Billy Young's Blog - Posts Tagged "sanctions"
25th June 2010
It has been one of those weeks, you know the kind I mean. It started out bad on Monday. I had a Back To Work interview at the jobcentre. Well I had the interviewer from the dark side. It began by her telling me that I wasn’t telling the truth, after I explained what I had been doing to look for work. I don’t keep one of those diaries they want you to keep, I see it as an invasion of my privacy and breach of my human rights, after all they only advise you to keep one; you don’t have too.
Anyway, after this things got worse as she accused me again of being a liar. Then came the demand that I change the type of jobs I was looking for. In reality this is not a real problem as I will consider any job I can get, but it was the way in which she demanded that I do this. More demands followed with me being given details to jobs that I would have real difficulty in getting to on time. I rely on public transport, having never learned to drive.
As the interview came to an end I was informed that she did not think I had done enough to find work and that I was to be sanctioned, this means I would have no money until the Jobcentre decided to lift the sanction. When I asked how I would take care of my family, feed my children, I was told to ask for a loan.
As you can imagine my anger and shock at this sort of treatment. I held my tongue, though I must admit I came close to calling her the b word. Instead I said she was a nasty person. This strangely shocked her ad I saw this on her face. Then I asked to speak to her supervisor. She couldn’t find one yet had spoken to a manager, who had decided I would not be sanctioned this time, but I was under warning.
In reply I asked for information on how to make a written complaint. After being given the form I left feeling very much angered and depressed by all of this. I held in a written complaint yesterday, though whither this is a good idea I’m not sure, for these people seem to hold a little too much power over our lives. Someone though has to stand up for what is right. I don’t even think anything will be done about the treatment I received. I was hoping for a receipt for the complaint I held in but was informed that they don’t have any procedure for complaints being handed in. This doesn’t bode well.
Now I worry about how this all may affect how my claim is dealt with in the future. Will they look for or even invent reasons to deny me a means to feed my kids? Will it lead to more interviews for the dark side? I will have to wait and see. One thing though I don’t wish to let this simply drop. I know it is probably cause me trouble I don’t wish, but if I have to write to my MP over this I will.
Anyway, after this things got worse as she accused me again of being a liar. Then came the demand that I change the type of jobs I was looking for. In reality this is not a real problem as I will consider any job I can get, but it was the way in which she demanded that I do this. More demands followed with me being given details to jobs that I would have real difficulty in getting to on time. I rely on public transport, having never learned to drive.
As the interview came to an end I was informed that she did not think I had done enough to find work and that I was to be sanctioned, this means I would have no money until the Jobcentre decided to lift the sanction. When I asked how I would take care of my family, feed my children, I was told to ask for a loan.
As you can imagine my anger and shock at this sort of treatment. I held my tongue, though I must admit I came close to calling her the b word. Instead I said she was a nasty person. This strangely shocked her ad I saw this on her face. Then I asked to speak to her supervisor. She couldn’t find one yet had spoken to a manager, who had decided I would not be sanctioned this time, but I was under warning.
In reply I asked for information on how to make a written complaint. After being given the form I left feeling very much angered and depressed by all of this. I held in a written complaint yesterday, though whither this is a good idea I’m not sure, for these people seem to hold a little too much power over our lives. Someone though has to stand up for what is right. I don’t even think anything will be done about the treatment I received. I was hoping for a receipt for the complaint I held in but was informed that they don’t have any procedure for complaints being handed in. This doesn’t bode well.
Now I worry about how this all may affect how my claim is dealt with in the future. Will they look for or even invent reasons to deny me a means to feed my kids? Will it lead to more interviews for the dark side? I will have to wait and see. One thing though I don’t wish to let this simply drop. I know it is probably cause me trouble I don’t wish, but if I have to write to my MP over this I will.
7th February 2015
I've started decorating the kitchen. Magz had gotten the paint in last year but I never found the time to do the work. Well being out of work now and searching for a new job gives me the chance to get the kitchen out of the way. First coat of paint went on the walls yesterday. Tammy helped me which was nice. I did the cutting in while she used the roller to do the bottom half of the walls leaving me the top half to do. As the rugby is on today, Ireland v Italy, we aren't giving it a second coat till tomorrow.
Earlier today I went down town to get Magz birthday card. I'm expecting things to very tight over the next few months as I'm expecting sanctions from the jobcentre. As I still haven't heard back yet from them I don't know for how long they will refuse to give help. That will mean claiming hardship payments. If you have never had them that means keeping Magz and myself on less than thirty pounds a week.
So why did I waste cash on birthday cards an such. Well it wasn't Magz that walked out of a job. She doesn't deserve punishing but will be struggling because of my actions. So I spent a few pounds to get her something to cheer her up and celebrate her birthday. I got it now while I still have a few quid left because her birthday isn't till next month. By then I will be totally skint.
Of course that does depend on those that decide if I am to be punished for leaving my job. But they seldom care about the reasons. I know because it isn't the first time I would have been sanctioned. The last time was when I was sacked. And the time before was because I quit a job, though on that occasion I did get a job within two weeks. Yet the still banned me from getting benefits even though I was no longer claiming them. The government does love its pound of flesh while they feather their nests.
Earlier today I went down town to get Magz birthday card. I'm expecting things to very tight over the next few months as I'm expecting sanctions from the jobcentre. As I still haven't heard back yet from them I don't know for how long they will refuse to give help. That will mean claiming hardship payments. If you have never had them that means keeping Magz and myself on less than thirty pounds a week.
So why did I waste cash on birthday cards an such. Well it wasn't Magz that walked out of a job. She doesn't deserve punishing but will be struggling because of my actions. So I spent a few pounds to get her something to cheer her up and celebrate her birthday. I got it now while I still have a few quid left because her birthday isn't till next month. By then I will be totally skint.
Of course that does depend on those that decide if I am to be punished for leaving my job. But they seldom care about the reasons. I know because it isn't the first time I would have been sanctioned. The last time was when I was sacked. And the time before was because I quit a job, though on that occasion I did get a job within two weeks. Yet the still banned me from getting benefits even though I was no longer claiming them. The government does love its pound of flesh while they feather their nests.
26th September 2015
What a start to the week this week. I left the Work Placement on Monday early to get back into Killie to sign on. I was told last time I signed that was what I was to do. At that time my advisor was on holiday so it was some other member of staff that was covering for her. Of course that didn't really help me much as when I arrived at the jobcentre to sign she was surprised and informed me that she had expected me in the morning as usual. She also told me she was about to sign me off the brew which would have caused me to get sanctioned. Apparently she hadn't been informed that I would be signing late as I had been told, though she did know I was on the Work Placement. In the end I was allowed to sign on though she had to get someone else to let me as she had an interview with somebody else. The other member of staff seemed less than pleased about it but I didn't get sanctioned. That would have been a disaster as that would mean living on fresh air. And all because of a mix-up I had nothing to do with. I hope that next time I sign on she remembers I will be late in.
I also was told she would need to speak to me over the job I missed out on last week. You know the one where I missed the call doe to being on the Work Placement after I told her of that. I got the impression this could also be a problem for me even though I phoned the company back as soon as I could. I'm hoping that they aren't going to try and use that to try and hammer me after it was they that put me into the slave programme which is why I missed the initial call from the company. It was also the reason I couldn't phone them back before the next day. I will know more in time but for now I must wait to see where it goes.
I also was told she would need to speak to me over the job I missed out on last week. You know the one where I missed the call doe to being on the Work Placement after I told her of that. I got the impression this could also be a problem for me even though I phoned the company back as soon as I could. I'm hoping that they aren't going to try and use that to try and hammer me after it was they that put me into the slave programme which is why I missed the initial call from the company. It was also the reason I couldn't phone them back before the next day. I will know more in time but for now I must wait to see where it goes.
