Do I have a right to be upset about this?

EltonJohnFan

Hi all,

I feel like I have to write about what happened to me today because never in my life have I been made to feel so stupid, helpless and like I didn't matter. I feel absolutely humiliated by what I've went through and could honestly cry because I feel like it's me that's the problem and that I'm only a burden to people. I just don't think I can ever go the Jobcentre again after what happened to me today. I was "directed" to attend a Back to Work session in my local Jobcentre today at 2:00pm and as I wasn't told anything about what to expect or what would happen I attended a good 15 minutes before I was supposed to be there and showed the receptionist my appointment paper and she said just go through the door and up the stairs and that I'd be met at the top of the stairs by an advisor who would be leading the session. One of the security guards noticed me struggling to open the door as it was really heavy and he then very kindly opened it for me and promptly disappeared within a few seconds, don't know where he went he was that quick.

I should mention that I'm very badly disabled and have extensive care and mobility needs. I don't want to list what my disabilities are because I've already been humliliated enough for one day. I will say that I'm unable to walk and have a long term degenerative disease that is gradually making me less able to do every day things and I hate it. I was left staring at a flight of stairs this afternoon and felt so embarrassed because people were looking at me in my wheelchair as they walked by and I just didn't know what to do or say. I eventually managed to get the attention of a member of staff and asked him if there was an elevator or something for me to use and he very abruptly demanded to know why I wanted to use the elevator to which I replied I had an appointment on the top floor of the building and was now late for it which only made me ever more frustrated as I always like to arrive early to any appointments.

This man then mumbled something under his breath and disappeared for a few moments until he came back with a very big and burly man who said he'd have to lift me to the top of the stairs and his work colleague would take my wheelchair up for me. I again asked if there wasn't a lift for me to use and he said it was out of order so if was either this or they left me where I was so what could I do? I thanked the man for his help but unfortunately when I did arrive at the top of the stairs I was again humiliated because the security guard interrupted the session to tell the person taking the group that "they'd found me hanging around at the bottom of the stairs" and the person taking the session looked me up and down for a few moments and then carried on with what she was doing.

I had to sit there for half an hour welling up inside just desperate to escape but with nowhere to go because I couldn't get back down the stairs and I was too afraid to interrupt the session because I was amongst people who looked like they could really harm me and they didn't seem all that bothered about finding work because they swore and joked around with each other and I felt really intimidated. All throughout this session I was being told what I already know and felt like I was back in school if I'm honest. The women mentioned literacy lessions, reading and writing groups, number groups and very basic computer groups and how to send emails and so forth. When she came to me I told her I already knew how to do all this and that the only barrier to me finding work was that no one will give me a chance. I'm very well qualified but it's got me nowhere and I've absolutely had enough of this nightmare. I'm trying to find work but it's not happening and I'm being continually hounded when they surely know that it's not easy to find work right now let alone for a normal person as the woman herself told me there's only been 169 jobs advertised in the ten miles surrounding where I live and that on average there's at least 500 people going for each job but that we "weren't to let that put us off". She told us to take anything, even part time job with less money as long as we weren't claiming benefits as she said we probaly knew what people think of people who claim benefits and that was enough for me. She then chatted away with her work colleague and finally said after what seemed like an eternity that we were free to go.

I came away from the Jobcentre this afternoon thinking the whole day had been a waste of time because I'd learnt absolutely nothing and felt really low. I'm generally someone who loves to learn and find out new facts and figures but what was being discussed there was very basic stuff that is years behind the level I'm at and the lady taking the lesson didn't seem all that bothered by this. She talked about walking to see employers, calling them up and having telephone interviews and I said it's hard to be mobile to go to employers and due to my speech problems (which she could obviously here) I was unable to have telephone interivews as that would almost certainly rule me out for the job. I just wish I could find work I really do. I'm sorry for writing all this but I feel better now that I've got it off my chest. I'm not sure if I'm the only person to have had a horrible experience with the Jobcentre but I'm seriously thinking about signing off Jobseekers Allowance and just living on my Disablity Living Allowance until I found work because I just can't take anymore of their bullying and making me feel like nothing. I'm a good person and don't deserve that. Thank you for listening.

RAS

OK. Sorry to hear how awful this lot were. Heads should roll.

I used to be responsible for a scheme that employed several people with different disabilities and one of the most heart rending things I ever did was to interview 36 people for 12 jobs over 3 days, knowing most would not get them. Apart from one, they so so much wanted to work it was painful.

I think you need to go nuclear on this. You have the basis of a very good report on your situation above and I think you should hunt out your local MP, send him/her an e-mail today and ask to meet him/her at their next surgery.

Hopefully this load of spacewasters will get a kick where it hurts.

Or, if you can bear the publicity, ring your local paper and go back tomorrow for a photo-opportunity

EltonJohnFan

RAS wrote: »

OK. Sorry to hear how awful this lot were. Heads should roll.

I used to be responsible for a scheme that employed several people with different disabilities and one of the most heart rending things I ever did was to interview 36 people for 12 jobs over 3 days, knowing most would not get them. Apart from one, they so so much wanted to work it was painful.

I think you need to go nuclear on this. You have the basis of a very good report on your situation above and I think you should hunt out your local MP, send him/her an e-mail today and ask to meet him/her at their next surgery.

Hopefully this load of spacewasters will get a kick where it hurts.

Or, if you can bear the publicity, ring your local paper and go back tomorrow for a photo-opportunity

Thank you for understanding.

I've told my mum and my family all about this and mum is coming over to see me because I'm really upset right now. I've been told that I now have to sign on every week to get my Jobseekers Allowance and that they can cancel it at anytime they please if they don't think I'm looking for work. Believe me, I'm doing everything reasonably possible to find work and I'm handing in at least 6 or 7 applications every time I go in there and yet they're still directing me to apply for jobs that they should surely know I can't do such as cleaning, labouring, factory work and contruction etc. I was bluntly told I should be applying for anything and everything and that "you can't pick and choose the sort of work you want to do, nobody has that luxury".

I have so much to give an employer, I'm loyal, hardworking and dedicated to what I do and I'm always looking to learn new skills. It's such a shame that I have to waste away on disablility benefits without the chance to prove to people what I can do. I deliberately signed onto Jobseekers Allowance instead of Employment and Support Allowance because I'm really serious about finding work and surely they should see this? I think people are perhaps put off with what they see of me in person but in my mind I am free and I can write just as well as any other person. I might have to take this further not because I'm looking for anything specific from it. I just want them to know they can't treat people with such contempt and make them feel so bad about themselves.

dmg24

I think the fact that no one was there to help you to the room needs to be addressed, but did you not question this when they initially told you to go up the stairs? Otherwise, whilst the session was clearly no fun for you, I don't see grounds for complaint. The sessions are of a general nature, and clearly you do not fit the norm for the group. They do tend to be pretty dumbed down, but I would take a positive from it that, whilst you do have barriers to employment, at least you are intelligent and actually want to work. Your weekly sessions will be on a one on one basis, so hopefully you will not encounter a problem with these.

MaureenCornwall

Hi Elton John fan
I could hardly believe what you have written and felt for you.
I would get a letter out to your MP this very day and write a letter to the head at your Jobseekers, there has to be somebody who is in charge there, keep copies of your letters for future reference.
If there elevator was out of order surely your appointment should have been cancelled.
Furthermore I would suggest that those you came into contact within the jobseekers should go on some training quick as they certainly lack in manners plus other areas !!
Try to keep your chin up, although after todays episode a good cry may help you to tackle the episode head on.
Bless you

AnxiousMum

I agree with RAS - depending on how much you can stand up for yourself - as this is a very sensitive and personal issue to you - I would give consideration to going public on your experience today. To have been in a wheelchair and directed to stairs is just blatant stupidity. To help you through a door you were unable to open, that led to only stairs - is unbelievable. To have to be carried to the top of the stairs - while it was decent of the guys to do this, they shouldn't have to have done it, and you should not have had to endure the ride, the possibility of being dropped and the sheer humiliation you were forced to endure in getting to this interview.

As for the meeting itself - unfortunately, it is one of the requirements if you are on JSA for a set period of time I think, however, the humiliation you had to endure to get there should not have been allowed. You have a valid point in that obviously you cannot apply for just ANY job - as this was a clear indication to you as to how some places are simply inaccessible to you - you may have the skills and the dedication to offer, but not all employers can offer you a suitable work environment. This morning, you were not even offered the dignity that any person should be able to embrace, and to make it worse, this was by a government agency.

I hope you are feeling a bit better by now. I would at least be asking to speak with the manager or whoever is in charge of that particular job centre, and letting them know how, if you were in the job of the person who directed you initially 'around the corner and through the door', how you would've handled that situation, then ask them what they are going to do about making their services more accessible for you. You may get satisfaction, if not, I'd definitely go public and get my MP involved. It's disgraceful that you have been treated so callously and without thought. I'm sorry I was not there when you endured this, I certainly would've spoken up on your behalf!

Firewallrob

I cannot start to understand how you feel. I believe there are many people all over the country that have to suffer the same humiliating experience - with no-one seeming to care. The right wing media screams spongers, whilst most come from privilaged backgrounds - and certainly do not know what serious disability is.

People are thrown into Job centre roles because of certain factors, but not because they know how to treat people.

I could go on and on and on, but I won't.

You DO NEED to contact your MP - in fact I am passing a law that you will be arrested if you don't .

People cannot get away with this in a so called civilised society. Is this what we have become - it cannot be this way.

Anything I can help with, please pm me - and I wish you all the best.

JC9297

Whilst the way in which today was handled was definately wrong, you could have saved yourself from being made to attend things like this if you had claimed ESA, you could still look for work whilst receiving it.

Starrystarrynight

I'm so sad to read about your awful experience. I hope that you do pursue a complaint.
It sounds like the JSA group wasn't at all suitable for you, it even sounds quite threatening to me! They don't make much effort to help you find suitable jobs, but then threaten to stop your benefit! I don't know much about benefits, really, but is there a possibility of signing on to ESA instead? It sounds like you're already making lots of effort to find a suitable job, and maybe the groups they have will be more suitable? I may be talking a load of rubbish, and I apologise if I am.
Sending a hug. I struggle with stairs when I'm using my walking stick, and I can only imagine how distressing it must have been for you.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Crickey, that experience sounds like an utter nightmare & the worst case I've heard about in recent times.

How ignorant and rude of the workers you were unfortunate to encounter at the job centre. It is disgusting to say the least and it sounds like they fully abused your vunerability.

What a torturous situation you have endured today. This has made me sick to the stomach as it highlights how abusive job centre workers are. They are almost sociopathic in their attiutude towards unemployed people. They have no concept that just because an individual is out of work, dosen't mean they are not highly skilled or qualified. It wouldn't surprise me if these workers didn't actually get sick pleasure out of treating people the way you were treated today.

Seek advise from an agency which can assist you in putting a complaint together & try to not let this rule your life. More people should complain about the service they receive at the job centre & places related to it. I rekon, in fact I know this kind of treatment happens more than people would care to admit.

Good luck & I hope you get the respect you deserve.

tcr_3

I'm struggling to believe this, tbh.