missed? jsa back to work group session??

astronige

Hi ive just claimed jsa approx 6 weeks ago and have already :eek: got a 1 hr long (at the weekend) back to work group session and wondering what will happen if i dont attend.
has anyone missed one of theses for no reason???
thankyou

dmg24

Your claim will be sanctioned i.e. you will stop receiving any money. Why do you not want to attend?

astronige

mostly im not keen on attending a large group meeting thing really off putting that.
so would claim be cancelled if i dont go ?

dmg24

It would not be cancelled, you would still be expected to sign but for no money. The sanction could last anything from a few weeks to 26 weeks. It really is not worth missing!

marydot

I never had to attend a work group session, maybe its a new thing ? I had countless back to work interviews, but never a group session. I would of thought your claim would be cancelled or money stopped if you did not attend.

mr.savage

astronige wrote: »

Hi ive just claimed jsa approx 6 weeks ago and have already :eek: got a 1 hr long (at the weekend) back to work group session and wondering what will happen if i dont attend.
has anyone missed one of theses for no reason???
thankyou

No reason to worry, i've just had one of these.
we were told it would last an hour as well. there were about 20 of us in a room at the jobcentre, where we were talked at for about 45mins, handed a job pack, offered leaflets, asked if we had any questions. (nobody did, we all wanted to go).
didn't learn anything, if fact when they phone me for a survey again I will tell them it was a waste of 45mins of my life.

ellie101

astronige wrote: »

mostly im not keen on attending a large group meeting thing really off putting that.
so would claim be cancelled if i dont go ?

I've had one when I signed on. As Mr Savage says, nothing to worry about. They give you a brief talk. They gave me the wrong advice about interview expenses (as in you can claim afterwards, you can't for train warrants). I can't remember anything useful.

I used to get social anxiety badly, as in have medication/therapy, this did not set me off in the slightest. Not sure if that's why you're worried about it being a group thing, this was one reason I once hated groups. But this didn't cause an issue at all. Everyone just wants to get out of there.

paulofessex

Dare l say again that in my opinion the main reason for these sessions is so the Job Centre reaches its targets due to pressure from the government, hence why they also having to conduct these sessions on a weekend. Also don't be suprised if they talk alot about a local provider who can help with CV's job searches etc, in my view all those providers want is for you to register with them so they can obtain funds from the government and whilst on their register again the Job Centre can meet targets.

Call me cynical

ellie101

paulofessex wrote: »

Dare l say again that in my opinion the main reason for these sessions is so the Job Centre reaches its targets due to pressure from the government, hence why they also having to conduct these sessions on a weekend. Also don't be suprised if they talk alot about a local provider who can help with CV's job searches etc, in my view all those providers want is for you to register with them so they can obtain funds from the government and whilst on their register again the Job Centre can meet targets.

Call me cynical

Yeah, you could be right. I forgot, mine wasn't on a weekend (I find that a bit strange). I was given info about providers. I did go and see one at a later date. Unfortunately, if you have a CV done and know how to look for jobs etc they are not much use.

From my experience tend to be aimed at those just starting out. I did get one leaflet that gave me some good buzz-words on how to describe myself (honestly, it was useful!). I asked for advice on interviews, the advisor just said "I can see you're quite like me, easy-going so people may think you're not motivated even though you are". That didn't help

hermum

astronige wrote: »

Hi ive just claimed jsa approx 6 weeks ago and have already :eek: got a 1 hr long (at the weekend) back to work group session and wondering what will happen if i dont attend.
has anyone missed one of theses for no reason???
thankyou

Surely anything that is likely to help you get back into work has to be a good thing, the longer you're unemployed the more difficult it will be. Most people in your group are going to be worried about it.

busy_mom_2

dmg24 wrote: »

It would not be cancelled, you would still be expected to sign but for no money. The sanction could last anything from a few weeks to 26 weeks. It really is not worth missing!

As you are issed with a jobseeker direction to attend you will be required to put down the reasons you didn't go they will be sent to a decision maker, if you are found to not have good cause for failing to attend you will loose 1 weeks money.