Heads up

[Elliebes]

Just a heads up on a job centre call centre workers 48 hour strike on Thursday and Friday this week! I hope nobody gets their benefits sanction or refused or anything else or they will be waiting forever to speak to someone about it.....its bad enough trying to get through normally!

 

http://www.nebusiness.co.uk/business...1140-27998199/

[frank_begbie]

Links not working.

[ErikaPNP]

Here's another link - I cannot figure out how to correct the one above.

 

Jobcentreplus Call Centre Staff to strike

 

I'm not surprised. Call centres for Welfare matters do not work well, particularly for the broad range of vulnerable people that DWP come into contact with. Since the DWP reduced customer facing roles and implemented call centres there has been a steady decline in service, and many are not able to even utilise the service. And with the public sector cuts coming, the service is only going to decline further. As if people don't wait long enough as it is for their benefit decisions.

[Elliebes]

I wish they would do something about that darn line holding music too....people here put their mobiles on speaker and play it loudly !

[frank_begbie]

Here's another link - I cannot figure out how to correct the one above.

 

Jobcentreplus Call Centre Staff to strike

 

I'm not surprised. Call centres for Welfare matters do not work well, particularly for the broad range of vulnerable people that DWP come into contact with. Since the DWP reduced customer facing roles and implemented call centres there has been a steady decline in service, and many are not able to even utilise the service. And with the public sector cuts coming, the service is only going to decline further. As if people don't wait long enough as it is for their benefit decisions.

 

That situation looks horrendous. The best workforce is a happy workforce.

This is going in a totally different direction, ruling with a rod of iron.

 

The management will get what they deserve, hopefully.

[Elliebes]

you are soo right about this. Its bad enough being fully functional and complying with their rules. I dont know how people who are not so fly with admin and organising their stuff manage!

 

Not all Job Centres are created equal they appear to be competing for some sort of accolade from the government about targets.......and finding someone's benefits to sanction so they can bang it back in the coffers and feel a sense of achievement at the hardship and detriment of that person!

 

I was given the run around by one of their call centres when I was last sanctioned.......different people gave me and my advocate different advice over a 2 day period.....they lied and said I would be receiving money when in the end no such thing was planned I was exhausted my advocate was tearing her hair out and I nearly had a breakdown. So at this point in time Ive got not sympathy whatsoever for them.

[Guest jsa12]

thats because of the job losses they now face,when the shoes on the other foot its a different story.claims are being made that its a 25% reduction.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs/8267501/Jobcentre-Plus-to-axe-9300-jobs.html

 

the job seekers direct phone service should have been axed a long time ago,its totally pointless.

[frank_begbie]

thats because of the job losses they now face,when the shoes on the other foot its a different story.claims are being made that its a 25% reduction.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs/8267501/Jobcentre-Plus-to-axe-9300-jobs.html

 

the job seekers direct phone service should have been axed a long time ago,its totally pointless.

 

 

They can't cope now, how the hell are they supposed to cope with less people, when unemployment rockets in the next few months?

[Elliebes]

Its bad enough trying to get through normally let alone with people missing this is going to create hell for some people! I can see violence erupting in the job centres especially the one I just left!

[Guest jsa12]

i have been referred to the shaw trust because of my anxiety and they keep pushing the 16 hours line,this can trigger other things is the claim.

 

i could not live on the money 16 hours brings,i would have to pay council tax that rapidly drops away,dental costs, ongoing prescription costs,loss of fuel discount.

 

all it seems to be about is just enough to get someone out the job centre door and they could not care less that someone could afford to live.

 

enjoy the freedom a job brings is also claimed,i cannot see how if the figures dont add up.all this is going to do is increase illness with worry and no doubt result in recurring doctors visits'.

[Elliebes]

I have to agree with you there JSA12.

 

When I got to the JC yesterday my PA had been sent some Tribunal forms from the old JC that she had to clarify with me as to exactly which claim I was taking them to Tribunal for? So I told her all what had gone on there and how I was bullied and harassed to the point of collapse etc. I was really surprised when she encouraged me to put another Tribunal in regarding the last sanction I had over not producing my job log when I was under stress living a hostel and had just been for a worrying mammogram the same day. I remarked that I thought I couldn't do this as the time had passed. Oh no she said its never to late to do it. So thanks to her I'm going to take this nasty piece of work who rubbed his salary in my face the same day he sanctioned me to Tribunal if I can.

 

She also showed me that some entries had been deleted off the computer with regards to one of my Tribunals which was the one in which they said I never turned up for my signing and I did and I had to make a rapid reclaim. Interesting!

 

I explained that the two sanctions I had been given and the connection to the volunatary appointments I had made. She said oh we NEVER sanction anyone for missing a voluntary appointment here.

 

I cannot believe how nicely Im being dealt with in this new JC. I feel no threat from them and Im doing all I can in terms of what they ask me to do. Im even going weekly but do not feel anywhere near as much anxiety as I did with the old JC.

 

Have you done a would you be better off in work assessment? I was told not to bother with jobs at 21 hours but to look for jobs around 30 hours. You shouldnt lose your rent or have to pay council tax at 16 hours but you need to check on this as Im not 100% sure!

 

I started taking St Johns Wort for the anxiety and thats also worked. My stomach is not going into clenching knots now and it feel so much better!

Edited January 22, 2011 by Elliebes
extra info

[Guest jsa12]

sadly this bad treatment contributed to by bigotry is prevelent in job centres up and down the county,the fact they have either triggered the anxiety or contributed to the cause potentially is no doubt what has brought about the change,they are leaving themselves open to claims by these practices and continued bad publicity,given the past experiences they tend to back down very quickly.going to the gp with anxiety usually means the antidepressants are prescribed,the job centre and their contractors are not keen on people on medications,no doubt its seen as a barrier however depression is often rife with long term unemployment.

 

st john's wort is an alternative to prescription drugs,i have never tried it and the two should not be mixed but sadly the necessity to remain on either or begin in todays world is growing.

[Elliebes]

The St Johns Wort certainly works as Ive been on it before and I dont take prescription drugs at all. Another one is Nytol but I havent bothered with that one.

 

I have no anxiety at all now since Ive been taking it. I take two a day one in the morning and one in the evening. I am able to think straight when I go to the JC and I dont get agitated. I feel calm and chilled. Its widely used in Germany instead of prescription meds like Proxac etc....

[Guest jsa12]

there is more on food banks and how they operate.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11427207

 

http://www.trusselltrust.org/

 

http://www.trusselltrust.org/media-coverage

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/dec/20/jobcentre-staff-food-vouchers?INTCMP=SRCH

 

linked to here.

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?291339-uk-s-benefit-shame-as-food-handouts-originate-from-donated-food-from-sainsbury

Edited January 24, 2011 by jsa12