Job Centre JSA problems

nannymiaow

daggy wrote: »

Yes, really... I'm not sure what art you disagree with? I'm referring to the minority of people who are happy to pretend they are looking for a job.

p.s. thanks for writing all of that in bold, it didn't make your post one iota more pungent than it would have been had you wrote it in normal text.

I am disagreeing with the part where you said "all of the brethrens who sit on their !!!!'s collecting their JSA every fortnight get an easy ride".

Firstly, you have no idea how much 'hassle' these 'brethren' do or don't actually get, you are making an ill judged sweeping statement.

I am not so naive to think that everyone looks for work as hard as they should, but nonetheless what they do and don't do in respect of their JSA is not your business and has no place in your post.

Oh and by the way....nannytone writes in bold for a reason - and its not to p1ss you off so I'd suggest you retract your sarcastic comments.

Oldernotwiser

Why on earth would she put her life on hold, just for a temp job at M&S?

mazza111

Have to agree with the job centre here. While she has gained employment in a temp role. Who's to say the perfect job for her isn't going to be advertised tomorrow in a permanent role? God knows, when I was in that position, I was applying for everything and anything. Always better to keep looking just in case something better comes along

michaelvintner

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Why on earth would she put her life on hold, just for a temp job at M&S?

I used to work in retail and some of the long term staff actually started as Christmas Temps. One guy started as a christmas temp something like 20 years ago and he is still there.

A temporary christmas job at M&S may lead to a permanent contract.

michaelvintner

mazza111 wrote: »

Have to agree with the job centre here. While she has gained employment in a temp role. Who's to say the perfect job for her isn't going to be advertised tomorrow in a permanent role? God knows, when I was in that position, I was applying for everything and anything. Always better to keep looking just in case something better comes along

Also a very good point. Your girlfriend should look at the temporary job at M&S as a back up in case she does not find anything better in the next couple of weeks.

Tehya

OP - the JC+ will look at the job as it is i.e. a temp position so as far as they're concerned she should still be looking for a permanent role instead. It only makes sense that if she doesn't find a permanent job first then she can take the temp one but a full time, permanent role should be her priority and just because she's accepted the job doesn't mean she has to start if something better comes along.

Another reason the JC+ will insist on job seeking is that is part of her agreement and why she receives JSA, they will not pay someone to sit around waiting for a job to start. Someone may have a new job starting in January next year but it doesn't mean they should stop looking for something now.

Some folks on here type in large/bold text because they have sight issues so please think before you post back in anger.

daggy

agrinnall wrote: »

She has a choice, she can either continue to look for work including immediate starts (you never know, she might get something longer term than the M&S one) and continue to get JSA until she starts somewhere, or discontinue the claim and get nothing until she is paid by M&S. Why should she be paid for not looking for a job?

She IS looking for a job, however, there is no point in her applying for a job that she cannot take.
That argument could be made in many situations, for example, why should somebody who has an MSc in engineering be allowed to only look for engineering jobs?

I've heard many people saying things like 'I'm not doing that job' - surely if you are on JSA you should not be afforded the luxury of being selective?

Obviously it would be better to place people in their ideal jobs, but desperate situations call for desperate measures?

They should take any job (be it cleaner, supermarket staff, rent boy) and then continue to look for engineering jobs... therefore they aren't on JSA!!

I realise this example is a bit of a gadaffiism (I mad that up), but I hope you see my point.

My Gf took the first job she could get.... she is still looking for better jobs, but sees no point in applying for other temporary jobs.

Vincent_Buenisedes wrote: »

OP, the best thing to do in my opinion is to advise you girlfriend to apply for the jobs anyway and if she gets an interview, she should explain to the employer that she won't be there for long due to her already having found employment.
It's a total waste for time for her and the employer, but sadly the Jobcentre seem to be increasing efforts to catch people out on the slightest pretence in order to sanction them.
I have always found it is much easier to jump through their hoops and then putting in a formal letter of complaint after, as the advisors usually are of the lowest quality and seem to take delight being vindictive to claimants.

I agree, I worry that it will give her a bad name, but I also concede that we have to jump through all of the hoops they put in front of us.

I completely agree about the advisers, we've had conflicting information and advisers who are borderline aggressive. Power mad, eh?

I'm struggling to agree with some of the opinions in this thread - I don#t see the logic in applying for a job you don't want to take. Her job starts in two weeks...

I agree that a better job may come along and she would take it, but they aren't giving her 'better' jobs to apply for.

nannymiaow wrote: »

I am disagreeing with the part where you said "all of the brethrens who sit on their !!!!'s collecting their JSA every fortnight get an easy ride".

Firstly, you have no idea how much 'hassle' these 'brethren' do or don't actually get, you are making an ill judged sweeping statement.

I am not so naive to think that everyone looks for work as hard as they should, but nonetheless what they do and don't do in respect of their JSA is not your business and has no place in your post.

Oh and by the way....nannytone writes in bold for a reason - and its not to p1ss you off so I'd suggest you retract your sarcastic comments.

I do, as I've spoke to people who have been in this situation and have also heard things of a smiliar nature said in passing. It also seems to be a generally accepted opinion that manyy people don't really want a job, I backed this up with evidence, so no,not a sweeping generalisation.

To assume makes an !!! out of u and me :T

You're being slightly contradictory... first of all you say I'm making ill judged sweeping generalisations and that I have no idea whether they get hassle or not, but then you go on to say you are not naive enough to think that everyone looks for work as hard as they should.

Surely I'm simply not naive enough to think that too? I posted it in an emotive way, but essentially the semantics are the same, are they not?

I didn't make it my business so to speak - I'mnot trying to change it. However, it does have a place in my post, as I believe the job centre should support people who go out and get a job quickly; instead, they are lambasted and almost penalised for doing so.

What is wrong about expecting support between the time you get a job and the time you start a job? I agree that applying for jobs during this time is necessary, but not applying for other temporary jobs that are no better or worse?

Yes the pedants will jump on the fact that it is called Job Seekers Allowance (well done for that), but is it really fair to just stop this because somebody has a job?

Say this, If somebody gets a job that starts in 3 months and this is an exceptional job that pays £50k per year, is it then fair to stop the persons JSA if they don't wish to apply for lesser jobs in the mean time?

Sure if there is a temporary job that ends before the start date of the main job,but to tell someone to joni a permanent job then quit 5 months down the line is not fair... also, if they tell the truth in the interview they will probably not get the job - it's simply a waste of the employer and the prospective employees time, is it not?

Thank you for the eyes up by the way... I sent nanny a PM

Horace

I have been self employed and am now claiming JSA - even though I am over qualified for a fair amount of jobs, I apply for them anyway. I know that I have applied for event jobs (my sphere), clerical jobs, shop work, caretaking, call centres, cleaning and hospital porter. I will accept any work because I know what it is like to be without work - it is doubtful that my own business will pick up even though I am also trying to find a decent contract but I know with the economic climate as it is, that situation isnt going to change any time soon. Far better to apply for any job and get something even if it is not the right job because once you are in a job it is easier to apply and get another one.

daggy

nannytone wrote: »

she has a job, but not right now.
so she wants financial support until that job starts?

then why not apply for jobs/accept wrk inb the meantime?

if she isnt actively seeking employment then she doesnt meet the criteria.

just a thought ... why dont you support her in the intervening weeks instead of expecting her to be allowed a benefit to which she clearly isnt entitled?

bit of a froeign concept to some people!

I do support her, we currently have an expensive car to pay for, as well as a wet room conversion and several other home improvement type things.

And no,I can't put them off.

How is she not entitled to it? She is unemployed and has found herself a job 2 weeks after receiving her first JSA payment, she is also actively looking for work that is permanent and does start after her temp job finishes.

If she wasn't entitled to it, why would she be getting it? bit of a null point there IMO.

Do you suggest she withdraws her claim? No problem, will you claim back all the taxes she has paid whilst employed? Or at least a proportion of them; kindly pass them onto us when you're done.

These taxes are paid to provide things like JSA and job centres, we'd be more than happy to take them back and lose the right to Job Centre help... some things are not worth the money that is paid into them.

Before anyone jumps on the bandwagon... I'm only talking about the job stuff, I think the NHS and certain other things are very worthwhile and taxes are well spent in that area.

I see what you're saying and I agree so far as applying for other jobs, but her job starts soon, so she'd never be able to get a job that would start and finish in time....she is actively seeking better, more suitable jobs.

She found out she was losing her job a while ago and has been applying for jobs for over 6 months, she has not been successful and this is really getting her down, subsequently, she doesn't want to do anything to jeopardise her job at m and s - after all, they are a good company and they keep people on after xmas, so....

daggy

michaelvintner wrote: »

Also a very good point. Your girlfriend should look at the temporary job at M&S as a back up in case she does not find anything better in the next couple of weeks.

I agree and she is doing this. Our issue comes with the fact the the JC are giving her other temp jobs to apply for.

Tehya wrote: »

OP - the JC+ will look at the job as it is i.e. a temp position so as far as they're concerned she should still be looking for a permanent role instead. It only makes sense that if she doesn't find a permanent job first then she can take the temp one but a full time, permanent role should be her priority and just because she's accepted the job doesn't mean she has to start if something better comes along.

Another reason the JC+ will insist on job seeking is that is part of her agreement and why she receives JSA, they will not pay someone to sit around waiting for a job to start. Someone may have a new job starting in January next year but it doesn't mean they should stop looking for something now.

Some folks on here type in large/bold text because they have sight issues so please think before you post back in anger.

I agree and there has to be a reasonable approach to it, but her job is starting soon, so ther eis not enough time to start and finish a job in the time left.... If her job wasn't starting for months, she would still apply for anything.... the jc is asking her to apply for temp jobs - pointless as she already has one.

True, but some folks post it on here for different reasons. It's impossible to know the difference and it's also impossible to regulate responses to a level where they don't offend anyone.

I appreciate your point and I have already pm'd to apologise and explain that I meant no offence outside of the context of the thread.

Horace wrote: »

I have been self employed and am now claiming JSA - even though I am over qualified for a fair amount of jobs, I apply for them anyway. I know that I have applied for event jobs (my sphere), clerical jobs, shop work, caretaking, call centres, cleaning and hospital porter. I will accept any work because I know what it is like to be without work - it is doubtful that my own business will pick up even though I am also trying to find a decent contract but I know with the economic climate as it is, that situation isnt going to change any time soon. Far better to apply for any job and get something even if it is not the right job because once you are in a job it is easier to apply and get another one.

I completely agree - always less stressful finding work when you are employed.

I'm sorry to hear that your business is struggling at the moment and I hope you manage to pick up some work. GF's dad is self employed and his business is up and down lately, but he does get busy periods.

I find that being overqualified is sometimes perceived as a problem and indeed people can apparently, sometimes struggle to get certain jobs because they are overqualified, I'm not sure if it genuinely happens, but I suspect it does...

I left my last job because the supervisors didn't appear to know much at all about the field they were in - Call centre job fixing Sky BB btw.