Life on #UniversalCredit: 'They gave me a 212-day sanction so I had no living costs for seven months' http://bit.ly/2OODXi2
Two years ago, Tony Rice was plunged into debt and anxiety after he was sanctioned for missing a Jobcentre appointment he knew nothing about.
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Replying to @imajsaclaimant @MattBruenig
Weird that he received the letter telling him he had lost the benefit but none of the previous letters about the meeting he had to attend. Either incompetence or somebody isn't being truthful.
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212 days without any means of support in the 6th richest country in the entire world! For a missed appointment. That's the point.
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The article itself said he missed a string of meetings. Anyway, when you begin to receive multiple physical letters requesting that you make a meeting with red capital letters at the top you cannot act surprised when something goes wrong. (Although 212 days is inexplicable.)
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Also, the article said "proportion of his benefits" so "without any means of support" is wrong. Either way, the system is going to make some mistakes every now and again but it is systematic. You cannot pay no attention to it at all. You have to respond to it.
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I take your point but do you know how much you get one the dole? Any portion is likely to be too much. The system appears to be cynically cruel and irreparably damaged. If it was a one off then fair enough, but it is case after case after case. Plus many people on benefits ...
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... lead chaotic lives & need serious help & support to cope with these matters. If you have ever dealt with the DWP you will know what a nightmares it can be & how intimidating, perplexing & just plain rude many find the system and people to be. Little wonder if they bottle it.
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I've not had to deal with them personally but have dealt with HMRC who scared my wife who had forgotten to file a tax return when she finished working as a supply teacher with a letter asking for £1000+.
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It was painful to hold ground and appeal but we are able to support each other in situations like this. I don't think any complex system to deal with benefits is likely to work well. I believe the important thing is a very streamlined system to appeal when mistakes are made.
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Complex benefits systems that must deal with thousands of people are going to occasionally mistreat people. And at this point they should have a clear and quick way of appealing bad decisions in 20 days rather than 212 days...!
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