Income Support - Left Voluntary Work

Seadogs_2010

Hi All
A friend of my partners is on Job seekers and she was given a work experience placement at the British Heart Foundation to gain new skills and get some experience. She had been claiming JSA for around a year.
We saw here today and she said she only did it for one day as she didnt like it and couldn't be bothered to go again. She was supposed to do 30hrs a week over 9weeks.

Does anyone know if she could have her money sanctioned? It angers me people like her seem to get away with everything. She said she had tried ringing the jobcentre to tell them but couldn't get through!
I believe in helping people that need it but people like her should have her money stopped.

Thank you for any replies.

dseventy

You title references Income Support, yet to be on placement means she is on JSA.

If it was JSA then yes she will be sanctioned.

If she qualifies for IS (ie lone parent with child under 7) then she can claim that and won't be sanctioned.

D70

Seadogs_2010

she is JSA but had been put on the work placement as she has been on JSA for over 1year. She said you can walk away at any point but i cant see that.

von

New guidance was issued which took effect from 1/3/12 which stated the following regarding work experience placements:
" A sanction should not be imposed on a claimant who loses their place on a work experience placement prematurely, except in a case where he or she loses the placement due to gross misconduct".

The original guidance was amended from 1/3/12 after protests from various agencies to the Government on the grounds that the placements were voluntary and unpaid and therefore claimants should not be sanctioned for volunteering to work for no pay.

ohreally

Your title uses the word "voluntary work" - is the program she is on voluntary?

Seadogs_2010

To be honest Oh Really im not sure. All we know is the jobcentre wanted her to go on this nine week placement to gain some experience and for something extra to put on her CV. Weather you can just walk away and still claim I don't know. Thanks for every ones comments

jen007

Currently my JC advisor is pushing for me to go on a work experience with a local soft play center. I've agreed to this, been along for an interview and I was supposed to hear from the owner with a start date by yesterday. My JC advisor says, as i've agreed to the work experience, then I need to commit to it for the 4 weeks (extended to 8 if owner wants to after 4). The way she explained it, put it across to me that i'd be sanctioned if I didn't do the whole 4 weeks (unless I get a job during this time)