New Enterprise Allowance scheme - My story

andyscott

I am feeling really angry just now ith Jobcentre+. As some of you may recall I had been given a straight no to been allowed to go on NEA.

It started with me hearing about NEA and reading up on it, I asked my advisor how it works to see what they say. He told me to contact BG and speak with an advisor.

So I did this and they said they could not deal with it util they receive referral from JC.

Next time I was signing on I said to JC that it was something that I was still interested in but was waiting to hear back from an interview I had for f/t job.

So following signing on date I went in and said I wanted to go onto NEA. He looked up computer and said that I had been knocked back for NEA.

I asked how this could be when I had never actually applied to go on it, they said its at managers discretion and it was a no.

I asked to see my own advisor and was told their was nothing I could do about it even though they had never seen a business plan or financial forecasts. i was not even bothering about the 1k loan it was mainly to be allowed to work for 6 months while still receiving benefits.

I came up with another business idea the other night and called BG again. This time I got someone will to chat about my idea. They said it sounded good and felt I should take it further but he needs referral from JC.

I went into JC today to sign on and said I wanted to apply for NEA. She tells me that she is puting me on the Working Programme and that I can no longer go on NEA.

I tell her that I have spoke to BG and they want referral, i also tell her about last time with me getting knocked back without even applying. She looks up computer and says there is no record of anything to do with NEA and that I had once been told I would not receive a different type of fund that was for tools etc for full time work.

I tell her I have spoke to 3 different members of staff about it and she just says that there must have been a mix up and that she would not delay the transfer to NEA.

So now I am stuck on Working Programme with a provider who is based over an hour away. I know they say that they providers can help with business start ups but they cant just give out loans and are certainly not allowed to let you start a business and get benefits for 6 months.

rosered1963

andyscott wrote: »

I am feeling really angry just now ith Jobcentre+. As some of you may recall I had been given a straight no to been allowed to go on NEA.

It started with me hearing about NEA and reading up on it, I asked my advisor how it works to see what they say. He told me to contact BG and speak with an advisor.

So I did this and they said they could not deal with it util they receive referral from JC.

Next time I was signing on I said to JC that it was something that I was still interested in but was waiting to hear back from an interview I had for f/t job.

So following signing on date I went in and said I wanted to go onto NEA. He looked up computer and said that I had been knocked back for NEA.

I asked how this could be when I had never actually applied to go on it, they said its at managers discretion and it was a no.

I asked to see my own advisor and was told their was nothing I could do about it even though they had never seen a business plan or financial forecasts. i was not even bothering about the 1k loan it was mainly to be allowed to work for 6 months while still receiving benefits.

I came up with another business idea the other night and called BG again. This time I got someone will to chat about my idea. They said it sounded good and felt I should take it further but he needs referral from JC.

I went into JC today to sign on and said I wanted to apply for NEA. She tells me that she is puting me on the Working Programme and that I can no longer go on NEA.

I tell her that I have spoke to BG and they want referral, i also tell her about last time with me getting knocked back without even applying. She looks up computer and says there is no record of anything to do with NEA and that I had once been told I would not receive a different type of fund that was for tools etc for full time work.

I tell her I have spoke to 3 different members of staff about it and she just says that there must have been a mix up and that she would not delay the transfer to NEA.

So now I am stuck on Working Programme with a provider who is based over an hour away. I know they say that they providers can help with business start ups but they cant just give out loans and are certainly not allowed to let you start a business and get benefits for 6 months.

What a dreadful mess they have made Andy! You must get onto NEA and not the Work Programme as you can't get NEA once you are on the work programme. Are the JP going to look into NEA for you now that you have brought it to their attention again?

Why on earth would they push you on to the Work Prigramme when you have clearly shown interest and motivation in becoming self-employed?

If you have already been put on the Work programme, can you argue to be taken off it - you should never have been put on it in the first place as you were waiting to hear about NEA decision/information/referral from them? I am really angry on your behalf! I got there in the end but only after months of wrangling and the JCP telling me that there was no such thing as NEA, then that it was nothing to do with them, etc etc. You have to keep pushing and as I said in earlier posts, print of the information from their own departmental website - they can't argue with that!

TeeKay10

Well said Rosered, Andy don't give up! Print off as much bumpf as poss to give you bargaining power and if that fails then either ask to speak to, or get the contact details of, the manager or if he/she is as useless as the rest then their superior.

It's ridiculous how they have behaved! :mad:

Get back there and kick some butt!

andyscott

Over the past few months I have researched everything about NEA and know how it all works so I was already aware that once on Working Programme I could not be considered for NEA.

When she told me I was getting put onto Working programme I told her that all I needed was a referral for NEA to BG, I even told her that once she puts me on Working Programme that I could not be considered for NEA.

She said that she already knew that and that Working Programme might have options for self employment which I very much doubt.

andyscott

How confident is everyone about their planned business been a success.

I seem to have this issue where every morning when I wake up for the first hour or so I feel very negative about my idea and just feel it will never work.

rosered1963

andyscott wrote: »

How confident is everyone about their planned business been a success.

I seem to have this issue where every morning when I wake up for the first hour or so I feel very negative about my idea and just feel it will never work.

Andy - this is quite normal to feel like that. I was told this on the business course I went on with 16 other people also planning to set up. Just try to think positively and keep in touch with others starting self-employment. We are all conditioned from childhood to believe that we have to "get a job" and it is never suggested to us that we make our own job! Apparently, many people feel very isolated when starting self-employment, and feel they don't get the support they expected from their families and friends - just keep on keeping on! For me, of-course I would like a regular and reliable income, but I love having no line management above me. I am doing ok myself now - just believe in yourself mate.

RE Work programme - no, no, no! The JCP gave you the wrong advice when you enquired about NEA originally - they cut you off wrongly. They have made an error - you are not accountable for that. Kick some ar** now Andy and write an official letter to them and copy in your local councillor and local MP. Just my advice And believe me, you need the NEA - I have a very low-cost business but I have needed the NEA to keep the roof over my head.

By the way, you aren't by any chance under 30 are you? Or over 50? There is other possible support from elsewhere as you probably know, if you are in these brackets

Lady_strange

I have had so many days where I wonder why the hell I am doing this. It would have been easier to find work for somebody else, but then I rememberd all of the jobs I have had, and why they didn't work out. a) because I have a chronic illness and b) because I can't take orders from people who are no more qualified than I am. Being my own boss is a great thing for me, as I know all of the work I put in, I get the rewards of it, not somebody else.

I have to say I do get very excited when ever I get an enquiry or an actual booking... so much so my mum always gets a phone call, ha ha. But she knows how much this means to me, and I have the support of my partner, as well as my parents and his.

BigAl127

rosered1963 wrote: »

By the way, you aren't by any chance under 30 are you? Or over 50? There is other possible support from elsewhere as you probably know, if you are in these brackets

What's the extra help for the over 50's? I was told that stopped in 2012. That was the reduced hours for claiming WTC

rosered1963

BigAl127 wrote: »

What's the extra help for the over 50's? I was told that stopped in 2012. That was the reduced hours for claiming WTC

I wasn't talking about working tax credits. I said "possible support from elsewhere" for over 50's (in setting up in s/e) eg Princes Trust scheme etc. All seem to be loans and mentoring, not grants. I was told about another new govt backed start-up loan scheme today via the Institute of Enterprise and entrepreneurs for under 30's only http://getstarted.ioee.co.uk/ which is why I asked if Andy was under 30 or over 50.

BigAl127

I wasn't disputing anything you'd said. Only that I am over 50 myself, and was told there used to be extra help for the over 50's, but it had stopped last year. The main help having been the reduced hours for claiming WTC. So I was more curious than anything, given that different areas seem to implement things differently.