To think that the Jobcentre are absolutely taking the piss?

[BumFunHun]

A bit of background history first of all:-

My dad, aged 60+ (keeping it vague for the purposes PC/data protection/fear this post may backfire to his detriment) moved in with my DH and I approx 3 years ago, after finding himself a little bit homeless, and a lot unemployed and skint.

Anyway, moves in with us, and starts the painful process of 'being a doley' (his words, not mine) for the first time ever in his adult life. He's worked previously since he was 18 in a manual trade.

This is where it gets all kinds of long...so apologies in advance - and congratulations if you read this without falling into coma:-

So, resigned to the fact that at 60+ he's not going to really have too much joy in finding manual work he has experience in, he signs on. Eventually his £76.whateveritis, starts filtering through on a fortnightly basis. Since January he has had to take part in compulsory work placement to continue receiving his pennies. Fine, no biggie, he gets on with it - has attended Every. Single. Fucking. Day since January. 10-4 pm, Monday to Saturday in the charity shop he's been assigned to. Mundane work, where, when asked how his day has been, he considers it a promotion to have been assigned to 'pressing' rather than 'hanger sorting'

Whatever, I digress, he today receives a letter telling him that his benefits are at threat of stopping as the Jobcentre in their infinite wisdom believe he did not attend his placement on 26 April (he did) and hasn't been completing his mandatory hours of 9-5pm (impossible, as the shop he has been assigned to opens at 10 and shuts at 4 - hence him taking it upon himself to do the Saturdays instead to make up the time)

I'm furious for him! I get that they have to enforce these mandatory placements to make working seem a better option for the few that choose benefits as a lifestyle choice - but the man is over 60 (although not quite entitled to any form of pension); has knackered knees; no relevant experience for less exhausting work; and his age against him when it comes to applying.

I'm also mad because (albeit slightly unrelated to the above):-

1. They (JS) made him attend a test to assess his English and Maths levels, despite him being grammar school educated, with exam passes clearly on the CV they made him rewrite to their standard precedent format (which ironically, is pretty crap)
2. The letter inviting him on the course was littered with the most basic grammar and spelling mistakes, he actually red-bic'd the whole thing and handed it in when he attended, joking that he'd completed the English test.
3. He's previously had letters demanding he attend course/appointments with them that are post stamped AFTER the date of said appointment, then been threatened with sanctions for not turning up
4. The most recent letter re the supposed 'failed attendance' was signed off 'Regards [initials, rather than name], so he can't even address a response to a person
5. They didn't check their sodding facts in any way before sending the letter.

Am I being unreasonable to think they are a bunch of penpushing wankers over there, and perhaps they should just give him a nice paid job in the HQ somewhere, proof-reading letters before they're sent, rather than making him work 30 hours a week for 76 quid a fortnight?!

Hit me - I can take it if I am BU.

I can also accept that my post could probably be a fuckload more concise - but I'm in rant mode, and my fingers of fire just won't stop typing....

Ironically, he couldn't give a shit. He's penning a letter addressed "Dear [initials]
[insert required written explanation required no later than 17 May]

Lots of love [his initials] x"

Perhaps I'll just not give a shit too, although his £40 a fortnight contribution to his food and the bills is actually quite needed. Feel better for offloading anyway.

Blimey! It does seem this is quite an emotive subject!
Yes, he didn't choose the placement or hours-the JC decide all that.
Someone suggested B&Q which is a great shout. He's quite knowledgable about trade stuff, and definitely a people person. Reckon orange would suit his colouring too .
Going to suggest he sends a cv and covering letter to them-whether or not they're hiring atm locally (on job match they'd be inundated - we live in an area with v high unemployment unfortunately, so anything that's not 'skilled' or requiring hardcore qualifications I imagine have extremely high volumes of applications because JC insist on claimants applying for everything)
If he can come up with a decent covering letter to stick in minds, that can only be a good thing, surely? Worth a bash eh?

I should add that the exchange between my cousin and bitch face was witnessed by another adviser who also agreed that bitch face's attitude was disgusting and backed my cousin up when my auntie complained to the manager.

I'm not sure what sanctions she faced however I do know that my cousin was never made to see bitch face for the remainder of her time signing on.

And after all that we found out that it wasn't even compulsory for her to allow access or to log on in front of an adviser and she was out of line to refuse to allow anyone to sign on on that basis alone. That was also backed up by the manager.

So a major wtf was her problem. Other than being a twat of course.

Well perhaps all these claimants can come and do your job for free, abd then your employer can replace you. Thus putting you in you into unemployment, and be sure under no illusion. It could come to that. Why would your boss pay you the NLW. When he/she can get free labour, courtesy of this wonderful government.
Still think it's a "good idea", do you

Exactly! As for charities not being a business? Seriously? Of course they are, they have paid employees at the higher levels, just because the money they make is intended to help people doesn't mean they're not a business.

I'm shocked under echr rules it's not illegal to have people work essentially for free! Or certainly below legal wages!

I agree it undermines the economy too.

Also I know a wide variety and fair number of people (partly due to being a military brat/wife) and I've never met or even heard of anyone who has chosen it as a lifestyle.

Bacon i didnt realise that You must have heard of Carillion Amey then.

Do I need to be careful how I answer that Helena?

Worst thing that ever happened to service families was provision and maintenance of service accomms being removed from service remit!

I was lucky to be coming out of service life as they were coming in but could see how it was going.

No Bacon you dont need to be careful Ive seen their twitter feed and its shocking. A 3 year old has been living on takeaways for 3 weeks due to lack of a kitchen. By the looks of it they cant even plug a microwave in.

That's least of it

Started reading this last night and it made my blood boil on DF's behalf. Couldn't RSVP from phone and haven't read the rest of the thread so apologies if I am repeating what others have said. I am pretty certain B&Q take on older staff, fully aware of the commitment they are likely to show to the job/experience and so on. I wish him all the best. Job Centres are staffed by utterly incompetent nasty bastards and TBH the workhouse would probably treat you better.

I feel really angry on your DF's behalf. There is no excuse for being rude to people and the JC staff sound awful. If it were my DF I'd want to kill them. I think he sounds an incredibly strong and resilient character with a great sense of humour.

I love the fact that your DF corrected their grammar and spelling with a red pen - hilarious! I would employ him like a shot and hope he finds some job where he is appreciated.

Another reason not to vote Brexit; then this awful government won't be answerable to anybody; no human rights, nowhere to appeal when any such rights are stripped away. It is clear that NI contributions are just another form of tax and you can't expect anything by way of benefits when you need them, even though you've been told that you have paid for it; like a corrupt insurance company that you can't sue or refer to the Ombudsman.

Someone I know has stopped claiming at all because they were made to feel so worthless, even though they are not working and have no other income; basically their meagre savings are just being wiped out. They were sanctioned when in hospital for a miscarriage.

I find it all quite terrifying. Your DF is obviously a strong and robust character but the stories on here about those more vulnerable make me want to weep.