Inquiry About Community Work for the Long Term Unemployed

Lin_May

Hi,

I'm posting a few questions about Cameron / DWP's recent announcement about Community Work for the Long Term Unemployed saying "People who have been unemployed for more than two years and haven’t secured sustainable employment could be referred onto compulsory community work placements "
Can someone:
- clarify is it for people who have been unemployed for 2 years or for people who have been supported by work programme for 2 years? (if the latter applies then the work programme just started summer this year then it will be happening at least from 2013)

It also says "Government is to test compulsory community work coupled with more intensive support through Jobcentre Plus in four key areas".
Does anybody
- have any idea where these 4 areas are?

Finally, is such a compulsory work with sanction lawful?

Thank you for assistance in advance.

Lin

Hiddenidenity

If you mean people that have been on JSA "long-term" They are now making the compulsary work/going on courses so if you dont attend your benefits are sanctioned, This has just happened to a friend of mine who has been claiming JSA for nearly 2 years. Hes been made to atted a course to "refresh" his basic maths/english skills, refreshing his cv etc.

BigAunty

There is a legal challenge in place against unpaid work placements for the long term unemployed.

http://www.irna.ir/ENNewsShow.aspx?NID=30669081

A bigger article about the whole thing is here

http://www.publicinterestlawyers.co.uk/news_details.php?id=191

There is a thread on Discussion time with a poll about whether MSE members support the introduction of work placements for the approx 1% of claimants receiving JSA for 2 years and the majority of people voting there are in favour of it.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3601039

Lin_May

Hi,

Thank you for your responses.

Actually, I'm not referrying to work experience scheme but specifically talking about the below announcement - I should have quoted this announcement from DWP site:
08 November 2011 – Grayling: Community work for the long term unemployed
People who have been unemployed for more than two years and haven’t secured sustainable employment could be referred onto compulsory community work placements under plans being considered by the Government.
Under the proposals people who have been supported intensively through the Work Programme for two years yet have still not entered sustainable employment, may have to do community work or ultimately they could lose their benefit entitlement.
Ministers believe a minority of jobseekers struggle to engage with the system fully, are unable to hold down a job and therefore require a greater level of support.
The Government is to test compulsory community work coupled with more intensive support through Jobcentre Plus in four key areas ahead of rolling out the scheme nationwide in 2013.
The proposals send a clear message to jobseekers that they will be supported until they get into sustainable employment. If they refuse to engage with the system they may no longer be entitled to financial support from the State.
Chris Grayling said:
"We want a welfare state which is a ladder up which people climb not a place in which they live."If people who are fit for employment, still haven’t managed to find a job after the intensive support provided by the Work Programme, we want them to do community work and get into the habit and routine of work. No one should expect to be able to sit at home doing nothing."


And, I originally inquired about the red bald parts in the above announcements.
Any idea?

To BigAnty,
Could you kindly share the link to that thread on Discussion time?

Thank you.

Lin

BigAunty

Lin_May wrote: »

...
Actually, I'm not referrying to work experience scheme but specifically talking about the below announcement - I should have quoted this announcement from DWP site:
08 November 2011 – Grayling: Community work for the long term unemployed
People who have been unemployed for more than two years and haven’t secured sustainable employment could be referred onto compulsory community work placements under plans being considered by the Government.
Under the proposals people who have been supported intensively through the Work Programme for two years yet have still not entered sustainable employment, may have to do community work or ultimately they could lose their benefit entitlement.
...
And, I originally inquired about the red bald parts in the above announcements.
Any idea?

I don't think I am talking about a separate scheme. I think I am providing information about exactly the scheme you have inquired about. I may have used slightly different terms - receiving JSA for 2 years and unpaid work experience versus the description of 'work programme for two years' and 'community placement'.


I haven't found much additional information on the 'four key areas' that you are keen to find out about. On this article, it seems to refer to 4 geographical areas where the scheme will be piloted but doesn't say where. ..

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/nov/08/unemployed-risk-losing-benefits

EDIT
One of the areas will be Derbyshire,plus also Lincolnshire, Rutland, Nottinghamshire; East Anglia, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire

http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/County-jobless-forced-working-benefits/story-13806672-detail/story.html

BigAunty

Lin_May wrote: »

To BigAnty,
Could you kindly share the link to that thread on Discussion time?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3601039

Vincent_Buenisedes

The thread in discussion time has degenerated into the usual slanging match with each other and any substantial input would be drowned out, so here's what I know so far.


The four areas piloted are Leicestershire & Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, East Anglia, and (I think) Derbyshire, with East Anglia being Norfolk & Suffolk.

The pilots have already started with people who have been through Flexible New Deal being (randomly?) referred to the providers. I was referred by the jobcenter lat week.

The details about who is actually running the schemes is difficult to find, but I have been referred to (I believe) a sub contrator who I should have a meeting with this week.

The work seems to be basic community service like litter picking and sweeping with providers placing people with local authoritys and housing associations. I can't be 100% sure of this, but the provider I will be with has a record with this type of placement.

Everything is sketchy at the moment and even the jobcentre advisor who referred me didn't know much about it - it seemed that the jobcentre just wanted to shift me over as soon as possible. I'll (hopefully) find out more this week.

With regards to legality, I haven't got a clue. The welfare legislation and statutes are hideously complex and until it is tested in a court of law, the DWP will continue as normal.

Lin_May

Hello Everyone,

Many thanks for your information, quite informative.

Vincent, yes I would appreciate if you share what you learn this week.

Cheers,

Lin

Hiddenidenity

I was refering to what you asked.

The friend, Was made to work for his JSA at a kennels originally (cleaning out, walking dogs etc) He failed to get a job, 6 months later he was sent to do ground work ( Litter picking, clearing church yards etc) Failed to get a job, 3 weeks ago sent to do a course doing the things i mentioned above.

The_ICT_Engineer

I passed a group of people in Peterborough on Friday, Working along the river bank east of the 'London Road' picking up dog turds. Across each of their Hl-Vis Vests was 'Work Programme Community Service'. The Yob in charge, was treating them as criminals. I will not repeat the language used by him.


And for the benefit of the 'daily mall readers', I do have a job