Cancelling Back to Work Appointment

Fleabite

Hello everyone

I am starting work on Monday 28 February. :j

However, I have been booked into a Back to Work session on Thursday 24 February.

When I signed on today the advisor said that I would still have to attend the session to be able to claim any outstanding money due to me.

The letter outlining the session indicates this is as the title suggests, different ways to find work - but I don't need to as I already have a job to go to!

Obviously I could sign off on Wednesday 23 February, but as I will have a month to wait before I get paid every penny will help!

So, what I would really like to know if I telephoned to say I couldn't go due to interview, sickness etc etc whether DWP will check on my excuse.

I know I could just go even though it would be a waste of time, but it's not the easiest (or cheapest) of journeys to make and I just don't see the point.

Thanks for any advice.

FB

Indie_Kid

If you want your benefits, you have to do what you've been told to do.

MrsManda

You could call the person you have the appointment with and ask if they can rearrange it - explain that you feel that it'll be a waste of their time as you already have a job and would be signing off 4 days later.
They may be able to rearrange so it looks like you are willing to attend but you then end your JSA claim.

But if they can't/won't then chalk it up to being one of the things you need to do if you want to continue receiving benefits. It's hardly a big issue.

Person_one

Just go and put up with it for an hour, its fairly painless just incredibly boring.

I had to go to mine while I was waiting for a CRB check to start a new job but couldn't afford to go without any money until my first payday! I also had to go to a 'Stage 2 Interview' and start weekly signings. Its a pain but if you need the money there isn't really an option, believe me I tried!

dark_lady

yes you will be a victim of them having a bureaucratic tantrum if you dont go.

morganedge

I'd just go to it personally.
Obviously it's a waste of time, but it would also have been a waste of time if you didn't have a job lined up.
Just sit there for 30mins watching the guy bore everybody, and then leave. done. Its really quite painless.

porrahman

dark_lady wrote: »

yes you will be a victim of them having a bureaucratic tantrum if you dont go.

Not so i'm afraid but they would lose their benefits.Unfortunately a small % of people are liberal with the truth and spoil it for everyone so the powers that be impose blanket conditions which affect everyone.

Anyway, Well done to the op on finding work, go to the meeting and remember that on the 28th of Feb you'll be free from it all :j

morganedge

what's the job, OP?

shikoku

I could derive considerable pleasure out of attending one of these and advising them: '...as you are fully aware I have already found a job.'

Following through with how 'disappointed' I was that scarce money and resources were being wasted on me and ending with ' perhaps I should have a word with my MP, there are certainly savings to made here, does it really need two people?'

cassieB57

if you dont go, you will be given a form to complete giving your reasons. This will then be passed to a decision Maker to consider whether you had good reason for not attending. If they decide you did not, they will impose a 1 week sanction, by which time you may already have signed off. But then again, if the start date of your job is delayed for any reason you may find yourself without benefit . The way I see it is; if you had a job, and gave notice because you had another job, you would still be expected to turn up for work and do your normal job if you wanted to be paid during your notice period. If you want to be paid JSa, you have to satisfy the conditions of entitlement and this means being available and actively seeking work right up to your last day of unemployment. (Even if you only look for temporary jobs) Jobcentre staff have to apply the rules; they dont get any choice in the matter.