Jobcentre making me go on Daily Signing. Can I do anything to prevent it?

iclayt

But if he hasn't SAID to the member of staff "I have no intention of looking for work", and he's just said "I am going to uni", the two aren't the same, and it's wrong for the adviser to make an assumption like that and punish accordingly.

szam_

iclayt wrote: »

But if he hasn't SAID to the member of staff "I have no intention of looking for work", and he's just said "I am going to uni", the two aren't the same, and it's wrong for the adviser to make an assumption like that and punish accordingly.

Maybe not - which is probably why it hasn't been stopped, but I think daily signing is reasonable in order to figure out if there is or isn't any intention of finding work. There is enough to go off in order to raise a suspicion that the OP may not be looking for work, just by telling an adviser you are planning to go to Uni.

You can't tell me there is no reason to suspect a claimant will put little to no effort in to finding work when told "I'm going to Uni in 6 weeks."

I absolutely agree with daily signing when this is the case. If someone said it six months until they went off to Uni, then yes, it probably would be harsh, 6 weeks however, isn't.

CCFC_80

So the moral of this then, is to keep your gob shut and never tell JSA staff that you have a job lined up in a few weeks time or you intend stopping your JSA claim for another reason. Glad this was brought to peoples attention.

epitome

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Payment of travel costs is provided through the Flexible Support Fund by Job Centre Plus.

Eventually found the document.

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/flexible_support_fund_payments

Scroll right down to Payment of Travel Costs through the FSF amongst the list of PDFs.

These daily attendances are not 'signing on days'.

But that says that the FSF is discretionary. Which means the first FOI reply was wrong to say " Where someone is required to attend more regularly than fortnightly, travel expenses are reimbursed for the ‘extra’ journey to and from the jobcentre. I attach the relevant guidance. "
what it should have said is "can be reimbursed under a discretionary scheme called the FSF" ... unless there is actually guidance that shows it must be reimbursed.

Another thing the guidance for FSF says upto £5 a week can be reimbursed, which isn't very much.

mro

szam_ wrote: »

Maybe not - which is probably why it hasn't been stopped, but I think daily signing is reasonable in order to figure out if there is or isn't any intention of finding work. There is enough to go off in order to raise a suspicion that the OP may not be looking for work, just by telling an adviser you are planning to go to Uni.

You can't tell me there is no reason to suspect a claimant will put little to no effort in to finding work when told "I'm going to Uni in 6 weeks."

I absolutely agree with daily signing when this is the case. If someone said it six months until they went off to Uni, then yes, it probably would be harsh, 6 weeks however, isn't.

Would you rather people tell the truth or not.

Any person can create enough legitimate job search activity and still not be looking for a job.

You do realise that most JC sign-on staff have no real interest in what is presented to them as long as there is enough and it looks right.

The fact is Daily Signing involves a cost to the Jobcentre, it is better this and other schemes are targeted at people that need it.

missapril75

mro wrote: »

The fact is Daily Signing involves a cost to the Jobcentre, it is better this and other schemes are targeted at people that need it.

Broadly agree with your comments, but worth noting that if one accepts that JSA should only go to those available for and actively seeking work, then it's not just a simple matter of additional costs.

If the hassle of daily signing dissuades someone from claiming, when they are not really interested or even looking, be it the OP or someone else (or even someone for whom it's a hassle because it interferes with their job on the side) then the additional temporary cost might be a drop in the ocean compared to JSA not paid to someone not seeking the job.

It's not that dissimilar to Fraud investigation. That also appears to be an additional cost too but in the long run it's considered to be worth it.

It may well be a waste of time in this case and faffing around with expenses claims and the daily signing itself could even interfere with a job search for someone genuinely looking.

Where do you draw the line/turn a blind eye?

All I know is I am so glad to have escaped (my 'advisor' job) when I did. I couldn't live with myself if I had to do the stuff expected these days.

Just the other day I asked an ex colleague how he handled it and he said "You just leave your conscience at home and drink cider."