To absolutely despise job centre staff?

[backacge]

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.

Any reason to bring up an old thread to pontificate on @Cbhyc ?

Keyansier · 03/10/2022 15:27
It's not a case of earning enough... it's the number of hours you work. Anything less than 16 per week and they will call you to attend these types of meetings.

This is not correct.

Work related requirements are withdrawn once you earn more than your 'individual threshold', which is the amount that you would earn doing your 'expected hours of work' at minimum wage.

How long ago was that? If you're claiming benefits and able to work you sign to say you will take work for a minimum number of hours per week.

YABU
You sound both judgemental and entitled. Whilst getting your Masters might be a strategic move long term you can't really expect the state to pay you to do this. You've chosen to invest in your career like many other students. Yes it's harder for you with kids to care for but it's your choice....and your responsibility.
You've said 'the staff'rather than one specific person you've clashed with. Have you considered maybe thats its YOU that is the problem?

any reason for disabling voting? - like you realise most people would think your being unreasonable?
If you think attending JC interviews is beneath you, stop claiming benefits and get a student grant.

Suck it up...yes it conflicts with class but unfortunately it needs to take priority as its your means to attend university. Hopefully it's only temporary for you.

As for the staff looking down their nose at you...for the hour or two your there I really don't think you should worry. They are doing their job and probably don't care to be perfectly honest as they deal with claimants in and out of education and work everyday.

If you have the view your more qualified than them then maybe its you that gives them bad vibes with your persona when you attend?

I remember the one and only time I was on JSA after being made redundant. I wasn't even going to bother as was confident I'd find another job within a month but my mate persuaded me that as a taxpayer I should absolutely do it.

Fucked it off after the second meeting I think it was following a low key argument with a snotty prick in sandals (no joke) who looked a bit like Jesus.

I'd already been to a fair few interviews before signing up for JSA and was due to hear back early the following week about second interviews, which would take place later the same week. The job centre wanted me to accept a job as a car parking attendant and threatened to cut my JSA if I declined.

I said I was happy to do any job if it came to it but was fairly confident I'd have a job in next week or so as some of the companies I was applying to knew me and had previously sent me notifications of available positions.

They wouldn't budge so I said OK but if I need to go to a 2nd/3rd interview at short notice I'll be prioritising that. They said if I didn't turn up to the car parking job then they'd probs cut my benefits for that.

It was an utter joke, like they expected me to spend all my time on the totally inappropriate jobs they were offering me which would have barely paid my rent. I literally walked out and had a job offer for another decent bid management job in less than a week.

How come you were offered the car park job? Did you attend an interview? Surely if you did not want the job, you could have sabotaged your application for it?
I have a relative who has a cleaning company, and she receives awful applications from people who were clearly only applying because they were forced to. She would not dream of even inviting them for interview, let alone offering them a job.

Six months! They'd be on your back in less than six weeks these days unless it's all changed in the last few years.

'Accepted' was the wrong choice of words. They wanted me to go to an interview which by all accounts sounded like a 99% chance of getting it. It was for a big ongoing event which required loads of staff and he'd already placed quite a few people there in the past week, all of whom had been accepted.

Had a few dealings with job centre staff myself after finishing my education and before my first job. Nowhere would employ me as I didn’t have ‘experience’ how exactly you’re meant to get that experience when no one is willing to give you a chance is beyond me? 🤷🏼‍♀️

Anyway my confidence was already on shaky ground having rejection after rejection applying for all kinds of random jobs and every-time I went to the job centre I had someone talking down to me and generally treating me like some shit they found on their shoe. At one point I was actually suicidal I was so depressed. I hope there’s a special place in hell for job centre staff who take enjoyment in being judgmental assholes to the people they are supposed to be helping…

Anyway I eventually accepted a care job that I was over qualified for and at the time didn’t actually want to do. (Btw Care homes are full of staff who actually don’t want to be doing that job).