to want to go to an interview at my local Jobcentre?

[stripeymama]

I am nearly 38 weeks pregnant and claiming Income Support as a lone parent. I have been requested to attend a Work Focused Interview a week tomorrow when I will be 39 weeks.

Ok, fair enough, I have to attend an interview. Thats fine, them's the rules. I'd like the advice, I'd like to know what my options are after having the baby re. childcare and in work support etc.

But, the interview is at a Jobcentre 25 miles away and I don't drive. Its a 2 hour trip each way on the bus. They are refusing to let me have the interview at my local Jobcentre which is only 4 miles away, because that Jobcentre is in England and I live in Wales. Except I don't live in Wales, I live a mile into England, I have an English council FFS.

So I had a v. speedy google whilst the personal adviser was checking the England/Wales thing out and found the Govt. guidance on deferring these interviews - women in the last 11 weeks (never mind last 11 DAYS) of pregnancy should be offered deferral until the baby is at least 6-8 weeks old. I told her that and she is 'checking' if she can defer and will get back to me.

I honestly wouldn't object to going into town for the interview but I am not prepared to make a 50 mile round trip on the four bloody busses. Arg.

YADNBU.
bloody rules.... good luck.

YANBU. Stand your ground......tell them you have been having what you think are mild contractions and you're sure they wouldn't like your waters to break all over their lovely office

I just don't understand why the hell I can't go for the interview at the Jobcentre in my local town. Seems bonkers.

they can do them over the phone too - I had one like that once, but I fought tooth and nail to get it

Can they really Lewisfan? I will google that now.

See, I'm happy enough to have the interview. But either it needs to be at my local Jobcentre or it needs to wait until I have given birth and had a chance to recover from that. Thats hardly unreasonable, surely?

Unfortunately job centres are under staff and under trained. Frustrating as hell!!!

You could be suddenly unwell and unable to attend

YANBU - and when would you be expected to work after the baby is born exactly?

I would ask them to check that the person conducting interview has first aid experience expecially in midwifery

Sounds like they got your postcode wrong or something. You'll have to go to the JC in your borough even if it's further away than another one though.

I do have a Welsh postcode. But I live in England - a mile from the border, its clear if you look at a map. Council Tax for here is payable to an English council.

Its just the Jobcentre who insist its Wales for some reason

Hello stripeymama, I work for Jobcentre Plus and had a sneaky look at the guidance today while at work. I discovered the following:

1. Because of your circs, you can ask for the WFI to take place in a more suitable location - even in your own home if you wish. They should NOT be asking you to travel all that way!

2. As you are within 11 weeks of your EDD, they should really be deferring your WFI until after the baby is born, with no negative effect on your benefits.

If your personal adviser tries to argue, tell them to check the online NDLP (New Deal for Lone Parents) guidance - that's where I found this info

To clarify point 2: She shouldn't need to 'check if it's possible' - it's right there in black and white under the 'Deferrals' guidance!

I'm not sure it is medically advisable to go on a two hour bus trip so near to term either. If necessary, check with your midwife but for sure, this interview is both unnecessary right now and quite unreasonably inflexible. Even though we've now governed by a Coalition of C**ts, I'm sure there are some basic human rights that still exist!

YANBU

However, doing the interview near to home now might be easier than doing the round trip with an 8 week old baby .

Thanks all for the advice.

They have agreed to defer until the baby is between 6-8 weeks old.

They flatly refused to change the location, apparently its not possible to 'choose where you want your interview to take place'. It has to be at my nearest Jobcentre and their computer system says that the nearest one is 25 miles away - bugger the fact that actual map shows one 4 miles away and one 14 miles away! And I can only have the interview at home if I have medical reason for it, and they say pregnancy is not one.

Glad they are deferring it - what a pain that your 'registered' JC is so far away.

On reading the guidance myself this morning, it seems like the home visit for medical reasons can be a bit of a grey area - two examples given were, if you were very stressed in the late stages of pregnancy OR suffering PND with your newborn (which obviously I hope won't happen!!) then you can ask for a home visit.

I'm off on maternity leave myself after tomorrow, but as a previous poster said - a lot of staff are under-trained and over-worked so it's always worth googling/questioning them!

Best wishes for your imminent new arrival, by the way

I don't fucking believe it.

Just had my personal adviser on the phone. Her line manager has said that she wants me in for the interview by the last week in August, at which stage my baby will be 5 weeks old AT THE MOST. If s/he is late then I could be forced to travel 50 miles on public transport with a three week old baby. Apparently I have the choice as to whether I attend at 39 weeks pg, or within a month of giving birth.

I am shaking with fury and despair. Are they going to agree to be held liable if I haemorrage on the bus? Or if I go into labour in the Jobcentre? I don't know what to do, I have looked up their own bloody guidance and this manager is going against it completely, IMO its unreasonable but apparently I have no right to even speak to her.

May I suggest getting your local MP involved? I deal with similar complaints/concerns/comments and if it is going against guidelines, then someone needs to step in and help. Let me know if you need some info on who to contact.

Could you visit the jc that is 4 miles away and ask to speak to the manager and possibly get them to speak to the manager 25 miles away explaining that they are closer for you.

First, breathe.

Second, you need someone to advocate for you. Your MP is a good suggestion. Is your midwife clued up? Might she be any help?

Third -can you put anything in writing? Even if only by email? Maybe include the link to their own guidance highlighting the page and section number?

Hope it gets sorted out. This is totally shit .

Well in case anyone is interested I put in a formal written complaint to the Jobcentre manager, including a copy of the DWP guidance.

I had a letter back yesterday saying that she had passed my complaint on to the staff member I was complaining about , who would respond to me 'soon'.