The Work Programme New Thread

Richie-from-the-Boro

Of the total attachments to the Work programme at the end of July 2012 :

757 thousand (90.4%) were in the JSA payment groups, 73 thousand (8.7%) were in the ESA payment groups, just under 2 thousand (0.2%) were in the IB/IS volunteer group and under 6 thousand were in the JSA Prison Leavers group, which accounted for 0.7% of all attachments up to July 2012

emilywalker

Midnight_Tboy wrote: »

I believe its 6 months if you're under 25, 12 months if over.....age limit may be wrong but certain theres an age limit that determines it

I'm over 25, been on jsa for 6 months & am supposed to start mwp on Tuesday.

red_devil

you have to make sure you jobseek often and record it. They are looking at not just how many jobs you apply for but how long looking so watch out.

AP007

Ok ready for this!?

Today I had my review with yet another person so thats erm 8 different people in total during my time on the WP.

Review booked in for a months time and now they have me attending 2 days after the review for an course (LOL) called 'Understanding the Job Market' where the advisor (some new bloke who has been there 2 mths) will teach me how to set up job alerts on the internet! Are they serious? This is going to help me get a job?

He had a big letter he was copying stuff from too on the homework for review.

One is to be contactable between the hours of 9am to 5am EVERY day and if they call you and you miss the call or do not return a voicemail then if this happens THREE times you are then going to be mandated to attend their office FIVE DAYS A WEEK! Doing what I do not know as they do not even have enough PC's to do a job search on and whilst waiting to get my travel today I just had to sit looking up at the ceiling.

They say you are missing out on jobs if you are not contactable. They are talking out of their !!!! to be fair if they think they are going to magic a million jobs out a magic hat tomorrow that will want to interview us all.

Oh yes and one more thing 'try to get 2 job interviews by your next review.' I replied 'what do you think I try to do every day'??

He said 'you wont be failed if you don't get them, but try!!'

They are seriously moronic and in the 18 mths I have been there, they have done nothing to help and now they sound like THEY are on the sinking ship.

Secondly I have to email my CV to all the advisors on the team as they are going to (wait for it cause this is the funny bit) out me forward for jobs! LOL

Oh yes also I forgot this. When I sat down he said 'Oh I see you have come dressed for interview'. I replied 'no I always look like this unfortunatley'! LOL There were some people from some reatail companies in the building today who were interviewing people for some roles, no idea what or where but no accounts jobs.

One last thing - also going over the fact I have to be available to travel 1hr 30 mins to and from work but no mention of the NMW

I think they have doing this since the ruling last week with that student so they are making sure we all know the rules.

Also letters are coming out from the DWP about new sanctions that are going from first offence 2 weeks to 4 weeks. Yes that's right the 1st offence will be a sanction of 4 weeks!

Richie-from-the-Boro

Creaming and Parking

AP007

Forgot to add this - they are only going to refund fares on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays so my next appts are on Tuesday & Thursday so I will be out of pocket. Furious!!!!!

Vincent_Buenisedes

AP007 wrote: »

Forgot to add this - they are only going to refund fares on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays so my next appts are on Tuesday & Thursday so I will be out of pocket. Furious!!!!!

That's bull**** mate, they can't do that. In chapter 2 of the generic provider guidance it states:

Travel Expenses

140. Participants attending provision are entitled to a refund of the travel costs they incur. It is your responsibility to pay the participant’s travel costs as travel expenses are included within the funding received from DWP as part of the overall contract package.

141. Participants are expected to travel to your provision by the cheapest method available to them. However, some participants will be unable to travel by the cheapest method for example, due to a disability or the need to be accompanied by a support worker.

142. On commencing provision you should advise participants what evidence they will need to produce to claim refunds of travel costs, for example bus tickets.

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/pg-chapter-2.pdf

If I were you, I'd put in a complaint ASAP to the area manager of your provider and follow the complaints procedure up to the CEO if you have to.

And also complain to Jobcentreplus. They will probably ignore you or palm you back off to the provider, but don't let them. If the provider is not fulfilling their contract, the Jobcentre will have to take notice, whether they like it or not.

Be like a dog with a bone. The reason the Work Programme/Jobcentre get away with their nonsense is because most people let them, but as last week's judgement has showed, if you fight them you can win:D

How's your sanction doubt coming along? Any word from the jobcentre yet?

AP007

Vincent_Buenisedes wrote: »

That's bull**** mate, they can't do that. In chapter 2 of the generic provider guidance it states:

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/pg-chapter-2.pdf

If I were you, I'd put in a complaint ASAP to the area manager of your provider and follow the complaints procedure up to the CEO if you have to.

And also complain to Jobcentreplus. They will probably ignore you or palm you back off to the provider, but don't let them. If the provider is not fulfilling their contract, the Jobcentre will have to take notice, whether they like it or not.

Be like a dog with a bone. The reason the Work Programme/Jobcentre get away with their nonsense is because most people let them, but as last week's judgement has showed, if you fight them you can win:D

How's your sanction doubt coming along? Any word from the jobcentre yet?

No word back from the job centre yet at all and I have emailed the info email address and asked for a local area manager contact to ask for their policy in writing as to refunds of travel.

Also if they get the runding for the travel refunds why do they insist we all get a discount oyster card for the bus - wonder if they get the full price given to them by the gov?

Vincent_Buenisedes

AP007 wrote: »

No word back from the job centre yet at all and I have emailed the info email address and asked for a local area manager contact to ask for their policy in writing as to refunds of travel.

Also if they get the runding for the travel refunds why do they insist we all get a discount oyster card for the bus - wonder if they get the full price given to them by the gov?

Don't quote me, but I think the money for refunding participants comes from the attachment fee.

AP007

Vincent_Buenisedes wrote: »

Don't quote me, but I think the money for refunding participants comes from the attachment fee.

Isnt that something like £400? Surely they wont make on that at all as therer are some poeple there a few times a week and soon that £ will be gone paid in fares. Ah thats why they are only giving people half price travel now even if you dont have a discount card.