Work programme and JSA agreement

elaine12022

Exactly Kazz - it is STEPS to find work not actual job applications that are important.

Marybelle, can I ask what your expertise in this area is? I personally find your remarks unhelpful and inaccurate to say the least. If you have any concrete knowledge (as opposed to opinion) that disagrees with my own posts feel free to share. I am trying to provide information that will help the OP with helping her son navigate the maze that is JSA, what is your intention?

This is a link to The Jobseekers Allowance Regulations 1996 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1996/207/regulation/18/made

this is how it starts


Steps to be taken by persons actively seeking employment

18.—(1) For the purposes of section 7(1) (actively seeking employment) a person shall be expected to have to take more than one step on one occasion in any week unless taking one step on one occasion is all that it is reasonable for that person to do in that week.


3 steps is usually specified on the agreement.

marybelle01

elaine12022 wrote: »

Exactly Kazz - it is STEPS to find work not actual job applications that are important.

Marybelle, can I ask what your expertise in this area is? I personally find your remarks unhelpful and inaccurate to say the least. If you have any concrete knowledge (as opposed to opinion) that disagrees with my own posts feel free to share. I am trying to provide information that will help the OP with helping her son navigate the maze that is JSA, what is your intention?

I am inaccurate? You have so far said that something is law that isn't!!! It does not help the OP to tell her that her sone doesn't have to apply for jobs at all when, by any interpretation of the agreement he has, he certainly does. Your expertise is a claim to have a partner who may have worked for the JC/DWP? Well that's one amongst any thousands - and many of those thousands require job seekers to apply for jobs.

My intention is not to mislead her by telling her her son doesn't even have to apply for jobs, or that that something that is not law is law. What is yours?

elaine12022

I have provided links for the OP to look at. Job centres are known for misleading people. (intentionally or non-intentionally). Knowledge is key.

Bye Bye Marybelle.

marybelle01

elaine12022 wrote: »

Job centres are known for misleading people. (intentionally or non-intentionally).

I am sure they are. And so are you it would appear. There is little point in insisting that things are laws when they are not, or telling people claiming JSA that their job search does not need to include applying for jobs when it clearly does. It clearly does because the agreement he has states that he needs to apply for three jobs each week, and that was stated in the OP's first post. The OP's son wants to work, and wasn't asking for advice on how to get out of applying for work. I and others suggested ways in which he might do so based on the specific circumstances and question, not by suggesting to him that he argue he shouldn't have to apply for any jobs. It seems that this is your agenda, and not really anybody elses.

Lizj

Thanks everyone for all your help.
To follow up on my OP, we have tried to contact his DEA for help, but he is not answering his phone, which is not unusual. The DEA only comes to our Job Centre one half day a fortnight and there is a six week waiting list for an appointment.
And we have contacted Remploy, who say they do not accept self-referrals, but only take clients through a DEA.
This is the level of support available to young people with disabilities who want to work and are not content to live on ESA for the rest of their lives.

marybelle01

Is there any other way of contacting the DEA? The staff at the jobcentre may be able to contact him or her on your behalf if you ask them - they presumably have email or non public phone numbers.

elaine12022

Hi Liz

Sounds like you have to be patient, and make an appointment with the DEA when you can. You can go with him to the appointment too, to help him (I don't know if you usually go). Can you (or someone else) go with him to the Work Programme too, to ensure he is not put under any more stress? As has been pointed out, only the job centre can issue sanctions, and can amend job seekers agreements. I hope you can get things sorted out eventually. and your DEA will be helpful. If you're not happy with the DEA you can then ask to see someone else.

Good luck!

donnajunkie

marybelle01 wrote: »

I am inaccurate? You have so far said that something is law that isn't!!! It does not help the OP to tell her that her sone doesn't have to apply for jobs at all when, by any interpretation of the agreement he has, he certainly does. Your expertise is a claim to have a partner who may have worked for the JC/DWP? Well that's one amongst any thousands - and many of those thousands require job seekers to apply for jobs.

My intention is not to mislead her by telling her her son doesn't even have to apply for jobs, or that that something that is not law is law. What is yours?

when creating a jsa agreement the adviser would expect the how many jobs to apply for section to have a number other than zero. people have to fulfill their jsa agreement and it would be hard to get a sanction through if it contradicts whats in the jsa agreement. for example if you have taken the opportunity to restrict your work hours and a job is outside of those hours they cant sanction you for not applying for it.
when it comes to the work programme things get a bit tricky and i am not sure if they could get away with telling you to apply for more than what the jsa agreement says or not. its really best to just avoid all the hassle and just do it.

kazzah60

donnajunkie wrote: »

when creating a jsa agreement the adviser would expect the how many jobs to apply for section to have a number other than zero. people have to fulfill their jsa agreement and it would be hard to get a sanction through if it contradicts whats in the jsa agreement. for example if you have taken the opportunity to restrict your work hours and a job is outside of those hours they cant sanction you for not applying for it.
when it comes to the work programme things get a bit tricky and i am not sure if they could get away with telling you to apply for more than what the jsa agreement says or not. its really best to just avoid all the hassle and just do it.

Having a son with very similar difficulties as the OP, I can honestly say there aren't 10 jobs suitable for them to apply for- so it's not a case of "avoiding hassle" - had there BEEN 10 jobs a week suitable for my son - I can assure you we would have helped him apply for them - sadly there weren't and I am sure the Op's son is in a similar position

You cannot apply for suitable jobs if they aren't out there!

for example my son get's extremely stressed when he has to answer a phone - so most jobs that had a "customer" base or focus, where he would be required to answer the phone and take messages etc would not be suitable for him to apply for because there is no way he would be able to deal with the phone calls - there are many difficulties that people with Aspergers or Autism face that people without these disabilities don't understand.

donnajunkie

kazzah60 wrote: »

Having a son with very similar difficulties as the OP, I can honestly say there aren't 10 jobs suitable for them to apply for- so it's not a case of "avoiding hassle" - had there BEEN 10 jobs a week suitable for my son - I can assure you we would have helped him apply for them - sadly there weren't and I am sure the Op's son is in a similar position

You cannot apply for suitable jobs if they aren't out there!

for example my son get's extremely stressed when he has to answer a phone - so most jobs that had a "customer" base or focus, where he would be required to answer the phone and take messages etc would not be suitable for him to apply for because there is no way he would be able to deal with the phone calls - there are many difficulties that people with Aspergers or Autism face that people without these disabilities don't understand.

i agree but its best to humour them. if some jobs arent suitable then just explain to the employer the problem if they reply. its that or make a complaint.