JSA Help Please, can they change my agreement?

hazelc_3

Hi

Wonder if anyone can help, just over 2 weeks ago i went to claim JSA, (never claimed before). The lady was very helpful, set up the agreement and i signed it.

I went in Monday just gone to sign on and they said they want me back this Friday, and ad hoc interview to amend the agreement. The original lady had NOT put in the agreement that i had to apply for 3 jobs a week, but she said to me at the time realistically the type of work i'm looking for they won't come up like that in the area. I am doing everything possible to get a job, i am registered with 7 recruitment agencies, i am checking the internet loads of sites daily, papers etc.

Can they change the agreement before 13 weeks if my circumstances haven't changed, just because they feel like it?

If i was sat back doing nothing i could understand their approach but i'm not.

The other thing i'm not sure about is the 1 hour they expect you to travel is 1hr to work 1hr back or 1hr both ways?

Many thanks for any replies:(

robpw2

hazelc wrote: »

Hi

Wonder if anyone can help, just over 2 weeks ago i went to claim JSA, (never claimed before). The lady was very helpful, set up the agreement and i signed it.

I went in Monday just gone to sign on and they said they want me back this Friday, and ad hoc interview to amend the agreement. The original lady had NOT put in the agreement that i had to apply for 3 jobs a week, but she said to me at the time realistically the type of work i'm looking for they won't come up like that in the area. I am doing everything possible to get a job, i am registered with 7 recruitment agencies, i am checking the internet loads of sites daily, papers etc.

Can they change the agreement before 13 weeks if my circumstances haven't changed, just because they feel like it?

If i was sat back doing nothing i could understand their approach but i'm not.

The other thing i'm not sure about is the 1 hour they expect you to travel is 1hr to work 1hr back or 1hr both ways?

Many thanks for any replies:(

if your doing everything possible to look for a job why does it matter that you have to apply for a minimum of three a week ..

flutterbybutterfly

It is more likely they meant 3 specific different job searching activities per week. Have you been given a permitted period? In other words restricting your job search to your usual occupation? If you don't have an established usual occupation you will need to be willing to look for anything you can reasonably do. It is unusual to ask you in outside of your normal attendance pattern this early on in your claim, but you can be asked to attend an interview at any time. Travelling time is each way.

hazelc_3

Hi

Three jobs in this area won't come up every week and if they do they are likely to advertised by the agencies i am already registered with, so it will be impossible for me show i have applied for three jobs every week.

I am still in the first 13 week period, and she definitely said she wanted it amended to say i apply for 3 jobs every week...

robpw2

hazelc wrote: »

Hi

Three jobs in this area won't come up every week and if they do they are likely to advertised by the agencies i am already registered with, so it will be impossible for me show i have applied for three jobs every week.

I am still in the first 13 week period, and she definitely said she wanted it amended to say i apply for 3 jobs every week...

what area of the country are you in ? i bet i could find 3 jobs easily or is what your really saying is that you only want a specific job and are not intrested in appplying for anything else.

clb776

hazelc wrote: »

Hi

Three jobs in this area won't come up every week and if they do they are likely to advertised by the agencies i am already registered with, so it will be impossible for me show i have applied for three jobs every week.

I am still in the first 13 week period, and she definitely said she wanted it amended to say i apply for 3 jobs every week...

you don't have to apply for 3 jobs a week...you have to do 3 job searching things per week (i.e. check internet, look in shop windows, call employers, call jcp etc). Its probably more because you haven't been 'told' this so they want to make sure you are aware of it, and you just need to make sure you write it all in that little booklet.

I have been claiming JSA for almost 6 months now and can say my book has only been checked about 3 times...so sometimes it seems a bit of a pointless task to me...but you need to have the 'proof' of what you have done so that you can provide evidence that you have been sticking to your jsa agreement.

Good luck with the job search!

hazelc_3

Yes I have put down the job i am qualified to do, i know after 13 weeks i will have to apply for anything which is fair enough, but why all the hassle now

hazelc_3

Hi clb776

They had already put on the agreement 5 steps already, and i have filled my book following all those steps. They said the lady who had seen me dealt with 18-25 year olds... and that she should have put in my agreement i had to apply for 3 jobs every week...

Thanks for all the replies.

dookar

Yes they can change it. In turn, you have the right to dispute the change and have a decision maker look at the agreement.

The decision maker will do one of three things: decide the adviser's Jsag is reasonable and enforce it, decide your alternative is reasonable and enforce it, make up one of their own.

Regardless of what is on the agreement, if it doesn't comply with the law it cannot be enforced. The law does not require you to apply for any set number of jobs

hazelc_3

Hi Dookar

Thanks very much that is good to know.

Hazelc

dmg24

dookar wrote: »

Regardless of what is on the agreement, if it doesn't comply with the law it cannot be enforced. The law does not require you to apply for any set number of jobs

I agree, however it does state that the Jobseeker cannot limit their options unreasonably, there has to be a reasonable chance of finding employment. The DM may consider it from this angle, rather than a straightforward 'must apply for x jobs per week'.