In Praise of B & W, Welsh Citizens Advice, OH AND CHECK YOUR JUNK EMAILS?

As a (slightly) paranoid person, I expected the ESA to UC migration to be a carefully laid series of traps, set up to scupper the unwary and leave them without benefits.

All I can say is that I have not found it to be as bad as all that.

I did find the prospect of a computerised UC claim form to be very intimidating.
The simulated claim form, created by Citizens Advice, Caerphilly Blaenau Gwent, was absolutely indispensable to me. I don't know how I would have gotten started without it.

I completed and submitted the form, and then I shut down my new UC portal and went swimming, to try to forget for a couple of hours that I had just severed my old ESA claim.

I did not notice until later the next day that I had missed an appointment at the local Jobcentre earlier that morning, an invitation to bring in the requisite proofs to verify my ID.
They had contacted me a couple of hours after I submitted my form. For some reason, the emails had gone straight into my Junk email folder, and my phone had not notified me either.

During this early stage, keep regularly checking all your emails/UC account!

I contacted the sender as soon as I found the message. She was just trying to help me get it over and done with, and was not cross that I had missed my appointment. She made another appt for today.

It took a lot of effort to get through the Jobcentre door.
Once inside, I was surprised to find myself treated with courtesy and kindness by security and staff.
Proof of identity was soon established, and then I was told when I could expect to receive notification of amount entitled, when I could expect to receive first payment, and how to apply for a loan.
I was told that I would not be expected to look for work.

I would like to thank Benefits and Work, and Citizens Advice, Caerphilly Blaenau Gwent.

Droopy.

Dear Steve,
No, thanks to you, and Welsh Citizens Advice. This seemed like a huge, impossible job, but with your help I was able to break it down into manageable tasks and get through them.
If this account helps a few people I will be very glad. I know some people will have a hard time of it - there are far too many variables for it to be otherwise - but it did not seem, realistically, that everything had been set up deliberately against me.
They were nice to me at the Jobcentre. I can't get over that. Even if I don't get any money, it will almost have been worth it for that ... wait and see?
Love and best wishes,
Droopy