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Original poster

I've made a complaint about my Work Coach

243 replies

BobISMyUncle · 26/08/2022 23:09

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.

OP posts:
Endlesslypatient82 · 27/08/2022 16:00

The OP won’t be back.

She has fibbed here (and taken us for fools!) and I imagine theDWP are on to her hence making her come in person.

op… brace yourself for a letter from the compliance team

Preeeettyprettygood · 27/08/2022 16:07

Endlesslypatient82 · 27/08/2022 16:00

The OP won’t be back.

She has fibbed here (and taken us for fools!) and I imagine theDWP are on to her hence making her come in person.

op… brace yourself for a letter from the compliance team

Mhmm! Also she states she doesn't know how much she'll be sanctioned but she'll have had a letter on her journal which gives you the details of how much will be reduced depending on the type of sanction, so she could work it out, but as another poster has also mentioned, sanctions have to go to a DM and you have to have missed a few appointments to be given a sanction from the FTA's (failed to attend) it's actually a bit of a process to get the sanction applied so again, bollocks

Endlesslypatient82 · 27/08/2022 16:08

I’m just pleased the DWP are standing firm with this one tbh

Preeeettyprettygood · 27/08/2022 16:12

If she'd have phoned up the Service centre they'd have sent a handover which would have been sent to her Case manager so they could have left notes on her claim or raised an mandatory reconsideration in regards to the DM's decision on the sanction applied, even the telephony staff could have left a note on her claim so you can't blame "the site was down".

Endlesslypatient82 · 27/08/2022 16:14

Exactly

I am rooting the DWP on.

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 27/08/2022 16:15

I am a 'work coach' in a different country.

I don't understand why you've been sanctioned, when you say that you had the inteview over the phone?

Your reason of not being able to afford petrol wouldnt wash here - there are specific grounds.

I have had clients cycle similar distances, so it's not a ridiculous suggestion.

Others are saying that the website hasnt been down. If youre having internet problems then you need to fix it.

Trinity65 · 27/08/2022 16:30

Endlesslypatient82 · 27/08/2022 15:45

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.

Wind your neck in
This isn't a Court of Law !!!

Some of you people , . Honestly.

Trinity65 · 27/08/2022 16:31

Endlesslypatient82 · 27/08/2022 16:00

The OP won’t be back.

She has fibbed here (and taken us for fools!) and I imagine theDWP are on to her hence making her come in person.

op… brace yourself for a letter from the compliance team

Meow

Were you born this way or do you work on it ?

Trinity65 · 27/08/2022 16:32

Think you need to change your user name love
Endlessly Patient ?
lmao

Endlesslypatient82 · 27/08/2022 16:35

Let me guess @Trinity65

You also despise the DWP?

Allthegoodnamesaregoneffs · 27/08/2022 16:38

Endlesslypatient82 · 27/08/2022 16:00

The OP won’t be back.

She has fibbed here (and taken us for fools!) and I imagine theDWP are on to her hence making her come in person.

op… brace yourself for a letter from the compliance team

I'm going to guess you're not certain what the Compliance team do?

Kerrrmieee · 27/08/2022 16:38

KettrickenSmiled · 27/08/2022 09:11

Fuck my old boots, Norman Tebbitt has turned up.

Show quote history

🤣 still looking like one of the undead.

I got sanctioned for getting a job!

I'd passed 2 interviews, had signed the contract, it was 38 hours per week. However was not going to start for another 4 weeks.

I wrote all of this in my journal - they don't you a link to upload anything unless it's a fit note, and even then they just ask you to declare and not upload.

So I missed on appointment explaining that I had secured work etc etc - and they sanctioned me for not going in.

I went fucking apeshit, decision reversed finally.

It's really not an easy life on benefits - dancing to the tune of the government and the personality of your work coach.

Allthegoodnamesaregoneffs · 27/08/2022 16:44

Kerrrmieee · 27/08/2022 16:38

🤣 still looking like one of the undead.

I got sanctioned for getting a job!

I'd passed 2 interviews, had signed the contract, it was 38 hours per week. However was not going to start for another 4 weeks.

I wrote all of this in my journal - they don't you a link to upload anything unless it's a fit note, and even then they just ask you to declare and not upload.

So I missed on appointment explaining that I had secured work etc etc - and they sanctioned me for not going in.

I went fucking apeshit, decision reversed finally.

It's really not an easy life on benefits - dancing to the tune of the government and the personality of your work coach.

Show quote history

So you could have potentially did some temp work for 4 weeks and not claimed uc for that time, and they send you an upload link if you ask for one.

So your commitments would gave stated you attended appointments which you didn't,you hadn't started work yet and were still claiming so you should have gone to the appointment.

Or should you have sat on your arse for 4 weeks claiming money from the government, you had got a job to start in a month so its clear you were capable of working, you just didn't fancy it and wanted a bit more time before you started working full time.

Endlesslypatient82 · 27/08/2022 16:44

Allthegoodnamesaregoneffs · 27/08/2022 16:38

I'm going to guess you're not certain what the Compliance team do?

Show quote history

They check claims where there is an indication that the claimant is being incorrectly paid - either due to a mistake or fraud

Endlesslypatient82 · 27/08/2022 16:45

That indication can either come for a report from someone, HMRC, an investigation or a suspicion of a work coach

Allthegoodnamesaregoneffs · 27/08/2022 16:47

Endlesslypatient82 · 27/08/2022 16:44

They check claims where there is an indication that the claimant is being incorrectly paid - either due to a mistake or fraud

Show quote history

Just wondering why you think they would get involved with OP, nothing states they are doing anything fraudulent, and they don't get involved in sanctions

Endlesslypatient82 · 27/08/2022 16:48

Allthegoodnamesaregoneffs · 27/08/2022 16:44

So you could have potentially did some temp work for 4 weeks and not claimed uc for that time, and they send you an upload link if you ask for one.

So your commitments would gave stated you attended appointments which you didn't,you hadn't started work yet and were still claiming so you should have gone to the appointment.

Or should you have sat on your arse for 4 weeks claiming money from the government, you had got a job to start in a month so its clear you were capable of working, you just didn't fancy it and wanted a bit more time before you started working full time.

Show quote history

You didn’t get a response
You assumed you didn’t need to turn up to a meeting

Endlesslypatient82 · 27/08/2022 16:50

Allthegoodnamesaregoneffs · 27/08/2022 16:47

Just wondering why you think they would get involved with OP, nothing states they are doing anything fraudulent, and they don't get involved in sanctions

Show quote history

A suspicion

the op has flagrantly lied in the op

DWP are insisting she come in

i reckon she has missed multiple

and given the ease (and stupidity) of the lie in the op that can so easily be checked - I imagine she’s like that with agencies to.

so what was your understanding of what the compliance team do?

Allthegoodnamesaregoneffs · 27/08/2022 16:51

I know very well what a compliance officer does, that's my job

Allthegoodnamesaregoneffs · 27/08/2022 16:52

And there would be nothing in the op that would indicate a need for a compliance officer, missed appointments would certainly be in the hands of their work coach and decision maker, nothing to do with compliance at all unless there was a data match or allegation made.

Endlesslypatient82 · 27/08/2022 16:57

Allthegoodnamesaregoneffs · 27/08/2022 16:51

I know very well what a compliance officer does, that's my job

Sure it is

Endlesslypatient82 · 27/08/2022 16:58

Allthegoodnamesaregoneffs · 27/08/2022 16:52

And there would be nothing in the op that would indicate a need for a compliance officer, missed appointments would certainly be in the hands of their work coach and decision maker, nothing to do with compliance at all unless there was a data match or allegation made.

The fact she lied blatantly on an anonymous thread when there was nothing in it for her… would indicate to me, she’d do the same to an agency that she clearly hates and has a somewhat fraught relationship with.

Endlesslypatient82 · 27/08/2022 16:58

Call it a spidey sense!

Allthegoodnamesaregoneffs · 27/08/2022 17:01

Endlesslypatient82 · 27/08/2022 16:57

Sure it is

Show quote history

Why would I lie about that? Hardly the most glamorous job to lie about.

Check previous posts, even a post made a few months back where someone posted about a compliance interview and I gave some guidance about what would happen.

Why would it be so hard to believe that someone who works in benefit fraud would be on this thread, and have good working knowledge of the procedures for things like sanctions?

Endlesslypatient82 · 27/08/2022 17:04

My point was that if the OP is happy to lie about her claim on an anonymous forum (the website was “down”. Seriously, does she think this is the early nineties 😂) and clearly she has fraught interactions with theDWP (sanctioned because she complained according to title? But nope - another fib. It was because she missed a mandatory meeting). On the basis on just one post - I would hazard a guess that she’s not averse to a bit of benefit fraud on the side