darkwolf666
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- Thread starter
- #21
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[Misc] Universal Credit
- Thread starter darkwolf666
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KZNSeagull
Well-known member
Benefits have always been difficult to apply for, but that is not the point.
We recently applied for PIP for our autistic son. He had to have a face to face interview which, thankfully, my wife was also allowed to attend. It was conducted by an outside agency. When the report came back from them, the write up from the interview was a very biased interpretation of what was said eg my son said that he can make toast, therefore they took that as meaning that he can cook a meal for himself (he can't). He also said that he might be able to catch a bus to college - what he didn't say and they did not ask was whether he could do that on his own (he cannot - in fact he up to that point he never went out on his own, ever). Anyway, as a result he was not awarded anything.
We appealed and had to get all sorts of reports from as many agencies as possible to back up what we were saying. The review is carried out by the DWP and not the outside agency. After the appeal, he was awarded full PIP! So they went from awarding nothing to awarding the full amount. Bonkers really, and he has to reapply in 3 years time which will be fun.
So I am afraid the moral of the story is to persevere. But I agree with others, anyone with mental health issues doing this on their own would get nowhere.
We recently applied for PIP for our autistic son. He had to have a face to face interview which, thankfully, my wife was also allowed to attend. It was conducted by an outside agency. When the report came back from them, the write up from the interview was a very biased interpretation of what was said eg my son said that he can make toast, therefore they took that as meaning that he can cook a meal for himself (he can't). He also said that he might be able to catch a bus to college - what he didn't say and they did not ask was whether he could do that on his own (he cannot - in fact he up to that point he never went out on his own, ever). Anyway, as a result he was not awarded anything.
We appealed and had to get all sorts of reports from as many agencies as possible to back up what we were saying. The review is carried out by the DWP and not the outside agency. After the appeal, he was awarded full PIP! So they went from awarding nothing to awarding the full amount. Bonkers really, and he has to reapply in 3 years time which will be fun.
So I am afraid the moral of the story is to persevere. But I agree with others, anyone with mental health issues doing this on their own would get nowhere.
Why? It's absolutely disgusting. Poorly thought through from the start. And they want claimants to claim AFTER a full month - it's backdated. It's also paid monthly rather than weekly. Iain Duncan-Smith proudly proclaims on TV that claimants will learn how to budget through a month to make it last, he is that woefully out of touch - we have so many dreadful senior politicians on both sides of the house, but he really is one of the worst of the lot. How many penniless drug addicts has he met? You think they'll be lucid enough to plan over a month? Give me strength.
My wife sees the damage this is causing in her job. So does anyone who works at a soup kitchen or food bank. Ask [MENTION=1365]Westdene Seagull[/MENTION] what he thinks of UC. And this is all going under the radar while the Tories make a total mess of Brexit.
The current crop of Tories have been undoubtedly the worst government in living memory, but this country gets the government it deserves, IMO. I've never been so embarrassed by our political classes as I am now.
darkwolf666
Well-known member
- Thread starter
- #24
I know where you are coming from, I have attended 2 PIP assessments for the two grandchildren my wife and I look after, both were very different experiences.
Fortunately as their appointee I was allowed to speak up in their assessments and point out when they were getting things wrong! It’s bloody hard work, and very draining...
True, the previous system needed an enormous overhaul, but this is an appalling mess. I'm not arguing over the politics particularly, but the way it has been implemented has only served to highlight how incompetent those in charge have been. As said before, being paid monthly and one month in arrears absolutely screams out of touch incompetence.
You want people to talk about the implementation rather than the politics and that is purely because you are a conservative voter at heart. But let's be clear about this, when incompetent millionaires born into privilege implement these measures without a second's thought for the issues the claimants are clearly going to come across, what sane person isn't going to conclude that the top brass in the Tory party is crammed full of selfish, incompetent idiots?
GT49er
Well-known member
It's not just UC that is causing increasing difficulties to many sections of the community. In the past few years I have discovered many things that we can't do in this country now without photo ID.She's lucky to have you.
It's not just UC that is unnecessarily difficult (though I'm sure it is made deliberately hard). I've had cause recently to us a a few different 'digital identity' solutions in conjunction with accessing a number of local govt services and the experience has been - and I say this as a literate, intelligent, moderately patient, computer savvy desk-monkey - a kafkaesque head****.
* You can't sell a car to a dealer, or trade it in.
* You can't scrap a car (not through a scrap dealer anyway).
* You can't close an investment/assurance account and transfer the balance to your own current account (even though they're in the same name) - to do this I eventually had to go to the bank with my daughter and son-in-law in person with their ID to verify that my proofs of residence (utility bills, etc.), and my birth certificate were real and actually applied to me.
These non-Government organisations all expect to take photocopies of your photo ID too, so the potential for misuse or identity theft increases all the time -all, apparently in the name of preventing money laundering (tough how me selling a second hand car that I've owned for several years - insured, with docs. to prove it, and registered in my name and address at the DVLA - can be construed as a attempt by me to launder money I'm at a loss to understand.
beorhthelm
A. Virgo, Football Genius
- Jul 21, 2003
- 35,294
completely agree, they should have set out the policy for change and left it to competent people to analyse and implement properly. moving all benefits into a single payment, with graduated roll-on, roll-off, good idea. having payments monthly just like salaried people, noble but misguided (ignoring many paid weekly). paying so much in arrears downright stupid. not to mention the time to process claims, 4-6 weeks, is incompetence. if loan company can assess you in an hour, im sure benefits can be assess and calculated in a week, if not the system isnt going to work so dont do it untill you can. trouble is the politicans argue over the original policy, so entrench themselves in that, change becomes a sign of weakness screams of "u-turn" if they do etc.
LamieRobertson
Not awoke
UC...in my mind will always bring the gruesome picture of IDS punching the air when it was voted through...as others have said ...such poorly thought out implementation
aberllefenni
Active member
- Jan 15, 2009
- 458
I don't think it was ill thought out, IDS and his cohorts knew exactly what they were doing and the probable consequences of their decisions. A friend of mine who, up until recently, trained new CAB advisors for the whole of the south-west of England told me what would happen well before its implementation. As for Chicken Run, all I can say is thank f**k I dont encounter this kind of "I'm alright Jack" attitude too many times.
Ditto for my brother who is registered disabled with walking difficulties. He was rejected (without an interview) and then won on appeal (without an interview). Their approach just seems to be to say no in the first instance and only reconsider it on appeal.
Wrong-Direction
Well-known member
- Mar 10, 2013
- 13,416
Around this time last year my dad was diagnosed and signed up for UC, they still haven't got the correct amount now! It's a complete farce having to talk to people over an online journal! The job centre is a real eye opener too, more guards than staff! So many people reluctant to give you answers or help.
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Cheshire Cat
The most curious thing..
As I recall that was the system 30 years ago. Marred only by the fact you had to stand in a queue with the other scroats.
Isn' t progress marvellous.
I just hate bureaucracy. By definition, it is the same, whatever party is in power.
Ghastly time wasting, stress inducing ,box ticking bollocks.
I am sure that a number of well intentioned initiatives, from both sides of the political spectrum, have 'hit the rocks' due to effing bureaucracy!
Grump now over!
Ghastly time wasting, stress inducing ,box ticking bollocks.
I am sure that a number of well intentioned initiatives, from both sides of the political spectrum, have 'hit the rocks' due to effing bureaucracy!
Grump now over!
studio150
Well-known member
Still I suspect all the Conservative Leader candidates will be addressing the problems of UC in their pitch to become the new PM. 
darkwolf666
Well-known member
- Thread starter
- #35
Still I suspect all the Conservative Leader candidates will be addressing the problems of UC in their pitch to become the new PM.
Too busy owning up to their drug habits...
Yes but bureaucracy is par for the course with these things. But this level of injustice, incompetence, insensitivity and being this out of touch is what people are reasonably very angry about. All of which is entirely down to this utterly DREADFUL Conservative government.I just hate bureaucracy. By definition, it is the same, whatever party is in power.
Ghastly time wasting, stress inducing ,box ticking bollocks.
I am sure that a number of well intentioned initiatives, from both sides of the political spectrum, have 'hit the rocks' due to effing bureaucracy!
Grump now over!
Mr Putdown
Well-known member
She's lucky to have you.
It's not just UC that is unnecessarily difficult (though I'm sure it is made deliberately hard). I've had cause recently to us a a few different 'digital identity' solutions in conjunction with accessing a number of local govt services and the experience has been - and I say this as a literate, intelligent, moderately patient, computer savvy desk-monkey - a kafkaesque head****.
As a retired IT Director of a FTSE listed company, I’d suggest I’m at least relatively competent in dealing with automated systems.
Anyone else dealt with the VOA’s ongoing requirement to gather details of business properties every three years?
Their system is completely unfit for purpose, in our situation it is impossible to correctly answer the questions as our retail business covers a physical site that is part owned and part leased, a not exactly unusual situation on the high street.
But you are required by law to complete the form or you will be fined, and you cannot submit the form unless you confirm the information is factually correct. Calling the VOA, you’re told a different thing every time you call on how to complete the form, it’s a complete joke. I was told to lie and it wouldn’t matter...
It’s a £5k fine for a false declaration.
Sirnormangall
Well-known member
- Sep 21, 2017
- 2,965
Years ago it was common to leave 6th form college at the end of June, sign on the dole and have your entire summer paid for. Not a great use of public money! But it’s now gone from one extreme to the other. It shouldn’t be easy to claim any benefit but UC makes it too difficult - as this post demonstrates.
darkwolf666
Well-known member
- Thread starter
- #39
Yes, I remember those days, fortunately I walked straight out of school into a proper apprenticeship in print.
My granddaughter has a great work ethic, one of the upsides of her learning difficulties, and would quite happily do pretty much any job she is fit to do... unfortunately I am not so sure the jobcentre will take the time to find out what her difficulties are!
Thunder Bolt
Silly old bat
We had problems with my Dad's TSB bank account when he died. My StepMum was 86, her passport had run out, and she'd never driven. We took her birth certificate, their wedding certificate and my Dad's death certificate, none of which was accepted.
Fortunately it was only £17 odd.
I ended up telling them where they could stick their account. I only hope that money went to charity.