Weekly JSA grillings are a waste of time

[feellikeahugefailure]

My jobcenter is asking people to come in every week, my advisor rolls her eyes at it and apologises for dragging me in (pretty much 3 hour round trip with rubbish local buses and waiting times) and it really cuts into my time.

Its almost like they are trying to make it difficult to put people off.

My dd, age 22 had an anxiety attack after being sanctioned over something minor. She was very upset and they just told her to leave the job centre as she was in the way of the next person. Not one ounce of sympathy, no offer of another place to sit even until she felt better. She called me in a right state, so upset I thought she'd been attacked or something. Was about to leap into my car and drive the 4 hours to be with her. Fortunately she calmed down and it wasn't necessary. We complained but it never went anywhere. Disgusting treatment.

David you are kidding right?

I signed on few a few months a couple of years ago, every single person I interacted with spoke to me like I was shit on the bottom of their shoe.

My advisor was as much help as a chocolate teapot, didn't know anything about the NEA scheme, when I enlightened her she refused to refer me until I had written a full business plan. Having done so I went back and got referred only to find my first appointment was with a company who would help me write a business plan! Mine is staffed by power hungry fuckwits who make it up as they go along.

I'm not sure that I am in a position to do this myself since I haven't been directly affected by sanctions but perhaps people can write to their MPs and the DWP?

I could prepare a form letter but it would be very basic since everyone's experience differs widely.

PM me and I'll get it done.

They are harassing carers as well - people who are already spending 35+ hours a week caring for a severely disabled person. I get an income support top up with my carers allowance and have to go to the jobcentre every month to report on what kind of work I'd be thinking about fitting in between my regular hospital appointments, school/council meetings and early school pickups, and I've had to write a CV and look on Universal Jobmatch as well.

For example a friend of mine who is very intelligent and has a good degree, was sent on a basic literacy and numeracy course (at taxpayer expense) just so they could tick some boxes.

I've done this one twice. I'm not sure what the point of my GCSEs, A-levels and BEd (including the QTS literacy and numeracy tests) are. On the other hand I do now know that my literacy and numeracy are good enough that I could have been put in for the entry level 2 exams if I wanted.

Job centres seem to be particularly good at pointless box ticking and making people jump through hoops for no reason.

I've been on it for about 3 weeks and can only hope I never go back. My internet access was extremely limited at the time, could only access at nearest library, 3 miles by irregular bus service. I dutifully filled in their little booklet, explained over phone why my internet was down, they said not to worry as long as the booklet has been filled in.

Got there, and got Bollocked and almost cut off for not being on the pissing universal jobmatch for hours a day, despite the fact they had never mentioned the need for it. Apparently, applying for specialist teaching positions was not good enough as it doesn't show on their system, I should waste time applying for hundreds of (expired) part time supermarket roles.

Uuuugh. And she was so rude. Rant over.

I was, that means to say. Not now.

Fuckoffdavid Please tell me that's not true?

abbs its great that your HA is helping tenants in that way but they are assuming that a job is going to actually pay enough. Its also not helping that a lot of HAs wont do gas safety checks outside the 9-5 though i think now circumstances may force them to do so. It also doesnt help working tenants when there are several no shows in a row from engineers. If HAs want to help their tenants find and keep jobs they need to pull their socks up with this.

I wish I was lying. DP refused to sign up, his advisor demanded to know why so he pulled his trouser leg up to show the scar that runs from his big toe to half way up his shin and the muscle that was missing due to talipes

I stepped away from this thread for a while to do some work proposals. Back now to catch up on more of your horrendous experiences.

I'm self-employed and have just had my tax credits stopped because despite working over 30 hours a week I'm suddenly not earning enough to be 'commercially' viable. I work in a sector that's suffering terrible cutbacks (arts, disabled children). They've told me they haven't decided yet how much money they want back and if they're going to fine me. I wait in dread for that brown envelope through the door every morning.

I have had barely any child support for my two DC because fathers can find many ways to avoid it.

I cannot bear to sign on. I have a disabled son, I can't bear to go through what so many of you are going through. So I'm building up loads of debt. I'm going to have to sell my house and chuck out my daughter and grandson. at least I have a (crumbling old) house to sell.

Ha - I'm one of the lucky ones.

Whilst all those who attend JS should be treated with respect I think it is important people are asked to attend, the whole point of job seekers allowance is that people are job seeking

I am really scared about what's going to happen to us next month when the next round of cuts kicks in. I have a job, which is paid at a good hourly rate, and I also work for myself. But my job is basically a zero-hours contract even though I am employed by an agency contracted to the council: if I get sick, or DS gets sick, or the school is closed, or an arranged meeting is cancelled for reasons totally outside my control, I don't get paid. My self-employed work is hugely variable, as well.
I am 51, and the industry I worked in for most of my life is pretty much dead, so my specialist skills are pretty much obsolete. I really don't know what we are going to do...

Ponty I take it you've not been in that position. Try reading tft. No offense meant but really?

Solid, I feel your pain. A few years ago I'd be looking forward to retirement in a couple of years...not now - but that's a whole nother thread.

I keep saying - thank god I'm not young in this shitty country. I'll be dead before it all goes totally tits up. Our poor kids and grandkids

Given the fact that there the government budget is tight surely benefit payments have to be monitored - not sure how else this can be done

What should be done is the introduction of citizen income. At the moment, the cost of harassing and bullying benefit claimants is apparently higher than the amount saved by stopping payments to them.

And I am so tired of the bullshit about that minority of poor people who 'don't want to work'. Taxpayers fund the fucking House of Windsor to do bugger all. Why should you spend a large part of your life undertaking pointless tasks and being treated like shit, which is what a lot of unskilled 'jobs' amount to?
Plenty of people who are not in waged employment are saving the taxpayer money by caring for dependents - it would cost the state a lot more to put the elderly, disabled or very young in full-term care institutions than it does to have them looked after by non-professionals in their own homes.
And there is not, actually, enough 'work' for the number of able-bodied adults around. Most people would prefer to undertake activities that give their lives a purpose, but sitting in a shitty call centre all day trying to persuade other people to change their electricity supplier isn't actually a more worthwhile way of spending your time than growing vegetables, writing poetry, or even staring at the telly.

Stop paying for Tridant? MP's wage rises? Champagne bills? Stupid expenses on their 2nd homes? Chauffer-driven limos? Ah fuck it, I'm going to bed!

What Solid said. Nanite x

Solid tallwivglasses

Ponty: there are quite a few other areas where the government could save a few bob. Getting rid of the army of snoopers, box tickers and assessors who harass benefit claimants would be one. Pensioning off the royals (who have independent wealth anyway) would be another. Dumping Trident would work, too. And of course pursuing the likes of Google and Starbucks to pay the tax they have dodged would help...

Being on jsa made me so depressed i went on esa. After being on jsa for 6 month depressed when i went on esa i found a job in 3 months.
The meetings are a waste of time

Tall and Solid and bloody well said! That's horrible Life. I'm glad you found something but it just shows how dangerous and pointless this horrible system is.