It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

AnnieG

elizabunny wrote: »

On a lighter note, I received a FREE Tea Bag through the post today. Now that's just what I needed!:D

That just made me not just laugh out loud but hoot!!!:rotfl::rotfl:
Thank you!!

AnnieG

lauren_1 wrote: »

It took 4 and a half months to sort out my income support, I was signed off ill for 2 months and had to claim the ssp from the job center (as i earnt too little according to my previous employer, its never materialised) i was let go by my previous employer in between sick notes so in effect had nothing for nearly 7 months.

This has a catastrophic effect on my finances, eventually fell behind on everything and am currently facing bankruptcy, i'l never be able to catch up :eek:

7 months? Really?? I've never been on benefits before, it's a completely new world for me and I'm not enjoying it. I just hope I find a job before too long and this will all soon be a distant memory.
I won't give up the OS lifestyle though, I'm a convert!

AnnieG

Mum_on_a_mission wrote: »

In a nutshell - you need to complain about his attitude & unhelpfulness.

Taken from CAB advice guide it says

When should you complain
You should consider complaining if there is any aspect of the service that caused you problems and where the standard of your care was unacceptable. You do not need to have made a claim for benefit to claim about the standard of service. Problems experienced may include:-
rudeness. This could include not being treated with respect or failing to get an answer to reasonable requests
being given incorrect or misleading advice or not being informed of your rights or entitlements. If you have lost out financially you may be able to get compensation

As a public service worker myself - its not on to have such an off hand attitude, it would not be, and isn't tolerated where I work.

Big big hugs - I hope you get it all sorted soon,

Moam

Thanks Moam, I might just do that, he really sounded as if he couldn't care less. I'll phone up for the form

lauren_1

AnnieG wrote: »

7 months? Really?? I've never been on benefits before, it's a completely new world for me and I'm not enjoying it. I just hope I find a job before too long and this will all soon be a distant memory.
I won't give up the OS lifestyle though, I'm a convert!

18/9 weeks for income support isnt uncommon. and the ssp that didnt appear (sick note got lost and by the time they notified me the point of backdating had passed) that was a 8-9 week wait before i had to apply for IS. So yeah about 7 months

bluemoon_3

elizabunny, I think you have really, excellently summed up the situation in terms of pensions. Are they really working us towards a system where people have to prove they are frail enough to retire? I'm afraid I suspect this much as well, unless of course you are one of those well-off enough to afford to finance your own retirement.

The DLA bill is going to be cut by 10% if I remember correctly, and since there are no cuts in the rates, it seems clear to me that this means cutting the number of claimants. Unless I am missing something obvious. Medical reviews for all existing claimants (who have all been thoroughly assessed in humiliating detail already, perhaps multiple times) to get the numbers down. Presumably it will also be harder to be awarded a new claim.

With disability benefits harder to claim, those cast aside and unable to realistically work will be expected to be 'available for work'. So those deemed medically fit enough for work will join those in the public sector who are going to lose their jobs because of the 25% departmental cuts announced in the budget, as well those in the private sector who rely on contracts or grants funded by the public sector, in claiming JSA, and possibly housing benefit. Add in those progressive cuts to housing benefit the longer you are claiming, and that leads to people getting poorer with every passing year. Oh, and I forgot the single mothers who are also going to be in this situation once their child reaches 5.

All this done in the name of 'creating incentives'.

So if you are sick/disabled but deemed fit for work, discriminated against because of your age/colour/gender/background, have a crap education because you grew up on a sink estate, have family responsibilities, or if there simply are no jobs, it's your own fault. You should just try harder.

The more I hear about this budget, the angrier I get. Protecting the most vulnerable? Liars.

This is a budget based on ideology. I'm afraid I am nowhere near as optimistic about this as some of you. I see very hard times ahead. Yes, we will get through it, but that isn't the point. My DH and I have swapped stories of our childhoods in the 80s where we lived on rice or porridge for every meal because it was all our families could afford. Having cereal for breakfast made with water because it 'saved the milk'. Spending winter evenings with the whole family huddled under a duvet because they couldn't afford to put the heating on. Yes, we can do these things again, but is it really right that we should? And when our sacrifices aren't even being made to save our services? They've already announced student loans, air traffic control, the royal mail, even the schools being sold to 'private interests'. And who knows what is in the small print.

I'm sorry this has turned into a bit of a rant, but this is the way I see things. All I can hope is that some of this doesn't end up being implemented.

bluemoon_3

Someone please tell me a funny story about something their kids said today. I need cheering up after that.

charlies-aunt

silvercharming wrote: »

Charlies-aunt will correct me if things have changed or if it was only at my stinking office where this was the case,
Charlies-Aunt, please PLEASE tell me they've sorted it all out now and that sane, rational human beings are back in control?!
QUOTE]

I wish I could reassure you ... I don't have any experience of the call centres so its not really fair for me to pass comment - except to say that the staff have to achieve a minimum number of calls each shift so I imagine it must be easy to make mistakes when under pressure.

No excuse for the rudeness and indifference that others have commented on - I occasionally see customers whose claims have been put through as Income Support when they have no entitlement - first thing I do when I realise this is to apologise and explain - then get their claim put right and transferred to the right benefit section.

I think that the way forward is to name and shame - make sure at the beginning of every call/interview etc that you know the name of the person you are speaking to...and if they are unhelpful, sarky or just plain rude, put in a formal complaint in writing or on a complaints form (obtainable from the Reception desk) Written complaints are rigorously investigated by management, verbal complaints tend to be just shrugged off by the person who has dealt with you.

Personally, if I think a customer is eligible for additional benefits, I try to help & advise them and suggest they contact the local Community Associations, Advice Lines or the Citizens Advice Bureau for help and support in putting a claim in. Whilst I am trained in my own area of expertise, I only have a 'working' knowledge of other benefit areas - but these organisations have a very thorough knowledge of the whole benefit system and experience in accessing various un-publised benefits - if you are eligible - you will get the benefit, if you aren't - you won't. ...whether I or anyone else have an opinion/prejudice about whether or not you are 'deserving' is neither here nor there


The budget means big staff cuts for the DWP - my own included . . . . I have been told today that my fixed term contract will be terminated on 30th November .

smileyt_2

Hardup_Hester wrote: »

Whem my mother was diagnosed with cancer & had to leave work, it took the benfits office 6 weeks to sort out what she was entitled to, she'd been a careworker so was not well paid. I sent her money when I could to tide her over, she's visited the office & rung them numerous times & was eventually shouted at by whoever was dealing with her claim for being a nuisance and told they could bury her claim & would do if she phoned again. She was then too scared to contact them.
I finally got involved, got the name of her contact there, got the name of the manager, got through to him by dint of threatening him with the local & national papers. I explained the situation to him calmly & clearly, explained that my mother was penniless & hungry, was terminally ill & had been abused by a mamber of his staff. I explained that I had reporters gagging to interview my mother, who, by the way, had worked from when she was 18 until she was 59. He was full of apologies & sorted out the problem, I was then able to phone my mother & tell her to look out for a motorcycle courier who was on his way round to her with the money she was owed, the couried arrived within 30 minutes with the money & a bouquet of flowers.
All this was 20 years ago now, but I still get a great deal of satisfaction from it.

Bl**dy fantastic, HH, well done you! Not withstanding the horrible circumstances, of course but you really got an outcome there. Only wish your poor mum had not had to go through all that.

Larumbelle

charlies-aunt, I am sorry to hear that. :grouphug:

Hippeechiq

charlies-aunt wrote: »

The budget means big staff cuts for the DWP - my own included . . . . I have been told today that my fixed term contract will be terminated on 30th November .

Oh dear hun - I'm truly very sorry to hear that :grouphug: