Use of a Good threat!

From time to time we all get threatened and although unpleasant doesn’t have lasting or devastating effects however this is not always the case and in real terms I feel most people accept that threatening behaviour is a no no. You just don’t. The problem I have then is that when faced with an implied threat, or even a threat in writing I squirm, I stress and in many cases I cry, a lot. So why exactly is it that so many letters I receive from the benefits agency or council and in fact my land lord have threats in them.

I receive letters that say ‘if you don’t reply within 7 days your benefit will be affected’

If you don’t return this 40 page form within 28 days your benefit will be affected

And the reality is that unless you comply with exactly what they asked for, no matter how impractical, then they may well consider that you haven’t complied at all and cut you off anyway.

Wondering what I am talking about?

Well having received a letter asking for proof of rent I phoned and asked if I could delay bringing in this years documentation because in a few weeks time part of it was going up, and the council wouldn’t pay out on a bill I hadn’t paid and would only reassess my claim once a year. So I wanted to wait until the new bill was in and paid before they reassessed or I would be paying out at a higher rate that could be a problem. A reasonable request I thought and the lady on the phone told me they would forward my message to the person concerned. So I waited for a reply. At the end of the 7 days from the original letter I received a letter saying that as I hadn’t brought the documentation in I was being cut off.

Fantastic! And all the lady said when I contacted them about this was ‘I can see why they did it’

Quite frankly I can’t?
I find that this system of threats and punishments is far too rigid and severe for my liking and for my health and really I am far from alone. The reality of the system can be as stressful as a physical threat from a stranger on the street and although the world says this is a crime when the benefits agency or council do this then it becomes okay, the norm even.

So they didn’t threaten my physical being?

So what, when the reality of having benefits withdrawn could result in me having no money to shop for food or pay the rent. Although eviction isn’t a quick thing it is a very real possibility. You think not then how long do you think it takes to have your claim for housing benefit assessed? Weeks, more? And what about sickness or job seekers benefit?

The harsh reality is that although you may get base line it can take up to a year to have a sickness benefit sorted properly.

Now don’t get me wrong I feel that there is a point when some people are not replying to letters that a threat of this sort might be okay but in so many ways I feel there has to be another way. The fear it instils in myself and in those I know is acute and lasting. It can affect day to day functioning, lower moods and realistically for people who are struggling to cope with illness or joblessness it seems an outrageous thing to do particularly as not all of these conditions can be complied with.

Gathering of supporting evidence for health claims being a prime example. 28 days I can’t get to see my consultant within 3 months and he won’t write a letter until he has seen me. What if I’m laid up in bed with flu or something worse? Because as you can see from my experience it may not matter if you get in touch they may not reply.

Whether threats are needed or not is not my point it’s that a system that doesn’t allow for anything but exactly what is asked is too strict and the punishments too severe it’s breeding a fear of the benefits agencies/councils and this fear is seeing a rise in people not wanting to contact them. So much of what is being reported in the press and through blogs is driving people away from the places that can give them help because of the repercussions of having a conversation.

For instance if you’re considering moving in with someone, you want to know what will happen to your benefits should you do it but what if the person on the phone gets the wrong impression and believes that they’ve already moved in...letters arrive saying we’ve been informed of a change in your circumstances please fill this in and return. Your circumstances haven’t changed but would you want to run the risk of having a letter turn up threatening to cut you off just by having a conversation?

In most cases people don’t want to run that risk. They will consult websites and other people and get all sorts of information that may or may not be accurate because they don’t know what their benefits are (see post Clear as mud!).

In fact why would you want to talk to somebody who could arbitrarily stop your rent payments, or money for food.

If people are to return to work/ progress towards good health then surely the first thing to do is change a system that relies on threats as it’s primary source of communication. It would reduce excess and unnecessary stress and distress.

Please note that after a year on benefits people are more likely to be depressed. It might be considered to be a by product of being treated to such an unrelenting onslaught of threats and punishments.
And lastly although you as the claimant are on such a strict schedule and have punishments doled out the agencies are not and they take as long as they like causing more distress and stress along the way. If it wasn’t so strict then surely the lack of response wouldn’t be felt so much.