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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think job centre are setting people up to fail

46 replies

upontheroof66 · 22/05/2016 11:17

So I have a 63 year old sister who is currently on jsa. She worked in factories since school and had no qualifications. For a while she attended a special school so does probably have very mild learning difficulties. She also is living with the after effects of an eating disorder so is not in the best of health .
Anyway she does voluntary work in a charity shop and is by no means lazy
So. She had no internet or mobile phone but is expected to job search daily. This involves a 3 mile round trip walk to the library which is closed one day a week.
Once every 2 weeks it costs her £6 to sign on and see her advisor. Her advisor does nothing to help her. This week she was told that there were loads of suitable jobs she can apply for. In actual fact their was one. Full time kitchen work starting at 5.30 Meaning she would have to leave a 5.00 arem and walk 1 1/2 to get there. Plus it is only temporary.
Anyway She spent her whole hour if internet use trying to apply for this job but it could not be done on the job centre site
Ain't to think that job centre staff are targeted to sanction as many people as possible so set vulnerable people up to fail..

OP posts:
KingJoffreyLikesJaffaCakes · 22/05/2016 11:36

Yes.

It's a totally batshit organisation. Really odd way of doing things.

missymayhemsmum · 22/05/2016 11:39

Yes, the jobcentre staff have to make life as difficult as possible for people who are not seriously looking for a job, and pretty difficult for those who are. That has the worst effects on people like your sister who are not so disabled they couldn't work, but not really employable in the local job market either. The best help you could give her is to arrange internet access and help her get some basic IT skills as in order to claim JSA she has to search online daily. Maybe the charity shop management could also help her?

starry0ne · 22/05/2016 11:45

When I was 16 many years ago I had a temp job that finished.. I had to go sign on and my giro was sent a few days later...

I received no less or more help than I did 25 years later..Both times I have sorted myself out and everyone got seen quicker maybe reduce the number of employee's there who are really no help and seem to hate the unemployed.

Original poster
upontheroof66 · 22/05/2016 12:14

She has done som job centre courses on Cv writing etc. But it hasn't helped much. Will look at internet but she doesn't own a computer or tablet or smartphone. So will be quite expensive both short and long term.

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 22/05/2016 12:16

Have they said she has to sign up for universal job match and log on daily? Since you evidently have Internet access, could you support her?

BusStopBetty · 22/05/2016 12:23

I'm sure she's already done this, but has she signed up with agencies, particularly those that specialise in factory work or retail work, and badgered them on a very regular basis? Some agencies are utter shite, but some can be decent. It's work asking around for recommendations.

Original poster
upontheroof66 · 22/05/2016 12:30

Yes she is on universal job match. I didn't get involved until now as another sibling was supporting her with this. However, I think I will have to get involved now too.
She is registered with agencies but is very shy so hasn't got the temperament to badger them

OP posts:
TaliZorahVasNormandy · 22/05/2016 12:43

I was JSA for 2 years. It was bloody awful, the job centre didnt help at all.

I was to a employment company who I cannot fault at all. Not only where they understanding of my situation (Single parent) they actually helped and sent me on course that really boost my confidence.

They paid for postage of spec CV's I sent out. I must have done 100's eventually through that, I got the job I have now.

Spec letters and CV's are definitely the way to go.

Original poster
upontheroof66 · 22/05/2016 12:56

She has sent loads of spec letters and phone calls. Think she had to pay postage though

OP posts:
Rafflesway · 22/05/2016 13:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

feellikeanalien · 22/05/2016 13:26

I think that most job centre staff are employed on the basis of how little empathy they have for people. If they can wind someone up by patronising them and make them lose their temper then they can sanction them and meet their targets.

Job done!

wheresthetea · 22/05/2016 13:44

They are absolutely useless. My 'advisor' was adamant that I needed to apply for working tax credit, and sent me away to do that. Except two seconds of googling when I got home told me that you need to be 25 to qualify. I was 21 at the time. Hmm

Arkengarthdale · 22/05/2016 13:45

I've recently had to sign on. Attended job centre on a Wednesday then got offered a fab prestigious job on the Friday which requires vetting so three to four weeks till start date. I still have to attend every week and prove that I spend 35 hours every week searching for work. I recently turned down a minimum wage job with a start date in a fortnight and they think I'm bring unreasonable. I'm not allowed to go and visit my father in a home for a few days before I start my new job because it means I'm not available for work. I'VE ALREADY GOT A JOB! I haven't claimed benefits for 20 years Shock

CantWaitForWarmWeather · 22/05/2016 13:59

Arken That is fucking bonkers!! Shock

Original poster
upontheroof66 · 22/05/2016 14:08

Sorry that was a typo. She is 62 so has been screwed over again by govt. Her retirement age is now 66. If she was 2 years older she would have got pension at 62.

OP posts:
juliusthefirst · 22/05/2016 14:15

I remember going to my forst sign on appointment

Woman talking on the phone saying "cant come and get you, im working" "youll just have to toughen up and get back to your school work".

The woman then told her collegue how her 7 year old son was ill at school, but she wouldnt go pick him up.

If she has that little empathy for her own child....Angry

AdrenalineFudge · 22/05/2016 14:27

Arken Are you still able to claim once you've been offered a job? My friend was in a similar position and she was basically bullied into stopping her claim once she'd received a verbal offer even though training didn't start for another 3/4 weeks so in the meantime she had absolutely no money.

GarlicShake · 22/05/2016 14:29

Yes, they do set people up to fail and they do have sanction targets. The advisors working there vary like any collection of human beings, but even the nice ones have to increase their sanctions or face disciplinary procedures.

The best you can do for your sister is help her jump through the flaming hoops and learn about her rights. Unworldly people with intellectual impairments are the first target for trumped-up sanctions, unfortunately. If you can spare £20, join benefitsandwork.co.uk/ as they provide very thorough downloads of rules, regulations and advice.

I hope she manages to find an 'acceptable' job but, tbh, few employers want a 60+ woman when so many younger & fitter people are are out of work.

Ruhrpott · 22/05/2016 14:37

I think she can give them the bus tickets and get back money for the journey to the job centre. My daughters have mild
Learning difficulties and I logged on for them everyday using their log in and helped (wrote) their job applications. The jobs they were made to apply for were ridiculous. One is now on esa in the support group as working was not possible and one has a part time job after failing at two other jobs.

Our job centre also had special advisors for people with special needs. Maybe go with her one time and ask her to be transferred to them. They have slightly more leeway on how many jobs need to be applied for before sanctions kick in

Birdsgottafly · 22/05/2016 14:40

I had a friend who took temporary work in a JC, she was an ordinary advisor, there were two advisors for disabled Job Seekers.

Half of the people coming to see her were disabled, usually mild to moderate LDs or conditions such as Autism.

She was told not to refer them, because the other advisors couldn't cope with their workload and no-one was checking that this was being done, so to leave it as it was.

We need external independent investigators for the workings of the DWP and Job Centres.

Ruhrpott · 22/05/2016 14:43

And if I hadn't supported my daughters to jump through the hoops yes they would have failed and been sanctioned all the time.

ilovesooty · 22/05/2016 14:46

About two thirds of JCP disability advisers have been axed.

GarlicShake · 22/05/2016 14:55

You don't get your fares refunded for signing on, Ruhr. In London and a very few other places, you can get a Jobcentre travel card which gives you 50% off fares. I don't know whether you have to pay for this.

Glad at least one of your daughters got into the support group. I know it's terrible to be happy that the government's agent has decided you're incapable of work - but, honestly, I was over the moon and I think you'll understand what I mean!

GarlicShake · 22/05/2016 14:56

About two thirds of JCP disability advisers have been axed.

What a surprise.

HighwayDragon1 · 22/05/2016 16:27

I remember being briefly out of work before uni (took me several years after college to buck my ideas up) and having to sign on, because of my age they forced me to do a maths access course, telling me I had to or I'd get no money/be sanctioned etc. They wouldn't listen that I didn't need to since I HAD A MATHS ALEVEL, I kept repeating 'but I have an a level in maths'

I went, the person running the course told me to go home, and that it wasn't the first time it had happened!