I've made a complaint about my Work Coach

[BobISMyUncle]

and now I've been sanctioned. I couldn't attend an appointment due to lack of petrol and a lack of funds to get there. I receive my Universal Credit on the 10th of each month, and my appointment was made (by them) for the 8th. I receive the princely sum of £324 per month. I wrote on my Journal that I could not make this appointment due to lack of money to buy petrol. I received a reply (it was heavy sighing, even in the Journal entry, if that makes sense!) and stated that she would "ring me on this occasion". This appointment is a 23 mile round trip and costs about £5.00
During my phone call, I was told that "you need to manage your money better". Sadly, I'm one of those people who think of brilliant retorts about ten minutes after I need them! Nonetheless, I was still quite surprised at her remark but didn't get the chance to answer as she was determined to move the conversation on. These meetings are mandatory. They must be attended otherwise sanctions will be applied.
Hey Presto! I'm sanctioned. I don't know by how much because the website is down (conveniently?) I can't appeal against the decision because the website is down. I can't do anything. If I call, it's a call centre and nothing is achieved, they appear to be message takers. I would like to talk with someone who has a little empathy. AND! YE GODS! I've missed another appointment! More sanctions coming my way! This, from a Civil Servant. I wonder, how much do I have to live on next month? My work coach suggested that I do care work. I wonder if it's because she will be needing it from her other clients? I am not rubbing my hands in glee because I'm far too busy making room for her in the patio and well tended gardens of my sheltered housing accommodation. LOL! This is funny, but serious. Advice please x

Not Impressed of East Anglia.

You might be having a shit time but console yourself that you’re not a bitter and horrible person with no empathy.

People aren't bitter and horrible because they point out that if you want to continue to get money given to you by the government, putting aside money to make the appointment is important. It's called being realistic. I was on benefits before for a few months, I followed the rules I had to and got myself of benefits quickly.

Totally this. DWP enact the policies of the government and the Secretary of State.
Whether you voted Tory or not, the country did and this is one of the many consequences. It’s only going to get worse.

It’s very easy to vilify the work coach, who will also be feeling the cost of living pinch and very much a human being, but they have limited decision making and influence on the system. Sanctions are part of the system and are not a surprise.

Good question. I would suggest a reward based system rather than a punishment based one. Nobody should ever be forced to live off less than the current benefit rate, it’s barely possible as it is. But if you can demonstrate you’re looking for work (assuming you are able), or upskilling / attend training courses etc then you should be paid a little extra. And do away with these ridiculous pointless appointments. Work coaches can see on your journal what you’ve been doing to look for work, why on earth should someone fork out £5 in travel costs for a pointless 5 minute appointment? If people must attend, do something constructive with them like CV workshops or employer events.

Years ago (early 80s) they'd let you off signing for a fortnight if you were going on holiday, and you'd still get paid.

If they thought you might be doing cash in hand work, and not declaring it, they could make you come and sign on daily. They thought my mate was working as a painter and decorator, because she often had paint on her clothes and hands, so they made her come in daily for a while. She was actually an art student, signing on during the summer vac.

I stand by my original statement. Why do you even feel entitled to comment without knowing anything about the OP’s circumstances?

I stand by my original statement. Why do you even feel entitled to comment without knowing anything about the OP’s circumstances?

Because the OP has posted for opinions and it's a forum. Do you not understand how these work? Why do you feel entitled to comment?

That is awful of Her OP

You did have your appointment though, via her phone call .

Sanctions are immoral, I don’t agree with them in any way, shape or form. They affect those who are vulnerable far more than any other person.

This is people like my son who is autistic with learning difficulties. Without me to manage his UC account he would fall through the net.

I have no idea what the OP’s situation is but if she’s in sheltered housing then I can guarantee there will be some kind of support need, even if it’s only for accommodation with a scheme manager who can offer help now and then.

That said, there are some lovely work coaches out there. Everyone we have spoken with has been amazing with my son. There’s been no pressure on him to look for work (he isn’t ready for this yet) and he’s about to start a “preparing for adulthood/independence” style course at a college locally. All the work coaches we have seen have all praised him for being prepared to try it out.

We are just waiting for the work capability assessment .

I’d also like to add that I’d rather people claimed UC without sanction rather than have them forced into care work. I work with very vulnerable people, good carers are worth their weight in gold and hugely underpaid for what they do. Many go above and beyond their role for their clients. The people I work with need that dedication, they are too important to be subjected to poor care by someone who is there only because they have to be.

Well aren't you a delight ??!

Bored today are you?

Would you actually say any of that face to face?

Usually helpful and know their stuff?? In 5 years I've only ever had one show any empathy. I cried. The reply to almost everything is 'I'll pass it to your case manager' (who never gets back to you). Most advice given is incorrect and each person you speak to gives different incorrect advice. The journal is ignored the majority of the time.

However, I'm glad you've had a different experience!

Wow, you've got to be fucking kidding me lying there in your ivory tower.

You've no idea where the OP lives for a start.

I live very rurally. Most roads are narrow and winding. I won't walk or cycle on them because it's not safe. I was hit by a car a few years ago walking my DC to school.

There are no rural busses either. The only bus service is a community bus for elderly and disabled people which had to be booked in advance.

If I get sick, I have to rely on friends and neighbours to help me out. 🤷🏻‍♀️

But if there is care work available and you are struggling for money why wouldn't you rather do that than put up with this?

Is the care work local to you? Can you get to it?

Can you move to get a job? What is it you are qualified or experienced in?

Don't get me wrong I'd hate to do care work but i would rather that than claim UC.

I'd rather go on the game than do care work.

I have friends who work in care and I am in awe of what they do. One works in dementia care. She is regularly assaulted (well, she doesn't actually get hit that often, because she sees it coming and takes evasive action), spat at, was once bitten, and gets verbal abuse on a daily basis. She has to change people's shitty beds and clothes, and shower them, as well as feed them and make sure they have their meds. And all for a few pence more than minimum wage. They are paid disgracefully badly for the work they do, and they do an amazing job.

She was a senior HCA and is a trained phlebotomist, but she loves her job and, loves the residents. Plus she likes doing bank work because she can turn shifts down when she wants to do something else rather than having to rely on being able to get leave.

Carers do an amazing job, but it's really demanding and stressful and not everyone is cut out for it. I wouldn't want someone who's only doing the job to avoid being sanctioned giving me personal care when I'm in my dotage.

That is terrible OP.

All these ridiculous over-thought out ideas set up by people who haven't got a clue to create more work for a pencil pushing exercises. 🙄

It's crazy to believe that those in better financial positions think job seekers get an easy life.

What a ridiculous statement. The vast majority of staff are decent people working for a shite wage (sometimes less than benefit awards!) and helping those they can. It isn't their fault that the Government impose sanction rules. And you do realise that if staff didn't work for the DWP you and everybody else would get fuck all in benefits? Society would very quickly collapse.

So all the stats and reports that were so important that DWP paid a specialist team to resolve an urgent issue are not used? We were told they were needed to ensure targets were being met on sanctions and other metrics (and that matched the titles we saw, albeit more flowery language was used).

At least one person I had to deal with was quite smug about their usage.

*So all the stats and reports that were so important that DWP paid a specialist team to resolve an urgent issue are not used? We were told they were needed to ensure targets were being met on sanctions and other metrics (and that matched the titles we saw, albeit more flowery language was used).

At least one person I had to deal with was quite smug about their usage.*

Yeah, they’re not used. This has been confirmed by several former Work Coaches now and I’ll join them. Stop flogging that dead horse. You’re wrong.

To return to the OP; I’d be interested to know what reason was given for this supposed sanction and how quickly it was imposed. The post indicates it was effected immediately but, as someone who worked as a WC as little as a year ago, I can assure you sanctions are not easily imposed and the rationale has to be cast iron (with no evidence that the claimant made any attempt, however feeble, to avoid it). Timescale-wise, about a fortnight is more realistic. The WC has to have it okayed by their Team Leader and then it’s referred to a Decision Maker. So, yeah, I’m dubious of OP’s honesty. She’s already lied about the site being down. Seems like just another thread to talk shit about Work Coaches. I’m sure some are terrible and really shouldn’t be in that line of work but, to echo the sentiments of a few others, most genuinely want to help their customers. Sadly, I’m my experience, it quickly becomes apparent that it’s just not an achievable goal within the framework that you must operate. I left for this very reason, but some brilliant WC stayed and are still there now. Don’t call them all ‘vile’; it’s about as accurate as useful as someone else labelling all benefits claimants as lazy.

There are many things I hate about the benefits system and feel so many things could be so much better. It should be possible to offer telephone appointments / zoom where appropriate to avoid unnecessary travel costs as the rates of benefits are far too low. However, as tough as it is it’s clear from the outset that you’ll be sanctioned if you miss appointments and that money must be put aside for the travel so this has to be prioritised or the sanctions then have a knock on effect so it’s false economy to use the £5 needed for travel for something else, if it then means your next payment is docked. I say that as someone who feels the whole system needs a complete overhaul and someone who feels that the rates or benefits are too low too. I hope you get sorted.

This is correct as a former WC myself and now working for another area of DWP.

Simple fact is the WC does not make the sanction, that is down to a Decision Maker. It's not a case that someone doesn't arrive and they are sanctioned immediately by the WC.

99% of the time as well, if there is any hint of a vulnerability the DM will not allow the sanction at all, and during COVID sanctions did not happen at all, all appointments were on the phone and if people didn't answer there was nothing we could do. Didnt even make a referral as it would be rejected.

Every WC I worked with was brilliant and went above and beyond to help the customer, sad fact was there were so many who knew how to play the system and did not want to be helped.

There never was and never will be targets for getting people sanctioned, it is a last resort.

Just to add. I know for me and my colleagues we didn't want to have a caseload full of sanctioned customers, if we did then it would have been impossible to fill our diaries and do the required amount of appointments per day, if we had loads of sanctions we would not have been able to make appointments for them.

I wish you lived near me. I am desperate for admin staff, and because its Civil Service, we can be very flexible with accommodations for disabilities.

Your work coach is a bit of an arsehole, quite frankly.

posters are ignoring the fact the Op LIED

LIED

the UC website has not been “down” once this week (or indeed since February (for 6 hours)).

So if the OP lies in her OP to anonymous posters… I would take a big bet that the DWP want her in because she’s done this multiple times and / or they are suspicious in some way of her claim.

I can also confirm that the site hasn't been down at all. We get emails to say if the sites down,phone lines,or any other technical issue, so that's absolute bollocks.