WINZ fail.

[ynot slow]

Just as well WINZ is not a private company eh?Have been on benefit since contract finished,then required surgery so no point applying for jobs and get to interview only to say to employer "will need to have surgery in 4-8 weeks approx,require maybe 8-12 weeks recovery" tends to have negative effect on new employer(and fair enough).

So after sussing out a few positions,decided I will apply for my class 4 and forklift endorsements to hopefully get a job(have held class2 for years)and get quotes(NZQA)as well,take all info to case manager two weeks ago.Told we need up to date quotes and this was a letter advising costs.Ring course operators and they send a quote out,took 4 days to get,ring WINZ for appointment as case manager also said get a letter from say Adecco,Drake etc saying should you get relevant licenses we should have positions for you.

Get all documents and on Monday ask for appointment,told Weds 12.30pm,get call yesterday at 5.15 to ask if appointment can be changed to 2.00pm,no worries.Rock on in today,told "hmmm bit expensive $xxx" so they decline it,but then say we have a course which is cheaper,and you don't need to repay(ffs I was happy to repay).Ok when is it?Not sure depends on funding from govt.

So here I am wanting to get into work in a driving /transport role(have delivery experience with selling furniture),and been to a couple of transport firms with CV,they have holiday work maybe if licenses procured,but need to get class 4 etc.
WINZ have no idea when next course to be run,have to check with case manager weekly is good idea they say,can't place my details on system alert so if course is available I'm on the list.

Oh and the bloody beauty part was when I first enquired my manager said we may have free course you can do,he went away to suss out.Came back saying nope,you're older than (18-25yr)threshold,and educated.In otherwords a total loser dropkick no brain school leaver can do the course(and maybe made to do it for benefit)maybe pass,but if you want to do something pro-active you're denied.

Twice I've been on sickness benefit for cancer,and worked since 1979,completed apprenticeship etc,want to work and this time with recession etc,want to get work and keep getting kicked in the head.

[Skyryder]

Sory to hear of your trouble ys. I could go into all the bullshit that Key and his cronies have come up with as far as creating jobs etc but in truth this is not the thread for it.

Best advice I can give is go and see you MP. Might be able to help.........might not............but at least they are free.....................still.

Skyryder

[jono035]

Yeah, a lot of changes can come about if you tell the right people about your plight... Can always take the route of trying to speak to his boss about it and explaining the position (being happy to repay the fee sounds like a winner)

[Blackshear]

The way some WINZ people treat you is amazing.
Even the receptionist wants a piece of meat.

Long story short, been on the dole for something like 3 months now, last job march or april, I don't fucking know.

Uncle rings, says you've got a job if you can get down here, ask WINZ to foot the bill for your 2 week paid trial down in Wellington.
WINZ: Yeah sure, we'll pay the bill, hell, do you need any gear as well? We'll pay that, too.

So eventually my Uncle contacts my case manager, and shit hits the fan. I knew he wanted the $5000 govt subsidy for employing me and what not, bu didn't think it would have any conflict with what is essentially a 'Job interview' for an Arborist position.

TL;DR

Because of how they worded their subsidy requirements;
Winz is willing to give uncle govt subsidy to employ me
Winz is willing to foot the transport/gear/accommodation bill for the interview IN WELLINGTON.

BUT NOT BOTH WHAT THE FUCK

It seems the more willing you are to get a job (even move to the other side of the island, for fucks sakes), the more they push you away. It does not make sense.

Mate, I wish you the best of luck with the rest of your business involving them. Slappem around a little, even.

[Delerium]

its the same for student allowance and loan. if you are honest and work hard you get punished. the system promotes selfhishness and deciet. I learned the hard way, dont tell em fuck all.

[jono035]

its the same for student allowance and loan. if you are honest and work hard you get punished. the system promotes selfhishness and deciet. I learned the hard way, dont tell em fuck all.

So true... My girlfriend was working for the university and they stuffed up her pay. They paid her for half a weeks work one week, then 1 and a half weeks work next week. She called them to tell them about it, they said that's fine. Later they turned around and said no it isn't fine, you need to pay us back. Then a bit later again they said oh, and by the way you owe us 10k because you never should have got it in the first place due to getting ACC income as well (which doesn't count according to their own guidelines). Severely impacted her quality of life for a few weeks until it turned out that yes, they just had their heads up their collective asses.

Also, if you're over 25 and claim student allowance, don't move in with anyone you're in a relationship with. Even if it has only been a month or two and you tell them you're in a relationship, they will start demanding to see your 'partner's' income and if it is higher than sweet-fuck-all will dock your allowance. Start dating a flatmate? Sorry, you're screwed unless you keep quiet. Gotta love it.

[ynot slow]

Yep might hit the MP up figuratively lol.
Had no probs with them mostly,but seems if you're useless they want to get you in work with all sort of actions,then the person decides ah frig can't be bothered getting up,and back to square one.If you suss out a way of doing work and require help they might help,hell I said I realise it may require paying back and am happy to do so.

[Marmoot]

Sory to hear of your trouble ys. I could go into all the bullshit that Key and his cronies have come up with as far as creating jobs etc but in truth this is not the thread for it.


Sorry, just straightening the record.

WINZ was created by Labour government, and I highly doubt if during the less-than-1-year National is in power all the Labour-appointed people and policies have been cleaned.

[jono035]

Sorry, just straightening the record.

WINZ was created by Labour government, and I highly doubt if during the less-than-1-year National is in power all the Labour-appointed people and policies have been cleaned.

I think his comment was more about the current government and their job creation plans rather than a complaint about WINZ and its policies...

[Mom]

I would be inclined to take this one higher up the food chain than your case manager :yes: It seems unfair to me. Or...

Is this some human rights type thing, I did not think they could discriminate.

You are sick, but will get better. You are well enough at the moment to do some trade training, perhaps they think you are not worth investing in? Get stuck in mate! Dont let this sort of shit wear you down!

[martybabe]

Sheesh, not totally clued up on the purpose and practice of WINZ but you'd think they'd be glad to give a leg up to someone that wants to make an effort rather than an habitual dole sucker. Man!

It sucks Tony but keep plugging away mate, decent folk like you deserve a bit of support, seldom get it but deserve it none the less. Good luck mate I hope you get a break. :niceone:

[Ms Piggy]

That sucks mate!!

You can ask for a review and there may also be a Benefit Rights organisation in your area that you can get support from. Maybe talk to your local Citizen Advice Bureau - don't give up just yet!

[Marmoot]

I think his comment was more about the current government and their job creation plans rather than a complaint about WINZ and its policies...

Hmm...you're right.

[NDORFN]

Sory to hear of your trouble ys. I could go into all the bullshit that Key and his cronies have come up with as far as creating jobs etc but in truth this is not the thread for it.

Best advice I can give is go and see you MP. Might be able to help.........might not............but at least they are free.....................still.

Skyryder

You're an idiot.

[MadDuck]

WINZ policies on decisions as to who gets help seem very inconsistent.

The fact you are offering to pay them back just kind of baffles me as to why they wont help.

I reckon Mom has the right idea though...go higher up the food chain. And best of luck!

[Ypawa]

Sorry to hear of ya hassles @WINZ > ys
WINZ can be damned difficult at times too much paperwork NOT enuff listening to the plights of the public. FFT - word of mouth in my area - they give a $1500 grant to shearers wanting to relocate where works is(oh & they also give bus fare, ferry fare etc thats not included with the 1500-=so your lukn at almost 2gs) ..namely down south - this money is to buy new handpiece,combs,cutters..blah blah. My son n law took that grant,went down south for 5mths-got back 3wks ago. My point> there was 9 others that took advantage of this- ONLY 3 went! Im guessing the other 6 pocketed the bux,cos I knew 1 of em and seen him still here(not working :argh:) well after they got the bux:mad: so its kinda SAD to hear what you are going thru. Heapsa crooked-ripoff-lazy-useless peeps that get help with a platter. Sorry i know this is :Offtopic: just wanted to spit that out:Oops: :angry2:

[Delerium]

So true... My girlfriend was working for the university and they stuffed up her pay. They paid her for half a weeks work one week, then 1 and a half weeks work next week. She called them to tell them about it, they said that's fine. Later they turned around and said no it isn't fine, you need to pay us back. Then a bit later again they said oh, and by the way you owe us 10k because you never should have got it in the first place due to getting ACC income as well (which doesn't count according to their own guidelines). Severely impacted her quality of life for a few weeks until it turned out that yes, they just had their heads up their collective asses.

Also, if you're over 25 and claim student allowance, don't move in with anyone you're in a relationship with. Even if it has only been a month or two and you tell them you're in a relationship, they will start demanding to see your 'partner's' income and if it is higher than sweet-fuck-all will dock your allowance. Start dating a flatmate? Sorry, you're screwed unless you keep quiet. Gotta love it.

Sounds similar to what happened to me. Now they are demanding I pay them $900 becuase I have earned too much. They can wait untill I get my reimbusement from my employer at the end of the year

[jono035]

Sounds similar to what happened to me. Now they are demanding I pay them $900 becuase I have earned too much. They can wait untill I get my reimbusement from my employer at the end of the year

Yeah, they're normally happy to get you set up to just garnish your wages by $20 a week or something. A lot more flexible in how they get the money back than anything else, that's for sure.

[ynot slow]

Have put an email to the local MP,who is Labour,not that that is a problem with me,in this case I am just seeing what he can offer,as is his job to work for the constituents.Not sure if the email went as was sent via his email from parliament,when clicked send it came up internet connection lost.Will phone and check.Was going to go to top,haha the minister,but don't want my details spread to all and sundry from a pissed off minister/mistress(is that female version).

Don't think it is an ethnic thing.I did say and reiterate if I was a school drop-out about 19,no work experience,no education(i.e illiterate)I can get on a course.Which is great in theory,but what employer is going to hire a person turning up to interview dressed scruffy(clothes and presentation)with a new license,and might work today,tommorrow,and not next day.

The annoying thing is class 4 is over 3 days,forklift is over 2 days,so can do in a week from starting.Forklift is done 3rd Monday/Tuesday of month.

Not giving up yet.

[Forest]

Sheesh, not totally clued up on the purpose and practice of WINZ but you'd think they'd be glad to give a leg up to someone that wants to make an effort rather than an habitual dole sucker. Man!


The problem is that 95% of the people who use WINZ services really are habitual dole suckers or malingerers.

After a while, the WINZ staff stop seeing the difference between the two groups and they begin to treat everyone the same.

Don't take it personally. You're just being lumped in with the other 95%.

[Beemer]

Try being self-employed and having the recession see your government client base dry up overnight. Husband isn't on a big salary, no kids, not a lot of savings, so I rang WINZ to see if I could get any financial assistance. The answer was no, but I was welcome to apply for an accommodation supplement. Worked it out online how much I would get - $1! Yes, no bull, a whole DOLLAR.

Needless to say, I didn't bother going through the humiliation of providing bank statements, records of our outgoings, etc for $1.

Thankfully things have picked up now, but I'd been studying extramurally for the two years prior to my work slowing down (for that read 'disappearing') so in addition to having very little money coming in, I also had a debt of about $8000.

I called in to see WINZ a few years ago when looking for some part time work to supplement my self-employed income (which was very low when I first started out) and was told there was little they could do for me. They said there were no jobs going for journalists (true, but I'd also worked in retail and in offices doing marketing and admin work and was looking for ANYTHING) and the one part time retail job they had (which sounded exactly what I was looking for) was only available to those who had been unemployed for more than six months.

It pisses me off that the government is more than happy to take taxes from both of us when we are both employed, but when one of us has no money coming in, they aren't prepared to help out. We were lucky we had a fully stocked freezer and pantry and a lot of crap we managed to sell on Trade Me - and I got some ongoing work about a month before our money would have run out completely.

If my husband was my flatmate I'd be eligible for the assistance - so how come the fact that we're a couple means we can survive on one income when we we had two coming in before and the bills haven't dropped by half!

[ynot slow]

Beemer totally agree,makes people do dodgy stuff.You hear about couples living in two homes.My cousin was caught up in similar circumstances,they hired a farmworker,he said am seperated,had great references,and worked well.He was going home on days off(30km away),his partner and kids stayed with him once a week.Turned out it was all ok,he was paying child support but she got benefit.Cousin was grilled by WINZ when they asked if they could get any employer subsidy if they wanted a worker.In the end they said stuff this,we'll just employ without going through them.