JSA confusion requirements.

Mikey121

Hi, I have been on JSA for a couple of months now - im starting an Open Uni course this September,
the plan was, IF i find a full time job before then i would do full time work and part-time course, and if i could not find a full time job, i would chose to do the course full-time, and try to find a part time job for some extra money.

So at the moment as i am technically looking for a full time job, im on JSA until the course starts.
So, the Job-center have these big new jobsearch sheets, which have 40 boxes/steps per fortnight.
My JSA Agreement is to do 14 things a week, but i do more, and completely fill the 40/fortnight sheet every time.
however, last time i signed, they gave me 2x40 sheets and said that now they require all people to do 40/week, regardless of what the JSA Agreement says
Now im not complaining, im happy to do 40 a week, and i did, so when i next went to JSA 2 weeks ago, i have 80 total jobsearch activities over 2 weeks. this includes spec letters/email apps etc.

Now when i left that time, after she saw that i had done 2 sheets, she then gave me only one sheet, and didnt say anything, so i just left, and now im worried that i could get into trouble as ive only done 40 this past 2 weeks, rather than the 80 that the adviser said the fortnight before, was how it is now.

Sorry if its confusing.
Mikey.

jacques_chirac

Pick up the phone or pop into the JCP and ask the question. No one here can give you a definitive answer, and if you don't do the right thing it could lead to a sanction. Best to get the answer straight from them

sammyjammy

Why would you base your number of steps to do jobsearch on the number of pieces of paper they give you? You can still do 40 steps a week just record them yourself...............................

Mikey121

I do do more than 40 steps per week, I have written down my 40 email apps, then in the bottom i have written that i sent 30+ spec letters over the past 2 weeks.

That is 70 steps over this last fortnight, my JSA Agreement says 14. I am not against doing as many steps as is needed. my question is, can i get in trouble even though i did MORE than what my JSA Agreement says.

I *budget* how many days i need to use to fill the paper, with atleast 3-4 per day so that i can fit in every day of the fortnight onto the 40 paper, because ive been in trouble before for not having anything on 1 particular day.

Dunroamin

Mikey121 wrote: »

Hi, I have been on JSA for a couple of months now - im starting an Open Uni course this September,
the plan was, IF i find a full time job before then i would do full time work and part-time course, and if i could not find a full time job, i would chose to do the course full-time, and try to find a part time job for some extra money.

Studying with the OU is by definition part time so you'll still need to be available for full time work, particularly as you won't be eligible for any maintenance funding.

dookar

You must take as many steps to find work as is reasonable in your circumstances, your jsag should act as a guide ti what is fair and reasonable for you. Tge number if sheets they give you is irrelevant and they shouldnt be placing the same demands on everybody. I wouldn't worry about it.

More importantly, you appear to be doing the same things each weekwith no success. Id suggest they are no longer steps.

Mikey121

dookar wrote: »

More importantly, you appear to be doing the same things each weekwith no success. Id suggest they are no longer steps.

What do you mean by that? what can i do differently between email apps/online apps, spec letters and handing in CVs?

Besides, ive only been singing on just under 2 months, i dont see what else i can do.

john539

dookar wrote: »

You must take as many steps to find work as is reasonable in your circumstances, your jsag should act as a guide ti what is fair and reasonable for you. Tge number if sheets they give you is irrelevant and they shouldnt be placing the same demands on everybody. I wouldn't worry about it.

More importantly, you appear to be doing the same things each weekwith no success. Id suggest they are no longer steps.

That's unclear & impossible to define.

john539

It means you can't trust what they are doing & saying, as they don't know themselves.

They are making it up as they go along and desperately covering their jobs.

dookar

john539 wrote: »

That's unclear & impossible to define.

Nevertheless it's the law

john539

dookar wrote: »

Nevertheless it's the law

No, it doesn't say that in the law.