Unpaid internship - Job Centre will deduct travel costs from my benefits

AnnoyedGuy

I've been so emotional today, it's unbelievable. It's partly why I tried to seek some help and find out why the system is constantly trying to !!!! my life up.

I've been on JSA for a month now and I've tried and tried to find a job. (I live in London) I was offered to do a training course by the Job Centre in retail, which I wasn't interested in. But I went in for the first couple of days (After completing a basic numeracy and literacy test; I passed) and did not like the course one bit, and thought I was wasting my time. I told the Job Centre I didn't like it, and instead found an alternative. It's an unpaid internship with a large marketing company in central London, which I have been learning a lot from and I've generally enjoyed the people there and the work. I actually just completed my first week there today. I love the people, environment and it's possibly something that I can do in the future or if they offer me a job, then I could do it in the near-future. (We can dream, can't we?)

However, today, I had to sign on. This is where it gets agonizing for me.

It gets agonizing because my unpaid internship are reimbursing me for my travel to and from work via underground. [I pay for the travel first, then they reimburse me for that] However, the Job Centre are saying that I'll have to declare that as outside income. (Even though I'm working for FREE [9:30 - 5:30 every weekday]) They will deduct this amount from my benefits. As you may or may not know, weekly tickets for the underground from ZONE 1 to ZONE 3 cost £35 per week. I only get paid £56 per week by the Job Centre, which only leaves me with £21 to live on. Thus making this internship an impossibility. They don't realise I need to eat; and £21s in London is NOTHING, absolutely nothing to live on in LONDON per week.

I'm getting really good experience working at this fairly large company and they would rather I do a retail !!!!ing course and are willing to pay the travel for that. :mad:

I also agreed that I would continue looking for jobs (i.e. As per the Job Centre policy) and if any one phoned me for an interview, I would take a day out to go to that interview. I said I would also continue to sign on, as required. But then they said that they would take money away from me because the company I'm interning at is willing to !!!!ing pay for my travels. I was absolutely infuriated and demanded to speak to a manager, to which of whom was not there.

I feel so bitter and so disgusted at the fact they are leaving me with essentially, NOTHING.

My mobile bill is £10 per month, my food is whatever I should need to eat, shower gel, washing up powder. My god...... I will not have much to live on at-all.

I guess my question is, what can I do? At the moment, the plan is just to rough it out, as I do believe my internship is giving me invaluable knowledge, even if they are taking advantage of free-work. Today, they actually made me feel like topping myself. I guess that's it for now...

Poppy9

Can't you get an evening job and why do you need to pay £10 a week for a mobile phone. You can get a sim with free calls/texts for less than £10 per month. You could even get a contract phone for £7.50 a month.

How long is your work experience for?

theoretica

I wonder if this would work? As the job centre are being silly about money changing hands could the company not give you any - but give you the travel card instead? Maybe someone there would pay for it and be refunded.

Flyonthewall

Is it possible to speak to someone else at the job centre? A manger maybe?

When I did some volunteer work the JC wouldn't pay travel, they said it was up to the company I was with, but at no point did they say they would have taken any money off my benefits because they're just reimbursing me. It's not earnings.

If it were me I'd talk to someone else and explain the situation and see what they say.

AnnoyedGuy

Poppy9 wrote: »

Can't you get an evening job and why do you need to pay £10 a week for a mobile phone. You can get a sim with free calls/texts for less than £10 per month. You could even get a contract phone for £7.50 a month.

How long is your work experience for?

Sorry, I wrote that down wrong. I was angry, so please understand. I'm with giffgaff on their pay as you go plan, which is £10 per month. Either way, £21 pw is nothing to live on.

theoretica wrote: »

I wonder if this would work? As the job centre are being silly about money changing hands could the company not give you any - but give you the travel card instead? Maybe someone there would pay for it and be refunded.

They want me to declare how much they are reimbursing me for. Even though I'm initially paying for the ticket.

While technically that could work, I'm not sure if anyone there would do that for me, as I've only been working there for a week. I've even thought of borrowing a friend's bike... but this will mean I'll have to wake up at 5-6 am (2 hours minimum of cycling) just to get to the internship at 9:30.

gibson123

theoretica wrote: »

I wonder if this would work? As the job centre are being silly about money changing hands could the company not give you any - but give you the travel card instead? Maybe someone there would pay for it and be refunded.

This, speak to the manager at the workplace, ask them to buy you a travel card, most workplaces can do this, as they will do this for staff travel for tax purposes. The JC cannot take this off your benefits, however cash can be deducted.

Flyonthewall

AnnoyedGuy wrote: »

They want me to declare how much they are reimbursing me for. Even though I'm initially paying for the ticket.

While technically that could work, I'm not sure if anyone there would do that for me, as I've only been working there for a week. I've even thought of borrowing a friend's bike... but this will mean I'll have to wake up at 5-6 am (2 hours minimum of cycling) just to get to the internship at 9:30.

It's worth asking. Worst thing that can happen is they'll say no. Is there anyone who works there who could pick you up?

AnnoyedGuy

Flyonthewall wrote: »

Is it possible to speak to someone else at the job centre? A manger maybe?

The manager unfortunately wasn't there, as my sign on was 4:10pm, so she apparently went home. They said that I *might* be able to speak to her on the next sign on at 4:05pm.

Flyonthewall wrote: »

When I did some volunteer work the JC wouldn't pay travel, they said it was up to the company I was with, but at no point did they say they would have taken any money off my benefits because they're just reimbursing me. It's not earnings.

I guess the distinction here is that you probably volunteered at a charity? In my case, I'm doing what is classed as "unpaid work".

They even gave me this form to fill-in to declare the reimbursement:
imgur DOT com/26XJQC1

I can't post links yet. So, please replace DOT with a .

Flyonthewall wrote: »

If it were me I'd talk to someone else and explain the situation and see what they say.

I spoke to two people there. They talked me down, and I wasn't getting anywhere. ("the rules" was the answer I got)

AnnoyedGuy

Flyonthewall wrote: »

It's worth asking. Worst thing that can happen is they'll say no. Is there anyone who works there who could pick you up?

I don't think so. Most of them either live in West London or North London. They get paid pretty well. (I've seen a break-down of much they charge their clientele) I live in East London, and most of them commute to work, like myself.

Flyonthewall

AnnoyedGuy wrote: »

The manager unfortunately wasn't there, as my sign on was 4:10pm, so she apparently went home. They said that I *might* be able to speak to her on the next sign on at 4:05pm.

I guess the distinction here is that you probably volunteered at a charity? In my case, I'm doing what is classed as "unpaid work".

They even gave me this form to fill-in to declare the reimbursement:
imgur DOT com/26XJQC1

I can't post links yet. So, please replace DOT with a .

I spoke to two people there. They talked me down, and I wasn't getting anywhere. ("the rules" was the answer I got)

Ah right. Perhaps try getting there a little earlier then if the manager tends to leave early.

It was a charity, yeah.

Maybe you could ask to see these rules. They might show you that that is in the rules. However, there's also a chance they won't and if all else fails it's worth a try.

AnnoyedGuy

gibson123 wrote: »

This, speak to the manager at the workplace, ask them to buy you a travel card, most workplaces can do this, as they will do this for staff travel for tax purposes. The JC cannot take this off your benefits, however cash can be deducted.

Thank you. I'll ask about this on Monday.