Benefit of the doubt

Last week Cicero had to call to cancel a benefit on behalf of Senex Pater

Now you would think that in this day and age with the Two Caesars committed to reducing the amount of money provided by us, the taxpayer, for re-distribution to the supposedly less deserving, this would be an easy, straightforward and unquestioning thing to do. Far from it.

As always with these things Cicero had to speak to a script reading Apparatchik via the telephony device. And as always said Apparatchik was struck mute when the conversation deviated from the script.

Firstly it seems that the benefit was being cancelled a day early and supposedly could not be cancelled until and not before the change of circumstances happened ‘just in case something prevented it happening, sir.’

Does it matter? Does it really matter?

Seemingly this is vitally important to the Apparatchik minions who man these call centres who want to be 100% certain that we are all getting the taxpayer funded benefits we are entitled to. And to think that there are actually people out there who think this is a heartless government motivated by nothing except delivering painful and heartless benefit cuts. Even if this were the case the message clearly has not yet got through to the lower ranks who are clearly off script on this.

And then I had to prove that Pater’s circumstances had changed to the extent that he was no longer entitled to the benefit. It is right that people have to prove that they are entitled to taxpayer provided largesse but one would have thought that the Apparatchiks would be rubbing their hands in glee at saving a few bawbees. 

Why did they need proof?

Naturally Cicero questioned the efficacy of such a process. But seemingly these procedures have been personally put in place by one or either or even both of the Two Caesars. Yes, she genuinely and really did believe that our Two Caesars have enough time on their hands and even the inclination to develop such policies and practices. These days one of them might have time on his hands but the other most certainly does not.

Cicero did not have the heart to put her right.

Sis felix. Et sis fortunatus.