The Work Programme New Thread

strangeotron

I imagine they will ask whether or not it will lead directly to a job (which of course it won't). If not then no they won't.

donnajunkie

dandelionclock30 wrote: »

What happens after the two years? do you get referred back to the jobcentre or another provider?

as things stand you get 3 months breathing space and then get refered back for another 2 years. however i believe they have plans to start some sort of workfare for those who dont get a job during the 2 years.

KevInChester

strangeotron wrote: »

I imagine they will ask whether or not it will lead directly to a job (which of course it won't). If not then no they won't.

Thought that too. Find it odd they pay the fare for appointments/job search and yet won't for something which is infinitely more useful in the grand scheme of things! Going to pop along as it's for a large store that is going to opening soon, so there is a small chance of something from it.

donnajunkie

strangeotron wrote: »

In order to claim JSA you must fulfill the conditions of your Jobseekers Agreement. These get reviewed after 13 weeks, but whatever is subsequently agreed works the same: you have to abide by it. You can't be told to simply 'be flexible' because that means nothing. That's why the JSAg exists.
Some JC's send claimants info through the post and may put them down for jobs without their say so. I'm not sure if that's allowed, but the above post was specifically in reference to the Work programme.
You have to apply for everything you've agreed to apply for and do everything you've agreed to do (read the local papers, etc). So if they tell you about a job you have to be careful in what you say. I'm not sure whether they can push for a sanction on the basis of you refusing that. But that's the grey area: the whole 'a doubt has arisen' as to your claim is nebulous.
However once you are on the WP the jobsearch is meant to be done by the provider. When you sign on the JC is supposed to just take a signature and check that jobsearch record as per what you've agreed.
Advisers can't just decide you should be doing 'more' or that, if you're fulfilling all that's required as per your JSAg, you aren't doing 'enough' because that's 'more' is meaningless. How much more, and of what?

i have seen it said many times that once people get past 13 weeks they have to pretty much be willing to go for anything they can do. infact if you were refered for sanction for not applying for a job you would have to show why you cant do the job in your appeal. so this means you do have to be willing to go for any job you can do. you would not win an appeal if you were sanctioned for not applying. saying it isnt one of your 3 specified jobs on your jsa agreement wouldnt be seen as a good enough excuse and saying you just didnt want to apply is definitely not a good enough reason.
my impression is that the jobcentre has pretty much handed over to the provider the job of policing you. you still sign on but the jobcentre does not ask for evidence anymore, your adviser at the wp does that.

LadyMissA

donnajunkie wrote: »

my impression is that the jobcentre has pretty much handed over to the provider the job of policing you. you still sign on but the jobcentre does not ask for evidence anymore, your adviser at the wp does that.

My JC checks (or rather looks at) all the jobs I apply for and the WP only looks at 5.

LadyMissA

KevInChester wrote: »

Thought that too. Find it odd they pay the fare for appointments/job search and yet won't for something which is infinitely more useful in the grand scheme of things! Going to pop along as it's for a large store that is going to opening soon, so there is a small chance of something from it.

They may do, why not ask? After all aren't they meant to be 'supporting you back into a job'! Surely this is support?!

If you do not ask you don't get , but keep all tickets/receipts

donnajunkie

LadyMissA wrote: »

My JC checks (or rather looks at) all the jobs I apply for and the WP only looks at 5.

well the thinking behind sending people on the work programme is to pass the responsibility onto someone else. i suspect you have a jobsworth running your jobcentre.

dandelionclock30

I know a guy who did 6 months in charity shop under the new deal and they also put him on various courses like health and saftey at work etc. He didnt get a job out of it but got the pick of the clothes and got lots of pairs of jeans and trainers for a couple of quid each. He started going out with one of the workers and now they have a baby who he looks after. hes no longer signing on as hes the main carer!
So he got things out of it but not the planned for outcomes.!

Elvisia

Rats I never managed to pull at either the Job Centre or the WP! I was obviously doing it wrong ;-)

looby75

well I had another phone appointment today, they asked if there were any courses I wanted to go on so I mentioned the Level 2 ITQ course that I have been trying to get on to since Christmas (did the level 1 just before christmas). The advisor took the details and said he'll try and chase it up for me. So fingers crossed they are actually going to do something to help me