Has anyone living in the S5 8, S5 9, S36, S6 areas tried to make a claim to benefit recently? I did, and the new system is ridiculously complicated. Its all apparently to do with the Governments new vision for the future - Jobcentre Plus.

I visited Chapeltown Jobcentre the other week, it's the nearest to me and the people there are lovely. However, I was told that there was now no-one there from Social Security to answer my enquiry about Incapacity Benefit, as the lady had been pulled out several weeks ago. The staff were very polite and directed me to a telephone and gave me a number to call a contact centre. They took a few details and said they would call me back in 8 days and take my claim over the phone. After that, I was booked an appointment at Hillsborough Jobcentre and had a long interview with someone, followed by another interview with someone else.

I was told I would not be able to sign at Chapeltown and would have to sign for Jobseekers Allowance at Hillsborough. I enquired later at Chapeltown whether this was correct and was told that if I filled in a form I could transfer there and that I should have been told I could choose to sign at Chapeltown if I wanted. I was informed though that if I was still signing in 13 weeks I would have to go to a town centre office for a 15 minute interview. How stupid!

To all intents and purposes it looks as though they are trying to shut down the little jobcentre at Chap, which would be a shame as its been there since the 60's. The staff there reassured me that although they would be closing later in the year there would be a new office opening. They were none too convincing and seemed rather upset about it all. I doubt there being a new one, judging by the fact that they are withdrawing most services from there, I suspect there will be no need for one as there wont be any customers to use it.

All in all it took almost four weeks for me to actually get some money. I shudder to think what happens to people with children. The old system was far better. All you did was fill in a form and have one appointment with your personal advisor.

I think I shoud complain to someone, but I'm not sure who. Do you think any politicians or MP's participate in this forum?

I am sure there will be some MP's who browse this forum. Don't expect any of them to ever post or reply to your questions though. Most of them are in the comfort zone and want to keep it that way. Go ahead write to your local MP. As far as I am concerned they have an obligation to answer you.

We do have at least one MP registered (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/member.php?&action=getinfo&userid=112). He's never posted, though :(

If it's Hillsborough or Chapeltown you live in then see, or write to, Helen Jackson the MP for the area. She holds a weekly surgery at Hillsborough Library.

I've just been reading the idea about spin-offs. Thanks for the ideas. Sorry you can't take part.

What about a "Save Chapeltown Jobcentre campaign?" I believe last year someone started a petition and in response to that it was agreed that there would be a facility in Chapeltown. That is still the official line, but the cold hard fact is that without customers, which are being whittled down daily, there will be a good reason not to provide the service. Is there anyone out there from that area who feels strongly enough about it to actually do something. One person alone can't do it. Support your local services I say.

A daft question what would happen if all the unemployed people in the UK got jobs what would happen to the poeple working at the Social Security?

If the Chapletown jobcentre closes down isn't that a good thing because that must mean their is less unemployment in that area?

But yes :help: save Chapletown Jobcentre sounds good to me

Jon, it's a community thing. Chapeltown Jobcentre isn't just a place for unemployed people. I have neighbours who have never been unemployed and yet they visit there regularly. There always used to be someone there who could help or offer some advice even if it was not really benefit related. They had time to listen and seemed to care about people and their misfortunes. Have you ever been to one of the unemployment offices in town? No, I thought not. The places are full of druggies and alcoholics, people losing their temper and creating violent scenes. I once had to go to Chesham House for something. I had to wait over two hours in a place that stank of drink and urine. There were people 'shooting up' in the corner. The staff are overworked and demoralised, they dont have time nor the inclination to be pleasant. Not a nice place to have to go. Supposedly the 'new' system will be better, but as one who has been to Hillsborough, I can only say that it's all about image and not about a better service to the public. Why fix things when theyre not broke?

Well this is important stuff. Im surprised there hasn't been a bigger response. There but for the grace etc... There may come a day in the not too distant future,when someone on this forum will need to use this facility. There are more and more firms going under every week. Another thing that no-one has mentioned, whilst it would be wonderful if everyone did get a job and there was no unemployment what would happen to the Unemployment Benefit Office staff? They would become unemployed themselves. Has anyone given a thought to the staff of this Jobcentre, what will they do for a job if it closes?

Wish I lived closer to that area. You'd have my support. I like a good campaign. It sounds like a real mess what they re doing. As was said earlier. Why fix it when it aint broke? Up the revolution!

:help: Forgot to say, why not lobby your local MP? Get a petition going or something.

I have used Chap Jobcentre recently because it is local.No busfares to the city centre none of the usual suspects hanging around.
we need to keep our services in the outlying areas.Is it not the idea to keep cars away from the centre,people walk to their local offices and use them for advice as well as looking for work.at least these people seem to know what they are on about unlike the jobsworths in most official departments.what are the local councillors doing about it ?come on mps these are the people you represent.

JDB. Already thought of that, its just having the time though. I'm supposed to be looking for a job! Mind you do you think they would view it sympathetically when I said I was not available for full time work because I was organising a campaign to "Save the Jobcentre"? Ha ha. And where are all these MP's and politicians who supposedly browse this site? :help:

Hear Hear! Keep it local. What about the people with kids, having to drag them into town to mix with the the unsavoury types. And the elderly. Not a brilliant idea of the emplyment service is it.
Hey, are we connected in some way? Uptown girl and Downtown Man?

The processing with benefits seems to be slowing drastically. Claiming fo rhousing benefit ROFLMAO.

My ex over in barsley is being given the run around.

Personally I do not think it is a conspiracy to close down the job centre's but an ever growing conspiracy to make it more and more difficult for people to get financial help of any kind from the government.

Moon Maiden

I think its both. A cost saving exercise all ends up!

Originally posted by visitor
I've just been reading the idea about spin-offs.

What about a "Save Chapeltown Jobcentre campaign?" I believe last year someone started a petition and in response to that it was agreed that there would be a facility in Chapeltown. That is still the official line, but the cold hard fact is that without customers, which are being whittled down daily, there will be a good reason not to provide the service. Is there anyone out there from that area who feels strongly enough about it to actually do something. One person alone can't do it. Support your local services I say.

I don't want to pour cold water on your enthusiasm but if you do mount a campaign then I hope that you have more luck than we did in Derbyshire :(

Despite having our MP on board the campaign here failed and Eckington has lost it's job centre. People from here now have to make the journey to Staveley....no easy thing with our bus service. I don't even think that there is a direct bus there.

As I understand it there was a minor political outcry last year when the idea to close the Jobcentre first surfaced. It was then it was decided that there would still be a provision for the unemployed in the area. I think what visitor and the others are getting at is that although the right noises are still being made in political circles, to all intents and purposes it looks as if there is some underhand withdrawing of services going on by the department. Im so sorry that Eckington has gone. What on earth are the government thinking of. Its not improving the service, its making it far more inconvenient than ever before.

Do you have this ridiculous new Jobcenter Plus thing in Derbyshire then? What do you think of it, better or worse. From what I've seen so far its rubbish. Someone said its supposed to be a streamlined service or something. Nothing streamlined about it!:(

We have it in West Yorks. As you say theres nothing streamlined about it. Actually I think the term was seamless. There again, there's nothing seamless about it either. Its an image they are trying to uphold not a service to the public. Looks like Argos, or the Halifax! If we want Argos we'll go there. Who did design the colour scheme?

Colour scheme... What colour scheme? I dont think it was designed, I think it was a job lot of cheap paint they got. Quite vile!

have u seen the wooden floor in hillsboroh -how much did that cost?
has the ikea sale started with all the pink and lovly lime green!!!
chaps and chapesses at chapeltown you have my support,all those colors could make you go blind,do they issue sunglasses with the giros these days?

Originally posted by downtownman
Well this is important stuff. Im surprised there hasn't been a bigger response. There but for the grace etc... There may come a day in the not too distant future,when someone on this forum will need to use this facility. There are more and more firms going under every week. Another thing that no-one has mentioned, whilst it would be wonderful if everyone did get a job and there was no unemployment what would happen to the Unemployment Benefit Office staff? They would become unemployed themselves. Has anyone given a thought to the staff of this Jobcentre, what will they do for a job if it closes?

Just because everybody might one day have jobs does not mean that people would not seek better jobs than the ones they had.

Joncentre Staff are Civil Servants. They get redeployed or offered voluntary redundancy packages which sees some of them retire at 50 on very good pensions.

The vast majority of us will have to work until we die.

Location location Richard.What about the staff who have family committments, the vast majority of whom will also have to work ntil they die? What of the ones with sick or elderly relatives who work there because of caring responsibilties? What of the mums with young children, especially the lone parents, who maybe took that job on because of the convenient location. The ones who thought they would have a job for life at that office. The ones who if they are redeployed have to travel into the city centre, adding further expense to their already tight budget, the ones for whom voluntary redundancy would not be an option. Some of them may not have worked in the service long enough to get a redundancy package or pension of any significance. Civil Servants are not the elite, they are probably one of the most demoralised groups of people there are!

It looks like ive opened a can of worms here. It could turn out to be a good debate so lets keep it going without losing sight of the original thread. The service needs improving and local services need to be kept local. I dare bet it will be someone in an office in Whitehall who is totally out of touch with reality who has dreamed up this vision of Jocenter+.

Whitehall? But I get the gist of what youre saying. Probably some suit who has never set foot in an unemployment benefit office in his life. Usual story, works on paper but not in practise. Why do they never listen to public opinion.

They never do, do they. Chapeltown, is it like the Leeds Chapeltown? Sorry don't know the area. So, is anyone going to start marching up and down with protests banners then. Shall we be seeing the staff on Calendar or Look North, barricaded in the office singing "We shall not, we shall not be moved" Does anyone think the government will re-instate the old ways and chuck Jobcentre Plus out the window. Didn't it used to be one agency years ago anyway.

I think the location of the reception desk at hillsborogh jobcentre says a lot about them: in through the front door, turn left, through the office, up the stairs, and around to corner.
Well signposted too: it says reception on the desk. No other clues.

They have changed now: they have a contingent of goons wait at the entrance.

Aha! Those goons must be the floor walkers. They are actually employed to pounce upon the poor unsuspecting public who thought they would just pop into their friendly Jobcentre to browse for a job! From what I hear chaos reigns supreme with the 'new improved' new claim arrangements. People being passed from pillar to post, some of them several times over. I think its to put people off claiming any benefits.

Yes Minister

Heard a funny story regarding this today. Someone enquired at the new Jobcentre building on West Street where the Social Security Office was and was told to go to Bents Green. They promptly got on a bus...... Someone should have told the poor person that Bents Green HOUSE is on West Street!!!