The Work Programme New Thread

beth.stephenson2009

I know this an old thread and OPs questions have probably been covered, however...

Although when im there its dire, its not as bad as it could. My job centre told me they can ask me to come in everyday- not the case. Once a week for an hour, hour an half. For free money, im not complaining.

However, i do agree they dont do what they should. I went in last week and did a jobsearch- the exact thing i do at home for the job centre. Why call me in especially to do this? Why not just check my diary?

Another thing is they can basically force you into doing activities wit them ou dot want to do...dont turn up? No money.

imatt

EndlessStruggle wrote: »

Well I'm definitely still alive and not left the country. My experience with my WP has been different and has been nothing but positive. Sure I got my job and the one before on my own, nothing to do with them whatsoever but my advisers have always been cheering me on and nothing but friendly and positive so I don't have any strong negative feelings towards them and don't really mind if they want to keep in touch with me.

If you get a job off your own back, do you still think it's right and proper that the provider receives a payment for doing nothing?

Also, even if you don't mind providers contacting you, bear in mind there are stories of clients gaining employment whilst on the WP being contacted at their workplace. This puts employers off and in a couple of cases I've read about has even scuppered someone's chance of starting their new job due to interference fro the WP provider.

It's good that you have had a positive experience. However, as you suggest this is due more to the individual advisors you have been lucky to be assigned to. Rememberer, the WP is failing to hit the even basic government targets set for them.

donnajunkie

KevInChester wrote: »

It's one of those things that they are doing not because they have a legal leg to stand on, but because they know that they can just lose the papers for the appeal and continue sanctioning the benefit.

always send appeal forms by recorded post. i think its recorded. i always get mixed up between registered and recorded post. i know its the cheapest of the 2.

kazzah60

dontone wrote: »

Well I went.
Waste of time. My appointment was at 10am (don't be late) The place doesn't actually open till 10am, and the bullies..er, I mean Security guards didn't open till 10.05am MEH!!

Anyway, I got some mousey voice woman with bad halitosis who told me something about A4E will call within 3 weeks and tell me where to go, I also have to keep signing on at the J/C. She also kept altering my file without asking, apparently there's no reason why I can't travel 30 miles+ to work (silly me saying at the beginning that I have a car) and she was going to put me down for night shifts until I pulled her on it. Cheek!!
I had to sign to say that I have received the letter she gave me and then she said that my benefit would be sanctioned if I didn't show up - to which I replied "So it's basically blackmail"*
she wasn't impressed and it ended there, all 10 mins of it.

*re the blackmail comment - I'm a bit miffed as I only get NI, don't get anything as I'm on contributions based and it run out a year ago, you know, penalised for working many years, married, no kids. Can't get anywhere in the job hunt as around here there's not much and whatever is there seems to favour the migrant worker......YET there's people who seem to always get away with stuff. I know I'm not singled out or anything, but it seems like a kick in the teeth, that I have to go through all this rigmarole for nothing. It wouldn't be so bad if I got JSA, but I don't think it's fair on us who don't get anything to run around like headless chickens going to other places and yet others get off scot free.

Sorry, just wanted to rant :rotfl:

Hi Dontone - my husbands Job centre advisor told him as he was only signing for NI contributions ( as you are) to double check how many years contributions he had as you only need 30 years worth to qualify for pension etc

he wrote away and within 2 weeks had received a letter informing him he had 39 years contributions - so he very happily no longer needs to sign on - NOR attend the Work programme - not sure how old you are- but if there is a chance you might have 30 years service - why not find out?
hth

donnajunkie

beth.stephenson2009 wrote: »

However, i do agree they dont do what they should. I went in last week and did a jobsearch- the exact thing i do at home for the job centre. Why call me in especially to do this? Why not just check my diary?

they get people in because they know most hate having to go in. its simply to annoy people. personally i prefer doing an hour once a fortnight in there than having to sit in waiting for a phone call from them once a fortnight. mine still checks your jobs log or diary as you call it even when you have been sat there in front of them applying for the jobs you write on the jobs log you show them. most of what i do is recorded on their website and yet mine has told me the next time i am in i have to take evidence of what i have been doing even though she can see it with the click of her mouse.

Spamfree_2

donnajunkie wrote: »

if you didnt give her the details of the employer how exactly would she contact them? i would also say if you want me to contact you once a month you can put £10 credit on my phone to cover the cost of the calls.

You can't be serious?

dontone

kazzah60 wrote: »

Hi Dontone - my husbands Job centre advisor told him as he was only signing for NI contributions ( as you are) to double check how many years contributions he had as you only need 30 years worth to qualify for pension etc

he wrote away and within 2 weeks had received a letter informing him he had 39 years contributions - so he very happily no longer needs to sign on - NOR attend the Work programme - not sure how old you are- but if there is a chance you might have 30 years service - why not find out?
hth

I'm 35, so a little way off yet. Think I have approx 17 years. I'm reluctant to sign off, but I really hate having to deal with the J/C. Fact of life I suppose, I just hate the way peeps like me are treated. Sometimes it feels like we are treated worse than all those who have never worked.
Thanks anyway :A

donnajunkie

Spamfree wrote: »

You can't be serious?

i cant be serious on which point? i am guessing the paying for credit to cover the cost of the calls? well why not? you are doing them a favour by letting them know the job is going fine and they will be able to get their money. if the information is that important to them then they shouldnt mind covering the cost. of course we know they would refuse to.

LetItBe_2

When you get put on the work programme how many times does your adviser see you is it at the job centre when you sign on anyway?

Also, when do you have the attend classes or forced into free work/community service?

donnajunkie

LetItBe wrote: »

When you get put on the work programme how many times does your adviser see you is it at the job centre when you sign on anyway?

Also, when do you have the attend classes or forced into free work/community service?

you see them at their office not the jobcentre. how often you see your adviser varies. generally a face to face appointment is every 4 to 8 weeks but like i said it can vary. between that they may have you in doing jobsearch sessions. how often this is can also vary but is usuallyl either once a week or once a fortnight. if they dont have you doing this they may have phone appointments with you were they phone you at home on a certain day.
what classes you have to attend and when depends on what your adviser wants you doing. work placements seem to be rare although mine is trying to get me to do training which is full time and effectively like a work placement.