Just received a phone call from the DWP. They said they needed to speak with me regarding a review of my JSA. I said "I know nothing about this and neither do I know if you are genuine. I have had no warning about this. He said, "well that's the point, we are checking to see if you are working or not"?
Like people would be stupid enough to tell them anyway .
I said, "I'm not working and I would appreciate being notified before you call me, so I know you are genuine. He could be a journalist or a hack sniffing about, trying to obtain information by deception".
He then said, "We will send you a letter and you MUST call us or we will stop your benefits".
I said "Why do we have to foot costs, if you want the information then you should ring us".
I then said, "I will call you and request a ring back, it's cheaper".
He said "You can't do that".
I then asked if we could call from the jobcentre (they have phones in there for us to ring the Child benefit and Income siupport etc...)
He said that it wasn't available on the list that he knew of and to ask at jobcentre if we could ring from there.
So, we've got another department being given tasks to do what? spy on us? trust me, if I could get off of living on this crap I would. I've never worked and claimed in my life. I'm currently managing on £50 per week as I am paying back a social fund loan I took out to buy a washing machine. (repaying at rate of £19 per week). Luckily they are interest free and are very good for helping . I did tell him that I do research but I'm not getting paid and it is a hobby, which, I don't have to declare.
I asked what the call rate was for their number, was it premium or other (he didn't know), idiot doesn't know basic questions about their phone numbers.
So, he basically phoned me to tell me that 'I' have to ring 'them' to do a review.
He also stated that he wasn't the one appointed to do the review. So, it wouldn't have took place today anyway.
I was annoyed because I was on hold on a call with South Glos council after waiting for those idiots to answer, I had to cut them off. Talk about bad timing.
It just gives them jobs, like the bloody work programme rubbish.
If UKIP get in and we exit EU then that work programme will be gone as it is funded by EU purse!
I don't like seeing people lose jobs but if you treat people like crap then look out for Karma .
Hi Hannah40
Sounds like you had quite a frustrating call with the DWP, did he say why you had to do the review over the phone? i would have thought that they would get you to attend the Job Centre!
Have you clicked the box under the comments box for notifications? if you have it could be a technical problem and i can get someone to look into it to see what the problem is.
Hi Sally
He said it was a routine check which they review from time to time. He said it wasn't himself doing the check, so, I think I did ask if it could be done at jobcentre but from what I could fathom, it was something outside of jobcentre remit.
From the sounds of things, it is to try and catch people out. He said it was to be done over the phone. He stressed that if I didn't comply, they would stop my benefit. His manner wasn't brilliant. I wouldn't be shocked if they are just looking for ways to sanction.
It's almost like they get joy out of telling us we could lose benefits.
I will speak to jobcentre when I next sign on. May be a chance they probably wont know anything about it, so, can't comment.
Notifications - I have been receiving them fine up until the weekend. They are ok again now. It isn't just this site, it is all the ones linked to my email. I've started using a different browser.
Do let us know how you get on with it, will be interesting to findout what it is all about!
Makes you wonder what happens if you don't have a phone how do they do these checks then?
I've just had a letter from the DWP regarding the phone call I received. I was hoping to upload it on here but there is no quick function to do so.
It says in the letter that they will arrange to call us back if we dial the number and speak to them. Why was I not told this the other day? I'm fed up with them putting uneccessary strife on us and not knowing the rules properly.
It also said failure to comply 'may' result in benefit stopped even if you still sign at the jobcentre and tell them your circumstances have not changed.
It's also a London number, not local.
I also asked him, the other day if doing a college course will affect my benefits, he said it might do. Why? I have not told them yet, I didn't realise I had to. The work programme know I'm doing it.
Hi Hannah40, that is good news about them calling you back, at least that is one expense spared.
Your benefits will be affected if your college course is 16 hours or more, it is always advisable to tell everything to the job centre, so that you don't get caught out.
Let us know how the call goes :)
Is anyone having issues with notifications? I've not been getting mine for this site for some reason.
I wrote it on this thread because I didn't want to start a new one.
Thanks!