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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that repeatedly calling me in to the job centre is a waste of time and money.

109 replies

TheUnworthy · 12/11/2016 10:52

I am a carer.

My partner and dd are both severely disabled, enough to warrant the highest PIP/DLA awards.

Every two months (occasionally every month) I dread the phonecall.

The phonecall that tells me I yet again have to go see a complete stranger and repeat myself endlessly.

'No I still need to be at home'

'No they aren't any better, never going to be'

'No I haven't looked for work, see above'

'No I don't know when they will be better so I can start to work again. Our consultant called you a disgrace when I told him what I have to keep coming in here for.'

The same question but phrased in a multitude of different ways and the answer is very simple.

Until the government stop wasting money on these stupid fucking appointments and useless meetings and maybe looking at why I really can't work (cuts to social care) then the answer will be the same for the rest of my loved ones lives.

No. I'm not looking for a bloody job.

Or AIBU?

OP posts:
GabsAlot · 12/11/2016 11:50

dont know if theyve changed it im sure youre not mean tto be called in that much on IS

try and find out if youve been marked down on wrong section of benefits

JellyBelli · 12/11/2016 11:53

YANBU, they have targets to set and it sounds like you fall into a group of people that is easy to target.
Google for your local Law Centre. they give advice for people who cannot affiord a solicitor. Next time, get them to work with you and you may find the SS back off. Thats what it took for us anyway, one phone call from a solicitor to make a 'query' about the interview. Flowers

ClashCityRocker · 12/11/2016 11:53

meadows see, I don't get how it would weed out chancers.

There not exactly going to say 'yeah, you got me, none of us are ill or disabled, where do I sign up for shelf stacking at tesco?'

In the meantime they are causing huge problems for a number of people who are genuinely in need - and giving the government a fucking good deal.

Yes, annual reviews maybe, but not every couple of months.

Bountybarsyuk · 12/11/2016 11:53

You do work. It's that simple. You are paid for the job of caring and that is your work. The government shouldn't then be asking you why you don't do a different job.

pugsake · 12/11/2016 11:55

All the benefit services are linked. So for example if the op's child or partner had their disability stopped the job centre would be informed.

Every month asking if someone with a lifelong illness or condition is any better is just cruel.

Carers allowance is £62 a week and when you get that £30 is took off either the income support or esa as it's classed as earnings. It makes no difference how many people you care for.

£30 a week for the full time care of two people is shocking.

Bountybarsyuk · 12/11/2016 11:56

Pug it's outrageous. Caring is such hard work and it would be so expensive for a non-family member to do it.

NoahVale · 12/11/2016 11:58

my dh was made redundant and i went to unemployment office with him once, no idea why. but i was very surprised how nice the woman was. but i dont think they Always were nice. which is shitty

KayTee87 · 12/11/2016 11:59

Another one that thinks you should only be called annually.

Sounds tough op. I'm all for weeding out benefit cheats but clearly you are not and if they had half a brain they'd spend their efforts elsewhere.

AliceInUnderpants · 12/11/2016 11:59

I agree with pugsake. I am a registered carer for my DD1, and claim i.ncome support alongside Carers Allowance. I only get called in every 12 months. My last appointment was a few weeks ago and when I updated her with information of my own diagnoses (I don't claim disability for myself, but should) and my DD2's assessment progress (also not in receipt of benefits as yet) she looked aghast and said there was no point in even doing any of the 'in work' calculations in my circumstances, as work is just not feasible

pugsake · 12/11/2016 12:00

By the way I have massive amounts of respect for the op.

I had a short period last year where I was caring for DD and my gran. Neither who I would class as severely disabled although they did need extra care.

I was on my knees by the end of it. I wouldn't be able to hack it full time, never mind a monthly check up to see if they had found a cure for Alzheimer's.

KayTee87 · 12/11/2016 12:03

Clearly you are not one *

Flyingbellycopters · 12/11/2016 12:06

I agree with others on getting advice. You should get in touch with CAB and/or Carers UK. There are benefits you're entitled to so you need to make sure you're getting them all and it's worth getting your loved ones assessed again (carers assessment) to see what social care they may be entitled to. This isn't done enough by people who don't realise they can ask again and should be done when needs or circumstances change - not just for loved ones but you too, you may need additional support to support them.

It's shocking system but Tories won't change to actually have a humane system.. some tinkering at edges is all we can expect. The problem when you have people in change who've never had to experience issues.

Original poster
TheUnworthy · 12/11/2016 12:07
Flowers

It is going to make a really big difference to urm, only having to go once a year (that I don't object to) so again thank you.

And yes it would cost a hell of a lot more to call in social services to care for my family!!!

OP posts:
IcedVanillaLatte · 12/11/2016 12:07

I don't understand the jobcentre at all. I was in the WRAG on ESA when I was moved over from IB (asked for reconsideration but it took so long to be moved to support group that I spent two years in WRAG, the second of which I got no money). I went in to see the advisor three times in that time - once for an initial chat, a second appointment where she told me I didn't need to come in again unless I wanted to, and an appointment a year later just to check in. It's bizarre. The jobcentre was a new experience for me, then - I'd been on IB for a decade and had never had to go there before. Was expecting all the horrors. And yet other people, in clear cut situations like OP's get constant hassle.

user1477282676 · 12/11/2016 12:08

It's disgusting OP/ Flowers My cousin is schizophrenic and her payments were stopped despite her being regularly in a position of utter turmoil, regularly brought home by police having created a disturbance etc.

She's been sectioned multiple times and is very, very unwell...but nope! Fut to work!

Thankfully her Mum got help to fix it all up and she's ok now and has her benefits back.

Original poster
TheUnworthy · 12/11/2016 12:16

It's so sad it's almost funny isn't it.

It's almost like they are saying

'We don't trust consultants, specialists or medical professionals. Notorious liars and idiots they are. Dave from the job centre need to check if you are still disabled'

OP posts:
juliascurr · 12/11/2016 12:26

it is the avowed policy of this and previous govts to cut welfare spending, not by making it easier to earn a genuine living wage with access to affordable housing
but by stigmatising and bullying claimants
yanbu

gamerwidow · 12/11/2016 12:26

It's a ridiculous system and must cost so much more to implement then any money it could possibly save.
Don't allow this to erode your self worth OP you are doing more of value then most of us will ever do.

WankingMonkey · 12/11/2016 12:32

Its ridiculous. Its just as bad as calling those with terminal and progressive illnesses in for 'medicals' every year or so. Though apparently the second is being scrapped, thankfully.

So many of the DWPs ideas are a waste of money tbh.

Carers save the country a shit ton of money. I fully expect carers allowance to be one of the next to be chopped too...its sad.

Scrantonicity · 12/11/2016 12:40

Nice disablist language there Awwlookatmybabyspider Hmm

cocoabuttersosoft · 12/11/2016 12:43

gamerwidow It's a ridiculous system and must cost so much more to implement then any money it could possibly save.

It's ideological, not practical. Saving money is just an excuse.

For example, it's now even harder for disabled people to get back to work (support/supplementary benefits removed), and long-term claims of ESA have shot up. The government do not help people back into work, despite their claims, they simply stop them having access to benefits. So if you've managed to successfully claim (and possibly lost your home in the process as it takes so long) you don't want to let that go in a hurry.

[I've looked but failed to find a clip, this reminds me off the sitcom "The Job Lot". There's a horrible advisor called Angela, and whenever she manages to kick someone off benefits she sticks a little smiley face on a chart...]

mygorgeousmilo · 12/11/2016 12:49

You need to apply to be put into the support group of ESA. Not the work related activity group. Not jobseekers. Explain all of that, your condition etc etc and depending on what it is, that it's not going to suddenly improve. If you show evidence of this then you'll get moved over and should be more money too

Petronius16 · 12/11/2016 12:49

I feel for you as I did for the ex-soldier who lost a hand and was asked are you right or left handed.

However, I understood a government minister had said he would repeal the law in respect of the long term disabled.

Errppppp · 12/11/2016 12:55

Scrantonicity. Don't you think it would be better to explain why that word is not OK rather than just posting a sarcastic response.

paddypants13 · 12/11/2016 13:02

We recently started claiming for universal credits. Our nearest Jobcentre Plus is a 30 mile round trip.

My husband and I had to attend separate interviews to prove our identities. The agent forgot to copy our tenancy agreement so we had to take that back in. I then had to go back with proof of my children's address and identity.

We were awarded £24! Didn't even cover petrol and parking!

I think they hope people will give up and not claim.

I totally agree it is a waste of Job Centre resources and a complete waste of your time.