Roma abuse case setudy: Eva’s story

MY name is Eva and I have lived in Scotland for six years. I have had many temporary jobs since I have arrived, but since last summer I have really struggled to find any work so in November I applied for Job Seeker’s Allowance.

My local Jobcentre was the Laurieston Jobcentre. I went for an interview there but after two weeks I received a letter saying that I am not entitled to JSA because I didn’t pass the residency test. I appealed in April and I got another letter saying that the appeal had been successful and my payment should be backdated from November.

After the first decision, which was negative, I went to the Laurieston Jobcentre to sign up but they took my jobseeker’s book and said not to come back again because I am not entitled to JSA.

After I came back with my new decision in April they asked me for my JSA book to check all my signatures and the search for jobs. They didn’t believe me when I told them that they told me not to come to sign up again.

Only when I took a community worker with me was there a willingness to sort out the problem. I have found their approach to me to be very negative, talking to me like I’m an idiot and even suspecting that I lie to them just because I am Roma.