I wouldn't work in the dole office for any money, my wife worked in Belle Vale dole in the 80's, some of the people you are dealing with are extremely difficult to say the least, I have many friends in Netherley and I have seen this, threats, violence all kinds. Maybe some staff are twats dunno but they are dealing with some right sly bastards so its not as cut and dried as most seem to think. I was talking to an old mate a couple of days ago who worked in the old CAB in Speke and he was saying that the new system is actually better but it has been rolled out shit and the appeals etc. are not ready. This is why we are seeing heartbreaking and scandalous cases - dont forget we also had these cases under all welfare systems that I can remember.
Its simply got much harder to choose not to work, family members I have are career criminals and some very wealthy yet did they refuse the "free" money, rent, council tax etc, ? Did they shit but it was so easy years ago, it is not the case now. The classic ones bad back (replaced now by mental health, sadly), cant read or write (this worked for years), I'm a klepetomaniac (used by career shoplifters) etc. are gone now. Bad backs can be diagnosed accurately hence the switch to mental health, cant read or write - go to lessons or be sanctioned, this has led to anger amongst people who basically retired from working to live (exist for some) on the dole years ago and its a shock to their system.
