Published on 12, July, 2020
Hello,
Today, my Mum has made me claim Universal Credit. I am naffed off beyond belief! It is almost four years to the month that I first signed on. And nearly 3 three, since I last signed off. My first appointment with my new work coach is next week and I am dreading it! After nine months, if you have not managed to find work, they send you to a "Welfare to work" company (I won't mention the name of the company for fear of being sued). My time there, well, I dreaded going! They tried to get me to do a level 1 course (Basic English and Mathematics, not even GCSE level). It was unbelievably degrading, however I had to attend in order for my payments to continue.
This on top of trying to find employment, one of my Uncles dying, his upcoming funeral, my Brother expecting his first child in a few weeks, attending medical appointments in ludicrous locations... It just feels as though that everything and everyone is on my back, the walls are closing in and someone is having a giggle at me.
Has anyone else felt like this?
My recent experience with the job centre has not been as bad as my previous one but I think that is down to having a more relaxed work coach. I am also made to attend 1hour appointments with someone who helps people with "extra needs" every week, now I have to go to longer group sessions to learn things every week. I have a masters degree in engineering so obviously I have no need for extra support and these sessions are a total waste of time for me, but the private company makes money from the government by keeping me in that group so I just have to go along with it to make everyone happy. It is not very efficient, ironically I missed lots of calls from potential employers whilst attending the group, and the computers are so useless that it is a struggle to get them to apply to jobs because of the issues with blocking websites and not letting me upload my CV etc