30 jun 2007 año - Jobcentre Plus Campaign

Descripción:

Over the last twelve months, Citizens Advice Newcastle has become increasingly concerned about the very poor service offered by Jobcentre Plus to its customers, denying them access to core benefits. Citizens Advice Newcastle has evidence that many families have been left penniless for weeks on end because of radical changes to the benefits system. There has been a shift from face-to-face contact with people to a telephone service, which has had a huge impact on people, particularly the most vulnerable, who either can’t use a phone or find it difficult, such as people with learning difficulties and mental health problems, homeless individuals, and disabled people.

People who go into their local Jobcentre Plus office are directed to the customer phones in the office, but if you need a crisis loan, you are not allowed to use these phones and are sent to a public phone box. Many people end up going without food or shelter because it is simply too difficult to make a claim. Citizens Advice Newcastle has seen clients who don’t know when money will arrive because they can’t get through on the phone. Others have been sent away from the Jobcentre Plus offices without help, or were made to wait in public phone boxes trying to get through to ask for a crisis loan. One in five people on the lowest incomes have no landline and rely on pay-as-you-go mobile phones, which often charge for free and low-cost calls to benefit lines, making it particularly hard for them.

Citizens Advice Newcastle's evidence shows that many clients are experiencing terrible hardship because they can’t use a phone, don’t have a landline, or can’t afford to use a mobile phone. Citizens Advice Newcastle had to escalate the issue to the Tax Credit Office in mid-June 2007 to request an explanation. Despite reminders, Citizens Advice Newcastle received no reply, prompting them to make a formal complaint. Citizens Advice Newcastle has regular meetings with Jobcentre Plus at local and regional levels and is actively campaigning on behalf of clients to ensure that face-to-face services are offered as a right to certain vulnerable groups and to fast-track payments to people who have suffered long delays and problems.

Añadido al timeline:

fecha: