mike shermer
Welfare Benefits Officer, Kings Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council, Kings l
Member since 23rd Jan 2004
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RE: Jobcentre Plus call centre
Thu 25-Mar-04 02:32 PM |
We are in a similar position, in that 75% of our client contact is via home visits in rural areas. We carry stocks of DLA/AA, Carers Allowance, Incap and I/S forms and obviously complete them as and when necessary.
For those clients who need to claim Incap, but aren't sure if their Nat Insurance record is complete enough to be entitled to it - in those cases we also complete an I/S form and send both in.
Jobcentre plus say that all claimants to under sixties benefits have to attend "work focussed" interviews, including Carers Allowance - the logic of this for Carers Allowance claimants, I/S for those claiming CA, and those who are newly claiming Incap escapes me.
In case rules had been changed recently, I telephoned our local JC plus call centre, who said that these interviews are mandatory for all working age benefits. The theory, according to them, is so that they can advise and help claimants complete the forms, advise them on what other benefits may be available and to discuss what they may want to do at some point in the future: ie, we're going to help you whether you want us to or not......and if you don't come and have a nice chat with us we won't pay you any money.......shades of Monte python.
They also said that:
if a claim was made independent of them, and for example Preston (CA)find they had no trace of a work focus interview having been carried out, then they would notify the local office, who would send out an appointment. No claim, however valid, would be paid until that interview had taken place: there are exceptions although they have to be applied for. In the case of Incap and Income support, if a delay causes financial hardship, a claimant can always call on the Social Fund.
Tha acessibility of the Social Fund for people living in remote areas is another subject for discussion, and one that JC plus don't seem to appreciate, but you can see the problems already....
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