To ask if you think this is offensive?

[Whatisthisfuckery]

I just called DWP about my PIP application. The man on the phone, who didn’t sound particularly friendly tbh asked me if I have a terminal illness that is expected to end my life in the next six months. I said, ‘no, not that I’m aware of. I certainly hope not.’ Then he launched into me and accused me of joking about terminal illness and threatened to end the call.

I’ve had a really shit day and am a bit depressed atm and it really upset me. He may have someone close to him who is terminally ill and that was why he went off at me, but my dad has severe dementia so it’s not exactly an amusing subject for me either.

Would it have come across as if I was joking about terminal illness? I certainly wasn’t laughing when I said it and it wasn’t intended to be particularly funny. I thought he was being a bit U but happy to be told I’m wrong.

AIBU to think I wasn’t joking about terminal illness and he was out of order to have a go at me?

No, you did nothing wrong. Perhaps he has one himself or a loved one does so he was massively projecting. Hugely unprofessional but we all have bad days, I wouldn’t worry about it too much.

I’ve just called up and spoken to a manager. I didn’t lodge a formal complaint but he said he’d listen to the call and deal with it. I don’t think the man will be too hard to identify because he has an NI accent, and I think most of the other staff do not. Whether he will investigate or not is another matter but I’ve made my feelings known, very politely.

I'd guess he was at the end of his line, having a bad day, maybe it touched a nerve, maybe he just hears that too often. I wouldn't get worked up about it. My DP works for a call centre and all the things that seem like they're no big deal build up when you spend all day every day listening to them over and over. My DP is a shy, quiet, loving individual but by the end of the working day he's had enough with everybody and is willing to believe all humans are idiots!

@BritneyPeedOnALadybug Not snobby at all. Actually my comment was based on personal experience. There is nothing wrong with working for the DWP but if you read comments made by many people who have had experience of dealing with the system you will see that it does seem to attract a lot of people who are totally lacking in empathy (not all of them are like this I hasten to add).

Perhaps if those dealing with claimants actually tried to imagine what it might be like to be in their shoes then people would not be commenting in this way.

Don't worry about it, I tink you just touched a raw nerve,

He has no idea what op is experiencing in her life either. If he cant handle his work he shouldnt be there. Complain about the busybody little shit.

And if anybody who works for the DWP thinks theyre a friend of the unwell they should think again.

And if anybody who works for the DWP thinks theyre a friend of the unwell they should think again

Now that is a snobby statement. Some people don't have the luxury of choosing how they earn their crust.