JSA & Voluntary Work

generalcuster

Hi,

I am asking this question on behalf of one of my son-in-laws.

I am not sure if I have fully understood his position but those that claim JSA may know what I am on about.

He has to undergo a period of voluntary work for a number of weeks. Presumably to get him in the habit of going to work. He has no objection to this but has, in the past, had a bad experience with voluntary work.

I think it was in about 2000 that he decided off his own back to try and help himself by taking on some voluntary work. This was arranged through the Shaw Trust as he is disabled.
He found a place where he would like to work and the Trust/Jobcentre+ sorted it out for him. It was agreed that he would do 2 days a week working as a farm labourer - 12hr days.

Aftert a month or so, he was pressurised by the employer to increase his hours/days as it could lead to a full time job. So he did and a few more months down the line he ended up working 5, 12hr days a week.

This went on for two years - always with the promise that there would be a full time paid job at the end of it.
after approx 2 1/2 years in total of this he gave up the job as it was clear that there was never going to be a job for him and he realised that he was 'cheap' labour for the employer.

He was paid his bus fares each day and allowed 60mins for lunch, received his benefit and that was it.

He worries that the same will happen again and that he will be 'persuaded' to stay on with another offer - sometime in the future of a job. How can he be reassured that this is not the case and how is he protected from this type of emotional blackmail.

Ooops sorry missed a bit. He has found a job that he would like to do in the meantime and has shown it to the lady at the Jobcentre. It is again working for a charity (animal charity), but this time he would be paid the min rate for 2 days, but that the job description says that they would expect him to do the equivalent number of hours as well - voluntarily. Would he be right in saying no to this job? Would it affect his benefits? The job was found by him in the Jobcentre

dmg24

If something like this happens he needs to speak to his Pathways provider. They will withdraw him from a placement if it is not suitable (or indeed, legal).

generalcuster

dmg24 wrote: »

If something like this happens he needs to speak to his Pathways provider. They will withdraw him from a placement if it is not suitable (or indeed, legal).

Thanks for that, he is to be honest 'not the brightest lightbulb' around, and I know he finds difficulty in saying 'no' to people. His stock answer then was always - 'yes - I'm doing OK' - for fear of upsetting someone.

As a matter of fact is that type of action he suffered in the past - legal? He just worries that if he complains etc, it will go against him and he will lose his benefit.

dark_lady

Ten years ago New Deal wanted me to work full time for three months in Campbells soup factory for an extra 15 pounds a week on top of my benefits.
Luckily thats when i found a job in a sex chatline office which was quite well paid and i was there for two and a half years.
When i went to sign off to go to the chatline job the New Deal advisor then had the cheek to tell me that the Campbells (work for your benefits) thing was better:p
And then AFTER i had signed off and started the job (night shifts) i came in one night and my new boss told me that someone from New Deal had come to that office asking if thats where i was working! They were deliberately trying to lose me that job so i would have to sign on again and do their bloody course. Private providers of these courses get paid a commision for everyone that is forced on to these courses.Luckily my boss saw right through their little charade.
But they still had no bloody business coming there. Once i had signed off it was NOTHING to do with them.
Private providers are a bad idea.