DWP - Extended Opening Hours

Extended Opening Hours
23 Jul 2020

PCS condemns decision to extend operating hours in Universal Credit from 30 November

DWP has announced its intention to extend operating hours to 8pm on weekdays, and to Saturdays, at 21 Universal Credit service centres and 270 larger job centres, from 30 November 2020.

Other parts of the department not working on UC will not be affected. UC service centres delivering national services will be excluded from this extension, as will smaller Job Centres.

https://www.pcs.org.uk/department-for-work-and-pensions/news/extended-opening-hours

Thank god for no face to face appointments in the foreseeable future. I wouldn't want to have to go see my work coach at 7.30pm.

I am wondering what the "Saturday" operating hours are?🤨

DWP pauses plan to extend jobcentre and universal credit service centre opening times to 8pm on weekdays

DWP Safety Dispute in Jobcentres and UC Service Centres – PCS wins further concessions

https://www.pcs.org.uk/department-for-work-and-pensions/news/dwp-safety-dispute-in-jobcentres-and-uc-service-centres-%E2%80%93-pcs

I think the plan to open until 8pm was always ridiculous anyway.

I see the new WC recruits being given the task of using the covid crisis appointments done virtual video or mass phoning claimants on the agenda.Hope i am wrong but, that's the kind of mentality they like to use .

I can't help but wonder what other agenda's the JCP , will try to force under banner of the 'Covid' situation . Still on the plus side you could see the Job centre roaches being returning to sitting behind some 'Bandit Glass screen'. So you understand that your not in for a 'friendly chat' with them?

Some people need to contact JCP in person, this maybe at weekends or weekdays.

A few people also need a home visit:

https://www.gov.uk/support-visit-benefit-claim

In the past some Jobcentres were open 9-12noon on a Saturday.

Citizens Advice/other agencies are contactactable in person when necessary.

"In the past some Job Centres were open 9-12noon on a Saturday."

No doubt their bring that back into fashion Welfare Champ in line with their deluded thought process of:the more someone visits a joke centre the more work they will find.I hope they are not getting paid overtime for Saturdays as effectively they wont be producing any constructive result in the middle of an economic meltdown.But there is no telling em.

jobberpw wrote:
"In the past some Job Centres were open 9-12noon on a Saturday."

No doubt their bring that back into fashion Welfare Champ in line with their deluded thought process of:the more someone visits a joke centre the more work they will find.I hope they are not getting paid overtime for Saturdays as effectively they wont be producing any constructive result in the middle of an economic meltdown.But there is no telling em.

No-one is invited to attend the Jobcentre at this time unless it absolutely necessary.

Some claimants do not have a phone or access to the Internet, so if they need help with benefits they would need to go into a Jobcentre or a welfare agency office.  

Many claimants are vulnerable and cannot cope with digital services etc, so they will also need to attend a Jobcentre or request a home visit.

jobberpw wrote:
"In the past some Job Centres were open 9-12noon on a Saturday."

No doubt their bring that back into fashion Welfare Champ in line with their deluded thought process of:the more someone visits a joke centre the more work they will find.I hope they are not getting paid overtime for Saturdays as effectively they wont be producing any constructive result in the middle of an economic meltdown.But there is no telling em.

I have had a few Saturday appointments at the Roach Ranch, to my thinking it was more to "annoy" me rather than them being over worked. As the Roach did seem disappointed when I was nonplussed about the situation 🤭...