Claiming JSA for the first time, tips & everything to know

mattcanary

If the JobCentre quibble about you denying them access when you next sign on,
you can refer them to Data Protection Act or alternatively the Universal Jobmatch toolkit Chapter 3, clause 82:
We cannot specify to a JSA claimant how they provide us with records of their jobsearch activity and Universal Jobmatch will not change this - it is not therefore possible to require JSA claimants to give DWP access to their Universal Jobmatch account.


They can however force you to sign up to Universal Jobmatch and to either produce a CV on the jobsite, or alternatively download a CV produce elsewhere onto your account.

They can check up on this by entering yourr details onto their computer system. It will prevent their access but also tell them that you have not given them permission to access your account. This tells them that you have registered.

Scuffer

mattcanary wrote: »

If the JobCentre quibble about you denying them access when you next sign on,
you can refer them to Data Protection Act or alternatively the Universal Jobmatch toolkit Chapter 3, clause 82:
We cannot specify to a JSA claimant how they provide us with records of their jobsearch activity and Universal Jobmatch will not change this - it is not therefore possible to require JSA claimants to give DWP access to their Universal Jobmatch account.


They can however force you to sign up to Universal Jobmatch and to either produce a CV on the jobsite, or alternatively download a CV produce elsewhere onto your account.

They can check up on this by entering yourr details onto their computer system. It will prevent their access but also tell them that you have not given them permission to access your account. This tells them that you have registered.

This might sound silly... But how do i show them proof of my jobsearch activity if they cant see my universal jobmatch?

Apolonation

lol the advice in this thread is terrible. If you do not give access to your UJ account they can still insist you apply for a specific job if it matches your JSAG or Claimant Commitment, and why shouldn't they be able to lol! You are in the 'Job' centre after all.

By giving access to Universal Jobmatch they can see what you've been applying for but this only saves you time, because you have to tell them anyway when they ask in your interview that's the whole point of going into the jobcentre.

I can never understand why so many people instantly start making this a them and us situation, small minds i think. anyway,

Good luck in your jobsearch!

Apolonation

Scuffer wrote: »

This might sound silly... But how do i show them proof of my jobsearch activity if they cant see my universal jobmatch?

That's a big advantage of giving them access, otherwise you just manually write everything down you do, or keep a spreadsheet or something similar.

Scuffer

Apolonation wrote: »

That's a big advantage of giving them access, otherwise you just manually write everything down you do, or keep a spreadsheet or something similar.

Could i just give them access when i sign in and then block them again when i get home?

Apolonation

you could but there wouldnt really be any point as they'd be able to see everything you've done in between when you next give them access, what are you worried about giving them access for?

melysion

From what I understand giving "job advisors" access to your UJM account gives them a easy sanctioning weapon. Don't do it OP. Print it all off or write it down instead.

the_struggler

just stared jsa, my self. would have been retired feb, but they change the date on that. so after being made redundant dec, i am now looking for work. best advice stay calm, any wrong word from you, will lose you your claim. jump through any hoop, or lose your claim, don't be late or miss any appointments, or you will lose your claim. hope you have better luck than i am. advice ask a mate only way to find anything out. x

mattcanary

Apolonation wrote: »

lol the advice in this thread is terrible. If you do not give access to your UJ account they can still insist you apply for a specific job if it matches your JSAG or Claimant Commitment, and why shouldn't they be able to lol! You are in the 'Job' centre after all.

Good luck in your jobsearch!

Why give them the chance to sanction you for say not applying for a single job that one adviser you sign on with at the Jobcentre thinks you should (even if you are not qualified to)? eg: not applying for a job as a job in a cafe when the job description specifically says that a food certificate qualification is essential. The adviser can send you jobs that you should apply for through Universal Jobsearch and if you don;t apply for this, then they will often sanction you - even if you have a good reason for not applying for it.
Dodgy advisers can and sometimes will do sanction in this kind of scenario.


Yes you can challenge such sanctions but this takes a while - and in the meantime you are without any money.

In addition to which, if you apply for a job directly through the website the application may not even get past the Jobcentre or the Universal Jobsearch website(ie: it won;t reach the recruiter). The jobcentre seems to decide when the recruiter should be sent the application. Applying outside of the Universal Jobsearch means the recruiter will definitely get the application (well, as long as you don't apply through a rec ruitment consultant).

The website has been discredited recently anyway -as demonstrated by Channel 4 News in particular.So many fraudulent recruiters advertise on the site and by providing your details to them through it, you are liable to be the victim of fraud or sales calls about accident compensation claims, changing your gas and electric supplier, etc.


Why take all the risks when you don;t have to allow the JobCentre access?
It is not more time-consuming to not give the access. Why would you say this?
All youneed to do is complete the booklets they give you, and keep a record of letters, sent emails, etc that you send out in relation to jobs you have applied for. It is also best to write out (pehaps on a word processing program) all the actions you take each day in looking for work. That is no more long-winded than writing an account on Universal Jobsearch (which is something you would have to do otherwise).

I've signed on about five times now and not once has the adviser asked to see such a record, but it is best to have it to hand, just in case.

CCFC_80

Apolonation wrote: »

lol the advice in this thread is terrible. If you do not give access to your UJ account they can still insist you apply for a specific job if it matches your JSAG or Claimant Commitment, and why shouldn't they be able to lol! You are in the 'Job' centre after all.

By giving access to Universal Jobmatch they can see what you've been applying for but this only saves you time, because you have to tell them anyway when they ask in your interview that's the whole point of going into the jobcentre.

I can never understand why so many people instantly start making this a them and us situation, small minds i think. anyway,

Good luck in your jobsearch!

So am I missing something here. If you don't give them access to your UJ account, are you still supposed to apply for the fake jobs on there and jobs that the previous poster has stated that you don't have the qualifications or experience for. Perhaps you can clarify?


Edit, I am in the opinion that if I was signing on, I wouldn't want to give them access and would prefer to write everything down if necessary.