hello MNetters
backstory.
worked for 22 years weeks after my graduation ceremony- dismissed from work on medical grounds late last year but used every last penny I had until my credit cards maxed out trying to pay housing costs, bills and mainly feed my 4 year old son I’m in my mid to late 40s.
severe mobility, bowel and bladder issues which caused anxiety and depression. PIP awarded as enhanced and standard so get c£500 a month.
have always had OCD but that’s worsened since my physical issues manifested.
citizens advice were horrified I was skipping meals almost for half the week so I could afford my son to eat 3 square meals a day. Ashamed to admit I had to cut back on snacks for him.
long story short, went to my UC first commitment meeting and was forced to remove glasses that tinted due to sun exposure and, I wear tinted glasses anyway due to chronic migraines. I kept my medical records with me because I was originally told in first ID meeting to bring everything with me.
asked to leave one because firstly I can’t see and secondly, if she looked at my consultant letter it clearly talks about chronic migraines and what I was advised to do to minimise triggering them, one of the recommendations was ‘dark and/or tinted glasses’ particularly on hot days. She wouldn’t look and has me remove them or face a sanction (I didn’t know what this meant until I googled it after I left)
Sat in the interview being called rude for wearing ‘sunglasses’ and basically I’m almost legally blind so couldn’t see anything she was trying to show me on the screen.
would not look at my medical records despite journal entry when I asked as a follow up to clarify what I was asked to bring and it said sick notes and all medical evidence.
advisor asked me why I claimed UC and as soon as I tried to explain she cut me off and said ‘I’m just here to get you to accept your commitments and into work or face a sanction’.
she was asking me why a lot of my sick notes dating back 2024 were private and I explained to her I had a private medical with unlimited access to a GP who has made several referrals to consultants and provided sick notes for my work. I was entitled to this service until 31 May 2025 despite leaving because they had prepaid the year (our company year end ran from June).
she was saying this was unacceptable
then after consulting with someone she told me it’s fine.
if I tried to elaborate on any questions she asked, she would then start interrupting and saying ‘let me finish before you answer’ so I countered and said, well given there were several seconds of silence after your question finished, I thought it was my cue to speak. She called me rude and patronising.
So I was leaving in tears and someone who worked there asked if I was ok. I just said I was spoken to rudely and they said, call the UC helpline and either do a complaint over the phone or web based as if I give you our form, they’ll not respond in the way you think is best. That was telling….
make matters worse after I complained online via journal as the helpline advised…
someone on journal responded saying thanks for this feedback.
then to compound issues, the agent updated my record to say I did not provide a sick note.
am I being unreasonable to think this is personal since I complained?