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It's a shame that there isn't a minus stars option. The way the DWP approach people now is absolutely disgusting. All these endless questions and online forms, phone calls, to prove you're still who you said you were...did you ask the last bunch off the boats those same questions? I don't know how they intended this whole move to operate, but it's clearly a complete farce, and if anything, will cost more money in the long run, which will fall on the tax payer, who then resents every single person who recieves benefits. How in God's name is a pensioner (for example) meant to understand all of this? They want to get people off benefits and back into work, try interviewing the ones who are clearly scrounging, and give them jobs to go to! Wages are abominably low right now, and inflation continues to put people under more stress than they were already dealing with. If anything, this whole approach could see more people applying for benefits, due to mental health breakdowns etc. And who could blame them? Corruption and greed aren't the words...

Staff do not care. They don't do their jobs properly either. As long as they are getting payed fed and housed it's okay to slack off on their job. I recently changed my phone number, I contacted via email and phone call. They said that they had changed my number on the system. They had not. Their excuse to me was "but you knew about your next appointment date when you went to the last appointment". As someone who struggles with remembering things I believe was a rude thing to say. Instead of helping they also kept saying "well it's not up to me really is it, it's up to the higher people". Which I understand but they just waste my time trying to fix a problem for them to just make it worse. Their job is to help those in need to find a job and help them financially in the process, instead cut off money for those who really need it over something so small that they could've fixed in under 5 minutes. So they 'sanctioned' me all because they couldn't take the time to update my info on the system. But I can't seem to understand all these immigrants get money handed over to them, no need to go in for pointless meetings and still be payed, or these people claiming but won't go in to the job centre because they have "anxiety". Beyond stupid.

As in May I moved over to universel credit they would not pay my rent they would not pay for another room as I need cary assistance plus I have a teenage girl then they say Westminster Council is to blame as I got informed by Westminster they had sent they information to them on 4 occasions 5 months later still have problems 39 calls and been called stipped buy call handlers plus they have no phone contact with case management in Belfast only email plus I ask for call back from case management 27 times no call could you imagine how old and unwell people has to go true this what has labour party done and Universiel credit and government run shame on themselves

I dont think that people who work at the phone lines at Universal should be able to block claimants numbers from contacting them for no reason.
I have the whole conversation recorded and on video.
My rent is 5 weeks late.
I told the man on the phone this and he asked me lots of questions and he was very rude in the way he spoke to me firing one question after another and not letting me speak.
The line kept going dead and I was never sure if he was on the line or not.
Then after answering lots of questions he then started asking me again and asked where was I born and I had already given him all this information so I was getting a little bit irritated because my rent is 5 weeks late due to the universal credit changeover and I risk eviction.
Each time I tried to explain the situation he barked questions at me and after he would ask me a question the line would go dead.
I asked him why he was asking me the same questions again and I listed the information I had given him like my name, address, NI number address, birthdate and while I was asking him this the line just went dead.
I phoned back and he had blocked my number from ever phoning universal credit ever again.
So now Im in a situation where my rent is almost 6 weeks late, at 8 weeks I eviction procedings will begin because universal credit have not payed my rent and Im blocked from contacting universal credit.
Im terminally ill I have lung faliure I dont even know how I would start to live as a homeless person .
He had a rude manner of speaking and a bad attitude from the moment he answered the phone.
This happened on 3rd October 2:40pm. I have the whole incident recorded on my laptop.
Why do they employ people from other countries who obviously hate english people?
This was the first time I had spoken to someone on the universal credit helpline who was not from the uk and they were utterly horrible to me for no reason when I had spoken to about 20 people on the universal credit phoneline from the uk and I had not had one incident like this yet.
Everyone else I spoke to was professional and understanding and spoke in a proper manner not using street slang.
His attitude was that he didnt care and that he disliked english people.
Maybe he is like that with everyone I dont know the man but it felt personal both on a racial and gendered level regarding the way he spoke to me and the way he treated me.
His attitude from the start was nasty and also very lazy.
He spoke in a very low cant be bothered way of speaking .
Am I seriously supposed to just believe that there are no people in the uk who hate the working class english people and work jobs like this where they can inflict cruelty onto groups of people that they hate?
If your asking me to believe this as truth the problem I have accepting this is that it does not match up with my personal experience.
There are people who work for the DWP who are unprofessional and they use their position to bully others.
This is not a professional way to behave and its a drop in standards.

Im a single mom to 3 children and when my youngest turned 1 i wanted to get back into work, universal credit made my life a living hell they refused to help with the childcare upfront because i was returning to a work place that i had worked at previously which meant i had to some how find nearly £800 just so i could return to work and before they let me know they wouldn't help me they ignored all my messages and calls for over 2 months of pretty much calling every single day and being told somebody would call me and they never did. Thankfully i had family to help support me so i could start working but the system is extremely flawed for those that do not have family to support them they would have had to find a new job just to be able to get some support and probably get ignored about it for months. Imworking full time yet still being told i have to attend mandatory appointments as im not earning enough to be classed as not having to go to them . I work 5 days a week ! The appointments are always in the middle of the day when i have work and when i tell them i can do them after work they tell me that they can not do that time but if i don't attend they will end my claim , which forces me to have to leave work early to attend an appointment to be told can you try get a higher wage ? And that's pretty much it , what a waste of time. Now im having to do what most people are and prove my eligibility for universal credit providing months of bank statements among other things , it just never ends its hard enough having to try to work with 3 children to also look after , i thought universal was there to support people in hard times not make them feel exhausted and depressed. I have filed complaints and of course nothing was ever heard back about it , they just do not seem to care and i wish i could just say forget it and not have any support. Nobody replies nobody cares and nobody seems to know what they are doing. 0/10 expirence q

Absolute incopetence and waste of time. Being a single parent to 2 kids one of whom is disabled. Worked all my life full time never claimed anithing. Most weeks also working overtime to make ends meet since rent and housing expenses went up to unmanagable hights. 6 weeks ago i collapsed and was signed off sick since then. I applied for uc, uploded my rental agreement a d my proof of address. All the documents were deleted several times. Different reasons given each time. The level of incopetence is sky high..i mean you only have to read the documents, thats not hard or is it??? Absolute pointless working in thus country, you pay your taxes to support people who cant be asked to work. The system is broken beyond repair..

Was on phone line to claim from ESa [ when letter arrived to inform me of change to be made, i didnt sleep most nights it was so stressful, all i could think about was how my partner would cope if i wasnt here. I did go on the phone line [ six hours from eight in the morning until about 3 in afternoon with both UC call handler and Cab person. I felt as if i had this huge weight on my shoulders all the time, it was like an interiogation in a Gulag. I gave them all the info they wanted but they text me about not enough info about my rent a few days later [ the wording sounded scary as if i hadnt given them correct info even was told to phone my landlord to verify this]. My partner and i havent got as far as our payment yet already my stomach is tied in knots at the thought of what they will find fault with next. I do already have mental health issues and i have other health issues which i have been told to avoid due to stress. Uc is another way of putting people deeper into poverty . Some call handlers are difficult to understand because of foreign accents then they hang up on you, no one apologises ( they are following a script but they dont have proper training. Being on the phone and finally finishing with the questions with them i felt like being in a sink hole, because my anxiety levels were sky high. If this is UC and there system I'd rather find a time machine and ask the persons who thought about the concept of mitagation was a good idea no doubt those in suits with an affulent lifestyle.

absolutely shocking way to deal with, the intensive intervies and statements you have to provide just to get £50 credit a month while workig full time as a single parent. really intruitive. There ppl who get away with hundred or thousands that need investigate that DONT WORK.

The application process is unfair, complicated and difficult to access. It is also rigid and unresponsive, for example most respondents would prefer to be paid fortnightly. Universal Credit is causing serious problems with housing, including rent arrears and homelessness.
While I'm searching for a job I’m supposed to stay stable and sane while getting further into debt. My rent isn’t being pain due to the system not recognising inflection in rent. Or bills. And food.
Not to mention the lack of support for people less fortunate, the government created the system and if it’s failing some of the population then it’s the government’s responsibility to look after these groups. I’m struggling to find work do to having a learning disability, takes me slightly longer to lean tasks. So how will universal credit be able to help me? They don’t. They simply tell you to follow a very outdated rigid system. Universal credit is way too low and the cutbacks are making it harder for people to find work. If your goal is to make the unemployed depressed then congratulations your in the right direction.
Suppressing people who are already struggling.
I never hear anything back from journal or my work coach . I’m constantly asking for help with education but again that’s limited, and when I went on the cv course that was terrible! The computers didn’t even have access to updated software.
The system is telling the population that there is no help. And you wonder why crime rates are going up. Unemployed people are treated like vermin, no compassion or respect or dignity when visiting these establishments to sign on. The people working there seem disconnected and more interested in belittling you instead of actually addressing situations why you’re not being successful in getting a job. And constantly blaming the individual. When in reality these people are unemployed due to the lack of support and resources.

This is obviously another BIG mistake they have made. they said If we've already asked you for evidence, your claim may close on a different date.
Does this mean that they intend to close my claim whether I send them the evidence or not?
if so, what's the point in asking me to send the evidence in the first place?

But as I have previously sent the evidence, they asked me to send there is no reason at all for them to close my claim.I sent it on the 8th October, which was over a week ago. giving them plenty of time to review the evidence and send me my payment.
Therefore, it would be wrong for them to close my claim.
They seem to be obsessed with closing my claim no matter what.
this is grossly unfair and mistreatment towards genuine claimants.

2 weeks ago I was offered a job, which was a self employed courier job.but I cant do this job if I dont buy the items that are needed to do the job, including a hi vis jacket and steel-toed capped boots as well as other items. The total costs adds up to about £110.
But I need my benefit in order to pay for these items. but more importantly, I am in arrears with my gas and electricity bills. This is because I have not yet received the UC payment that I am fully entitled to.
The UC reviews are full of nothing but dissatisfied people. This is probably just a small percentage of people who are trying to claim universal credit. If a lot more left, trust pilot reviews and got together and complained and protested about their mistreatment of people who are more than entitled to claim benefits. The there was a nationwide outrage, then the government would have to wake up and take notice of the way many people are being treated.I can be found on FB under the name of Tony Stone. If we all got together, we could bring about the necessary change needed in the DWP system.

I contacted as I receive some support from UC but due to a change in my finances this month I need additional help. I’m off work sick due to a physical injury and will only be paid ssp that does not cover even a quarter of my bills. I contacted to ask if there was any support and was told I’m not eligible for an advance as I have earned over £2000 in 6 months (most who are working will earn this amount in that period) and there is nothing that can be done to help me. This month I will have to live off £360 to cover my rent, utilities, fuel/insurance for the car and food. I am in disbelief. I have always worked and only receive support due to low income and being a single parent. I have always met all their requirements, uploaded evidence as needed and been polite and courteous during phone calls and face to face meetings. The person I spoke with, Gemma, was incredibly rude and showed no empathy. She transferred me to the advance department without me being able to get a word in edgewise as I knew I was not eligible for an advance due to the stupid £2000 in 6 months rule

I was asked to submit additional information, which I did promptly, and it was confirmed as satisfactory. However, for reasons unknown, our full payment was withheld—even though it is well known that this decision would seriously impact my family, especially with five children and a spouse to care for during the cold winter months.

We were only given 10% of our actual entitlement, which barely covers our rent and leaves nothing for essentials like gas or electricity. As a full-time student, I have no other source of income, and this has been clearly reported to them—as required—whenever there is a change in circumstances. So they are fully aware of our financial situation.

Despite not being under any sanctions or penalties, the treatment I received over the phone has been unacceptable. I've called three times and was consistently met with dismissive, unhelpful attitudes. The level of customer service has been extremely poor, and I felt like I was being treated with disrespect simply for asking questions. Shame! No more!

The system that's rewards only lazy people and not those who have burned out exhausting all avenue of work with still falling short of covering bills. Funny how the illegals immigrants seem to get it all rather than people that have paid taxes for decades! Disgraceful and pulling people's mental health apart . Country and system is fcuked beyond belief.

When applying for my wife’s visa they state that she is unable to pay enough so refused even though me and my family are paying for it, yet you will allow tens of thousands to come here illegally and leech of the system. You are the worst government we have ever had absolute scum bags and leeches.

We are relatively intelligent people but have found this process very distressing, can only assume that many people will be evicted because of the lack of understanding what is required. It gives Landlords an easy opportunity to evict because rentals are not paid. We paid almost £1,000 to prevent our son going into debt with the Housing Association and have for weeks tried to get it reimbursed. We await a Decision Maker on this issue but cant be given a time scale on when.

We have been challenged to do a review. It has not gone well. We struggled to upload the evidence in a format they would accept. I phoned to get help and was told I was disrespectful and rude and didn’t need help and had phoned up to annoy them?! as I said I couldn’t understand what they were asking for. The woman then hung up on me so I had to phone again. It’s still not sorted out and we have been given conflicting information about whether they will accept the documents in person. I have been told they both will and absolutely will not.
There is no concern about people’s mental health and very little in the way of empathy offered. It’s no wonder our county is one of the most miserable. This punishment based approach will only cost way more money in the future and is counterproductive.
“Pushing people to the brink of suicide: the reality of benefit assessments”
Frances Ryan. This is a guardian article
From 8 years ago and the process is still being maintained as functional.
Update on 10/10/25
We went to the dwp IN PERSON and a lovely
Man who works there uploaded all the evidence himself and told us the evidence was acceptable. And about an hour later universal credit said it COULD NOT accept the evidence?!
We don’t know what to do now. So we are going to write to our local mp for assistance as this is so ridiculous. It’s almost as if they don’t want to help people.
Our local mp is now involved and they are still asking for things we have already submitted in the correct format and duplicated documents one of us has already submitted. I feel that they really don’t want us to have anything and are trying to reject everything over and over again so we give up. They don’t seem to care that my partner has cancer and is partially blind.

If I could give no stars I would.
Applied for a budgeting loan over a week ago and no update.

No wonder people are dying struggling.

This is a load of crap. The DWP and government are just scamming everyone by making them move from ESA. Let’s be honest it is nothing but a scam and fraud against genuine people. I am over £250 a fortnight down even though your money is supposed to be the same as ESA. this is another labour scam to make people struggle more. Your best bet is to come in by boat from France if you want to be better off. As for the stupid journal you have to piss about with it is no use whatsoever. Only time anyone gets in touch with you is when they want something but nobody bothers if you enquire about your money. This is the biggest piss take the Labour government has done except for letting immigrants in to the country. If you are married or live with someone you don’t get a penny for them all they do is keep making them go for work related interviews which is a joke as my partner is nearly blind and has other health issues including brain function problems. Don’t listen to any bull they tell you it’s all fraud from start to finish. I’m convinced I’ve only been moved to UC because I have finished paying my mortgage which I couldn’t claim a penny towards before but now it’s paid I would be able to claim for my mortgage. If UC is your only option from another benefit wait till the last day to claim it so you do not loose money you are entitled to. They are on your back all the time on your journal wanting this and that to string out when you get a payment. Don’t let them tell you that you have to use journal to contact them either although that’s what they will tell you make sure you tell them you want the phone number don’t ask if there is a phone number just tell them you want it and don’t move till you get it as it is available. Biggest scam ever and the DWP and government are just taking the piss with everyone. It is a complete and utter sham and is nothing short of fraud and penalising people who are truly disabled.

Run by sloths. Do not care about a British citizen who have paid money into the system. Instead they will give foreign migrants everything. Why. Because they will be called racist.

Bunch of useless dickheads , Ask for support for food voucher and got me a number off google that I could of gotten myself