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?

unweavedrainbow yes they are work focused, they usually go along the lines of 'we know you are a carer and can't work but we have to ask you this...'

Then they proceed to ask me whether my circumstances have changed, am I looking for work, what am I doing looking for work, what sort of jobs would I do.

Then they 'update my file'

All while I look at them like this

Dd has only just turned four so just under another year.

Do you take DD in with you when you go or do you make other arrangements? after attending with my dd they switched to doing telephone appointments

According to that carers website I'm definitely not supposed to be going in more than once every three years unless some circumstances change!

Carers who are also lone parents of children under 5 fall into a bit of a rabbit hole.

That ties in with me too unworthy maybe it is a system glitch.

Read this.

States every THREE years in DWP reply.

I'll find the guidance.

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/253529/response/623189/attach/html/2/FoI%20563.pdf.html

Sorry just realised you have found out about the every thing years.

You really do need to quote the guidance to them.

It is ridiculous sorry you are going through this.

I got made redundant when I was 4 months pregnant once. Couldn't claim maternity allowance until later in pregnany so i was supposed to claim jobseekers allowance in order to make ends meet. So that was pretty ridiculous, me hauling my toddler and bump in to the job centre on crutches (with spd) and being asked if I'd found a job yet. Because clearly employers will fall over themselves to hire someone who is temporarily disabled, visibly pregnant, with a toddler and no money to secure childcare. I get why they had to ask of course and they were always very helpful and friendly but what a waste of their time!

Sadly, it is not a waste of their time. Waste of our taxes, but the staff work for a private company who get paid according to the numbers they see.

Some (or one) private contractor was found to be fiddling the records, had to return something like £4 million. Despite the fraud, still kept the contract though.