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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To absolutely despise job centre staff?

286 replies

backacge · 03/10/2022 15:23

I receive universal credit to top me up. I am a masters student in a vocational subject that will 100 percent result in a job, I work ten - twelve hours a week, sometimes more and am a single mum. I am trying my best. Over summer I work as often as I can also and make enough that the job centre aren't on my back as I'm earning enough.

Just received a notification that I must attend a work review on Thursday. Number 1 - I have uni that day. Number 2 - what more do they actually want me to do? I am in uni 3 days out the week then the other 2 I am studying. Saturday I work.

I am beyond frustrated. I always find the staff there to be rude and obnoxious and look down their nose at me, even though im probably more qualified than them.

OP posts:
okytdvhuoo · 03/10/2022 19:35

ShaNaNaNa · 03/10/2022 18:40

People have went from attacking me

OP, if you're hoping to be a social worker, let alone pass a post-grad qualification first, it might be a good ideas to sort out your grammar - people have 'gone' from attacking me...

Petty? Probably, but social workers hold posts of huge responsibility, and liaise often with people I work with. Your written English needs to sound professional.

Get a grip, she’s on an anonymous Internet forum, not at work. And trying to score internet points on grammar slip ups is v 2003.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 03/10/2022 19:50

Ooh you can't have a pop at the powers that be on here, op. They're Gods don't you know.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 03/10/2022 19:54

CheezePleeze · 03/10/2022 15:37

So what? It's a tax system, not your personal piggy bank.

Show quote history

Yes it is their personal "Piggy Bank" Its their money they've paid into it.
Should I ever need to claim ill do so with zero qualms shame or apologies.
Like I say Its money and I won't be told different.

OldFan · 03/10/2022 19:56

@backacge Social workers have done some dreadful things to people, they aren't perfect and can lie, make stuff up etc. I say that as someone who's mum worked as a social worker (one of the good ones.) Please be and stay one of the good ones, we need you. ❤

OldFan · 03/10/2022 20:00

Ooh you can't have a pop at the powers that be on here, op.

A lot of people would call social workers part of the Powers that Be. They are an arm of the state and can mess up.

LikeAStar1994 · 03/10/2022 20:04

The Jobcentre staff have always been so lovely and helpful where I am. I receive a benefit where I only need to attend the JC every 13 weeks. I don't mind at all, I like to get out the house even if it's just to attend appointments. It's not fair to tar all of them with the same brush.

I wish you luck with your Masters.

Andypandy799 · 03/10/2022 20:13

TLDR all I was trying to say was the JC do not in general treat you with dignity and we have bouncers at ours. It is demeaning to ever need help

Unfortunately our gov/system or whatever you want to call it does not look after those WITH DISABILITIES who need it most. That IS my experience with DWP

There is only one piece of cake and they more people who need help when the cake is getting smaller?

I worked hard with no help and came from a working class background to achieve what I did and I am in no way self entitled. To expect someone to live on £700 a month with a mortgage come on!!

Andypandy799 · 03/10/2022 20:15

I will not comment further and hope the thread gets deleted and apologies to anyone who I have upset without intention

coffeeandpoetry · 03/10/2022 20:20

Andypandy799 · 03/10/2022 20:13

TLDR all I was trying to say was the JC do not in general treat you with dignity and we have bouncers at ours. It is demeaning to ever need help

Unfortunately our gov/system or whatever you want to call it does not look after those WITH DISABILITIES who need it most. That IS my experience with DWP

There is only one piece of cake and they more people who need help when the cake is getting smaller?

I worked hard with no help and came from a working class background to achieve what I did and I am in no way self entitled. To expect someone to live on £700 a month with a mortgage come on!!

@Andypandy799 Honestly don't worry about it. Normal people know what you mean. The goady fuckers are deliberately taking you out of context for maximum drama.

Oldsu · 03/10/2022 21:01

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 03/10/2022 19:54

Yes it is their personal "Piggy Bank" Its their money they've paid into it.
Should I ever need to claim ill do so with zero qualms shame or apologies.
Like I say Its money and I won't be told different.

Show quote history

@CheezePleeze what a load of rubbish I have a state pension that I paid NICs for 51 years to accrue but I didn't pay in for my own pension during those years I paid for other people's pensions the same way as working age people are paying for mine, I have also paid tax for 52 years (thus far) and that tax is certainly not a personal piggy bank it's not MY money, paying tax is not or ever should be seen as money for us to draw on when we need it only entitled people see it as that and there are certainly a few of them around I am glad to say I am not one of them

Original poster
backacge · 03/10/2022 21:05

@Oldsu so only entitled people claim benefits?

OP posts:
Trez1510 · 03/10/2022 21:53

backacge · 03/10/2022 21:05

@Oldsu so only entitled people claim benefits?

Good grief! Are your comprehension skills so poor as to not understand @oldsu was saying only entitled people view the taxes they paid as a personal piggy-bank, rather than accepting the reality they are a common resource to be used as and when, by whomever needs it.

Or are you bristling because quite a few pp's have considered you to be 'entitled'?

In any event, neither are traits/attitudes that will assist you when you are serving the most vulnerable in our society.

sunflowerdaisyrose · 03/10/2022 22:00

I agree, I was made redundant and claimed job seekers allowance and found my 'work coach' patronising and the process really awful. I was looking for a new job but they made me feel pretty awful. I found a new job fairly quickly but they made it harder not easier.

Cw112 · 03/10/2022 22:02

You're being unreasonable. Firstly (and ironically) you're looking down your nose at them "I'm probably more qualified" and secondly they're on reduced appointments and most things now are done through UC portal so if you've been asked to come in there is clearly a reason for it so you should be able to come in a little later to uni if you email your tutor. It's unfair to hate them all for doing their job and asking you to come to an appointment that confirms your entitlement to tax payers money. I would never begrudge anyone the right to receive uc if they need it but to throw the head up over being asked to attend an appointment is a bit much. If you do varying hours then the review is likely to confirm that you are working less than 16hrs and are on the right rate of uc. As you're in education you should be able to provide a letter stating this which will be taken into account.

girlfriend44 · 03/10/2022 22:07

Bestcatmum · 03/10/2022 15:37

Unfortunately it really isn't their fault. They are told how to do their jobs and they HAVE to follow the rules.
The rules are shit and they realise this but they themselves would get the sack if they follow the rules.
They must get abuse every day of the week. I had a friend who did this job and she said at first she cried every night when she got home and the only way she could cope was to harden herself and not get involved.
I couldn't do it.

Me neither. Little Hitlers lol.
Could never sanction anyone either. I wouldn't want to be responsible for taking away someone's money to live on. I couldn't punish them and try and starve them.

MargeSampson · 03/10/2022 22:14

Stop claiming UC and support yourself and your life choices. Interesting how you're rude about JC staff and seem to find it beneath yourself to have to be accountable to them, yet you're happy to let the state support you.

bathsh3ba · 03/10/2022 22:14

I received a UC top up when I did my Masters and PhD full time. I didn't have any work requirements but I still had to go in once a year to 'renew my claimant commitment'. It sounds like this is what that is? I never had an issue with the job centre staff though, some I dealt with didn't really know what they were doing bit they were all polite.

okytdvhuoo · 03/10/2022 22:17

Trez1510 · 03/10/2022 21:53

Good grief! Are your comprehension skills so poor as to not understand @oldsu was saying only entitled people view the taxes they paid as a personal piggy-bank, rather than accepting the reality they are a common resource to be used as and when, by whomever needs it.

Or are you bristling because quite a few pp's have considered you to be 'entitled'?

In any event, neither are traits/attitudes that will assist you when you are serving the most vulnerable in our society.

Show quote history

What a load of nonsense. Old Su literally says:

“paying tax is not or ever should be seen as money for us to draw on when they need it […] only entitled people see it as that”

S/he doesn’t make the distinction you suggest s/he does at all. And indeed there is no meaningful distinction between:

a common resource to be used as and when, by whomever needs it

And a ‘personal piggybank’.

The latter is just an insulting way of saying the former.

Are your comprehension skills so poor? etc. (No, not in fact my own attitude - just mirroring your words back)

Iamchurchill · 03/10/2022 22:38

They’re doing their job, you sound like a snob.
don’t claim UC or claim it and have the inconvenience of having someone check that you are eligible

OldFan · 03/10/2022 23:17

TLDR all I was trying to say was the JC do not in general treat you with dignity and we have bouncers at ours

@Andypandy799 They probably do that in case people turn nasty.

Little Hitlers lol.

Half the time they're helping people claim stuff they're entitled to.

Trez1510 · 04/10/2022 00:06

okytdvhuoo · 03/10/2022 22:17

What a load of nonsense. Old Su literally says:

“paying tax is not or ever should be seen as money for us to draw on when they need it […] only entitled people see it as that”

S/he doesn’t make the distinction you suggest s/he does at all. And indeed there is no meaningful distinction between:

a common resource to be used as and when, by whomever needs it

And a ‘personal piggybank’.

The latter is just an insulting way of saying the former.

Are your comprehension skills so poor? etc. (No, not in fact my own attitude - just mirroring your words back)

Show quote history

Nothing wrong with my comprehension skills, dear.

Oldsu · 04/10/2022 02:45

okytdvhuoo · 03/10/2022 22:17

What a load of nonsense. Old Su literally says:

“paying tax is not or ever should be seen as money for us to draw on when they need it […] only entitled people see it as that”

S/he doesn’t make the distinction you suggest s/he does at all. And indeed there is no meaningful distinction between:

a common resource to be used as and when, by whomever needs it

And a ‘personal piggybank’.

The latter is just an insulting way of saying the former.

Are your comprehension skills so poor? etc. (No, not in fact my own attitude - just mirroring your words back)

Show quote history

Actually @okytdvhuoo that is exactly the distinction I am making, if you read my initial reply you would have read that I have paid tax for 52 years (thus far) paying tax for so long does not nor should it entitle me to income based benefits, in fact I will never be entitled to income based benefits, but if I did it would be my personal circumstances that would entitle me to them NOT the fact that I have and am still paying tax , the same with my state pension I am lucky I paid into SERPS while I was working age so get a higher pension then some but the fact remains its working age people who are paying my pension just as I paid for other people's pension when I was paying NI, people who insist that they are 'owed' something just because they once or are still paying in (and I count a lot of pensioners in this) do have an entitled attitude.

maddiemookins16mum · 04/10/2022 07:23

Someone who decides/chooses not to work full time (I don’t give a shite that you’re studying) should not be able to claim benefits anyway imho. Choosing to study and not earn a wage is a luxury.

NuNameNuMe · 04/10/2022 08:08

The ability to withstand and navigate bureaucratic, inconsistent and frankly baffling systems will stand you in very good stead for any organisation, and especially social care which straddles two such systems in councils and NHS.

Attend, and think of it as on the job training.

LightHousePanda · 04/10/2022 12:16

What a horrible thread. I agree the OP didn't do herself a favour in some of the wording but posters have gone over the top in assessing that she'll be a rubbish social worker and all other ridiculous charges.