JSA Hardship payments

Rich1985

busy_mom wrote: »

Re- read your earlier posts where you quoted all JCP staff as beneath you, I askedyou why you felt that and you answered. You have made it clear what you think.
You labelled JCP staff, where have I quoted you as anything?
As for me having a job when my spelling is soo bad!! I have mild dyslexia and dispraxia, I deal with these disabilities as best I can, forgive me for being lazy and not using the spell check option every time I type. I have GCSE grades, A level grades and three NVQ all up to level 4.
I am not a careers adviser either, I never used those words or stated I was. I work for JCP, we do not employ careers advisers. As for how I managed to find a job, well..........you wouldnt welcome any advice or help I may be able to offer.

My last comment, I dont see the point in drawing into an online battle, good luck with your jobsearching.

I have read and then re-read all my posts. Nowhere can I find the part where I said "all" staff are beneath me. I mentioned that job centre staff were beneath me sure but this comment was aimed more at the staff in my local centre rather than at all centres across the U.K. Of course there will be a few decent individuals, but most seem to be unpleasant and unhelpful based on my interactions. I thought I straightened this out when I said: 'I appreciate that not all centres are the same' in a post to someone else, but if the sock fits...

Rich1985

"Rich1985 please do not tar all advisers with the same brush"

Why not? They, along with members of the public seem to do it to those who are unemployed. You get what you give and all that.

As I said not all the same, Im sure its people like this scum that have offered advice on here more than once.

Your hoestly telling me everyone in the office treates you like scum eveytime you attend.?

Most do. There are one or two exceptions.

"people with attitudes like yourslef"

Can you really blame me for having an attitude, given what I've been through lately? Not really!

Uea I can!

So if you had an evil, power crazed boyfriend who beat you on a daily basis and I criticized you for having a negative attitude towards men, you'd think that was fair? O.K.

"Staff are threatened on a daily basis"

Is this really true, or just an exaggeration? Because in all the time I have been visiting the job centre I have not seen a single member of staff get threatened. Then again, I guess it all depends on where you are situated in the country. After all, crime rates surely vary from city to city. Anyway, if you have been threatened or have witnessed any form of intimidation or violence then you have my deepest sympathies. Then again, maybe certain claimants are provoked into being aggressive so that staff members have a valid reason to stop their benefits! If the latter is true then I can only sympathise with the aggressor.

Symathise with the aggressor, you really have no idea what it's like to work in an environment and be threatened, come out of work to see a jobseeker waiting for you and try to follow you home, to have to see customers in a screened room after they have threatened you. Yes this does ahappen and has happened.

Probably because the claimant(s) had been treated unfairly, or tricked out of benefits. In this world, most things happen for a reason.

missapril75

Rich1985 wrote: »

Where exactly did I mention that I was referring to "ALL JCP staff"?

You began this discussion with

I have had the misfortune of enduring abuse from people who are beneath me (Job centre staff)

In response to busymom asking why these people were beneath you, you said

these staff members do absolutely nothing to help you find a job, they make no effort to build a rapport with you or to relate to you on a personal level.....I appreciate that most if not all of them despise their jobs but that doesn't give them the right to treat others like scum

You followed with

I'm sure most if not all members hate their jobs - but I still don't see how it gives them the right to treat others like dirt!

Now you do not explicitly say ALL but you are clearly generalising.
Then busymom asked you not to tar them all with the same brush and you responded with

Why not

So you do think it fair to include all then.

Rich1985 wrote: »

I think it's safe to say that it is you that has just a "tiny fraction" on me.

But that fraction is saying quite a lot on the limited situation being discussed.

Rich1985

"Now you do not explicitly say ALL but you are clearly generalising."

Nice try, but I figured there was a misunderstanding a long while ago.

"But that fraction is saying quite a lot on the limited situation being discussed."

It says quite a lot? That's just a matter of opinion really isn't it? Just because you or a group of people have a single dealing with a person, which happens to be when they are in a bad mood; does not make you qualified to make the claim that you or a group of people have extensive knowledge about the person.

I rescued a disabled man recently. What did you do lately that was so noble?

You claim that I have 'just a "tiny fraction" on JC staff'. You do not know what I know regarding 'JC staff'. Therefore this statement is ridiculous.

Let's break this down further: It is evident that I sink to low levels at times, but not without good reason. Those who really know me know I have a big heart. Now, I couldn't even compare to some (I didn't say all) job centre/DWP staff members if I wanted to; whose incompetence has resulted in the deaths of some vulnerable members of the public because their benefits were unfairly sanctioned. This is reprehensible! Anyone with a soul would be mortified by this.

Yes, I know which team I would rather be on. Plus, I get to sleep well at night knowing I have not made any decisions which could ultimately endanger the lives of vulnerable people.

Viberduo

I have had the misfortune of bad JC staff or even friendly ones that just do their job but if something goes wrong claim innocence such as when my friend was working part time and lost his job he handed in his p60(pr p45 I get the 2 mixed up) the jobcentre staff lost it then claimed if it wasnt showing as received then it was never handed in! His New Deal advisor then accused him of being lazy(yes the words were lazy) and accused him of lying of applying for jobs and threatened to sanction him, I can go on for ages about what happened to him, to me and family over the years for me the worst was when a few days before Christmas when I went to sign on and was doing 5 hours a week part time study my advisor and her supervisor decided to interview me and gave me a book to fill in and then twisted my words to say that my 5 hours a week study did not include revision hours and they decided I was doing 35 hours a week study therefore I was full time and would get a full time loan therefore not be entitled to benefits! bah humbug stopping my money only a day or two before Christmas Eve, another time I broke my toe and phoned in morning to tell advisor I could not make it and could come in after I was seen or next day but was told by advisor she was going on holiday and I had to wait till she got back, I had my benefit stopped for not attending within 7 days(despite going in same day with broken toe and asking to speak to someone else) which brings me to the DWP "appeal" system its so flawed, another time when I moved area and filled in forms they forgot to send me a appointment to sign a new JSA agreement(I phoned most days for a month) then one day I rang to be told I missed 2 sign ons so had no money and when I appealed I was told I did not have a good enough reason.

Funny though that once I got a local MP involved when a giro was stolen(which my file even said do not send giros out as unsafe address) I was told there was nothing that could be done and was on hold for a hour each time to be told this.

After that everytime I went to JC I was rushed to front of queue and told not to bother showing my diary or asked for what jobs I applied for, was late once and was told not to worry etc.

missapril75

mos1975 wrote: »

why do jc staff tell you crisis loans have been stopped but don't tell you about the new short term benefit advance.

Lots of people complain that they "don't know" what is available regarding benefits. But most people are not disabled; sick; penniless; unemployed etc etc

Knocking on doors wouldn't be an efficient way of making people aware. Advertising and targeting works better.

Similarly, everyone qualifying for JSA is paid in arrears but the vast majority are not skint and needing cash urgently. They have money in the bank, last wages, don't have rent to pay, any number of reasons for which waiting for their JSA doesn't cause a problem. Remember, too, that staff will often know this.

From Turn2us about these advances.

You must also be able to show that you are in financial need. This means that if you don't get a STBA there is a serious risk of damage to the health and/or safety of you and/or your family.

So the vast majority of those claiming JSA will not have their health and safety put at risk waiting for a few days for JSA.

Not very efficient to just tell everyone and many would likely take offence at the suggestion.

Denying such things exist is another matter - sackable offence actually - but if someone is in dire need, then it's not unreasonable to think they will present that in some way. "I have no heating/food" or "how will I manage?"

Offer money up front to every single applicant and how do you think they'll answer?

And how much longer would processing work for all the other people applying for things take as a result?

As with so many other things, information IS available but people tend not to read leaflets issued and posters on walls.

Could someone in the know - Busymom? - confirm if this information is readily available like all the other stuff issued to people at the start of claims?

busy_mom_2

A new claim is 40 mins, thats 30-35 with the customer and 5-10 mins to prep all the paperwork, regsiter on the system and and at the end of the int send all the paperwork etc. over to the benefit centre and ensure the information is recorded correctly
So in 30 mins you have to check the statement, get it signed, ensure the person knows what they are signing. explain all the regs for claiming JSA/ESA. Check ID, etc
JSA claim then move onto the claimant commitment, signing arrangements, the focus is on telling them the help available to get them into work. Ensure people are aware about C.V. expectations for jobsearch. Lots of questions about their skills, etc...etc...

IF the person asks about extra things then yes the information will be given. Sometimes this may mean a hand over to someone else if the 40 mins is up.There are leaflets that are handed out, there is lots of information available on the direct gov website. BUT to be totally honest it is impossible to tell everyone about everything. Firstly the person will never remeber it all, they get confused, feel bombarded with information. Things change so quick at present literature cannot be kept relevant.
People need to ask, they will be given information applicable to what they want/need. No the system is not perfect, far from it at times but sometimes a specific question, like 'when can I expect to recieve some money' or 'what help is available to me I have nothing' will be answered.

This government change things so quick. I have been off sick for a week, went back monday to find the 18-24 wage incentive scheme ends 4th August. No it is impossible to ensure all customers and employers gets that message. I had someone today ask how to claim for a community care grant, they didn't realise it had ended. Poster have dispalyed this for a while but now all posters have been taken down to display something else. JCP have access to guidance, please bear with them if they have to double check.

missapril75

@busymom
You just took me back to 2004 when I last did those new claim interviews in the morning and restarts in the afternoon. _pale_

lost_for_words

Ive been very lucky where my advisors were really helpful and the last advisor called up a job for me and I got it. But as it was a 5am start with no available transport that time I said I could walk it but it took me 90 minutes and really hurt my back. I had at the beginning of the year been took off esa to jsa and I am on 4 different medications for back pain and depression. Anyway I have done a rapid reclaim and I dont expect them to be nice this time. In fact I dont expect anything. If that is the case I hope they can pay my council tax for me as all I need to earn is about £150 and I can survive ( and I am happy doing that) anymore I can start to live.

busy_mom_2

lost_for_words wrote: »

Ive been very lucky where my advisors were really helpful and the last advisor called up a job for me and I got it. But as it was a 5am start with no available transport that time I said I could walk it but it took me 90 minutes and really hurt my back. I had at the beginning of the year been took off esa to jsa and I am on 4 different medications for back pain and depression. Anyway I have done a rapid reclaim and I dont expect them to be nice this time. In fact I dont expect anything. If that is the case I hope they can pay my council tax for me as all I need to earn is about £150 and I can survive ( and I am happy doing that) anymore I can start to live.

Its not about not being nice, people can be nice but still explain the expectaions the government expect from benefit claimants, be that ESA or JSA. JCP are seen as the bad guy as we have to re-enforce that message. There is opportunities for part time work so be honest and unfront about your expectations. Good Luck.