Weekly Signing On Again At Jobcentre for Six Weeks

Truegho

Having been out of work now since Jan, I have to attend the jobcente for the next six weeks as a weekly signer. It is depressing enough having to attend every fortnight, but even more so having to go down there every week!

I thought they were going to scrap signing on altogether and bring out a system whereby you could sign online without having to physically attend the jobcentre. Did this fall through or something?

custardy

why do they change it?
are they not happy with your efforts for finding work or what?

dmg24

Why not take this as an opportunity to adapt your attitude - they are trying to help you find work, I would be grateful, not see it as an inconvenience.

custardy

dmg24 wrote: »

Why not take this as an opportunity to adapt your attitude - they are trying to help you find work, I would be grateful, not see it as an inconvenience.

something i wondered about (i know nothing of this)
do they pay travel costs to go and sign on? as in the OP is traveling to their office more often now,so costs will increase

SueC_2

custardy wrote: »

something i wondered about (i know nothing of this)
do they pay travel costs to go and sign on? as in the OP is traveling to their office more often now,so costs will increase

They don't pay travel costs for your 'normal' fortnightly sign. But they do for the 'extra' ones.

custardy

ah right,well thats fair enough
i know its only a few quid but it all adds up on low income
i dont think you can really complain about attending.in real terms you are employed by the DWP and attending whatever they ask is part of the job

vaporate

dmg24 wrote: »

Why not take this as an opportunity to adapt your attitude - they are trying to help you find work, I would be grateful, not see it as an inconvenience.

LOL yeh right. It is so the UK gov can keep check of your honesty that you really are looking for work. All it does is cost you money in travel money which you cant claim back if your signing on that day.

Waste of time from someone who had to do it many months ago.

Arg

dmg24 wrote: »

Why not take this as an opportunity to adapt your attitude - they are trying to help you find work, I would be grateful, not see it as an inconvenience.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves.This six weeks of weekly signing is little more than a DWP tickbox execise.

custardy wrote: »

ah right,well thats fair enough
i know its only a few quid but it all adds up on low income
i dont think you can really complain about attending.in real terms you are employed by the DWP and attending whatever they ask is part of the job

No it isn't.He just has to meet the criteria of what he's entitled too.

custardy

Arg wrote: »

Let's not get ahead of ourselves.This six weeks of weekly signing is little more than a DWP tickbox execise.



No it isn't.He just has to meet the criteria of what he's entitled too.

and that criteria is whatever they set isnt it?

v0id

vaporate wrote: »

LOL yeh right. It is so the UK gov can keep check of your honesty that you really are looking for work. All it does is cost you money in travel money which you cant claim back if your signing on that day.

Waste of time from someone who had to do it many months ago.

It's supposed to be so they can spend some time helping you in your jobsearch, as during the regular fortnightly signing there's not enough time as there's too many claimants.

You'll usually find they arrange for the 'extra signing day' between 8 and 9 in the morning or 6 and 8 in the evening

Druagh

OP

Since you've been claiming JSA since January it sounds like you've hit the 13 Week mark. At this point weekly signing is standard for everyone. Advisors had discretion until recently, but it's now mandatory whatever the JCP staff think of your 'jobsearch'.

As an Advisor I explain, as best I can, what's happening each 13 week interview, but then I work in a small town office where I generally have the time I need to do my job properly. I can only assume that you sign at a busier Jobcentre where the Advisor is not allowed the time to explain the process.

The Government's reasoning is that more than 50% of people claiming JSA find work (or otherwise sign-off) by this point. Since your 'self-directed' jobsearch has not been successful so far, the JCP is required to intervene more often to 'guide' your actions.

You are entitled to ask for reasonable travel expenses on the 'off-cycle' weeks.

Druagh