social welfare lack of help and information

burgermasters

So I have to sign on the dole for the first time in a good few years, when I get to the office the lady is nothing but rude making the whole process degrading, I then go back today to drop more info ie bank statement for the last six months letter from former employer to provide confirmation my employment was terminated and the likes, another lady being very ignorant and rude more or less refused to answer any questions saying she knows nothing about the payment end of things, what really hit me was this same lady put a claim through for me a few years back?? My question is really are these people trained to make you feel lower than you already feel for reading out for help? And is there any need for a long term tax payers to be given such hassle for asking for something back when needed?

Chucken

Níl a fhios agam!

Insect Overlord

Moved from Teach na nGealt.

If anybody would like to continue this discussion as Gaeilge, feel free to start a new thread there.

Fr_Dougal

Insect Overlord wrote: »

Moved from Teach na nGealt.

If anybody would like to continue this discussion as Gaeilge, feel free to start a new thread there.

Yeah sure AH is the natural home for this...

MadsL

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

Yeah sure AH is the natural home for this...

Has the potential for a typical AH thread though. Dole, PS, rudeness, etc etc...

Can we keep it, Daddy? Pleeeeaaaseeee!!! I'll feed it and everything...

Insect Overlord

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

Yeah sure AH is the natural home for this...

Going by the tone of the OP, I reckon it's safe enough here. MadsL put it better than I could!

Chucken

Insect Overlord wrote: »

Going by the tone of the OP, I reckon it's safe enough here. MadsL put it better than I could!

Did you consider the nest at all?

The majority of civil servants got their jobs because they knew someone not because of any discernible ability. There I said it and I feel so much better.

burgermasters

[Deleted User] wrote: »

The majority of civil servants got their jobs because they knew someone not because of any discernible ability. There I said it and I feel so much better.

That in itself is sad though? To be treated
Like some street rat for needing help? Second class and all that jazz.

CarMe

I am in the process of being made redundant and Coolock social welfare couldn't have been more helpful, each and every person I've dealt with has been so kind!

burgermasters

CarMe wrote: »

I am in the process of being made redundant and Coolock social welfare couldn't have been more helpful, each and every person I've dealt with has been so kind!

Now that's very strange its coolock I'm dealing with?

CarMe

CarMe wrote: »

I am in the process of being made redundant and Coolock social welfare couldn't have been more helpful, each and every person I've dealt with has been so kind!

shill

Tombi!

I'd say on average, I've met more nicer and helpful people.
I do have to admit though that there's one or two people in the office I go to that just... they seem to have no understand of being nicer, ever.

MadsL

CarMe wrote: »

I am in the process of being made redundant and Coolock social welfare couldn't have been more helpful, each and every person I've dealt with has been so kind!

Ah Jaziz! Buzz Killington is here.

My 2c - Revenue, fantasic service up until the point I realised I can only talk to them now between 2am and 5am my time

*brews coffee*

looking_around

from my own experience, you get very little help from standard office welfare crew.

Disability services are very helpful.
And the welfare clinic bended over backwards for me.

I generally go to citizens advice first, to find out everything that's available. What you can claim, exactly what supports are out there. There's alot people just don't know about..and the welfare crew seem to act like it's out of their own pockets and will emit info constantly.

If you ever have to phone up and chat to dublin office though, they're great to deal with!

CarMe

Haha no seriously they've been really amazing!! Suggesting things that I wouldn't even have known I'd be entitled to, making things extremely easy for me!!
I've never been on the dole before and I was dreading it but I can't believe how great they've been!

Kilbarrack on the other hand I've heard nothing but horror stories about!

becost

burgermasters wrote: »

So I have to sign on the dole for the first time in a good few years, when I get to the office the lady is nothing but rude making the whole process degrading, I then go back today to drop more info ie bank statement for the last six months letter from former employer to provide confirmation my employment was terminated and the likes, another lady being very ignorant and rude more or less refused to answer any questions saying she knows nothing about the payment end of things, what really hit me was this same lady put a claim through for me a few years back?? My question is really are these people trained to make you feel lower than you already feel for reading out for help? And is there any need for a long term tax payers to be given such hassle for asking for something back when needed?

Civil servants have very defined roles and getting them to do anything outside of these defined roles requires compensation or they'll kick up a fuss with their union.

goz83

CarMe wrote: »

Haha no seriously they've been really amazing!! Suggesting things that I wouldn't even have known I'd be entitled to, making things extremely easy for me!!
I've never been on the dole before and I was dreading it but I can't believe how great they've been!

Kilbarrack on the other hand I've heard nothing but horror stories about!

Are you a hot bird and did you put out?

If the answer is no to either, I don't believe you, so gtfo

mikemac1

Go to your local citizens information office

They'll sort you out and they'll make calls to welfare on your behalf

One of the few Irish quangos that deserve more funding!

Their website is superb and also there is a helpline you can call.

Femme_Fatale

They're not "trained to be rude" obviously, they're just jaded. No excuse - the fact they put up with sh1t from some is no justification for treating everyone with the same defensiveness, but that is the reason.

Deleted User wrote: »

The majority of civil servants got their jobs because they knew someone not because of any discernible ability.

Not sure that's true. When I worked in the public sector years ago, there was a very strict "No nepotism" policy for permanent jobs. Knowing someone helped get a temp job all right though, but those temps still had to go through the same processes as someone external when applying for a permanent job. And often didn't get it.

TGi666

I have found the 'outsourced' welfare offices the worst
Been told by someone who was apparently in "the know" that most of the staff in these offices are on min wage with no chance of moving up the ladder

bumper234

Think it depends on the person you get on the day (i always prayed they had got some the night before:)) but certainly hit the citizens advice.

irritablebaz

you could make an official complaint but probably best not to as things may get difficult if you are on the dole for long. maybe just give her the beneft of the doubt for the day, next time you may get someone else dealing with your claim.

RDM_83 again

TGi666 wrote: »

I have found the 'outsourced' welfare offices the worst
Been told by someone who was apparently in "the know" that most of the staff in these offices are on min wage with no chance of moving up the ladder

You mean a branch office? Couldn't disagree more in my experience but that could be simply be a Dublin/Countryside divide (and its been a few years thank F!)

Anyway unfriendliness and not giving you information is annoying OP but at least it can generally be solved by Google and citizens advice etc.

The sheer incompetence of some staff/offices can't be!

MadsL

Is there a formal complaint process and has anyone ever actually complained about a PS worker?

I came very very close after a very snotty trackie wearing 20 year old (looked like) denied my soon-to-be wife's permission to remain at the GNIB office even though she had a job offer and a work permit application in progress.

ShowMeTheCash

Just reading through this, yesterday I was told of the stories in around my home town of the local "dole man"... granted he is not local!

So basically this guy will call meetings with people on the dole to make sure they are not working, or making any kind of fradulent claim...
The stories I have heard are nothing short of shocking whereby he has reduce people to tears in some kind of gestapo tac-tic to try and get information out of people....

The story which I was told, was where a young woman who had left her partner due to physical abuse was reduced to tears cause this @rsh0le figured it was a scam so she could claim the dole...

It appears his tactic is to threaten ,shout and bully in the office change you are hiding something...

SEPT 23 1989

I hear that they waterboard the self employed when they try and make a claim

ShowMeTheCash

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

I hear that they waterboard the self employed when they try and make a claim

Usually I would not buy into "what i heard" but this seem legit.
I have nothing positive to say about the public sector, I think the mintue someone thinks they cannot be fired they become a law onto themselves!

Freddy Smelly

burgermasters wrote: »

So I have to sign on the dole for the first time in a good few years, when I get to the office the lady is nothing but rude making the whole process degrading, I then go back today to drop more info ie bank statement for the last six months letter from former employer to provide confirmation my employment was terminated and the likes, another lady being very ignorant and rude more or less refused to answer any questions saying she knows nothing about the payment end of things, what really hit me was this same lady put a claim through for me a few years back?? My question is really are these people trained to make you feel lower than you already feel for reading out for help? And is there any need for a long term tax payers to be given such hassle for asking for something back when needed?

welcome the to the social welfare queue and ignorant public servants.
you dole payment will be available for collection in about 6 months time

stateofflux

what do you expect, a red carpet? you dole scrounging scum!

*joking*

Valetta

Politeness begets politeness, I find.

ShowMeTheCash

Valetta wrote: »

Politeness begets politeness, I find.

Perhaps... My dealings with public sector bodies somewhat of a joke.
I get the impression they think they are doing you a favour instead of doing the job they are paid to do!

But I guess the question around this is, are they trained to do this?
Is it a deliberate thing?