On Saturday, I interviewed Marsha, 30.
Marsha is homeless and lives with her young daughter in one room in a temporary accommodation hostel in Newham. (I’ll publish her full story soon).
Marsha signs on for Universal Credit at Stratford jobcentre.
Marsha told me that she wants to study to become a nurse.
To get things underway, she recently signed up to study a module in health.
Marsha said that she thought her jobcentre adviser would be pleased with this initiative.
He was not. He was furious about it.
The jobcentre adviser told Marsha off for prioritising study ahead of jobsearch. She was threatened with sanctions for putting study ahead of her jobsearch activities.
Her jobcentre adviser told Marsha that finding work – any work at any pay – had to be her priority.
Study and increasing her chances of better-paid work were not DWP priorities for her.
“He said to me “they [the DWP] want you looking for work.”
I said to him: “how can I get a better job with more money to look after my daughter if I never get qualifications?”
Precisely.
Two things:
- this is an excellent way for the DWP to make sure that people in Marsha’s situation never get out of such situations – that they’re kept in low paid, unskilled work and subject to Universal Credit conditions forever
- it’s extraordinary that instead of encouraging her to study, the DWP would rather that Marsha spend her time on useless jobsearch exercises such as sitting in front of a computer applying online for hundreds of jobs that she’ll never hear about again. There is no greater waste of time for people than this – sending of hundreds of online job applications that are never responded to. Still, people are forced to do this in exchange for their benefits. I’ve written about this a lot.
This government is not interested in helping people achieve economic independence.
This government wants to make very sure that people who have nothing are kept in their place forever – desperate, stuck permanently in low-paid work and trapped by the state on Universal Credit, because they never earn enough to get clear.
Pingback: #DWP: we don’t want you studying or improving your life. We want you in low paid work forever | Kate Belgrave | Declaration Of Opinion
Pingback: DWP: we don’t want you studying or improving your life. We want you in low paid work forever | Kate Belgrave | Britain Isn't Eating!
A similar thing happened to me a few years ago when I was claiming JSA and decided to take some Coursera courses in my spare time. I made the mistake of telling the Job Centre, expecting them to be pleased. Instead they suspended my payments for two weeks while they “looked into” whether or not I was “allowed” to do this. Consequently, I didn’t have the money for the transport to attend a couple of interviews and, because my BT bill was due, I could’ve lost internet access too.
No they don’t like people studying or doing Training courses unless it’s some crappy short training they send you on, e.g. Manual Handling, or Basic Skills, maybe a short computer course. Back in the 90s, pre-Blair, you could do an Access course for a year under the guise of ‘Training for Work’, you didn’t have to do any job search or sign on, but you got your dole automatically plus an extra tenner a week. Why can’t they do that now?
This is the underlying Universal Credit philosophy in action.
Off you go from the dole, and into any work that’s available.
For your own good.
How things have changed. Way back in the early 80s, before the Tories had really had a chance to vandalise things too much the situation was very different. If you were making a claim for Unemployment Benefit, or even if you were on Supplementary Benefit you received helpful support from the staff in Jobcentres. As you’d registered as looking for work, (about the only condition placed on Unemployment Benefit) the Jobcentre would actively match you with any jobs that came in. There was some kind of mildly imposed limit on how long you could be particularly choosy about the work you sought, but generally it was a very humane system. You weren’t however left to get on with it, as the staff in the Jobcentre were very professional, and would encourage people to seek out educational or training opportunities. The government even had its own training centres, called Skillcentres where trainees went for periods of around six months to learn a new skill.
I did one of those TOPS (Training Opportunities Scheme) courses at the Manchester Trafford Park Skillcentre in Motorcycle Repair and Maintenance – six months of intensive training. For that I got a training allowance of £36.70 and on top of that a lodging allowance of £40. I quickly found a room in a shared house for £12 a week, so I had plenty for a young man’s life in Manchester! (I was 24 at the time)
Those were the days when no matter what your status you would be treated with respect by the authorities dealing with unemployment. Whilst there were no sanctions in the way we have them now, and no apparent conditionality, apart from having to register with the Jobcentre, there were social pressures brought to bear, and there was a definite unwritten code that turned a blind eye to someone taking a bit of a rest and claiming the dole for a week or two, but there were definite limits, and taking the piss was not on. In fact, there was a lot of gentle nudging going on, what with friends keeping an eye out for available jobs, and the Jobcentre putting forward jobs that might be of interest.
There was an expectation that people worked, but the approach taken was humane and supportive, and not what we have now which is both punitive and inhumane.
I would have LOVED to have done that motorcycle course! It wasn’t available in my area, the only TOPS courses we had were Panel Beating that I know of, and that was a bus &train ride away.
It was experimental at the time, and not yet offering the usual C&G qualification. The only way I found out about it was through having attended the interview for the car bodywork repair course. I’m not sure how well known the course was.
I was living in West Wales at the time, so I had to go and live in Manchester for the duration of the course, which was 100 miles plus from Manchester, so beyond daily commuting distance.
If I’d have known about it I could have either commuted to Manchester or moved there. The Skills centre I went to look at was in Dewsbury but Panel Beating didn’t rock my boat. I’ve always been a motorcycle nut. Oh well, that was about 38 yrs ago, too late to regret it now.
I recently had a similar experience with my JC+. For weeks various ‘work coaches’ have been going on about me doing some volunteer work as I’ve been out of work for a bit now, mentioning various charity shops and even doing ‘work experience’ with some major employers. I decided to bite the bullet and apply for my local museum as I’m a big history buff. After being successful at gaining a place there, I told my latest work coach, who then gave me a ten minute lecture about how I’d have to give it up if I found paid work. I pointed out the fact that she was the one that had given me most grief over doing voluntary work/work experience. I personally think that if you act off your own initiative they don’t like it as they don’t get a bonus for them finding you a place.
In situations like that it’s always good to remember that you can ask to see a manager with the view of making a complaint. You acted in good faith, taking on board your advisor’s suggestion and went and organised some voluntary work for yourself. You didn’t deserve that ten minute lecture, and your advisor was being very unprofessional. .
I think that some JCP+ advisors act like little tin gods at times. In reality they are badly paid, often on some quite dodgy contracts and probably feel quite insecure about their own positions. It has always struck me as quite strange how many in low status jobs often have the nastiest and most regressive attitudes to those who they perceive as below them in the pecking order.
Once, years ago, think it was 2003, the DWP mandated me to do ‘New Deal’ training which included a couple of hours per week doing a CLAIT computer course that was supposed to take me 13 weeks to complete, but I found it pretty easy and finished it in 6 weeks. I thought I may as well do ECDL next (which the learning provider offered) but found that I wasn’t allowed as ECDL wasn’t covered by New Deal so they wouldn’t let me do it so I ended up in pottery class instead, spent 6 weeks making ashtrays for all my friends in order to avoid getting Sanctioned! Plus in those days you got an extra tenner a week on New Deal at the taxpayers expense.
Classic! Yes, there were some stupid anomalies with the training available from the DWP under New Labour. I did an IT tech course in 2007 which led to me getting a C&G Level One certificate. The course was good, but marred by the low level of the qualification. I mentioned this to the course tutor and he said that he felt frustrated too, as there were a number of us who would have been far better suited to a higher level course, but that the DWP rules didn’t allow that.
I’m guessing that the DWP, realising that there will be a need to have staff to fill the jobs with shit pay and conditions, such as retail and hospitality. Hospitality is already suffering a severe shortage of people willing to work in it. Maybe it has something to do with the shit pay and constant forelock tugging and the totally shit working conditons?
It was an anarchist. who’s name I forget, who made a connection between a worker’s status and how much they were paid. Those paid a decent wage had a far better status than those who were low paid. It’s quite disgusting to think that the people who keep our society going, like refuse collectors, care assistants, cleaners, food shop workers etc are paid disgustingly low wages, and totally superfluous people like bankers, the royal family and most politicians are paid way too much.
I know much has been made of the Winter of Discontent in negative terms, but even back then my sympathies were with the refuse collectors and others who do societies dirty work. Society wouldn’t collapse without the bankers, (despite what we’re told, and Iceland is proof of that) but it would if refuse collectors, sewer workers etc stopped working. I’m not suggesting for a moment that these essential workers are due the exorbitant pay of bankers, (and let’s face it, no one is due that much) but they, like everyone else is due a decent amount that they can not just live on, but thrive on, and they shouldn’t have to stress themselves out in the process.
Universal Credit, the nightmare continues:
https://intensiveactivity.wordpress.com/2019/01/29/while-amber-rudd-is-elsewhere-universal-credit-crisis-continues/
https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/universal-credit-left-thousands-debt-15747540
DWP using actors to promote Universal Credit:
https://voxpoliticalonline.com/2019/01/30/dwp-lies-about-universal-credit-again-poster-boy-charlie-is-an-actor/
That is outstanding, isn’t it. What a shower.
The Ministry for Propaganda at its best (erm…or worst). They take us all for a bunch of idiots.
This actor as claimant rubbish shows the DWP are increasingly concerned about the negative press Universal Credit has been getting. You can’t even pick up a copy of the Sun now without seeing another horror story of destitution and misery.
First ‘Zac’ and ‘Sara’ in 2015, now this current Charlie.
Perhaps this is the new DWP policy, method acting that everything is great until somehow it all turns out fine ?
It’s unbelievable. I’d be turned over if I made people and scenarios up. Seriously. And rightly so.
Yet Tory twit James Cleverly had the unbelievable gaul to say of the film ‘I Daniel’, “it’s not a documentary”. Not-so-clever Cleverly won’t be getting a Golden Globe for his unconvincing portrayal of a human being.
Make that *gall* (not “gaul”) duh! 😤
This is my experience too. I have a long term mental health condition and decided to improve my lot by entering part-time HE evening courses via an adult education organization, Vaughan Centre for Lifelong Learning, in (which has now, sadly, had funding withdrawn from the parent Uni and is down to short courses). Full-time study would have been too stressful with my MH condition. With the help of disability support staff and student welfare I completed the undergraduate study and applied for, (and have now completed) a p/t MA.
The DWP have hated this: I feel they’ve tried to sabotage my study at every turn, and I feel they’ve done it quite deliberately in an attempt to force me to drop out. HB stopped, ESA stopped, endless letters went to and fro. I got to the point I couldn’t even open letters from DWP as it was making me so ill and affecting my study, so student welfare have been dealing with it.
The DWP decided to question my claim again the week I began my dissertation, despite much communication from student welfare staff who know the legalities. The change in circumstances triggered a Capita assessment which I couldn’t face. I’ve not had any ESA since summer. HB is stopped again. Endless letters with conflicting and nonsensical calculations.
Study is stressful enough anyway with MH problems but the extra layer of shit from DWP has made me ill to point of contemplating suicide and seeking crisis help.
I’m convinced they did it on purpose to try to stop me graduating because it doesn’t fit with the plan – ie: an engineered underclass who everyone else can hate. I doubt I’m the only one.
So, instead of a thumbs-up for achieving and bettering my chances, despite a MH condition, I feel as though this country has kicked me in the head and punished me instead. The government’s big talk of supporting disadvantaged people to achieve is pure BS.
I’ve achieved my MA despite them and I won’t forget the lack of support and toll on my MH.
Deflection script used to get claimants off the phone:
https://news.sky.com/story/deflection-script-used-to-get-universal-credit-claimants-off-the-phone-emerges-11624331
https://intensiveactivity.wordpress.com/2019/02/01/deflection-script-used-to-get-universal-credit-claimants-off-the-phone-sky-news/
A four-day working week:
https://www.redpepper.org.uk/less-work-more-play-a-solution-to-britains-economic-woes/
I completely agree with this, spending a year or so on benefits to better yourself and possibly get to a point where you no longer need any supplimentary benefits is much better (and cheaper) in the long run.
I must have been one of the lucky ones, when I was switched from ESA support group to WRAG I had the usual work coach interview, I told them I was (and had been) studying part time with the Open University for a few years and was nearing the end of a degree in computer science. She looked up and told me ‘That’s far better than any training we could provide, keep doing that and I’ll only see you once a year’.
She seemed quite happy with that as an outcome. After reading this article and some of the comments it would appear that I was very lucky to have a reasonable person dealing with me.
Without being an advert for them, I’d recommend the OU for studying while on benefits. Because you study in your own time and are therefor available for work at a moments notice without having to stop studying then there’s no reason to tell them about it and I highly doub’t there’s anything that they can do about it as it doesn’t get in the way of anything they demand.
Something I forgot to add. Most benefits will count the maximum amount of student loan you can get as income (whether you get it or not). They do disregard tuition fee loans though, if you are studying with the OU then you are only eligible for a tuition fee loan so it would be disregarded.
https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Student-income-Universal-Credit
As someone with Asperger’s syndrome I must say the new universal credit scheme is ridiculous. I was previously on ESA. Had no problems. Volunteered at a disability organisation and supported in classroom environments as a learning support mentor. Enjoyed my time thoroughly here. Throughout my bout of mental illness I got better, took a job working as support worker for 6 months before witnessing improper practices and blowing the whistle on the organisation. I saw abuse and was left lone working may occasions because it was severely understaffed. A relative passed away and the company was far from understanding. I took one day bereavement leave and I was called twice that day asked to do overtime. In the end, it affected my mental health to the point where I attempted suicide. As a result I left that job immediately. Came back to sign on until I get my shit together whilst I relocate to another time and I’m stuck on universal credit. It’s abysmal, I understand benefits aren’t supposed to be a luxury but having £650 every month to cover rent, bills and living expenses.. it’s not enough especially for those people living in deprived areas where there are no jobs and what jobs there are, are severely underpaid, forced to take zero hour contracts and be made to work in awful conditions like I had. When there’s problems with UC. The advisors aren’t the least bit helpful. Even trying to move address is no simple task. You have to do on the day or after. Which is more stress to put up with whilst moving. I really feel for people who don’t have access or know how to use a computer. It penalises the majority who don’t and like another poster had said prior. The system is designed to be as confusing as possible. To get you so demoralised and less dependent on UC that you are willing to take on the worst kinds of job under the least empathetic employers possible and when that goes tits up, you are left on a broken system trying to claim and survive in pittance whilst all the while acting like a circus monkey jumping through hoops. It’s disgraceful that a country as prestigious as the UK. Has to resort to belittling it’s citizens and making them feel numbers, Not people. This system needs to change. Tory cuts. Tory rule. Doesn’t matter. Someone needs to be reprehensible and responsible for this diabolical sham of benefit platform.
Utterly disgraceful.
I have told my workcoach that I am on a 2 year part time university course, he did everything but say it was a legit university course saying it was open learning and such like. I boaked when I told him I had 7 years to complete my modules and he was livid. So in good DWP fashion he added extra job search criteria to my claim, jobs I was and will never be qualified for. Now if I do not apply for those jobs I am not qualified for I could and will be sanctioned. It irks me that a fellow human being can treat another in such a fashion just because they do not have a job…I aint a junkie or a thief etc. I just have no job in a city that had shed a lot of jobs in the recent years and major employers have gone bust and not one job has been created.
The reason I wanted to go uni was to get on paper the certain skill set I posses as with out this I would be in Amazon for 2 months every year and have no hope of ever getting ahead.
They took my career and future away from me, I had been studying for over 2 and a half years they cancelled my life by taking IB, I couldn’t afford to stay on the course studying, I displayed my upset after they made me homeless twice and because I was annoyed with their decisions they put sanctions on me, the last I heard about sanctions wasn’t it normally between 2 superpowers and not a FAILED government department and someone that cannot afford a crumb of bread
DWP told me your aducion not our priority. I’m learning English language in college DWp said stop learning language go to work fine a job