I think my friend has been misadvised on benefits

dekaspace

Silly story my friend phoned for an interview and employer said she'd get back to him, then 2 weeks later he went to see his (rude) New Deal Advisor who tells him(im sitting in chairs behind waiting for him btw) that hes lazy and not doing enough to look for work, this is despite him applying for about 10-20 jobs a week and applying for everything from cleaning to admin(as he has a business qualification) anyway the advisor tells him of a job on the system, he says he has already applied for it, she doesnt believe him and phones employer to check and when she does shes surprised to hear he has, and employer offering him a work trial!

So he started last Friday on a 3 day trial, got the job, went in today for his New Deal appointment and advisor tells him he cannot work it(its 10 hours a week minumum wage) as he would only get £5 a week on top and lose the rest.

Even though he got a letter months ago stating he was elligable for the scheme where if he works part time under 12 hours he keeps £5 a week and rest is stored so when he starts full time he gets what he earned up to either £1000 or £2000 (cant remember)

Again when he went in advisor was rude and told him he COULDNT work, he asked about signing off and was told he wouldnt be allowed to! what a terrible adviser.

She constantly is rude to him, and my friend does come accross as lazy, but hes not, he mumbles when he speaks and looks sad as he has bad depression and low self esteem, so mumbles so you cant understand him

Scarlett1

what a rude woman, I would go above her head and ask for any future appointments be with another advisor :mad:
surely its up to your friend whether or not he wants to work and only keep £5 of it, im sure she shouldnt be making him turn down any work :mad:
im not sure about the rest of the money being stored unless its a new thing, the way I understood is that anything over the £5 would reduce the JSA, so if he earned £20 per week his JSA would reduce by £15.
your friend definately needs proper advice, maybe speak to the CAB

dekaspace

Hmm not sure, as I dont have letter in front of me, but I think its for people who have been signing on for a few months, and he's under 25 so maybe thats why.

As for advisor she told him last week "its like getting blood from a stone trying to get you into work" and did a horrible laugh.

I think she believes hes just another lazy person and lying as he speaks slow hes not making an effort etc.

She also said that my friend had no choice but to do his work placement which is due to start in a few weeks(which hasnt even been decided yet!)
ear
This is same jobcentre who when I was on New Deal a few years back tried to force me into gardening when I said I didnt want to do gardening, and saying I wanted admin as I have a HND in Business and a NC and a ND in Media and a year of an Arts Degree.

dekaspace

Sorry for bumping message but what i was talking about was the back to work bonus.

EDIT: strange it says it no longer exists but I got a letter when I signed on 3 months ago! as did my friend when he did about 4 months ago.

Weird.

real1314

afaik the back to work bonus was stopped a couple of years ago.

Irezumi_Muzan

Are you talking about the £100+ signing off bonus? That still exists...

Zara33

dekaspace is this it

Job Grant
Job Grant is a tax free lump sum you may get when you start full-time work (at least 16 hours a week).

You'll get it if you (and your partner if you have one) are aged 25 or over and you've been getting one or more of these benefits for at least 26 weeks before you started work:

Income Support
Jobseeker's Allowance (both types)
Incapacity Benefit
Severe Disablement Allowance
For lone parents and couples with children the Job Grant is £250. (If you or your partner are under 25 years, different rules may apply.)

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/GettingBackToWork/DG_10013843

TheWaltons_3

If I were you, on behalf of your friend... next time you witness such appalling lack of respect... I would say rather loudly that she has no right to say such things as it is not professional, is not in her job description and psychoanalysis of his personality is certainly far above her capabilities. I would request to speak with a senior, catalogue the verbal abuse you have witnessed and explain your friends history of depression.


What the f**k is a JOBCENTRE doing telling people they can't work, when they find a job?

I would be seething.

dekaspace

He's 21 lol great government he found a job wants to work, but cant and is rudely told he isnt allowed to work.

Also I have found that letter dated March 2007 saying I am entitled to the back to work bonus of up t £1000, and my friend found his, great admin.

seven-day-weekend

I don't understand either, my son did a work trial and was offered a part-time job at Matalan (but with guaranteed overtime), he just signed off and took the job!

Why have they said he can't sign off?

Also before that he worked eight hours for an agency, filled the forms in and jobcentre were fine with it.

Fran

Go through the Jobcentre's complaints procedure and he should ask to see a different advisor. He should carry through a complaint until he gets an apology, this kind of attitude has to be stopped!!

He needs to get advise on this outside the Jobcentre maybe if they have told him conflicting things (another thing to put in complaint?). Try CAB as they have all the information. They could also negotiate with the Jobcentre on his behalf to get facts if he wants.