In person UC appointment after multiple requests to stay online

katekat

Hi, so I consider myself disabled as both my arm bones were broken in two and after the reconstruction surgery I have lived with chronic pain ever since. The job center is aware of this and I have made it explicitely known that I cannot do in person appointments because of this. It seems every few months they try to switch me to going to the job center itself rather than the video calls, they have done it again today stating "its to get you some fresh air" "You know you'll need to do this if you get a job, you won't just be sat in your own room all day on video" and "We just try to do this every now and then to help you grow". These all seem ableist and completely ignore my disability. "We can step into a quiet room if we need" No because my pain will last multiple days if the travel makes it worse. They won't even move me to the job center that I actually have a direct bus to, I have to travel 30 more minutes just to leave town and get a bus into the adjacent town "its postcode based" okay, it takes me an hour to get to the job center on multiple busses, I could have a 15 minute commute on the tram which makes my arm hurt less and saves fuel?

Why are they insisting that I must be there in person? I feel like they're speaking to me like I'm a child and I'm just being petulant, I feel disrespected and ignored, but the only response is "We all need to do this you know?". I even asked if this is a new government thing but "they just like to do this sometimes", can they not do it to me? A disabled trans woman?

Stellar

Job centre managers typically don't like remote appointments (my current work coach told me this). That's why they typically are reluctant to honour virtual requests long-term.

Hence, there's definitely ableism (and potential transphobia given the EHRC guidance and the effects on your safety travelling to the job centre) going on here.

Make a complaint here on this page, sternly emphasising your access needs under the Equality Act, and request a new work coach, either at the jobcentre you're at now, or the jobcentre you can reach by a direct tram.

Make a complaint about JSA or UC - DWP

Kimi87

With respect your gender isn't anything to do with how you are being treated by the Job Centre and it unlike your disability, has no bearing on your difficulties attending in person.

katekat

I'll have a look, thank you for your response, I'll check out the website and file a complaint. Its just so frustrating that you can say everything that you possibly can about your condition and they will still misgender you and treat you like a child when you attempt to advocate for your needs. I said "the pain will last multiple days can we please not do this if it is not required" and the response of "you'll get some fresh air! itll be good for you!" makes me want to make bad descisions

SheffieldMan1976

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1137788#Comment_1137788

With equal respect, between late 1997 and September 1999, I was on the Jobseeker's, and was treat awfullly by the Job Centre Agents and that's putting it mildly, I had a DEA (Disability Employment Advisor) back then, I specifically told him I wanted shop floor based customer service work, he was looking for behind the scenes Warehouse work! Muppet.

The final straw came when they sent me for an "interview" at a Taxi Office in Firth Park, answering the phones, I got to the interview, after a load of faff, and they told me the job was already taken by some 16 year old barely out of Secondary school on the "New Deal" scheme.

Naturally I went Bananas and went straight down the Job Centre to tell them in no uncertain terms what they could do with their poxy £35 a week Dole money.

katekat

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1137788#Comment_1137788

It does when they misgender me, it is disrespectful and transphobic. Combine that with the ableism I feel more uncomfortable after every interaction with them, like I am barely being tolerated. If you are not trans you should probably not speak about the lived day to day discrimination that is inherent, especially when dealing with the government that wants us dead.

Rosie_Scope

Sorry to hear you've had such a bad experience with UC so far @katekat. As Stellar mentioned, it's worth trying a complaint.

Is this an experience you've had with your work coach or with multiple people at the job centre?

Stellar

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1137800#Comment_1137800

So sorry you've had to deal with this. Sadly a lot of tolerance British people have is surface level, we see this with how marginalised groups are vilified in Parliament and the press, and hence ordinary people like the DWP think it's ok to behave this way. Solidarity.

A lot of transgender people are also disabled, so yes, this does directly affect OP. Alongside any other disabled people who are mistaken for being transgender due to being unable to conform to gender stereotypes for that matter.

katekat

@Rosie_Scope Thank you for responding! The mere act of mentioning trans people makes many people incredibly angry, especially if it pertains to discrimination.

It has been the majority of work coaches I have been given, the one who promised me that they they wouldn't do this to me again got replaced recently and now I am back to square one. It always feels like they purposely treat me like the laddiest lad out there, I don't like being there because I always feel shamed and my issues ignored. I'm 23 and i have a job coach telling me they're doing it for reasons that change every time I ask, I am judged every time I ask and I am getting overwhelmed.

I am in the process of doing the complaint currently and hope to finish it today, but I do wonder if you know if there is any leniancy on the postcode rule for job center assignment? I've been repeatedly told there isn't but the rule seems absurd when both centers in my postcode are further than the one I have asked for, I also haven't found that rule written down anywhere

Rosie_Scope

Do you have a supportive local MP @katekat? They can sometimes help with benefits issues but I know the support can be a bit hit or miss depending on who is in your area.

I've heard of a couple of cases where someone has been able to move to a different Job Centre, but it's often at the discretion of the managers and I don't think it's something they like to do frequently. I haven't seen any written guidance on the post code issue either I'm afraid, so I wouldn't be able to say for certain whether it's definitely possible or not. Is this something you've asked them about before?