UC meetings

freesha

Perhaps he should get a job then, if neither of you want to deal with (perfectly reasonable) UC commitments?

peteuk

freesha said:

Perhaps he should get a job then, if neither of you want to deal with (perfectly reasonable) UC commitments?

It isn’t for the want of trying, I’m not sure you grasp the idea of walking down the main A road between to large towns, natorious for car accidents due to people who cant drive,  where its national speed limit  with no pavement….perfectly reasonable….

Oh and having said you will not get a telephone appointment, his next appointment is now a telephone appointment to suit them.

Spoonie_Turtle

The comments about 'just getting a job' are steering into judgemental territory. 
We already know OP's son has a condition that can make life, especially admin, difficult.  We also know they live rurally, which I can personally attest makes it difficult to find work unless one drives and has one's own car - which it sounds like OP's son doesn't.

It's very unreasonable to jump to the conclusion that he's simply not looking for a job!  Plus if he weren't, he would be being sanctioned all the time because, y'know, looking for work is one of the main requirements.  Which people commenting on the benefits board really should know …

peteuk

Spoonie_Turtle said:

The comments about 'just getting a job' are steering into judgemental territory. 
We already know OP's son has a condition that can make life, especially admin, difficult.  We also know they live rurally, which I can personally attest makes it difficult to find work unless one drives and has one's own car - which it sounds like OP's son doesn't.

It's very unreasonable to jump to the conclusion that he's simply not looking for a job!  Plus if he weren't, he would be being sanctioned all the time because, y'know, looking for work is one of the main requirements.  Which people commenting on the benefits board really should know …

Thank you!  Yes you’re correct he doesn’t drive, and at £70 a lession wont be learning any time soon.  Equally there is a massive shortage of instructors in the area.

And comments like “we pay him £300 a month to get out of bed” is not a cleaver thing to say to a neurodiverse young adult, or to anyone.  

But sure, if he were to get the job, he applied for, he cant afford to get there because of his sanction.  (We have put in an MR)

  

JonVarnas

HillStreetBlues said:

JonVarnas said:

Well done for sticking up for your son. I've seen many a vulnerable person bullied by work coaches. They try it on me but I don't take it. I even made one cry once.

I don't think that's something to boast about.

Worked though and she never tried to belittle me again, that's for sure. You've got to be tough with these work coaches otherwise they'll walk all over you.

OhWow

peteuk said:

Son has been claiming since September 2023 and I grilled his work coach today about his sanction and have come to the conclusion she would struggle to get her shoes on the right feet if they weren’t tagged L and R.

Why not just get your son put in a complaint with the Job Centre manager, if he wins his MR over the sanction? 

After that, if you don't feel the manager has done their job, you will be able to put in a complaint with ICE (Independent Case Examiner) who will them be able to look whether the JC staff member was correct.

peteuk

Update - 
Sanction MR - outcome due Monday 17 June. 

We took time togther to request the following. 
A change in work coach and formal complaint about the way she spoke to him. 
A formal complain about his UC identity check (see below) 
An offical complaint about the notes on his UC threatening to cancel his UC claim. 
A change to his appointments to telephone consultations. 
Acknowledgment of his learning difficulties. (Now reported verbally and on his UC claim) 
Reason for changing his next appointment with his work coach by 24 hours and then advising he may not have access to the building...no problem we can do it by telephone.

On reviewing the identiy check I found the follwoing. 
23 May - request for 4 months bank statements and photo ID to be completed by 05/05/24 (05 May 24)
Obviously a typo - but completed and acknoweledge 05 Jun. 
06 Jun request made for driving liecnce check code. Completed 09 Jun. 
06 Jun - new identy check started - completion date 23 Jul - or UC claim will be closed as he failed to comply with intial check. - which he didnt as you acknowldeged on 05 Jun.

When pointed out to UC that he did comply with the two identy requests made (bank statements and photo id) and the drivers liecnce check code was asked minutes before the second ID check was processed...oh and by the way at this time he was sat in front of his work coach (I know the two are seperate) they simply said "I dont know".  

We will find out more next week...