Job Centre Failure – DN Article
Jobcentre failure – Disability Now Article
August 2007 – DN
Disabled people are experiencing serious hardship due to inaccessible services at Jobcentre Plus, new research has found.
A report* last month from Citizens Advice (CA), Not Getting Through, shows how a switch from mostly face-to-face contact over to a telephone service at Jobcentre Plus, the government agency responsible for delivering welfare benefits, has left many families without money “for weeks on end”. Disabled people, including people with mental health issues and learning difficulties, are among those who experience most hardship.
The evidence, based on two nationwide surveys of Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) in autumn 2006 and spring 2007, shows long delays in processing claims and problems getting through to make a claim or check on progress. Those with sensory impairments were not offered alternatives to claiming by telephone. The report also found that Jobcentre Plus failed to communicate changes to its system adequately.
The study reveals how a man with learning difficulties from Mansfield had been directed to a callbox to make a claim after Jobcentre Plus staff refused to accept his paper application. His claim was then rejected. Another disabled man went without food for six days because he was unable to get through to the crisis loans phone number. A deaf woman was sent away with a telephone number that she was unable to use.
In the 2007 survey, 80 per cent of bureaux respondents said Jobcentre Plus services were worse than before reorganisation started three years ago. Around 95 per cent of bureaux said their clients had problems claiming crisis loans, and almost nine out of 10 bureaux said they could not get through on the phone.
But the Department for Work and Pensions claimed that the report does not provide a complete picture. Caroline Flint, minister for employment and welfare reform, said that it “looks back over three years and attempts to draw conclusions from a few cases. Every day we process 15,000 claims for benefit. We know that the vast majority of these applications are made without a problem.”
“The facts show an improving position for our customers… A small minority have faced difficulties and we are working hard to eradicate these problems. But the CAB report creates a misleading impression that is not supported by the experience of the majority of our customers.”
3 Responses to “Job Centre Failure – DN Article”
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September 19th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
I would like to point out that at jobcentre they have no deaf aware as they have no training to deal with deaf people I was having problem cos i got a letter ask me to go to inview but I asked them for intrepreter. It took me four or five times and sent email to them asking for intrepreter. It was at two different department with different phone number. They did not put textphone for the deaf to contact them. I gave my name to one department but this person did not pass it on my message to this woman as she should be deal with it but she have not got my paperwork as she is not in her office. I have to phone her on monday which i think it is very wrong as I was worry how it would affect me going to inview if i can not get intrepreter.
Now I am worry about going to inview as I am not sure if this person does understand about deaf and how this person can help? As it worry me would it affect me finding a job or a course that i want to go on would she let me go on the course? I don’t know as i have no fully explain in my letter to say why I am going to inview as all I know it is jobcentre plus.
I don’t understand why DDA are not giving us deaf and others disaiblily a right to access to intrepreter. Why Jobcentre are not following it up? I would have thought it would be improve than seven years ago. I have a bad time at Jobcentre over 7 yrs ago with one person as he don’t know about deaf as I have to teach him about deaf and how to book intrepreter for the job inview. Thing is that Jobcentre have let me down big time.
Now I have to go to Jobcentre which it is very worry as I can see that they still have not changed!! where textphone and intrepreter. I am really getting agony with it when someone ask me, from jobcentre oh can you find someone who can sign and bring your friend or family in? Hey hold on!! What about DDA?? Have they forget it or try to trick me? or trying to save money? who knows?
Would this person will be the same as this person from 7 yrs ago not knowing about deaf. That what it worry me as how can this person can help with deaf people if they have no deaf aware? or having no sign language to communtie with deaf person.
September 20th, 2007 at 11:27 am
Hi Vicky,
Thank you for the comment – I’m not sure how best to reply but I will try and look into this issue for you and will post a reply if I can find out any more information that might help.
You are right that the DDA should cover some of the issues you raise (in regards to deaf awareness and a translation service). I would assume that the job centre should now have access to appropriate translators and training in issues such as deaf awareness, however it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that this won’t always be the case.
I would advise that you contact the disability rights commision via their website:
http://www.drc-gb.org (a direct link is also available on our links page)
They should be able to provide guidance for you and discuss your case in more detail, they can also act as advocates in cases where disabled people are being treatment unreasonably…..they will at least be able to provide a little more guidance and hopefully ease some of your fears. You should also ask to speak to the disability or access to work officer at the job centre who should be able to review their service to ensure that they are acting fairly or reasonably for all their service users, including people with hearing difficulties.
If you have any more feedback please do get in touch.
Inclusion
November 15th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
2 years ago i was made redundant,i went to the local job centre hoping for help in getting back to work.after visiting the j/c for 3WEEKS i was informed that being has i was receiving a works pension i was not entitled to ANY help in trying to secure a job.
I have NEVER been out of work since the DAY i left school,i have tramped all over NEWPORT but as to date i can find NO employment.it is my honest believe that j/c look upon people with a pension should stay at home and be thankful for what they have.
ps i am still trying to find employment