend on the manager as mine was good at it. Best advice I can give is to keep on until someone listens.
Carol the forms are really confusing . The only support DWP staff can give is signposting to different organisations eg cab or advise by phone. If someone is absolutely illeterate with no possible way of accessing support a visiting officer will go out and do it for them. They literally write what the claimant says word for word so not effective for someone with serious problems. Organisations are so overstretched and underfunded and it's a huge issue. Unfortunately the pip decision is made based on pip forms, evidence sent in and the assessment so not many allowances are made. Staff can and do extend the time allowed for the forms to ensure claimants get time to access support, although that has to be asked for.
It's many different ways. A lot is (idiots) ringing up and whinging (I understand the living together, working etc but the disability ones make me so angry knowing how hard the system is!). It's also data matches from HMRC re tax paid etc, council allegations, allegations from staff, data matches between other benefits (eg someone registered as self employed but claiming JSA), support workers (especially in child dependency ones - mum lost custody of baby but claiming CB. Lots of organisations now tell DWP if only to stop mum digging a bigger hole), loads. No way are benefits cancelled right away. First off a minion (me) checks that they are recieving benefit and that the allegation would affect the benefit. Then another minion (me with different hat on) checks all the benefits, see what they're claiming for and the amount, check notes, check previous history, do background checks (living together- has he lived there previously? Does he have a mobile contact at the address? Does she have a child with his surname that matches date on allegation). We work out overpayment and chuck it to either criminal or compliance depending on the amount. They then investigate again. They might ring and check their circs and give them a chance to come clean. They then dig into FB, credit cards, contracts, electrol register, HMRC, land registry, bank accounts, employers records etc (mainly criminal). Compliance tend to do an interview, outline the consequences and have them sign a bit of paper. If they're alleged of same offence again it is passed right over to criminal.
Criminal check everything out, including FB etc. They have warrants and employers have to allow them access to their files etc. They can request surveillance and raids. Then it's interview under caution time, then possibly court. They have to have good reason for stopping benefit. With some eh pip they call claimants I'm for assessment.
Stopping benefit is never a first response
Oh trust me there are loads of twats! Particularly love the allegations where dad is paying cm and so 'she shouldn't get fucking benefits'. File under 'bin'. The info he gave you was wrong and if anyone told him that they need retraining. Child has one parent listed whose DLA gets paid to. Usually the RP, for obvious reasons.
Ginger tax credit is a HMRC benefit so they might be different but DWP do not stop benefits willy nilly. We do get malicious ones and they might get passed on to a team, but at the end of the day criminal must prove to a court of law you are guilty beyond doubt so they err on the side of caution, definitely. Compliance is a interview and signing you understand, so nothing to worry about.
Rrjr go ahead 😀 I'm off to bed in a mo as only just got in from work but I'll get back in the morning