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

[TheUnworthy]

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?

Thing is CA is accessed via PIP or DLA which in themselves cannot be applied for for short term conditions. They must be significant and long term or permanent.

I'm sure there is pleasant staff but some of them are utter wankers.

The last straw for me is when the advisor smirked at me and told me I'd be put on jobseekers in September. Sharp got a shock when I told her I wouldn't as I'm entitled till March 2018. Some of them don't know their own policies.

The best was when they had the army recruiting outside. I have bi-polar with depression and PTSD thrown in for good measure, but sure give me a gun

Sadly I've heard stories a lot worse then I've listed here

It's all rather ridiculous to query whether someone's MND, extra chromosome, lack of limbs, non-verbal autism or the like has improved.

*entitled to carers till March 2018

No sorry I don't think it's about about other benefits, we are on income support, disability benefits, carers allowance and child tax credits.

The amount of times I've been in there, surviving on about three hours sleep with someone sneering at me for not working.

I have previously imagined kidnapping the judgemental bugger and making them follow me for 24 hours! Maybe I should work my way around the mp's!

(Disclaimer: Just an idle frustrated day dream while in the job centre, obviously wouldn't do it)

Yes one glance at either my partners or DD's medical reports should be enough to convince any rational human being that the only way they will get better is if I am granted divine powers.

ItShouldHaveBeenJingleJess - I'd love to do that, infiltrate them from within !!!

The Job Centre is savage.

I had a nervous breakdown a few years ago and was on ESA for about five months.

I was dragged in repeatedly despite my severe depression and anxiety to be quizzed on why I wasn't at work.

Was fucking brutal. It's no place for sick people.

One time (this one time, at Job Centre) I was waiting patiently (not allowed to use phones at my one so I had no distraction) I could hear a man (who was in a wheelchair) being questioned about how he gets to the toilet. Couldn't find him a private room, Job Centre?

Hideous place.

Are Asda still using workfare then?

Not allowed to use phones? Why? I bet they justify it by saying that you might use your phone to record other people's private consultations that you shouldn't be able to hear in the first place.

IcedVanillaLatte - or record the incorrect information being given out, repeatidly

Your Grandma was called in to see if her leg had grown back.
Yep. That's absolute no doubt sboiy it confirmation. That they really are bat crazy. HTF does a leg grow back.
Its biologically impossible

So could the reviews be because of is? Or tc? We don't get those, so that's what I was asking.

Dispite alot of work history filling in dla forms I havn't had much experience of claiming benefits until now (just cb for first couple of years). Sorry to be hijacking, I'm just woundering if I've missed letters about coming in for appointments or some thing & they might take lump sums out of my account as punishment?

Really sorry to hear this is happening to you OP. I care for my husband (also a lifelong degenerative condition) and have only been called every couple of years. Last time was last month, when they rang up to ask why I'd missed my appointment- it was because they'd never sent me a letter about it! The adviser was really good and just took my answers over the phone, so they can do that and I would def be making sure they know that you know that as well.

Why they would be shaming you, I can't think. With all the horrible positions I've been in via various benefits, the JC staff have always been the one thing I don't have to worry about- they are always quite clear that they don't expect me to be able to work and are just ticking boxes.

helena Apparently, as they're keen for me to do it....

iced Yes, big posters everywhere asking for phones to be switched off. Interesting. Next time, I'll keep mine on silent.

I haven't been called to the job centre for years. Same circumstances as you OP.

ChangingNamesAgain it's fine ask away!

I've never received a letter about these appointments, they call me and tell me the date/time I have to be in.

If I'm lucky it's only once every two months.

They have always said the appointments were regarding income support.

How old is your dd? I suspect that the reason you're being called in so often is that the system thinks you're on IS due to her rather than because you're caring. Carers are generally seen every 3 years if the underlying benefits don't change, so something has gone wrong somewhere. What does your paperwork say?

Absolute gits!

I can't believe they've been putting me through this when they don't have to!

Especially that knob pretending to be all sympathetic with his hands tied. I assume he would have known this was all completely unnecessary.

They called yesterday to tell me to come in next Friday. I'd been in in October too.

Dd is 4, my paperwork says I'm on income support because I'm caring for them both.

They are definitely aware I receive carers allowance.

Op thanks

I do get income support as well, to top up the CA, and have had tax credits and HB in the past (well, HB still current). So it's def not to do with you receiving other benefits.

changingnames If you don't get IS they probably don't need to call you but even if they did and you missed it they can't take money out of your account, so don't start worrying.

This is very odd. Firstly, they are Work Focused Interview, right? Not compliance checks or anything else? Secondly, are you sure they're compulsory? The JC can offer optional interview for carers but the carer can choose to turn this down. Thirdly, they are aware that your dh is your dh? The IS claim is joint? Carers who are also lone parents of children under 5 fall into a bit of a rabbit hole. Sorry for the silly questions but something really has gone wrong somewhere. I've attached what Carers UK says on the matter Carers UK

Just a thought. When my younger son was 4yo, I was told that until he was 5yo, I would be on the list as a parent of child under 5, even though I was receiving carer's allowance. Once he reached the age of 5yo, then I would be moved over to the carer's list. And so when he turned 5yo, I had one meeting with them, they said "see you in 3 years" and that's that.

So if your dd is 4yo, they may be doing the same. When does she turn 5yo?