Universal Job Match at http://jobseekers.direct.gov.uk

SaveMeDo

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/es3jp_jobseekers_agreement_manda?unfold=1#incoming-238784

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/97929/response/241730/attach/html/3/Appendix%202.pdf.html

csmw

Cutzee wrote: »

Kill me now! How long does it take before I am made to apply for ANY job regardless of pay/skills/hours/suitability/location? And what happens if I am forced to take a job that does not pay enough to cover my basic rent, council tax, utilities and minimum groceries?

You may restrict your jsag for upto13 weeks to 1 type of job role upto 26 weeks for salary but it needs to be realistic for the type of role.

SaveMeDo

Thanks everyone - much appreciated. I have today made my Jobseekers application online so await to be summoned. I really don't want to sign up to Universal Jobmatch having read a lot of comments on this thread but there doesn't seem to be an easy way out of it.

Did you try and claim contribution based JSA?

donnajunkie

SaveMeDo wrote: »

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/151933/response/371913/attach/html/4/Universal%20Jobmatch%20Toolkit.pdf.html

The "rules" are constantly changing, and different jobcenters have different interpretations of what is mandatory and what isn't.

If you read the guidance obtained in the link above, you can be mandated to sign up IF IT IS REASONABLE for you to be so.

If you don't have a IAD (internet Access Device) or access to one, or the skills to work one, then you could argue that a direction would be unreasonable, because you would be expected to check the damn site EVERY DAY, and clearly, you could not.

If you object to having cookies track you, it is your right not to use UJM outside of the jobcentre, so again, you could argue that a direction would be unreasonable, because you would be expected to check the damn site EVERY DAY, (unless they make you go to the jobcentre everyday)

Or, you could register on UJM, and NOT ALLOW the DWP access to the account. there is nothing they can do to force you to allow access. (AT PRESENT).

If you do any of the above, and you do your jobsearch on paper, make sure it is bulletproof because you will come under "special scrutiny"!

people who leave the work programme are going to be forced to register and allow their adviser access according to the story about whats next on the government website.

donnajunkie

SaveMeDo wrote: »

Yeah, The Job Seeker Agreement is supposed to be arrived at after a discussion between you and you Adviser, but in fact what happens is they put what they want and tell you to sign it!

Not have a JSAg means a sanction so the whole thing really is a farce!

some will change things without asking others are willing to put what you want so long as its reasonable. one adviser changed my willing to work hours without asking me. when i saw a different adviser a few months later i asked if i could change it back and they said yes. a good tip with a jsa agreement is to commit to as little as possible. this gives them less ability to sanction. for example you may well do 30 apps a week but as the legal minimum is 3 i would put between 3 and 6. you can limit the hours you are willing to work so dont put that you are willing to work 24hrs a day 7 days a week. put something like 8 hours per day between 8am and 6pm and no hours on a sunday. you may well be willing to work outside of those hours but doing this takes power away from them.

donnajunkie

csmw wrote: »

You may restrict your jsag for upto13 weeks to 1 type of job role upto 26 weeks for salary but it needs to be realistic for the type of role.

what i have been told is after 13 weeks you have to be more open regarding what jobs you are willing to do. however my agreement still has the 3 stipulated job types it had at the very beginning.

john539

donnajunkie wrote: »

people who leave the work programme are going to be forced to register and allow their adviser access according to the story about whats next on the government website.

That's the way it's simply worded to sound tough for the media, but it is economical with the truth, it does not include all conditions, most important of which is it's customer's choice to give access.

They can't force people to give access, it's against the law.

This new scheme has no doubt been cobbled together & finalised in last few days.
.

Gaz1971

I know all about the issue re data protection etc as to why you dont have to give them access, what I want to know is, what is the actual problem with allowing them access, if Im not bothered about the data protection issues?

AP007

donnajunkie wrote: »

what i have been told is after 13 weeks you have to be more open regarding what jobs you are willing to do. however my agreement still has the 3 stipulated job types it had at the very beginning.

I had one job at the beginning and my last salary then it changed to the NMW and they added Admin to the list then when I went to the WP they told me it had to be 3 so they added Retail but not worked in retail since 1988

donnajunkie

Gaz1971 wrote: »

I know all about the issue re data protection etc as to why you dont have to give them access, what I want to know is, what is the actual problem with allowing them access, if Im not bothered about the data protection issues?

they will look for any excuse to sanction you. they can forward jobs to you that you must apply for regardless of whether they are suitable.