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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect people on benefits not to be tricked out of their money

90 replies

holderness · 05/04/2011 18:33

Sorry for pinching the headline from this piece in the newspaper but couldn't think of a better way to put it.
here

I work with the unemployed and have seen so many cases of utter hopelessness brought about by this target (if indeed it is a target).

Once Job-seekers stops ,even for just one week,then the knock-on effect with regard to housing benefit ,council tax benefit etc is huge.

This is such a disgrace but no-one will o anything about it because ,somehow, the unemployed must deserve it.

But those who sit in judgement should know that any of the people I work with were once (and sincerely hope to be again) middle management types who lost out in the redundancy stakes.

It could be you next.That is the scary thing.

OP posts:
BabbyEdensMummy · 05/04/2011 22:23

i do understand what the government are trying to do as labour couldnt of kept giving out as they had run out of money, and it cant keep coming, but i do agree they are doing it in the wrong way and it is unfair for the genuine people that relie and need to to the ones that cant be bothered to work

Rockmaiden · 05/04/2011 22:25

This is disgusting and no surprise.

A friend of mine was recently santioned, she lost her benefit for 2 weeks, the reason?

She did not phone up a job advertisement they gave her.
SHE IS PROFOUNDLY DEAF FGS!!!

She did however send a CV to the job in question but they wanted her to phone despite the fact she told them she couldn't. Apparantly as she can communicate in normal conversation she should have been fine but they failed to take into acocunt the fact that she lip reads which she obviously cannot do on the phone.

This friend is a single mother of 2 young children. She lost her benefit, her council tax and rent were not paid which means that although now all sorted she is still paying off the debts to her landlord for the 2 week period.

Luckily social services gave her food vouchers or her children or she couldn't have even fed them.

Whatever17 · 05/04/2011 22:26

It's not "can't be bothered to work" - who does that? Honestly, there are probably very few sane, organised, non-addicted people who "can't be bothered to work".

There are people who are really doing their very best in trying circumstances.

meditrina · 05/04/2011 22:26

The linked article says the changes were brought in in April last year. This makes this a Labour policy.

I doubt the Coalition will be able to afford to reverse this policy, but they shouldn't be mislabelled as its originators.

BabbyEdensMummy · 05/04/2011 22:31

i said their are genuine people but obviously there are plenty of people that take advantage of the system, when they are pefectly capable of working, thats called lazyiness.

BabbyEdensMummy · 05/04/2011 22:32

as i said earlier i dont agree with the way the government are going about it because its not fair on the geninuly honest people that need that money, but theirs alot of people who abuse the benefits aswell

slartybartfast · 05/04/2011 22:35

when dh was made redundant the last time the tories got in, he would be in the signing on queue and people woudl be there in suits, answering their mobiles claiming to be "in a meeting".

it was bad enough last time, obviously this time it is worse, due to his age.

DioneTheDiabolist · 05/04/2011 22:37

BabbyEdensMummy, no one here is saying that shysters shouldn't be dealt with. We are complaining about the Benefit Agency tricking vulnerable claimants out of what they are entitled to in order to reach targets. No money is being saved as these people have their benefits reinstated on appeal because they were tricked. And because they were tricked to meet targets they end up in more poverty and distress.

Whatever17 · 05/04/2011 22:38

I lived in USA for a time many years ago and was on food stamps for a while (about a month) it was great, in a way, they give you loads and loads - like £800 pcm in todays money for 2 adults and a small baby. Wish I had that much for food now! In London it is so expensive to feed us, me, DS1 (20) and DS2 (11).

I worry that this is where we are going. Will there be GP visit vouchers where you can take your kids 5 times per years and no more?

Thankfully I can cook from scratch and can cook "war-time" (taught by mum), I grow our vegetables, I swap kids' clothes with my mates and I can sew and knit. My kids aren't precious and don't mind second hand presents. I can clean with vinegar and newspapers. But I am 42 and very resourceful, what of young mums who haven't been taught that?

I am also very combative regarding DS2's SEN and recently took our LEA to court cos he wasn't getting what he needed.

I really believe that I am better left to my own devices to look after my kids and that I will "put back in the pot" when I can, and I have before.

sorrytosayivebeenthere · 05/04/2011 22:51

I know I am doing the best I possibly can for my kids, hopefully I will find a job soon that won't affect them too much,

I do everything I possibly can every 2 weeks between my interviews at the jobcenter but I cant apply for jobs that aint there,

They made me take a food Hygeine course on the 7th of last month as it would widen my jobsearch but im still waiting for the results of the exam,

when I signed on last week my advisor couldnt understand why I hadnt had the results yet but I called the centre today and they are still awaiting the results,

I have no control of outside companys, thats why its so frustraiting when you tell the jobcenre you have done something but unless they actually take note when you follow it up and take your name the jc can accuse you of doing nothing

As an example, about 8 weeks ago when I signed on I was given a print out of a full time assistant job in my towns pound shop, that would be just perfect for me, I called the following morning and asked for the person named to contact on the printout, I was told that he had a few days off and to call on monday. I called on the Monday and was told he was on holidy for a week as the store was being refurbished, (which it was, it doubled in size that week) I should call the following monday,

9 am the following monday I called and was told the job had been taken, she hung up on me, I had to call again and ask her to take my name in case the jobcentre checked up on me following up this vacancy,

BabbyEdensMummy · 05/04/2011 22:57

see sorry to say ive been their ,,,you are one of the genuine people that does try, and its a shame that the ones that dont want to work get away with it wile you a penilised, the government need to find a better method of sorting the financial mess out with out dragging people who try hard down

sorrytosayivebeenthere · 05/04/2011 23:04

I had a similar thing last week, I was given a printout and told I had to apply as they would check up, this was at 4,30 on Tuesday, phoned at 9am on wed to be told the job had gone but they did have another which was 0 contract just if and when they needed me, no good to me but again I had to insist that they take my name in case the jobcentre followed it up.

I have worked. albeit awhile ago, I want to work, I am just finding so hard to get there.

Whatever17 · 05/04/2011 23:09

This is what I don't get - if you live in Bogend-on-Marsh and there are NO jobs. What happens then?

xstitch · 05/04/2011 23:12

The ask you to apply for jobs 500miles away. Then tell you not to be so lazy when you question the sanity of the suggestion.

RedbinD · 05/04/2011 23:13

BabyEdensMummy "penilised"? does that involve a penalty or a penis? If the latter I could get a bit interested in this thread.

sorrytosayivebeenthere · 05/04/2011 23:13

I dont know whatever That is what frightens me to be honest,

sorrytosayivebeenthere · 05/04/2011 23:16

I cannot do any more than I am doing now, Apart from offering my offerering my services on the street and I dont think I would get much doing that now tbh lol

Whatever17 · 05/04/2011 23:19

RedbinD - do get interested, forget about the penises (sp?).

sorrytosay - tbh I have found the JSA people to be perfectly nice so far. By which I mean the people in the dole office. And, in fact, the people on the end of the phone.

You live where you live and it is a HA house, you can't be expected to move. I guess they can send you on training courses, I guess. But if there are no jobs, there are no jobs.

What about people who are not just a bit out of the loop or looking after kids etc etc. What about ex-cons, really very disabled people, addicted people, homeless people who have really zero chance of a job ever.

What are they meant to do, die?

expatinscotland · 05/04/2011 23:20

Funny how there's plenty of money to wage war on Libya and for more MP expenses. . .

Whatever17 · 05/04/2011 23:20

sorrytosay - at least you'd get a shag!

Whatever17 · 05/04/2011 23:22

ExpatScot - Exactly! What are they saving - £1.3 billion - they have increased foreign aid from £8b to £11b and what is defence costing us!

Always, the most needy - kids who have 1 parent who has gone - who get rammed.

RedbinD · 05/04/2011 23:26

Sorry Whatever17, you've just pricked my conscience.

Whatever17 · 05/04/2011 23:32

RedBinD - sorry didn't mean to be a cow

sorrytosayivebeenthere · 05/04/2011 23:38

Ah whatever I'd forgotten about the plus sides lol

edam · 05/04/2011 23:49

Rockmaiden, that's shocking.

It is so unbelievably devastating when the benefits system suddenly drops you in it. Slightly different but years ago back in one of the last Tory recessions (early 90s?) my Mother lost her job. She came down to visit me - think I was ill - and went into my local post office to collect her unemployment benefit. The bastard counter assistant took her book away. No explanation, no apology, just the shock of being left standing there in a public place without a penny to your name. It was horrendous.

Fortunately she was staying with me so we could phone up and find out what the hell had gone on. Many phone calls later, turned out her local benefits office had put a note on the book because they needed to change the amount (actually increasing her benefit by 5p or something). But her local benefits office wouldn't have taken the book away - the story was 'it's the way they do things in London'. I was just struck by how terrifying the whole thing was - and she was lucky in a way that she was staying with me and had access to a phone (and food and heat and light).