To wonder whether UC are deliberately making things difficult?

[Anyjobwilldo]

I’m aware I may be flamed for this post.

I will start by saying that I want to work, and that I don’t want to live on benefits.

I have finally applied for UC after years of struggling financially. I haven’t worked for a number of years firstly because I was a SAHM, and then being unable to find work, and then because of a serious illness.

I have a disability which means that not any job is available to me, or I would be working in a cafe or on a checkout by now.

So eventually had my job centre appointment through, at a job centre which isn’t even in my area and not reachable by public transport. I managed to get the appointment moved to the closer centre, and saw a decent person, we talked through all my options, and when I showed her a list of my various medical conditions she actually asked whether I should be working at all. I don’t want to not work, and I don’t want to be declared unfit for work, but because of my disability it’s been hard to get someone to give me a job. I even had a job offer withdrawn because of my disability.

Anyway I came out of the meeting feeling that I’d achieved something positive and that she would help me where possible. And she said she would remain my work coach in future.

Appointment was set.

And now I’ve had an email to say my appointment has been moved, to the middle of the afternoon on a Saturday, at the original job centre, and with a different work coach. I feel like I’m back to square1. I don’t drive, and the bloke I saw yesterday at the closer job centre was almost gleeful when he said that the other one was almost impossible to reach by public transport.

I don’t want to live on benefits, but I’m starting to wonder whether I just need to admit defeat and be declared unfit for work as I’ve had 4 rejections this week and now this.

WWYD?

I have found that it tends to confuse them when somebody is not totally unfit for work but is limited in some way. They seem to expect you to be either unfit for work or fully healthy.

I am working part time but have a condition that means I need accommodations when it comes to appointments with my work coach. Whenever I try to explain I get, "do you have a fit note? If you can't work you need a fit note" . No, because it's not about my ability to work! Fortunately I had my limitations confirmed by a health assessment which seems to satisfy them eventually, but health assessments are really about determining your ability to work or not which in your case is not what you want.

All I can suggest is maybe asking your GP for a letter explaining your limitations. I think you can even get a fit note that explains you can do some kinds of work but not all kinds.

Why would they build a Job Centre somewhere that's almost impossible to access by public transport though!?

We've recently had to apply too. Request the appointments to be via video call. I do mine via video call as I have a neurological problem atm which means I can't safely travel to the job centre town.

It all seems weird. I get weekly calls that are utterly pointless. My capability to work forms now been lost. Makes me feel so bloody stupid.

Certainly I found similar, it's as if the system is designed to be as awkward and unhelpful as possible, hmm I wonder why. I explained countless times to my work coach about me being the only person available to do the school run and my DS's additional needs meaning he can't access before/after school clubs (single parent). Appointment would at last be set at a time I could manage with a lot of wrangling, but then last minute would be changed to peak school run times, or during the holidays when she knew full well I had no childcare and yet children weren't allowed to the jobcentre and it had to be face to face. Ignored every journal message, but when you call up get told to only communicate through the journal. She'd tell me about full time jobs that were 7-7 or 4 hours per week or zero hour temporary contracts and ask why I wasn't interested, or set my 'work search' hours as full time instead of what it should have been when caring for children. Each time I'd get it sorted, but then it would be changed again, and start the cycle all over again. So frustrating. I understand the staff have a job to do but it does seem like some can be deliberately unhelpful if you don't fit neatly into a tick box.

Of course they do this, they are notorious for it

Honestly I would get yourself signed off and find a job suitable for yourself in your own time.

As someone else said I would go through the work capability assessment and then look for work in your own time without the pressure.

It might also be worth finding out if you are eligible for PIP. Its not means tested so you could still work/save while receiving it.

Of course they make it difficult, I am a carer for my disabled child so I don’t have to work and im unable to. I claim carers allowance I was still called into the job centre every 6 months for a work focused interview

I already receive PIP - higher rate components for both. I just want a job, and while obviously there are some who can’t work, and it may turn out that my condition means I can’t, I don’t want to just accept that and give up, iyswim?

Blooming hate UC and appointments!! I have a long time off work due to MH issues; with a lot of work I got myself sorted and started back at a new job last June. It’s going super well (promoted and 3pay rises) but UC still insist on seeing me often… and then tell me that I don’t need to work so many hours. So I spend a good 2 hours on the bus in total; for a less than 2 minute conversation that we could’ve had over the phone.

I work in welfare rights. Yesterday I spoke to a new client who has a relatively recent brain injury which has affected his memory.

He claimed UC over the phone 2 months ago, using the "Help to Claim" service, and hasn't received a penny yet, despite having had 2 telephone appointments with a work coach. It turns out that he hasn't been paid because he hasn't submitted a "fit note". They were unable to tell me if he'd been asked to provide a fit note or not, but even if they'd told him, he wouldn't remember, because of his brain injury. And if they'd put a note to that effect on his journal, he wouldn't know because he's never been given any login details for his UC account and probably wouldn't be able to access it if he had.

The whole process is really difficult for people with cognitive impairments, and the DWP seem intent on keeping it that way.

Even if you get awarded limited capability for work and work related activity, you can still work, OP. If you earn more than the equivalent of 16 hours at NMW, you may lose your LCWWRA status, but it wouldn't matter.