The Work Programme New Thread

kazzah60

kizzie_nikita wrote: »

One simple question. Is the WP mandatory?

yes - if you heve been unemployed for the prescribed amount of time ( it varies according to your age I believe) it is mandatory

donnajunkie

kizzie_nikita wrote: »

One simple question. Is the WP mandatory?

if you want to keep getting your benefit it is. some of the activities are voluntary though. your adviser should say whether something is voluntary or not. if they dont then ask if it is. you also need to be careful as they may say something is voluntary but once you agree to it it becomes mandatory. although a reasonable adviser may let you stop with something if you feel it isnt working out.

donnajunkie

kazzah60 wrote: »

yes - if you heve been unemployed for the prescribed amount of time ( it varies according to your age I believe) it is mandatory

i think i was told you get refered after 6 months if you are under 18. after 9 months if you are under 25. after 12 months if you are over 25. after 3 months if you have been out of work for 22 out of the last 24 months. you may think the last one sounds odd. what it means is if you have been doing some other course they will allow you 3 months before being refered onto the wp, if you have been out of work 22 out of the last 24 months.

EndlessStruggle

Had my first day yesterday and loved it. My adviser rang me, is going to ring next week, and then every month.

LetItBe_2

If your on the work programme and you wish to sign off because you want to go into further education are you allowed to?

donnajunkie

LetItBe wrote: »

If your on the work programme and you wish to sign off because you want to go into further education are you allowed to?

i dont see how they can stop you. if you sign on again within 2 years from the date you started you will get refered straight back to the work programme though.

Spamfree_2

That stupid woman who went to court to complain that she was being forced into slavery by having to work at Poundland has had her chips peed on I see. http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2012/aug/06/unpaid-work-scheme-ruled-lawful-poundland

donnajunkie

Spamfree wrote: »

That stupid woman who went to court to complain that she was being forced into slavery by having to work at Poundland has had her chips peed on I see. http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2012/aug/06/unpaid-work-scheme-ruled-lawful-poundland

this has nothing to do with the work programme. also there is already a thread about this.

LetItBe_2

donnajunkie wrote: »

i dont see how they can stop you. if you sign on again within 2 years from the date you started you will get refered straight back to the work programme though.

I thought it was a new claim after 26 weeks linking period?

looby75

does anyone know what rights you have to get the WP to leave you alone while you are on the sick?

My GP has signed me off for 6 weeks and I am now claiming ESA, she's said that she doubts I'll be ready to go back on JSA for a while yet for various reasons.

I have told the WP whats going on, at first they said they needed to see my sick note, but when I told them I had already sent it to ESA they said that it was ok they would be able to check that I was actually claiming ESA and that would be enough.

Since then I've had multiple letters with appointments for job search sessions and appointments with an advisor. Each time I phone them up and remind them I am on the sick at the moment, they say OK we'll cancel your appointments and put a note on your file....then a couple of days later I get another letter with another appointment for a date in the period I've already been signed off sick for.

Part of the reason the GP has signed me off is because of anxiety and all these letters from the WP aren't helping things. I've got too much on my plate at the moment to be dealing with the WP.