I’m feeling the worst depression I’ve had for quite a while. [I initially put it more strongly than that, but in reflection, I prefer it this way.]
Harassment from the government? Yep, that’s a fairly big part of it. I did limp through that 13-week New Deal monstrosity, after a fashion (something I couldn’t really elaborate upon here, since I don’t know who the hell’s reading this). Then I had to make a supposed ‘new’ benefit claim, only it’s not really a new claim at all, beyond the government’s desire to manipulate statistics. I immediately got put on New Deal ‘follow through,’ which is the same crap as before only slightly fewer hours and no extra money—no discussion whatsoever of what happened before. No interest in how I feel. Nothing. Just orders. They refuse to answer questions adequately; they refuse to provide detailed information. They treat people like mindless fuckwits, and act surprised when someone takes exception to it.
when new deal was first introduced, broad street job centre sent me to pertemps at 5 ways shopping centre.
the ‘advisers’ regularly left their desks unattended with punters full details (address, date of birth, nino etc) on screen
as i recognised some of the punters as being of the ‘sceaming scaming junkie’ type i was none too pleased
i complained, as a result the project director a bloke called dowling (IIRC) said that if noone was arround that he’d ‘paste me up the wall’
what a pleasant man.
You would ASSUME that as the Benefits Agency is SUPPOSED to be a SERVICE, and, therefore, SUPPOSED to actually HELP people (unless I’ve misunderstood the definition of the word ‘service’), they would actually TRY to help you out.
Unfortunately, after looking at some of the ‘folks’ that work there, one of two conclusions must be drawn:
1) The people are very, very stupid, or
2) They are lying when they imply that they give a toss
If any employees of the Benefits Agency are reading this, perhaps they could enlighten us as to which option they are! 🙂 (Oh, and remember that the Geneva Convention does NOT allow for the excuse, “We were just following orders”!!)
ps. by the way Chrissie, remember the old line about not letting the Bastards get you down…
As a matter of fact, they’ve used the ‘we’re just following orders/der rules’ line to me on several occasions. I’m still pondering whether to make a written complaint, CC:ed to my local Social Security office and MP. Obviously, it would be futile.
I was three seconds away from not playing their game and losing my benefit a few months ago. As of today, I’ve crossed the line. I haven’t attended either of the two appointments they’d given me (yeah, two in one fucking day). They can go to hell.
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