Looks like my partner will be sanctioned?

GamerInfo

LannieDuck wrote: »

I'm getting confused by this. You put a lot of different issues in your first post, but when posters try to give advice on them, you're saying they're not really important afterall?

So you're really only looking for advice on the part-time job your OH couldn't accept? I would try to get a statement from your OH's regular advisor who said it was up to him whether he accepts it or not.

Ive already been given advice re. the access to personal email account in that they cannot demand access to this, therfore we dont have to give it to them.

Ive been given advice re. the falsifying of information on his CV which states it's illegal for him to do so, we have since put his CV back to it's original state

We have been given advice re. them demanding his spend x amount of money to hand a paper copy of his CV in to each company as well as emailing it to them - there is no way he could provide this evidence and in any case our JSA entitlement does not bound us to accept and carry out whatever demands each adviser makes if it means we will struggle financially.

Regarding the advice given to my partner about the acceptance of a 12hr job he was offered, we have been asked repeatedly whether we got this is writing, we did not, therefore it's my partners word against theirs. When an advisers job is on the line i hardly think they are going to sign a statement admitting to doing something they shouldn't have - if it were that easy he wouldn't be facing a sanction in the first place.

The point of my initial OP and the reason why i included all that information is because it was intended to 'build' a picture of what he has been going through. How can i expect people to give appropriate advice if they don't have the full picture? On all counts we were advised on the first page they couldn't legally enforce any of what they've told him, therefore he doesn't have to follow through with any of it.

I personally believe he's gone above and beyond with his job search and provided more than enough information for them to prove what he's done. The whole point of UJM is for the JCP to have an accurate account and rock solid proof in black and white on a computer screen that the applicant is applying for the jobs they say they are and sticking to their weekly jobseeking agreement. There are certain flaws on their own site which mean people like my partner are getting 'told' off like school children for following the system that they've set up. If they want 'extra' proof then they should devise a system that will give them this.

At any given time the jobcenter would only need to visit the website my partner has provided and punch in the job id/job title my partner has also provided within the active history. In all cases he provides direct email addresses, telephone numbers and names for the company he's sent his CV/application form to - he provides the exact date/time he sent it and the action he's carried out (whether he'd phoned them/emailed them his CV or filled in an application form). There is a very real paper trail to what he's done - i dont think he should need to provide anymore than this and certainly not at our expense. His jobseekers agreement doesn't even say he needs to have a UJM account - it clearly states - if you have one this must be used (or something to tha effect) - so what right do they have to demand email account logins?

LannieDuck

GamerInfo wrote: »

Regarding the advice given to my partner about the acceptance of a 12hr job he was offered, we have been asked repeatedly whether we got this is writing, we did not, therefore it's my partners word against theirs. When an advisers job is on the line i hardly think they are going to sign a statement admitting to doing something they shouldn't have - if it were that easy he wouldn't be facing a sanction in the first place.

Yes, I realise he didn't get anything at the time, but from what you've written his old advisor sounds quite reasonable (apart from suggesting he falsify his CV - was that the same advisor?). I was wondering whether it would be worth your OH trying to speak to him/her to see whether they (are willing to) recall the conversation and support his appeal.

GamerInfo

Just to update:

we were told on the 20th september that our complaint had been raised re the pending sanction and that a manager would call us back - this obviously never happened so on the 23rd we specifically asked to be put through to the manager (as expected they were not available) but we got to speak to a member of the management team. Our complaint was dealt with very professionally and we were told that our comments/concerns would be passed to the manager who would contact the decision making team to update the pending sanction with the information we'd provided - again we were promised a phonecall within that same week.

We again never received a phonecall, but as my partner was due to sign up on Friday 27th he decided to request to see a manager in person. One of the managers came straight down to talk to him.

Basically they were shocked and slightly confused as to how a sanction for a 12hr per week job offer was even put through - she confirmed my partner was under no obligation to take up the employment offered because of of the hours and the fact we'd be financially worse off.

She checked the computer system to try and get more details - she said 'it looks like you applied and got offered a 39hr a week job and because you turned this down that is why you face being sanctioned' obvioulsy my partner disagreed, but they pulled the 'have you goy any vidence to back that claim up'? Fortunately my partner kept ahold of the contract he signed when he attended the interview for the 12hr per week job which clealy states the days and the hours they wanted him to work.

They took a photocopy of this and because the decision makers wouldnt speak to her direct she emailed it to them with a promise to call us back when she knows more. Fast forward 2hrs and she called my partner to say, they have found the 39hr per week job offer on his UJM (lie since he's not applied for a job at the place they claim) - she said this is probably what they've seen hence why the sanction was put through.

She said not to worry, now they have the proof everything will be ok - she'll forward the proof on to them and everything would be ok.

Fast forward to pay day - and not a single penny has gone through to our bank account - they've stopped everything.

A reconsideration has been put through - but they are still maintaining my partner was offered a 39hr a week job. this reconsideration can take anywhere from 3wks to 6months - if we put through an appeal the JC staff have told us this could take 9-10months to hear anything.

We've been told we can apply for a hardship payment but this take around a week to come through (providing we are eligible)

I dont know where they are getting their information from - but this just proves the lengths they will go to.

For now ive had to cancel any pending direct debits and we are going to struggle with food until we have our child tax credit come through in 4days....

Welcome to the wonderful world of JSA. a 13wk sanction for following the advice of the JCP staff and the manager herself.....

princessdon

You seem highly intelligent, clearly have skills (you phoning on his behalf and organising), why don't you look for work?

GamerInfo

princessdon wrote: »

You seem highly intelligent, clearly have skills (you phoning on his behalf and organising), why don't you look for work?

Thanks for the words of wisdom - but ive been job searching alongside my partner, the words soul destroying come to mind....

In the last 2wks ive applied for around 45 jobs - any replies? not even a single acknowledgment.....thanks for the constructive advice anyway!!!!

i love how people instantly think the partner sits on their backside doing nothing - i can assure you if your partner whom you think the world of was being put through hell that last thing you'd do is sit back, watch and do nothing.....

LannieDuck

Could your partner contact the place that was supposed to have offered him the job and have a chat with them?

They may be able to either i) confirm that he wasn't offered a job, or ii) confirm he was offered a job, in which case he could explain he was never told about it and ask if it's still available!

krok

They tried to do the same to me last week.
I was called into their offices with anoter 19 people and they said they had a full time job for 8 of us.

After 4 hours of pointless presentations we found out the contract was for 16 hours, but they said we would get 40 hours.

I then asked them to supply a contract for the 40 hours of work but they said no and you will have to do a 2 week work trial for the company as part of theit conditions.

This was the time i said i was not interested in a 16 hour PT contract as i dont have to accept anything under 25 hours. Also i dont have to justify turning down a job that requires me to work for nothing.

The company in question. POUNDWORLD.

krok

Went in today and they tried to fob me off with more Part Time retail jobs which would take me 3 hours to reach there.

They must be desperate.

I keep telling them i am not interested in any part time jobs which is my right as for the last 40 years i have been working full time.

I think i got punished by him putting me on a employability course.

What a joke. Hopefully i will be accepted for an interview i went to yesterday. A proper job which i found myself.