1st Job centre experience for 4 years
EDW
Online Community Member Posts: 12 Listener
Hi all. I went to the job centre on Monday with my mental health worker and a letter from my mental health team explaining that the best I could do currently was to volunteer a few hours a week due to impending intense recovery treatment twice a week . It was a work focused interview. I relapsed in the Autumn after an assault in August and was hospitalised for 12 weeks in a mental health unit.
The attitude of the dwp agent I saw was appalling initially . I was bombarded with questions like why did you not update your uc journal about your health and circumstances when you were ill? Why the change of mind looking for paid work? If my mental health worker wasn't supporting me, I swear I would have been deemed as fit for work. If you are under a mental health team, I seriously recommend utilising the support you may be able to get for job centre visits. Fortunately the agent backed down once my mental health worker spoke on my behalf and explained the situation and that was with a letter too. She is now not contacting me until May over the telephone rather than a face to face.
The attitude of the dwp agent I saw was appalling initially . I was bombarded with questions like why did you not update your uc journal about your health and circumstances when you were ill? Why the change of mind looking for paid work? If my mental health worker wasn't supporting me, I swear I would have been deemed as fit for work. If you are under a mental health team, I seriously recommend utilising the support you may be able to get for job centre visits. Fortunately the agent backed down once my mental health worker spoke on my behalf and explained the situation and that was with a letter too. She is now not contacting me until May over the telephone rather than a face to face.
0
Comments
-
Hello @EDW
Welcome to the community!
I am so sorry to hear you have been having such an awful time with your mental health, and that you were assaulted! Did you report the assault? Are you getting support with that?
I am glad to hear you had your mental health worker with you for the appointment. And I'm glad they moved the contact over to the phone for you too. I know being in an environment where you feel safe can make all the difference
Please keep us updated!
0 -
Yes i have a trial to attend in April, getting support with it from PACT1
-
Glad to hear that! Please don't hesitate to reach out if there is any way we can help support 0
