I, Daniel Blake Page #2

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Well, that's fine, but you'll have to first

request a mandatory reconsideration.

What the bloody hell does that mean?

It means the decision

maker will reconsider it

and if he comes to the same

decision, you can then appeal.

Right, well put us down for that, then.

Okay, sir, but you must wait

to get a call from the decision maker.

Why?

To tell you what the decision is.

But that's already been decided.

It is, but you're supposed to get the call,

before the letter.

Well, is he gonna change his mind?

No, the call's just to discuss the decision.

Well, I know what the decision is,

I've got the letter here in front of us.

D'you want us to read it to you?

But he should have called you first.

But he didn't.

But he should have.

Well unless we've got a time machine,

we're pretty much knackered,

divvent you agree?

Er, he has to call you first, sir.

Listen,

can you not just put him on now,

so I don't have to waste any more time?

I can't do that, sir.

Where is he?

He'll give you a call back when he, er,

- he gets the chance.

- When?

I don't know, sir.

This is ridiculous, man.

On the one hand, Jobseeker's Allowance,

only for those able and ready to work.

But if you're ill, you have to apply

for Employment and Support,

get an assessment carried out.

Well, I've done that

but they've knocked us back.

Right, well if you've been

deemed fit for work,

your only option is Jobseeker's Allowance.

Or proceed with the appeal on

Employment and Support.

Well, can you give me a form for...

You know, erm, Jobseeker's Allowance

and then an appeal form

Employment and Support?

You have to apply online, sir.

I cannot do that.

Well that's how it is, sir.

Or you can phone the helpline.

Listen, you know,

you give me a plot of land,

I can build you a house.

But I've never been

anywhere near a computer.

D'you know what, we're digital by default.

Oh, here we gan.

I hear this all the time on the phone,

"I'm digital by default."

Well I'm pencil by default.

Look, I mean, what happens

if you just cannae do it?

There's a special number

if you've been diagnosed as dyslexic.

Right, well can you give us that?

Cos with computers I'm dyslexic.

You'll find it online, sir.

I must ask you to leave now,

if you've got no appointment.

Right, can I help you?

Yeah, I'm here to see about

changing my work coach.

Thomas Armstrong, please.

Hang on a minute, Thomas, hang on.

Erm, would you like to take a seat?

Oh, I just need a minute. I just felt...

I'm just feeling dizzy, you know.

- Come and sit down.

- Oh, cheers, thanks.

Could you move up, please, love?

Thanks, pet, thank you.

- All right. I'll just get you a glass of water.

- Thank you.

Oh, thank you, pet. Thank you.

Are you all right? You look a bit pale.

It's just so bloody confusing,

all the jargon.

I mean, there must be some mistake.

I'm just ganning round and round in circles.

I've, I've really gotta

get this sorted out.

Oh I can understand that,

but you were late.

Thomas. You sit here

and drink your water, pet.

Thank you.

So now you're gonna sanction me so, er...

- No, I'm not gonna sanction you.

- I may not get any money for a month.

I'm gonna refer you to the decision maker

and they'll make the decision

- on whether they're gonna sanction you.

- That's ridiculous...

I'm not actually making the decision,

they're gonna do that.

And then if they do decide

to sanction you,

then you will take a 40%

cut in your benefits.

I know what it is,

I don't need you to explain it to me.

- I'm more than aware...

- Well there isn't anything else

anybody can do today.

So what I'm gonna have to do is,

look, I think I'm...

I've decided to...

Are you gonna put me in for a sanction?

I have to, I have to follow the rules.

And the thing is if you're gonna,

be aggressive with me

- then I'm gonna have to ask you...

- It's not about me being aggressive.

- I'm gonna have to ask you to leave.

- I'm trying to explain to you a situation

and you don't care.

- Er, security. Security?

- I don't know why people like you do this job.

I'm referring you to the decision maker.

It's all the same thing.

I don't wanna hear your language

- I, I beg your pardon.

- Listen, I, I'm sorry, love,

- but you're gonna have to leave.

- Yeah, all right, frankly,

take your hands off me.

I'm gonna speak to the manager,

- I don't wanna speak to you.

- The fact is I'm just trying to explain...

- Sorry?

- I'm just explaining...

Well it's not you I wanna speak to...

- You can go back up there.

- Right, come and talk to me then

- if you've got something to say.

- Okay. Sorry.

All right.

I've tried to explain to the woman,

I've never been to Newcastle before.

We've just moved up here from London.

I've been here a few days,

I don't know where I'm going. Okay?

I was on the bus, it's gone the wrong way.

We've run, got off the bus,

run so that I wasn't any more late.

She just don't wanna know and now she's telling

me she's gonna refer me for a sanction.

What I want you to do is listen to me. Okay?

The lady's told you what's right.

There's rules here,

rules that we have to stick to. Okay?

- It isn't against you, but you have a duty.

- Oh, mate, listen,

- I'm not saying it's against me.

- You have a duty to be here on time.

And I'm explaining to you

why I wasn't here on time.

- D'you know what? I understand, right...

- I got lost.

But what I gather now

is the decision maker...

The decision maker's gonna be

sending you a letter through the post.

So you're gonna have to wait for that.

- And then nobody...

- Yeah, I've got... My kids

have gotta start school tomorrow.

I've got about 12 quid in my purse.

- D'you know what?

- All because you can't just calm down

- and listen to people when they talk.

- Right.

- You have to do this.

- Right, d'you know what,

- I've listened to you. You've created a scene.

- With your rules.

- I think you need to...

- I've created a scene?

- You need to leave the building.

- If I was gonna create a scene,

you'd know about it, trust me.

I'm sorry, love,

but you are gonna have to go.

This is ridiculous.

- Jesus Christ!

- What am I supposed to do?

- Who's first in this queue?

- I am.

D'you mind if this young lass signs on first?

- No, no, you carry on.

- There you go.

Now you can go back to your

desk and let her sign on

and do the job that the taxpayer

pays you for.

- This is a bloody disgrace.

- Listen, all right,

this doesn't have to involve you.

Everybody's trying to do their job here

and you're creating more of a scene again.

But, look, you're not listening to her.

She's out of the area.

She's just been a few minutes...

Can you not let her sign on?

She's got two kids with her, man.

- What's wrong with you people?

- Right, listen, this isn't your concern.

I want you to get out as well. All right?

I need you to leave.

We need to do this right. Yeah.

- All right.

- Listen, listen, listen...

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