lone parents and the work programme

iammumtoone

I am a single parent claiming JSA, under JSA there are 'special' rules that apply to lone parents. I am allowed to look for work that is within school times (excluding travel times and school holidays). When I have an JSA appointment in the school holidays I take my son with me, not quite sure if this is strictly allowed but everyone does it and the JC probably turn a blind eye.

I have been told next year I will go onto the Work programme and probably have to do a work placement. I asked if the work placement would be in school times, the JC advisor didn't know, I then asked if it wasn't, would they pay childcare, again the JC advisor didn't know.

Does anyone know the answers to these questions? Also I am assuming I will need to attend the work programme during the school holidays so will they pay for childcare for these appointments.

I am very worried about it, not the programme itself, I am hoping for some help with finding a job (might not happen but I can hope ) but the fact I have no one to look after my son and can't afford childcare whilst I am claiming JSA.

Also can anyone tell me how often I will need to attend the work placement center and if I have to cover my own travel fees to get there, the JC advisor said I would still need to sign on with them every two weeks as well. This confuses me will I have to follow both what the JC tell me on my agreement and what the work programme want me to do as well?

red_devil

Challenge them as to why they dont know its their job to know. Say if you dont know who does.

i would think it would be in school hours. You might even be able to choose your own placement.

red_devil

Think you visit the wp once a fortnight.

iammumtoone

red_devil wrote: »

Challenge them as to why they dont know its their job to know. Say if you dont know who does.

I tried to do so but the response was "well it might not come to it you might get a job before then" this might be true, hopefully it will be but realistically over the Christmas period I think it is more unlikely than any other time of year, I couldn't say that to the advisor as didn't want to come across as negative about finding work as I am sure she would tell me the time of year makes no difference (fingers crossed she would be right)

xblink

dont sign the data protection waiver at wp , and you wont be sent on any work placements

Pont

What age is your son?

AP007

xblink wrote: »

dont sign the data protection waiver at wp , and you wont be sent on any work placements

I signed it and wasn't sent on any so that's not 100% true.

xblink

AP007 wrote: »

I signed it and wasn't sent on any so that's not 100% true.

Well you will have more chance of not getting sent on any if you don't sign it . If everyone refused to sign data protection waiver this pointless work program would be scraped

AP007

xblink wrote: »

Well you will have more chance of not getting sent on any if you don't sign it . If everyone refused to sign data protection waiver this pointless work program would be scraped

My time on the WP is over and they made no £ on me apart from the £400 they got when I started it.

Nor did they spend anything on me.

iammumtoone

Pont wrote: »

What age is your son?

He is six, why does his age effect anything?

xblink

iammumtoone wrote: »

He is six, why does his age effect anything?

i dont think wp pay child care , they will really not be bothered if you have a child or not . If you cant make one of the appointments or courses you will get sanctioned