A YOUNG woman has moaned about how the Jobcentre has found “yet another way” to get on her nerves.
Serena Lola, a 23-year-old who receives Universal Credit, described the Jobcentre as “dumb” and “poorly run.”
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The content creator, who is currently unemployed and is “vibing her way through life” took to social media to express her frustration at her situation, leaving many open-mouthed.
As she travelled to her local Jobcentre, she fumed: “The Jobcentre has found yet another way to p**s me off.”
The youngster acknowledged that she was sent money to pay for travel to an interview, but the ticket didn’t cost the full amount she was given.
As a result of being overpaid by the Jobcentre, she now owes them £15.
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After receiving a letter requesting the overpaid money back, Serena explained: “They told me that I have to come into the Jobcentre and hand them cash – now this just seems illogical to me, especially in a day and age of technology where we can bank transfer money.
“I’m now having to pay £1.75 to go to the Jobcentre, when I don’t have a job or an income, to hand in cash.
“So now that’s £1.75 I’m wasting to go to the Jobcentre, when that’s something that could be done online.”
Serena was fuming with the circumstances, after being forced to go to a cash point, withdraw money and then “physically trek” to hand the payment back.
While Serena recognised it was a “minor, non-issue,” she was clearly very irritated by the “illogical” situation,.
“But come on – it just shows you how poorly run the system is and they could be doing things a lot better and a lot easier,” she concluded.
Social media users react
Serena’s TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @serenaxlola, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 359,600 views, 9,177 likes and 445 comments.
Social media users were stunned by Serena’s situation and many flocked to the comments to express their thoughts.
One person said: “So ridiculous.”
They have to make everything 10 times more difficult for no reason
TikTok user
Another added: “Ring them and raise a complaint. You are out of pocket for travelling to the Jobcentre to pay them back, defeating the purposes of supporting you in the first place. That’s not okay.”
In response, Serena wrote back and penned: “It’s such a silly system.”
Will I be better off on Universal Credit?
Around 1.4million will be better off on Universal Credit, the government calculates.
A further 300,000 will see no change in payments, while around 900,000 will be worse off under Universal Credit.
Of these, around 600,000 are expected to get top-up payments if they move under managed migration, so they don’t lose out on cash immediately.
The majority of those – around 400,000 – are claiming Employment Support Allowance (ESA).
Around 100,000 are on tax credits while fewer than 50,000 each on other legacy benefits are expected to be affected.
Examples of those who may be entitled to less on Universal Credit according to the government include:
- Households getting ESA who and the Severe Disability Premium and Enhanced Disability Premium
- Households with the lower disabled child addition on legacy benefits
- Self-employed households who are subject to the Minimum Income Floor after the 12 month grace period has ended
- In-work households that worked a specific number of hours (eg lone
- parent working 16 hours claiming Working Tax Credits
- Households receiving tax credits with savings of more than £6,000 (and up to £16,000)
- But they could miss out on any future increase to benefits and see payments frozen.
Those who move voluntarily and are worse off won’t get these top-up payments and could lose cash.
Those who miss the deadline and later make a claim may also not get this transitional protection either.
The clock starts ticking on the three-month countdown from the date of the first letter, and reminders are sent via post and text message.
There is a one-month grace period after this, during which any claim to Universal Credit is backdated and transitional protection can still be awarded.
The most recent data from the DWP shows 61,130 individuals have made a claim for UC, and 39,920 awarded transitional protection.
Another 40,540 are still in the process of moving to the new benefit.
A third commented: “They have to make everything 10 times more difficult for no reason.”
To this, Serena responded: “Tell me about it.”
Meanwhile, someone else questioned: “Can’t they just take it from your next UC payment?”
Clearly baffled by the situation, Serena responded: “That’s what I thought?!? But clearly not.”
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