providing evidence jobseekers?

andy0121

Hi one and all,

I'm needing a little advice if anyone can help.

I've been on the work programme for 2 years, I've came back onto the job seekers, for the last 6 weeks with an adviser.

I'm due to start signing with another advisor, next week which is the next step adviser in the jobcentre but I've had to sign with him today as there was no staff in the centre.
He told me, the paper where all my jobs were noted down was not good enough.

He demanded access to my Universal jobmatch account, he argued that is was the only way I'd prove what jobs that I've been applying for. He also asked for my password.

I told him I would not, and he asked if i had a phone so I could access it and show him the account and jobs I'd applied for, He also argued that some of the jobs that I'd applied for weren't good enough because I wasn't qualified for.

I've always been of the mind, my goal for every two weeks is 40 jobs minimum, apply for anything that I think some one may give me a shot at a job----as well as applying for specific job roles.

He's submitted a claim for me, for 'doubt' saying i haven't provided evidence even though I've never had an issue in all the time I've signed on for!

Can anyone tell me, if what is doing is correct? As i'm back in next week with him and he said he wants my account next week? He wasn't interested in providing screen shots from my email account etc, I did ask.

Anyone?

double_mummy

print emails you send (with their replies if possible) - if you are applying through a jobs website screen shot the conformation that you have applied for a job - get proof of postage for any letters you send (free from the post office)

keep a file and put in all you do each week and then give them a copy of what you have each time you sign on - keep the originals - get inserts and write the dates/times who you gave it to if their desks are numbered what number desk you were sat at and make sure they see you doing your notes in the folder

if they then choose to sanction you, you will have pretty strong evidence to show what you have been doing as long as you have kept to your agreement with the number of jobs etc

how many can you realistically do each week because compared to some people on here 20 a week does sound very low you are supposed to be sending 35 hours a week job hunting which would mean you are spending 105 minutes on each application do they all really take that long? surely some where like reed or cv library you can get through about 30 an hour easily even with print screening them - even if you use those just to bulk up your numbers

andy0121

hi
thanks for the info. I've never been told I needed print screens etc. That was until today, then he's bascially santioned me. Ah well.
Thanks, I do try to apply for more but I have to baby sit half the week. I know it's no excuse. I will check reed out, thank you.

Flyonthewall

Asking for more proof than the job diary is normal (nothing wrong with that, you just do print screens) and they do often attempt to get you to give them access to the account, but you don't have to.

If he sanctions you then appeal and get proof of postage in case they claim they've lost the appeal then at least you can show you sent a letter.

When appealing show them print screens of the jobs you've applied for and say that the Data Protection Act means that you do not have to give access to the account, nor are you willing to give you account password to your advisor.

No one should be asking for your password.

Next time you sign on take print screens along with your job diary and if he says it's not enough or asks for access or a password then state that the Data Protection Act means that you do not need to give them access and because of that and privacy reasons you will not be giving him your password.

Check the terms and conditions and any privacy statements on the job centre website to see if it says anything about access or passwords. Print the terms and conditions/privacy statements out and highlight the important parts to show him.

Icematikx

If you apply through sites such as Indeed, Jobsite, Monster etc.. They will keep a record of your applications on their website. This is your proof. If you haven't been applying, then you won't have proof.

mro

andy0121 wrote: »

Hi one and all,

I'm needing a little advice if anyone can help.

I've been on the work programme for 2 years, I've came back onto the job seekers, for the last 6 weeks with an adviser.

I'm due to start signing with another advisor, next week which is the next step adviser in the jobcentre but I've had to sign with him today as there was no staff in the centre.
He told me, the paper where all my jobs were noted down was not good enough.

He demanded access to my Universal jobmatch account, he argued that is was the only way I'd prove what jobs that I've been applying for. He also asked for my password.

I told him I would not, and he asked if i had a phone so I could access it and show him the account and jobs I'd applied for, He also argued that some of the jobs that I'd applied for weren't good enough because I wasn't qualified for.

I've always been of the mind, my goal for every two weeks is 40 jobs minimum, apply for anything that I think some one may give me a shot at a job----as well as applying for specific job roles.

He's submitted a claim for me, for 'doubt' saying i haven't provided evidence even though I've never had an issue in all the time I've signed on for!

Can anyone tell me, if what is doing is correct? As i'm back in next week with him and he said he wants my account next week? He wasn't interested in providing screen shots from my email account etc, I did ask.

Anyone?

Sounds like your JC advisor has lost the plot.

You provide a record of your Job Search, steps, activity with sufficient detail at JSA sign-on.

You don't have to prove this each time, by printing out emails, screenshots, giving access to UJM.


Whether the jobs you are applying for are suitable and as a result, whether you are doing enough job search/applications is a different issue.

andy0121

He argued that I'm not qualified to apply for a furniture installer, It was a currys/pc world, drivers mate. To help instal TV wall brackets etc, my thinking was I've plenty hands on experience doing DIY and building old cars as a hobby (helping relatives when i was a teenager).
If a manager of the store or the human resources department might see potential in me for that position, i figured there was a chance. I don't apply for jobs that i've no chance in getting, biologist, surgeon etc.

He said he did want proof, of everything. Replies on emails, Universal jobmatch activity, postage costs for letters, Screenshots of everything. He said, this would need to be provided every two weeks, as well as names of companies, and people i've handed CV to.

Thank you for all the replies, I was slightly annoyed yesterday. Almost everyone I've ever spoken to in the jobcentre has always been friendly and helpful. He was the first, to arrogant and bullying.
I'm back in with him next week, so I'll see how it goes.
thank you

Sncjw

if he continues to do this put a complaint in.

when i was on the dole all i had to do is write in my book of 6 things i done and half the time they didnt even look at it.

Who?_me?

Sncjw wrote: »

if he continues to do this put a complaint in.

when i was on the dole all i had to do is write in my book of 6 things i done and half the time they didnt even look at it.

HA! If only! You now get a booklet which you have to write in your plans of how and what you are going to do to seach for work. EG, this week I will look for x amount of jobs, speak to x and apply for x and then you have to back this up with the other booklet.
Basically you have to write a plan of what you are going to do that week, and then what you have done, and prove it.
The fact that you work part time (less than 16 hours) means nothing and you should still be applying as if you were full time.

Signing on is not the "easy" option at all.

Morlock

Print this out and show it to him:

Original FOI request and an extract from the DWP response:

"190. The evidence of jobsearch produced when they attend to have their regular reviews may be in various forms:

• information they have provided from their Universal Jobmatch account;

• evidence in writing from employers, employ ment agencies, or other organisations which they have contacted;

• copies of letters they have sent to employers;

• the claimant’s un-corroborated written evidence, for example an ES4;

• the claimant’s verbal evidence

• evidence from previous Jobsearch Reviews recorded on LMS."

PDF response

Morlock

Or this:

"Reviewing jobsearch activity - claimant using Universal Jobmatch (No DWP access to their account)

97. To help assess that a claimant is actively seeking work you may suggest that they show you:

prints of any number or all of the screens/pages detailed in paragraph 96 from their Universal Jobmatch account. However, this will not be possible for claimants who do not have access to a printer or cannot afford to print out copies of these pages; or

any number or all of the screens/pages detailed in paragraph 96 from their Universal Jobmatch account if they have access to the internet on a smartphone. Districts will need to consider the guidance on Restricted Use of Electronic Media in Jobcentres although paragraph 7 in this guidance enables offices to allow claimants to use their mobiles for this purpose.

98. If it is not possible for the claimant to do any of the above, or the claimant does not wish to accept cookies and so needs to use a DWP IAD, advise the claimant that they can login to their UJ account and print off copies of the relevant screens/pages from an available IAD in your office.

99. However, the onus is on the claimant to provide evidence of their jobsearch activity (by whatever means they choose).

100. Therefore if a claimant does not wish to do this, you will need to base your assessment on the evidence they have provided. If this is insufficient and you are not completely satisfied they have met the requirements to actively seek work, raise a labour market doubt in the usual way."

Universal Jobmatch Toolkit