Happy Easter from Jobcentre Plus

 

 

One of our readers sent us a copy of their letter from Jobcentre Plus regarding their Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) that arrived this morning. The letter arrived on Thursday 28 March 2013, explaining to the recipient that they needed to send an updated letter from their doctor confirming that their permanent disability was still permanent.

All well and good, but if they do not have the new letter written, posted and arrived by 02 April 2013, then their benefit would stop. Just like that.

Considering Friday 29 March until 09.00am on 02 April is a bank holiday, a little hard hearted we think.

No matter, the person involved has a good three hours today to get an appointment to see his GP or pain specialist and a letter written, posted and arrived for Tuesday 02 April. Because we all know how easy it is to get an appointment with a GP quickly and how fast and reliable Royal Mail’s service is.

Those who believe that all the sick, incapacitated and disabled are ‘benefit scroungers’ will have no sympathy. But those who struggle on with the Employment and Support Allowance, trying to find their way in life will be having these ridiculous letters dropping through the letter box all the time.

And those who have had the misfortune of trying to explain their disability to a half wit at Flowers Hill in Bristol, before going a year with their benefits suspended, before finally winning them back at tribunal because even the tribunal panel can see the assessor was a half wit won’t be surprised at all.