rude, arrogant jobcentre staff.

Morglin

I agree with the above - I worked in a DWP local office for a few years, and the amount of abuse I had to take from claimants was nuts, and with no proper support from managers - I did try to do my best for anyone needing benefits, but some days, you just want to strangle anyone that walks through the door.:eek:

There's no excuse for rudeness, though, and if it happens again, I would write to the manager at that office and tell them you're not happy.

Lin

Oldernotwiser

dekaspace wrote: »

Yes I have, but most in my town are for HGV drivers or Forklift Drivers etc.

I dont mind part time work, as my last job was part time, though it had a huge amount of overtime.

I just like anyone want a job where its enough to give me even £10 a week more than signing on, as if I get the full £45 a week plus £50 a week HB I need at least 20 hours a week to work, even then its only around £80 a week after tax, the system is flawed.

I remember my last job, £80 a week after tax, yet council works it out as £100 a week as they dont count the tax, so they said I earned far over threshold for support, so I was WORSE off than on benefits, yet had abusive customers, death threats, money problems etc.

Why are you only working part time, at your age? Perhaps this is why she said you're lazy.

shameless-about-money

My local jobcentre treats everyone the same - as if all of us are out to scam the government for money.

They are rude, abusive and downright rude.

I was signed off sick on Incapacity Benefit. I was told that I must get a job. I said, "actually I don't have to get a job at all, since I more than qualify for my IB at 115 points and you cannot force me into work". As it happens I wanted to go back to work. I still got the same attitude every time I went to the JC.

Must come with the territory.

chergar

Its the way they treat you like you are a thick scrounger. When I was pregnant with my second child I happened to go into jobcentre to ask if I was entitled to anything extra whilst pregnant and once new baby born.

Well first of all you are met by a security man then you queue to see an advisor but I think she was just a glorified receptionist, anyhoo explained circumstances and she said "Well you will be entitled to child benefit (which I already knew as I had a child) and tax credits (yes already had child)."

When I spoke to midwife a few weeks later she said I was entitled to Sure Start payment (£500 to help with baby things).

I am sure some jc staff deliberately don't tell you what you are entitled to - like its coming out of their pocket!!

Oldernotwiser

I don't think that it's the job of JCP staff to advise you on benefits, unless it's directly related to employment.

Sylvester

Unfortunately, some of them think everyone is the same that claim benefits, y'know, everyone from a similar background, age, race, marital status, child status......just like every British football fan is a hooligan, every builder is dodgy and everyone over 50, wets themself.

Sad really. Fortunately, there are good ones, but the bad ones you remember the most. I tend to just patronise them back and they shut up

Aitch7

dekaspace wrote: »

I didnt get her name, but I could go back in, as id recognise face, and the funny thing is im goinf far and above my means to apply for jobs, I spend anything from 2-4 hours a day, walking around town, going into shops, bars, takeaways asking if jobs are going, looking in paper, on internet in library etc.

I mean im trying hard to find one, id even do part time work as my current income is £0 and anythings better than that.

Hi,

I started a post a while ago offering some tips on how to deal with benefit agency staff - SOME of whom can be difficult (bearing in mind that others can be great) - you may want to read it.

Interestingly I received some quite shocking abuse on this board from benefit agency staff who insulted me on a very personal level - quite hurtful! - says it all really;-)

However if you ignore that and read the useful bits of the thread it did create a discussion and did offer some tips...the thread is called 'Housing benefit staff and New Deal staff. Hope it helps!

My immediate tips are;-
Remain calm at all times.

State clearly what it is that you want.

TAKE NOTES - keeping a log of times and dates is absolutely vital - it shows that you are taking your situation seriously, that you are keen to keep an accurate record and also means that in the event of any problems you will have all the dates and times of every appt/phone call etc and the appropriate details. Taking a few minutes to do this each day saves on hours of frustration trying to retrace your steps later.

Ask to speak with a manager if you feel you are not getting anywhere and calmly explain your reasons.

Have a think about why SOME staff my be aggressive - change your response to one of sympathy for them for needing to behave like that, rather than anger - it will help you to maintain your state and to get a better result.

You can change the situation around with a bit of perseverence,

best wishes
Aitch7

Aitch7

Should this thread be moved to the Benefits section?

shameless-about-money

Aitch7 wrote: »

Should this thread be moved to the Benefits section?

It IS in the benefits section!

Morglin

Usually, if you are polite to public services staff, they will return the compliment.;)

It's actually NOT their job to tell anyone all that they can claim - it's their job to process any claims that are made.:rolleyes:

If a person in unclear about what they should claim, then the CAB will always help - or the DWP does tell you.

I left the job in the end - I wasn't getting piad enough for all the crap I had to take off of people who thought they had a "right" to everything and a responsibility to nothing.:rolleyes:

I support a person getting benefits - that's why I now do advice work, but I don't support anyone being rude to staff who are doing their job.

Lin