campaign against welfare cuts and poverty

[Frankie Jack]

when you've heard a few more stories like that i fear you'll become used to them

I've been hearing and seeing stories like these for four years now Pickman's. I will never get used to them.

ETA.. I REFUSE to get used to them.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

A response to Professor Aylward's statement to Black Triangle and DPAC

outside the IFDM2012 conference, on 11th September 2012.
An excellent paper posted to BTs website. Sat down with a cuppa to read this and was almost applauding at the end

Page three has a good take on Atos involvement.

My friend (who's 50) has just had to take two months off work for RSI. She's never ever been unemployed and in her whole working life has only taken a week off sick. She was told to stay off work by her GP and her osteopath ordered her not to go back to work as she'd only exacerbate problems. It cost her a fortune in xrays, medication, osteopaths etc. (She's Irish).

However, if she had gone back to work, she risked further damage and being out of work longer.

Just a little example of how forcing someone back to work before they're ready can fuck you up in the longer term. (I realise this is probably not a good example, but...) ignore me

 

[audiotech]

How's this for "choice". Council Benefit changes being proposed and consulted where I am. Two options:

Band A. For a single person on JSA - 30% cut - monthly amount of £16.29 to find.
Band A. For a single person on JSA - 10% cut - monthly amount of £5.43 to find.

30% 10%
Band C. For a couple on JSA - £28.95 - £9.65

Those with no children and single unemployed people looking at a further battering.

 

[ash]

I was looking at advice and guidance vacancies and see that our friends A4E are advertising for a 'capacity and resilience' adviser to Guide and advise Customers who have complex barriers to work
Through their personal journey into sustained employment..

what the !!!!. I've heard some corporate Crap before but that takes the biscuit.

 

[treelover]

How's this for "choice". Council Benefit changes being proposed and consulted where I am. Two options:

Band A. For a single person on JSA - 30% cut - monthly amount of £16.29 to find.
Band A. For a single person on JSA - 10% cut - monthly amount of £5.43 to find.

30% 10%
Band C. For a couple on JSA - £28.95 - £9.65

Those with no children and single unemployed people looking at a further battering.

how on earth will someone on 70 pounds a week find 16.29 a month extra, it seems its not just MP's who are out of touch with the real world..

btw, what happens if all the bigots vote and for the first option, it's them who tend to reply to such things..

 

[equationgirl]

My friend (who's 50) has just had to take two months off work for RSI. She's never ever been unemployed and in her whole working life has only taken a week off sick. She was told to stay off work by her GP and her osteopath ordered her not to go back to work as she'd only exacerbate problems. It cost her a fortune in xrays, medication, osteopaths etc. (She's Irish).

However, if she had gone back to work, she risked further damage and being out of work longer.

Just a little example of how forcing someone back to work before they're ready can fuck you up in the longer term. (I realise this is probably not a good example, but...) ignore me

It is a good example - I was forced back to work by my then boss refusing to pay me and still have a lot of problems with fatigue as I was never allowed to recuperate properly.

 

[equationgirl]

They seem to think being chronically ill is a choice, a deliberate decision to choose that path through life

I've never met a person yet who says 'Oooh, I love having a relapse'.

Atos fuckwits.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

They seem to think being chronically ill is a choice, a deliberate decision to choose that path through life

I've never met a person yet who says 'Oooh, I love having a relapse'.

Atos fuckwits.

I seriously think some of the people who moan about people on disabled wonder why they have arms and legs and are not amputees. They just don't seem to think about illness

 

[equationgirl]

I seriously think some of the people who moan about people on disabled wonder why they have arms and legs and are not amputees. They just don't seem to think about illness

They absolutely don't. I challenged someone who was described someone they knew with chronic back problems, yet when they were told this person may be subject to DDA/Equality Act provisions they posted 'She's not disabled'. They were gently corrected.

It's not just amputations though - if there's no wheelchair, or guide dog, or hearing aids, then there's no disability. Getting people to accept non-visible conditions as disabilities is a massive perception shift.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

They absolutely don't. I challenged someone who was described someone they knew with chronic back problems, yet when they were told this person may be subject to DDA/Equality Act provisions they posted 'She's not disabled'. They were gently corrected.

It's not just amputations though - if there's no wheelchair, or guide dog, or hearing aids, then there's no disability. Getting people to accept non-visible conditions as disabilities is a massive perception shift.

Your morely likely to be offered a seat if you're on crutches with a broken toe as at least the crutches are visible

Hm, maybe that's an idea

 

[Frankie Jack]

How's this for "choice". Council Benefit changes being proposed and consulted where I am. Two options:

Band A. For a single person on JSA - 30% cut - monthly amount of £16.29 to find.
Band A. For a single person on JSA - 10% cut - monthly amount of £5.43 to find.

30% 10%
Band C. For a couple on JSA - £28.95 - £9.65

Those with no children and single unemployed people looking at a further battering.

Is this Council Tax changes audiotech?

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

how on earth will someone on 70 pounds a week find 16.29 a month extra, it seems its not just MP's who are out of touch with the real world..

btw, what happens if all the bigots vote and for the first option, it's them who tend to reply to such things..

On top of all the gas/electricity rises.

*prays for a warm winter*

 

[Frankie Jack]

I was looking at advice and guidance vacancies and see that our friends A4E are advertising for a 'capacity and resilience' adviser to Guide and advise Customers who have complex barriers to work
Through their personal journey into sustained employment..

what the !!!!. I've heard some corporate Crap before but that takes the biscuit.

Is this the ad?
Advisor (Capacity & Resiliance) Work Programme

Role Overview

Our specialist Capacity & Resilience Advisors plan a programme of flexible and tailored support, including appropriate support to build capacity and resilience, pre and post placement. Working on our new Work Programme contract, you will consistently guide and advise customers who have complex barriers to work through their personal journey into sustained employment, acting as a single point of contact for the customer. You will provide a broker specialist support from statutory partners and other relevant organisations whilst all the time empowering, motivating and supporting customers to move into sustainable employment.

What You Will Be Doing

I act as a single point of contact to guide and advise our customers who have complex barriers to sustainable work. Through talking and listening to my customer I am able to identify and arrange appropriate support through my knowledge and experience to help break down the barriers. The support could be from an external statutory partner - whatever is right for my customer. I make sure that all the personal records are up to date and that once both I and my customer are ready, I am then able to pass them onto the next stage of their journey. In the majority of cases, I work with customers throughout their whole journey with A4e in to work, including supporting them in employment. This works because I get to know my customers, the issues they face and therefore I'm able to identify the right job opportunity and employer for them. Sometimes they may need help with Skills and I work with other Advisors to support this.

What You Will Need To Have

- Ability to demonstrate A4e's DNA: Trusted, Driven, Caring, Passionate, Brave and Friendly.
- Impact & Influence: Able to demonstrate excellent rapport building, communication and influencing skills. Able to successfully adapt to a diverse range of people from a variety of backgrounds. Experience gained from an Information, Advice and Guidance background and or qualification would be beneficial but not essential. Must have experience of building strong working relationships with partner organisations.
- Customer Focus: Able to use effective questioning techniques with customers to get to the root of issues. Proven ability to manage and diffuse difficult situations. Understanding the importance of confidentiality with the ability to develop trusting relationships through dependability and honesty. Experience in supporting people who have serious or complex barriers (i.e drug or alcohol dependency, health or disability etc) to progress whether through A4e or signposted to other partner organisations. Able to show empathy, remaining positive and staying motivated and focused on the end goal.
- Personal Organisation: An extremely conscientious and well organised approach to work load. Experience of working independently and using own initiative. The ability to plan effectively in order to pre-empt potential difficult situations and counteract effectively. Able to demonstrate a proactive and innovative approach to workload.
- Drives Performance: Able to demonstrate effective case management experience and the ability to work successfully with 'hardest to help' customers who have significant support needs. A proven track record in achieving successful outcomes with this customer group. Demonstrates passion to motivate, empathise, inspire and lead others by example.
- Commercial & Financial Acumen: A desire to succeed and the ability to work to set targets. Confident in all areas of numeracy, literacy and IT skills as required for the role.

Who We Are

A4e is a leading public service provider, serving thousands of people across three continents - Europe, Australasia and Asia. A4e's core mission is to improve people's lives. We work in partnership with governments, public sector organisations, private sector companies, voluntary and community groups to deliver a range of front line public services, including employment and welfare, training, education and money and legal advice.

Additional Information

A4e is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its staff and customers. We expect all our staff to be aware of their responsibilities to protect staff and customers from abuse or harm. Successful applicants will be required to undertake a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check or Disclosure Scotland check and to provide proof of their right to work in the UK. We are committed to equality and fairness across all employment opportunities and service delivery. At A4e 'Everyone Matters' and all managers and employees are expected to ensure our workplaces and services are accessible and inclusive.

Feck that's some waffle going on there..!!

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

What You Will Need To Have

- Ability to demonstrate A4e's DNA: Trusted, Driven, Caring, Passionate, Brave and Friendly.

A4E's DNA?

 

[ash]

Is this the ad?
Advisor (Capacity & Resiliance) Work Programme



Feck that's some waffle going on there..!!

That's the one

 

[ash]

A4E's DNA?

They're cloning Emma now very scary !!

 

[Frankie Jack]

Do job ads tend to go of into first person these days?

I act as a single point of contact to guide and advise our customers who have complex barriers to sustainable work. Through talking and listening to my customer I am able to identify and arrange appropriate support through my knowledge and experience to help break down the barriers.

 

[equationgirl]

Is this the ad?
Advisor (Capacity & Resiliance) Work Programme

Feck that's some waffle going on there..!!

I've never read such utter bollocks - as if all people need is a bit of encouragement and a couple of courses to make their 'personal journey into work'.

Bag. Of. Shite.

 

[Frankie Jack]

Atos bill for humiliating assessments matches benefits for 55,000 disabled Scots
Daily Record Article.

THERE was fury yesterday after it emerged the controversial Atos contract to axe benefits would have covered the cost of helping more than 55,000 disabled Scots.
The French firm are being handed a massive wad of taxpayers’ cash to carry out humiliating assessments on the disabled, which are designed to drive down the benefits bill.
They will receive an eye-watering £206million from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for testing if people in receipt of disability living allowance (DLA) should still receive financial help when it is replaced by personal independence payments.
As the average weekly payment for DLA is £71.84, the money would be enough to pay 55,332 people the benefit for a whole year.
The figures were revealed by SNP MSP Kevin Stewart at the parliament yesterday.

Add on the bill for all these WPs and the set up of UC... it's a staggering amount going to private companies from the DWP coffers.

 

[Frankie Jack]

Exclusive: Local authorities set to cut council tax support to poor by a fifth

Our research shows that the overwhelming majority of councils plan to reduce support for low incomes households by an average of 20 per cent in order to accommodate central government cuts.
Other key findings include:

• Most councils will not be able to protect disabled people, lone parents with young children, or other vulnerable groups from the impact of the cuts.
• Eight councils are targeting parents for specific cuts by including income from child benefit and child maintenance when considering who is eligible for council tax support.
• South Cambridgeshire District Council is considering halving payments to all its unemployed working age residents, while Brentwood Borough Council plans to axe all council tax support to people under 25.
• Councils are predicting that many claimants will find their council tax bills rocketing by hundreds of pounds.

Many councils – including Conservative-run local authorities – have already written to the government urging ministers to rethink the cuts.

A clusterfuck in the making.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Jesus

 

[Frankie Jack]

Any reports on the Smith meeting with the WPC?

UNCORRECTED TRANSCRIPT OF ORAL EVIDENCE To be published as HC 576-iii
HOUSE OF COMMONS
ORAL EVIDENCE
TAKEN BEFORE THE
WORK AND PENSIONS COMMITTEE
UNIVERSAL CREDIT
MONDAY 17 SEPTEMBER 2012
IAIN DUNCAN SMITH AND LORD FREUD

Only found the pdf uncorrected hansard so far. Still, time for a cuppa and a read.

 

[BigTom]

Exclusive: Local authorities set to cut council tax support to poor by a fifth


A clusterfuck in the making.

Consultations are happening right now, fuck knows what difference can be made though, will any councils find the 10% cut from other places? I doubt it.. hence why I wanted to talk about a non payment campaign and learn about the poll tax campaign and how that got started .. http://www.urban75.net/forums/threads/council-tax-benefit-cuts-non-payment-campaign.299249/

 

[Frankie Jack]

Reposted on that thread too.

 

[Frankie Jack]

Anger over government’s new ‘disability quango
From The Fed.

The UK’s leading disabled people’s organisation (DPO) has attacked a government decision to set up an “alliance” of DPOs, charities, and private and public sector organisations that will be asked to produce new disability policies for the coalition.
Plans for the new Disability Action Alliance (DAA) were announced this week as part of the government’s Next Steps document, the latest stage in the production of its long-awaited disability strategy.
The alliance will be led – with government funding – by the DPO Disability Rights UK (DR UK), which has already come under fierce attack from many disabled activists for backing government plans to close sheltered factories run by Remploy.
DR UK’s chief executive, Liz Sayce, who will lead the alliance, wrote a report last year for the government on employment support for disabled people.
And in February this year, DR UK published new guidance on disability hate crime, with funding from the government’s Office for Disability Issues (ODI).
The UK Disabled People’s Council (UKDPC) said tonight (Thursday) that it was “shocked and disappointed” by the government’s decision to appoint DR UK to convene and lead the new “alliance”.
Julie Newman, UKDPC’s acting chair, said the appointment had taken place “behind closed doors”, and that DR UK was clearly “too close” to the government.
She said DAA would simply be another “quango”, and was certain to represent the views and interests of big business and service-providers.
She said: “We will be looking at the commercialisation of independent living in a way that is in conflict with human rights. DAA will effectively be a commercial enterprise driven by government.”
Newman questioned the “validity” of the government’s decision, which “excludes disabled people from setting the agenda or defining the terms of reference”.
She said this could breach article 33.3 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which states that DPOs should be “involved and participate fully” in monitoring the implementation of the convention.

 

[audiotech]

Is this Council Tax changes audiotech?

Yes.

 

[treelover]

Disability Rights UK

They were formerly Disability Alliance, very close to NL, former CEO left to become LP Councillor, the Corps like Serco which sponsored one of their conferences, not good...

 

[treelover]

http://blacktrianglecampaign.org/20...ent-cuts-to-their-benefits-r-i-p-labour-left/
These 10 People Killed Themselves Because Of Government Cuts To Their Benefits – R.I.P. ~ Labour Left

 

[Frankie Jack]

DWP Latest updates.
Three announcements regarding Universal Credit and the support given to claimants.

Financial products

It was announced that DWP will explore the feasibility of making financial products with budgeting tools available to Universal Credit claimants.
Accounts that provide people with extra budgeting services could help to make sure people’s essential bills are covered – helping them to build up their credit rating and break the cycle of financial exclusion.
DWP is looking for a range of diverse providers to step forward to express an interest in developing new financial products as it works towards the introduction of Universal Credit in October 2013.
Supported exempt accommodation

Having listened to representations on the issue of help towards housing costs for those living in supported accommodation, it has been announced that this will be provided outside Universal Credit. DWP wants to continue to provide a flexible system to help meet the higher costs often associated with providing supported accommodation.
Self-employment grace period
DWP wants to support people setting up new businesses but it also needs to ensure people don’t abuse the system. It has been decided that under the new rules for Universal Credit, DWP will allow one start up period for the self-employed every 5 years.
During a start up period, claimants will not be required to satisfy work-search or availability requirements, thereby giving them time to concentrate on developing their business.

Supported accomodation being the most welcome exemption. Hostels, Refuges and their tenents must be breathing a small sigh of relief.

 

[weepiper]

I don't need a financial product with budgeting tools which by the tone of voice the 'provider' is going to charge me for, my credit rating's perfectly good and I've got budgeting down to a fine art. What I need is weekly and fortnightly payments staggered like they are at the moment so the fuckers can't completely screw me over every time one of their departments decides to randomly suspend a payment for two weeks while they 'approve' a change of circumstances. All this 'it's to help you learn to budget for when you get a job' is total bollocks, because for the vast majority of UC claimants the kind of jobs they're going to be getting are low-paid, retail or call centre or labouring type work which is paid weekly anyway.