Kicked off A4e and then wrestled out of job center.

wishface

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Many of the Welfare Rights Charities will also help with filling in forms.

I can see why JC staff are not allowed to. What if they filled it in wrong (because they were untrained/did not have all the details/just made a human error) and the person lost Benefit over it?

The box where it says to tick if someone had filled it in for you may equally include a family member filling it in for people who are unable to do so themselves. I filled a Housing Benefit form in for a friend once and ticked that box. It's not for JC employees.

It isn't about getting a JC staffperson to fill it in for them (despite what some shortsighted people think). It's about giving some assistance so the person concerned can understand and do it themselves. What a lovely society where we pilliory people who have trouble filling in a form. That's shameful.

Oldernotwiser

wishface wrote: »

It isn't about getting a JC staffperson to fill it in for them (despite what some shortsighted people think). It's about giving some assistance so the person concerned can understand and do it themselves. What a lovely society where we pilliory people who have trouble filling in a form. That's shameful.

Nobody's pilloried anyone about anything! It's about acting appropriately and professionally, not waffling about being touchy feely.

You have no idea of the levels of accountability that occur in the public services - teachers aren't even allowed to cuddle a crying child these days!

seven-day-weekend

I do know a few people who would have trouble filling in forms and it is a shame (imo) that there is not always a person appointed at the JC who can help with this.

There are others who can help though as mentioned above.

However, that is no reason to berate JC staff and call them names. It's not their fault if such a facility is not provided. They are doing the job that is required of them and if they have been told not to help fill in forms, they can't do it.

'Not taking no for an answer ' is not really helpful in these circumstances. It's like throwing a fit in your pharmacy because they don't sell fish and chips.

WhatFrickingUsernameIsnt

Job Center staff fill these forms in all the time, in fact on Wednesday when I was given the wrong forms to fill in, they filled in the correct forms for me. Not that any forms need have been filled in at all, since I was not making a new claim, but try telling them that. I notice today that I have indeed had the "three days" deducted from my payment because they have in effect stopped and started a new claim, they have not taken the fact I was in into consideration at all.

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

'Not taking no for an answer ' is not really helpful in these circumstances. It's like throwing a fit in your pharmacy because they don't sell fish and chips.

No, it's like calling JB and Sons Pharmacy Ltd to confirm they are a Chip Shop, having them tell you yes, spending your last £1.20 to travel across the city to get there only for them to say "Sorry sir, we're a pharmacy, AND NO DRINKING!".

The day I went in they did nothing but make me an appointment, something which could have been done over the phone. I was told to attend any time within 6 days to have my issue delt with. When I got there on Monday they did nouthing at all for me. They even lied and said I had missed an appointment for the previous Friday, which I have confirmed was never the case.

Oldernotwiser

WhatFrickingUsernameIsnt wrote: »

Job Center staff fill these forms in all the time, in fact on Wednesday when I was given the wrong forms to fill in, they filled in the correct forms for me. Not that any forms need have been filled in at all, since I was not making a new claim, but try telling them that. I notice today that I have indeed had the "three days" deducted from my payment because they have in effect stopped and started a new claim, they have not taken the fact I was in into consideration at all.



No, it's like calling JB and Sons Pharmacy Ltd to confirm they are a Chip Shop, having them tell you yes, spending your last £1.20 to travel across the city to get there only for them to say "Sorry sir, we're a pharmacy, AND NO DRINKING!".

The day I went in they did nothing but make me an appointment, something which could have been done over the phone. I was told to attend any time within 6 days to have my issue delt with. When I got there on Monday they did nouthing at all for me. They even lied and said I had missed an appointment for the previous Friday, which I have confirmed was never the case.

Most of the comments on here haven't been about your situation but that of the woman mentioned by , I think, LUFC(?). Those are the forms being referred to.

FlyingDutchman

Widelats wrote: »

OP if the jobcentre give you interviews that are not on your signing day you are entitled to your fares back, if you give them a reciept they will give you them.

I was told that this was only if the travelling was of a certain distance (in my case outside of the M25).

FlyingDutchman

Stolen_Soul wrote: »

Really?

My mate lost his job last August. He attended the job centre. Started to claim JSA. They mentioned A4E to him. Told him it wasn't compulsory. He could attend if he wanted but if he decided not to, it wouldn't affect his JSA.

Strange as roughly 50% of the people I was on the course with were told different. ALL the Job Centres really need to be clear on this point, not just a few of them. Even the people running the course said it wasn't compulsory and were quite surprised at people's comments to the contrary.

To add: I'm currently doing voluntary work for a mental health charity as it breaks up the week and also there will be a personal reference at the end of it. I'm cutting hedges and grass, and decorating, mainly at Health Centres, so it also keeps me fit and I enjoy it.

I'm also doing a night course twice a week at a local college and would recommend everyone to sign up for something like this as the fee is GREATLY reduced whilst unemployed (you only pay the admin fee). This is one thing that the government are doing right.

OK, I realise that the additional skills are no guarantee of a job but it does increase my chances at the very least. I've been unemployed for almost a year now I'm considering signing up for a full time course next term but then this will be out of my own pocket and I will have to find the funding somehow. I was told by the JC that a Career Development Loan was the way to go but I'm not sure.

P.S. Being unemployed is a humbling experience and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Oldernotwiser

FlyingDutchman wrote: »

Being unemployed for almost a year now I'm considering signing up for a full time course next term but then this will be out of my own pocket and I will have to find the funding somehow. I was told by the JC that a Career Development Loan was the way to go but I'm not sure.

Congratulations on doing all the right things since being unemployed - I'm sure they'll pay off soon.

Depending on your existing qualifications you may well not have to pay fees for a full time course; the college Student Services will be able to let you know about this. Unfortunately you won't be able to claim JSA whilst doing it as you'll no longer be available for work.

I'd be very wary about taking out a CDL; theu have their place in the great scheme of things but they have to be repaid, whether the course leads to a job or not. They're quite a different thing from a Student Loan which someone going to university would be eligible for.

Widelats

balajo wrote: »

I don't understand most organisations and how they operate and or how the people working in them sleep at night.

Lots of beer, bet they sleep quite well. . :beer:

Widelats

FlyingDutchman wrote: »

I was told that this was only if the travelling was of a certain distance (in my case outside of the M25).

Not what i got told, i asked if i can get my fares back from screwed up interview dates they messed up on, i was told yes if i have a bus ticket, i have no idea about distance rules.