Universal Credit Journal Entry 7/12/23

The lateness of the reply to my prior journal entry meant I would have been late regardless of when I left my house, and by the time I received the reply, I was working in my voluntary job in order to make sure that I was still reaching my targets for the day.

Furthermore, might I ask whom I would contact for financial assistance other than the state service, which is supposed to provide me with financial assistance? The attendance, or lack thereof, of an appointment has no bearing on the fact that I have applied for another dozen jobs in the last 3/4 days - all of which have been logged. Therefore, all my activity can be tracked, as the service requires.

However, if I am unable (due to the moving of the appointment location and medical emergency) to attend the meeting - which is at best a formality but in practice makes the job of searching for a job significantly more shaming, time-consuming and disheartening - I would argue that it is not entirely the responsibility of me, the service user. I have been on the service for a number of months, unsuccessfully applying for jobs with little to no coaching or support during my meetings. I have been diversifying my application in order to increase my chances of receiving work, and I have repeatedly updated and personalised my CV - following the little advice I received. Likewise, I routinely write personalised and specific cover letters to prospective employers.

Going to the Job Centre, not to mention one in the city centre, has been a hindrance to my voluntary work, my job search, and my pocket in a time of personal and financial need.

Furthermore, as someone with a history of ill mental health and a disability, which means I am unable to take on certain jobs, the flippancy of the services approach to my needs has been quite remarkable. The bare minimum I imagined I would receive when first applying has almost never appeared, other than on a single occasion when one employee talked to me about CV structure for some two minutes. What is the purpose of the service if not to help me get a job?

I would appreciate more support in my efforts to both comply with your service - regardless of its efficacy - and to search for a job. Understanding the needs of your service users financially, emotionally and culturally might be a start. I have seen quite unsavoury and unhelpful behaviour from the employees in your Centre in Didsbury regarding the treatment of people of colour, people whose first language is not English and people who require interpreters, family support or other such assistance at face-to-face meetings. I would describe one of these encounters as racist.

Considering the service is supposed to benefit and help people in, often, extreme financial precarity, a more supportive and pastoral approach would be appreciated. Behaviour that some might describe as cold formality is unhelpful at best and actively harmful at worst.

Please read this with the same sincerity that I wrote it with,
Cyrus

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