Mandatory Work Activity

eskimo26

yappycat wrote: »

Had a Pathways to work interview today where I was told that the Mandatory Work Activity Scheme will be applied not only to JSA claimants but to ESA (with LCW status) claimants too. To her obvious discomfort the advisor I was speaking with had absolutely no idea as to what the criteria would be for 'mandating' (read forcing) people into participation but from what I read here: http://www.workprogramme.org.uk/201104011169/mandatory-work-activity-scheme.html it doesn't sound very inviting. The advisor's comment of 'they want people to work for free' didn't instill any jolly thoughts either. Sounds very much to me like this government is attempting to create a pool of slave labour from the unemployed, and quite possibly the sick and disabled too

From the end of April 2011, the Conservatives are going to surprise Jobseekers Allowance claimants. No, they aren’t going to increase their benefit. A new employment programme scheme called the “Mandatory Work Activity Scheme” will kick in. It is identical to the 4 week Mandatory Work Related Activity period on Flexible New Deal, but with some differences:-

• It is a standalone workfare employment programme scheme that all JSA claimants may be subject to from Day 1 of their claim (no minimum entry)
• There is no clause preventing a person to be requested to complete it unlimited times
• Minimum sanction (first) for refusal, lateness, or failure to “actively participate” is 3 months (13 weeks)
• Maximum sanction stands at 6 months. Considering this is lasting only a month its probable to get. It is also possible for a person to get two sanctions in one scheme (i.e. for lateness, failure to actively participate etc.)
• Unlike the MWRA period on Flexible New Deal where an adviser and the “customer” can negotiate valuable experience on such work experience placement, this is likely to be more workfare: participant has little choice of choosing where to work and such might be unrelated to his or hers job goals or past experience
• Claimant has only 5 days to appeal to a sanction

ESA wrag claimants on the work programme are exempt from any work related activity, are you saying this will change and if so when? None of your links talk about this as far as i'm aware.

flexrider

Richardsct wrote: »

To nannytone you obviously cant do simple sums! there are too many in many areas to do the things suggested, and yes in my opinion you are bigoted, you described yourself as once being a single parent there are many who are VERY prejudiced against this group(i'm not one)

As regards who you vote for that sort of candidate seems to be the type that will say what people want to hear!

To simply make everyone who is out of work do something for their benefit WITHOUT reference to their abilities, aspirations, type of work they are looking for etc will backfire - the dole lines will still be there. What will happen in many cases is they WILL be used as CHEAP labour.

We need to start at the beginning - education should be matched to the jobs market not on simply a 'pass' in a worthless subject that employers do not want - employers have told me most youngsters they have seen have trouble with basic spelling - yet the pass rate for GCSE's last summer at my old school was almost 100% - send fewer to the pretend universities (the old polytechnics!) and those less academically inclined into proper vocational training.

It is simple to spot those who don't want to work - sanction them by all means.

Those that do - help through training and GENUINE work placements that will further their prospects of STAYING in work-one thing I do agree with is that those operating the new work programme will be paid by results and will monitor clients even after they have found work to try to make sure they keep it

BUT DON'T TAR EVERYONE WITH THE SAME BRUSH!

Thanks for the debate I've enjoyed it!

Give the Guy a chance he told everyone is suffers with Sight Problems and from what i have read so far everyone has attacked him for writing in bold But he does rise a point Most of the training and courses availabile are/Or been designed by the past goverment I had before i started my own businesses been on that rocky road where people make assumptions That Good working will keep you fit and heatly which is useless look at how the press have reported sending people back to work with terminal illnesses such as cancer,Too weak feeble people of society branded as Chavs and lazy ********* yet in heindsight the goverment have made a benefit system harder to get support, Why they never just brought back the workhouses i will never know.


This Goverment dont care They just want money and Decifit cutting which is causing the problem. 2.67 million out of work as for doing maths i beleive thats 7-10 applying for one job meaning 5 wont get it being in a revolving Door with benefits

while the goverment says its done better then the last (Blaming the faults as usual on the last goverement since most goverments do since 1960-1970's with the first recession and labour) anyhow the goverments excuses are running out of road yes they have been in for 18 months but to acheive investment you cut taxes to attract jobs to come to england and invest here. Not give it all to someone for instances A4E which treat people like kids in school, My partner had been on that a4e and you know what was taught....How to write a cv(Which she can do well is a English degree major beforehand) and how to doodle a peace of paper.

When will this goverment learn is beyond belief.

flexrider

eskimo26 wrote: »

ESA wrag claimants on the work programme are exempt from any work related activity, are you saying this will change and if so when? None of your links talk about this as far as i'm aware.

Esa wrag may still have to attend interviews at the jobcentre,

My Brothers youngest(21 years old) just been through all this.

He has epliisey and suffer very bad with this but they have placed him into the work related group with interviews, from what he gathers he has 12 months before they say he is fit and well and be forced into a non excistance pittifull job he may or may not keep because of his condition. they seem to ignore the GP requests on appeal and confirmation of disability.

Makes no sense at all but its the life we lead this goverment are moddeling american big business private healthcares kicking the people it suppost to protect for a few quid more.

eskimo26

flexrider wrote: »

Esa wrag may still have to attend interviews at the jobcentre,

My Brothers youngest(21 years old) just been through all this.

Your confusing me now, yes they have to attend every couple of months to engage in work related activity. With regards to all the links about the work programme I am in the WRAG and i am on it NOW, probably one of the 1st group to be put on a compulsory basis.

Now they give you a leaflet at the job centre about WRAG on the work programme that states the following rules:
1/ The claimant cannot be made to do ANY work activity.
2/ The claimant cannot be forced to do ANY job seeking.
3/ The claimant cannot be forced into treatment for their condition.

The only thing they are allowed to do is work related activity [interview technique, etc.] but they make a claimant attend as often as they wish, so they could aggressively bully the client in this respect, someone with CFS for example would have a relapse under those conditions. But my lot at pertemps despite being useless only see me once a month.

Sounds like the OP's adviser was poorly trained?

flexrider

eskimo26 wrote: »

Your confusing me now, yes they have to attend every couple of months to engage in work related activity. With regards to all the links about the work programme I am in the WRAG and i am on it NOW, probably one of the 1st group to be put on a compulsory basis.

Now they give you a leaflet at the job centre about WRAG on the work programme that states the following rules:
1/ The claimant cannot be made to do ANY work activity.
2/ The claimant cannot be forced to do ANY job seeking.
3/ The claimant cannot be forced into treatment for their condition.

The only thing they are allowed to do is work related activity [interview technique, etc.] but they make a claimant attend as often as they wish, so they could aggressively bully the client in this respect, someone with CFS for example would have a relapse under those conditions. But my lot at pertemps despite being useless only see me once a month.

Sounds like the OP's adviser was poorly trained?

Which leads onto a point why chuck good money making someone attend a sick person to go interview skills if they aint being considered or asked to look for a job? You missed my post entirley My nethew Is severly ill and always having Fits, Yet like you just confirmed they are preparing him for work interviews which like you stated he does not need to look for work(From writing this he has been placed in support group now)

As for a trained Advisor....Well the jobcentre aint had any of them for while in fact many JSA staff as i recall was on strike recently and some made redundent in the call centres thats why when you call you can never get through to someone and plenty of excuses to boot form many staff when you do

john539

flexrider wrote: »

Which leads onto a point why chuck good money making someone attend a sick person to go interview skills if they aint being considered or asked to look for a job? You missed my post entirley My nethew Is severly ill and always having Fits, Yet like you just confirmed they are preparing him for work interviews which like you stated he does not need to look for work(From writing this he has been placed in support group now)

As for a trained Advisor....Well the jobcentre aint had any of them for while in fact many JSA staff as i recall was on strike recently and some made redundent in the call centres thats why when you call you can never get through to someone and plenty of excuses to boot form many staff when you do

It's the system, the system is stupid.

They have to tick the boxes, get the stats, get the outcomes, cover their ar ses, get the money.

flexrider

john539 wrote: »

It's the system, the system is stupid.

They have to tick the boxes, get the stats, get the outcomes, cover their ar ses, get the money.

So True i agree with your valid comment kick someone in need down so a Goverment can say we have reduced the Benefits system and like my old comment on here blame the Goverment before,and gracefully lie to get Votes in the General electrion. In the word of Ocsar Wilde



“Democracy means simply the bludgeoning of the people by the people for the people.”





The whole system needs a reform but a cost that is sensible a couple of months ago we was all told we was all in this together and Bare-faced Cheek of the Coalition to suggest to us to Pay our debt and Get on our bikes and look for Work when the climate is alost 3million out of work and sinking per day.

john539

flexrider wrote: »

Which leads onto a point why chuck good money making someone attend a sick person to go interview skills if they aint being considered or asked to look for a job?

If the system says your nephew has to attend course, that's what they'll say he has to do, as they have to tick the boxes & follow the system.

If you tell the advisor it's a waste of time, they'll probably agree and just say system says he has to do it, so it's easiest for everyone if he does it.

flexrider

John he does not attend now he is in the support Group my friend after a appeal decison which my Brother sent all his GP and nurologist support on his condition. But i do find the system revolting that making sick or ill people turn up for interviews when there not being put forward for jobs or work, I know this Benefits system is being milked by many fakers but there more of a current cost to operate this way we have now which charitys and organisations of disabiltys have cried out the faults of the system