Avoiding "New Deal"

Dr_DiNg_DoNg

Hi, hoping somebody can advise, I am two weeks into my gateway period on over 35's new deal.

As I understand it, after this period, I am set to go to some sort of job club scenario, work trials, etc etc etc.

It seems this is a mandatory affair, but I don't want to do it. Its going to impede my job seeking activities and be a general PITA.

Are there any ways to avoid it (apart from the obvious one like get a job) or will I have to sign off for 13 weeks and start again?

helenlb

HYA
Unfortunatley you will probably find that this is part of your job seekers agreement and as a result may get sanctioned if you dont attend. The only way around this would be if you had "good cause" not to attend, good cause is open to interpretation. If you want some more info get back to me and I will see what I can find out for you
Cheers
H

sunnyone

They are trying to make you more employable and since you havnt managed to get a job on your own whats the problem?

Unless you are a career shirker you should attend and use everthing on offer to find a job but since you are prepared to sign off for 13 weeks and start again rather than find a job, and that you are here to look for excuses to avoid the over 35 new deal I think I can work out the answer for myself.

sunnyone

c0113tt3

its a 3 strikes and you are out system, that is mainly how it works.

Advisors have their own discretion with certain interviews particulary caseload interviews inc. even good / bad cause, until you miss the 3rd interview, then its sent to a dm, and usually lose 2 weeks money, but can be more.

Mandatory interviews they tend to be more stricter upon, and more likely have to justify a good cause, for example, ill / domestic emergency (there are limits on these)

If you are a persistant non attender, they can make you come in daily to attend / sign !!

Since you have already attended the gateway, as you are aware, you would have to sign off for 3 months or even get a job !!

Dr_DiNg_DoNg

sunnyone wrote: »

They are trying to make you more employable and since you havnt managed to get a job on your own whats the problem?

Unless you are a career shirker you should attend and use everthing on offer to find a job but since you are prepared to sign off for 13 weeks and start again rather than find a job, and that you are here to look for excuses to avoid the over 35 new deal I think I can work out the answer for myself.

sunnyone

With the greatest of respect, sending me to work in a charity shop will do nothing more than stop my ongoing job seeking activities , they will be handicapping me in a very competitive market!

Dr_DiNg_DoNg

c0113tt3 wrote: »

its a 3 strikes and you are out system, that is mainly how it works.

Advisors have their own discretion with certain interviews particulary caseload interviews inc. even good / bad cause, until you miss the 3rd interview, then its sent to a dm, and usually lose 2 weeks money, but can be more.

Mandatory interviews they tend to be more stricter upon, and more likely have to justify a good cause, for example, ill / domestic emergency (there are limits on these)

If you are a persistant non attender, they can make you come in daily to attend / sign !!

Since you have already attended the gateway, as you are aware, you would have to sign off for 3 months or even get a job !!

Great, thanks for that.

healy

Dr_DiNg_DoNg wrote: »

With the greatest of respect, sending me to work in a charity shop will do nothing more than stop my ongoing job seeking activities , they will be handicapping me in a very competitive market!

If they send you to a Job Club it will greatly help your job seeking activities and you would not have to pay any postage!

Oldernotwiser

Dr_DiNg_DoNg wrote: »

With the greatest of respect, sending me to work in a charity shop will do nothing more than stop my ongoing job seeking activities , they will be handicapping me in a very competitive market!

Any work will look better on your CV compared to a long period of unemployment!

sillylittlejill

Dr_DiNg_DoNg wrote: »

With the greatest of respect, sending me to work in a charity shop will do nothing more than stop my ongoing job seeking activities , they will be handicapping me in a very competitive market!

I think you'll actually find that volunteer work makes your CV look much better and gives you a one-up on people that don't have it.

No offence intended but if you are well off enough to be able to afford to sign off JSA for 13 weeks then why did you go on it?

At the end of the day, it will only be a couple of weeks and you should think yourself lucky that you have been offered some support during your unemployment.

Dr_DiNg_DoNg

I don't want to do it though

ukdickie31

The best way to avoid New Deal is to be in work.

While that may sound obvious and not the answer you want, JSA does have conditions to be met in order for benefit to be paid.

Attendance on New Deal is mandatory.

As you are over 25, you would have normally been signing on for 18 months before being on New Deal so I would suggest that you take up the suggestions already made, ie voluntary work, just to get you back into the routine of employment.

Whatever steps you have already been taking certainly haven't worked.