You can refuse the Work Programme

WPN

donnajunkie wrote: »

well i started today. it started off ok and gradually by the end i was thinking great the same old cr*p. got there for the required 1pm and got away at 3.40pm. it started off in a room were they went through the basics. we then had to do adult directions on the computer. after that we had to answer more questions alot of which were stupid. well not questions there was a statement and you had to select whether that applies to you or not. there were things like i do not want to work agree or disagree, lol. as if you are going to agree to that. how stupid do they think people are? are they trying to catch people out with questions like that? i then had to speak to an adviser who basically resorted to the kind of thing they used to resort to. i mean the you have no chance getting what you want so think of something else routine. they called my cv cr*p even though it was made by someone in that office only a few months ago. they are putting me in for a load of pointless sessions. i am no longer allowed to do my jobsearch at home. i have to do it there. they havent told me what the minimum requirement is that they expect of me. they just said i can go anytime between 3pm and 5pm. it was only from me questioning that i discovered this. she started by saying something that i have read other people here being told. she said you have to bring your applications in so we can see what you are doing.
she is going to phone me in 2 weeks time. i asked didnt you put a time in the computer as i had noticed this but didnt see exactly what time. she said yes but refused to tell me what it was and just said she will phone me sometime on that date. so basically being a t**t and making me sit in all day waiting for call.

donna, my understanding is providers are executing DWP tricks at arm-length... you are being messed around deliberately so they can raise a benefit sanction doubt against you. This will be rising to 3 month, 6 month than 3 years (for a thrid offence) next year - something guaranteed because of the london riots etc. going on (although there is just an assumption that all rioters are unemployed which isn't true)

The intention isn't one to sanction you straight away. They want you to believe that they are disorganised etc. but the truth is its deliberate, so later on many claimants will be sanctioned within the 2 years they are with the provider. So if you arrive late or are told the wrong date (i.e. the day after) you will be reported and sanctioned automatically. This already happened under FND with Avanta TNG etc. I assume this is to continue on Work Programme - be careful not to be caught out!

The below link I found allows people already participating on the scheme to refuse the scheme... (same topic as this post)

http://intensiveactivity.wordpress.com/2011/08/09/end-of-tory-dream-work-programme-branded-illegal/

dark_lady

If claimants have a dictaphone or a record facility on their mobile phone then they need to start covertly recording ALL their meetings with providers so if they do deliberately tell you the wrong date you at least have proof of what they are up to.

donnajunkie

dark_lady wrote: »

If claimants have a dictaphone or a record facility on their mobile phone then they need to start covertly recording ALL their meetings with providers so if they do deliberately tell you the wrong date you at least have proof of what they are up to.

the problem with them functions is you need to get the thing out look at it and press a few buttons. its not easy to do without being noticed. how much memory would 30 minutes worth of recording take up? anyway i have told them i dont have a mobile phone as i dont want to be effectively on call to them all day, everyday.

LadyMissA

donnajunkie wrote: »

well i started today. it started off ok and gradually by the end i was thinking great the same old cr*p. got there for the required 1pm and got away at 3.40pm. it started off in a room were they went through the basics. we then had to do adult directions on the computer. after that we had to answer more questions alot of which were stupid. well not questions there was a statement and you had to select whether that applies to you or not. there were things like i do not want to work agree or disagree,

I did that bit last week and I couldnt do all the assement as they book EVERYONE in for the same time and do not have the space or staff for everyone to get the full 2-3 hours so have to go back to do the rest next week.

The bloke did however call me a liar when I told him the job centre do not pay for travel to agencies - did I say that before

I was told after I go next week I will only go once a mth and they will call me every other week to see how I am

DebiT

donnajunkie wrote: »

the problem with them functions is you need to get the thing out look at it and press a few buttons. its not easy to do without being noticed. how much memory would 30 minutes worth of recording take up? anyway i have told them i dont have a mobile phone as i dont want to be effectively on call to them all day, everyday.

Who is your provider?

excalibar

Hi guys. Am new here. I have an interview at Maximus through the work programme in 2 weeks time. I asked my advisor about it being mandatory or not and she was admant that it is considering the fact if you have been signing on for over a year. Now I don't mind going to work programme if it's of any help. But am curious can you really refuse this? if so then how? because I have not seen one person who got a response from the people who are meant to get the letter and respond to it. Also is it a big risk doing this as you may not get away with it? and thus get sancationed?

Can anyone tell me if Maximus are the same as other organisations part of the work programme?

and how often do you have to attend? is it possible you can come at your own hours ? for example in the afternoon and only few times a week? surely going 9-3 every weekday for 2 years is a long stretch if your just going to get the normal JSA?

cheers!

WPN

excalibar wrote: »

Hi guys. Am new here. I have an interview at Maximus through the work programme in 2 weeks time. I asked my advisor about it being mandatory or not and she was admant that it is considering the fact if you have been signing on for over a year. Now I don't mind going to work programme if it's of any help. But am curious can you really refuse this? if so then how? because I have not seen one person who got a response from the people who are meant to get the letter and respond to it. Also is it a big risk doing this as you may not get away with it? and thus get sancationed?

Can anyone tell me if Maximus are the same as other organisations part of the work programme?

and how often do you have to attend? is it possible you can come at your own hours ? for example in the afternoon and only few times a week? surely going 9-3 every weekday for 2 years is a long stretch if your just going to get the normal JSA?

cheers!

You can refuse it because its illegal. You can be sanctioned for anything at all including this - you are supposed to comply not dispute any schemes.

maximus is just one of the organisations delivering the scheme... they all are pretty much the same however.

*speculation*

Many jobs are given through the backdoor... i.e. providers have deals with employers, where certain jobs wont be advertised elsewhere but only through providers.

Most will be at a specific time rather than just turning up (jobsearch might be an exception to this). Most people (depending on provider and area etc.) will only have to meet once every week or two initially. Some people have been on "modules" which required extra attendance.

Longer term there will be fulltime workfare... this might be at 6 months or 18 months... everything is discretion based, so provider staff can choose what happens to whom... all at the penalty of benefit sanctions.

The scheme is an illegal workfare scheme without training, so at some point if you haven't got a job you will be working just for JSA. It is not about having a "job" but a job that pays... minimum wage or higher! Furthermore, in 2012 sanctions will start from 3 months, go to 6 month for second offence, and then to 3 years for a third offence. Being late, not attending (perhaps provider didn't tell you), being kicked off the scheme etc. all can get you a sanction. This is on top of sanctions for not applying for jobs - which you might not have been told about. If you refuse now, you could lose 2 weeks money (if first offence in a year) but it might be better than longterm.

donnajunkie

LadyMissA wrote: »

I did that bit last week and I couldnt do all the assement as they book EVERYONE in for the same time and do not have the space or staff for everyone to get the full 2-3 hours so have to go back to do the rest next week.

The bloke did however call me a liar when I told him the job centre do not pay for travel to agencies - did I say that before

I was told after I go next week I will only go once a mth and they will call me every other week to see how I am

i was surprised to discover there were only 2 other people there the same time as me. as they have more than 3 computers we were all able to get through all the cr*p required of us. the woman i saw that hopefully wont end up being my adviser was a silly c*w. there were 2 new starters watching and i was told one of them could end up being my adviser. i hope that turns out to be the case because they seemed alot nicer.
i am going to get a call on the 24th. i dont know what time so i may have to sit in all day.
the main issue i have now is its not clear how often they expect me to go in to do jobsearch. i really dont want to have to spend anymore time in there than necessary.

donnajunkie

DebiT wrote: »

Who is your provider?

they were tng but have become avanta.

excalibar

If it's illegal then you can't get sancationed then? if one does not want to participate in this work programme (Maximus) then what do they have to do? send letters to whome and which letters???..


So you can just turn up at you're own hours? what if you cannot come in the mornings but evenings, can they allow this?

What if one does not need much help, do they only get to come once every week? and if one has to do some modules is it possible they can be done at late afternoons? do they have different classes in a day? for example a morning class, an afternoon class & an evening class but the classes are all the same in terms of modules and everything..Also it true you the time and day you have to come in reflect your surname? meaning if someone has a name/surname beginning with A they have to come in the mornings?

sorry for the repative questions I just want to have an idea of how it's going to be like is all as I have not found too many people who have done this programme or started it.

Thanks!