Can you take a friend to a JSA appointment?

Another_not_new_user

wolvo2407 wrote: »

A few weeks before he got sanctioned I took him to an appointment and he told them he forgot his job search details (he hadn't done it really) and he was given 2 hours to do get them and go back.....


I was shocked how little effort he had to put into it - I thought he was taking the pi$$ and i'm his friend!

I think that is your answer. Going to his appointment won't stop him getting sanctioned if he hasn't done any real job search before he attends. You can't sit over him day in and day out making sure he does what is expected of him. He has to take responsibility for himself.

wolvo2407

Another_not_new_user wrote: »

I think that is your answer. Going to his appointment won't stop him getting sanctioned if he hasn't done any real job search before he attends. You can't sit over him day in and day out making sure he does what is expected of him. He has to take responsibility for himself.

Your spot on tbf.....it is his responsibility at the end of the day......I just want to know what he has to do and ill insure he has done it......I won't be checking on him everyday I try to only visit once a week cuz of the cost. Hes on a v tight budget and simply can not afford to be sanctioned again.


Does anyone know what you have to do. I don't even know anyone else who has been on JSA they all have jobs!


When he did it in my car I think he simply went online, signed in with a username and password. Clicked apply on a few jobs, and wrote down the reference number of the jobs. Is it as simple as that?

jobbingmusician

I would HOPE that the JSA will be delighted that he has a friend that is going to help him agree and remember what he has to do each week, and help to motivate and support him to do it! I suggest that this is how you both present your wish to be present at the interview.

(In reality, they may be trying to sanction people to save money, but they can hardly admit to this, and they should welcome your presence.)

micky2phones

wolvo2407 wrote: »

Your spot on tbf.....it is his responsibility at the end of the day......I just want to know what he has to do and ill insure he has done it......I won't be checking on him everyday I try to only visit once a week cuz of the cost. Hes on a v tight budget and simply can not afford to be sanctioned again.


Does anyone know what you have to do. I don't even know anyone else who has been on JSA they all have jobs!


When he did it in my car I think he simply went online, signed in with a username and password. Clicked apply on a few jobs, and wrote down the reference number of the jobs. Is it as simple as that?

Hi, thats just a part of it job searching, theres your c.v.

updating as and when needed,covering letter,application

forms,interview techniques,if you can show your advisor thats you

are job searching and trying to do the others things above im sure

your friend should be ok.

Help with all this you would find in your local Work Club along with

any courses to help find employment.

theoretica

wolvo2407 wrote: »

I just want to know what he has to do and ill insure he has done it......

When he did it in my car I think he simply went online, signed in with a username and password. Clicked apply on a few jobs, and wrote down the reference number of the jobs. Is it as simple as that?

What he should be doing is putting time and genuine effort into getting a job, and documenting this for the job centre. It should not be a simple and quick tick box exercise.

Another_not_new_user

wolvo2407 wrote: »

When he did it in my car I think he simply went online, signed in with a username and password. Clicked apply on a few jobs, and wrote down the reference number of the jobs. Is it as simple as that?

So that sounds like he doesn't want a job, he just wants the benefits. There are people who genuinely and desperately want to work, and still get sanctioned simply because they can't find enough jobs to apply for. As others have said, there is a lot more to finding a job. If he really doesn't know any better, and thinks this will get him a job, then I am afraid that he needs to be on the dreaded work programme - it may be not much, but at least he stands a chance of learning the basics of applying oneself to job searching. And equally, sorry, but if he doesn't want a job then he should be sanctioned. JSA is for those seeking work, not a hand out for people who can't be bothered to get a job. Finally, if he is incapable of job seeking because of his mental state, then again JSA is not what he should be claiming. There are benefits for people who are unable to work for health reasons - JSA is not one of them.


I think these are the alternatives you need to focus on, as much for your own good as for his. You cannot live his life for him or make him do things, and you can't stop him getting sanctioned if he won't make the effort himself. Arguably, you sitting over him making him do stuff only means that you are facilitating his efforts to claim benefits whilst not seeking work - in other words, whether you realise it or not you are helping him to play the system. Your efforts would be better placed, if he wants to work, in helping him find something that will support him in job search skills. And if he doesn't want to work, well I am sorry, but are you and all your friends who work prepared to pick up the tax bill of him and anyone else who doesn't feel like working? Sometimes, hard choices are actually the best ones.

ShadowPuma

wolvo2407 wrote: »

I want to go purely because I want to know exactly what he has to do to make sure the advisors don't sanction him again and once I know this i will ensure he does this each wk or fortnight. I want to do it straight after the meeting each time so it's done.

Considering the job searches and applications need to be done over the two weeks to catch jobs when they do come up, and that it will say things like "check X times a week" etc. I suspect you can't hand hold him through this one.

Not to be overly blunt but sanctions are there to make people learn and spur them to get a job. They may also be used in other ways but in this case where you admit he's not doing the work necessary he is a target for sanctions for a good reason....

fairy_lights

I have to ask, why are you so set on helping your friend avoid getting sanctioned?
He's already been sanctioned once but still isn't bothering to do his job search properly, if at all. What is he doing to help himself?
You can attend all his appointments and guide him through his job search, but if he doesn't actually want to get a job and isn't putting any effort in then he's going to get sanctioned sooner or later.

GothicStirling

The thing with depression is that it's not as simple as just not wanting to do something. I have had episodes of chronic depression and General Anxiety Disorder and even getting out of bed was hard enough to do (not that I was sleeping much.) I remember one episode while at university, walking around campus I might as well have been dragging a dead body behind me, and writing a particular piece of work (luckily only 500 words) was like wading through treacle. In retrospect I should have taken a semester out.

wolvo2407

Have to say I like the debate that this has caused.......just to update before I respond to people......I had an absolute mare yesterday and its caused more problems.......I agreed to take this friend to his job centre interview to recommence his jsa payments (and see if I could go with him). But I also agreed to take my friends granddad (who is also my neighbour) to a hospital appointment – this shouldn’t of being a problem but I ended up being messed around partly by my neighbour and partly the hospital so I couldn’t make it to my friend in time (he lives nearly 20 miles away)

I did warn the neighbour that this may happen and told him to make his way there……he says he couldn’t find the job centre it is about 1.5 miles away but tbh I think if he really really wanted to find it he would of done!!

He couldn’t contact the job centre to say he couldn’t make it because he didn’t have any credit on phone!

So I am not sure if he has to start a new claim…..or has to contact the job centre? I will try sort tomoz.

Tbh I know I shouldn’t do this but I have filled in the forms online for the JSA cuz I have access to the internet – he doesn’t! The last time I did it I did it with him so all the info is accurate but I also put my phone number as the contact as he lives in a reception black spot and my phone is more reliable. I shouldn’t admit this but I have also rang the contact numbers as him as I know all the security info I have always done this with his knowledge and permission it is just easier to use my free minutes at home rather than traveling the 20 miles all of the time!

To answer some of the posts that have been made……give u some background info……this friend is 30 years old and has recently been to prison just for one month because of an assault charge he didn’t go prison cuz of that it was either for breaching is bail or community service conditions I can not remember. He spent at least two months on the streets I am his former neighbour and I have helped to get back the streets but to do this he had to accept a flat which is 2 bedroom (which he didn’t want) and is also nearly 20 miles from his family etc.

He has been on courses to try and get him back to work and has done voluntary work recently and in the past…..i first met him when he worked voluntarily for the CAB and he was v popular there. He’s got good and bad sides to him but can be a pain in the !!!! he wasn’t the best of neighbours! TBH the main the reason I am still helping him is the challenge! I would love to get him in the position where he is supporting himself, paying off his debts and the ultimate goal would be him getting a job.

I miss the challenge of working badly but also accept that work in the past has led to problems. I accept I could be putting my efforts to better use but its not realistic at the moment – very easy for me to say but it’s the truth.

The friend was v enthusiastic about getting a job but I think the constant failure has dampened his enthusiasm……….he has never had a paid job I don’t think im not even sure he has had too many interviews. I know its no excuse for not trying or giving up but because of his lack of experience and criminal record he is up against it!

Thank for all the messages…..the supportive ones and also the ones which are more negative – cuz they are spot on and thanks for your advice.

I’m just trying to put the building blocks in place first of all I want him to be successful claiming his JSA, DLA, HB etc and also paying all of his bills etc then build further!

The friend has a lot of debt…..the only furniture he has in whole flat is a cooker that doesn’t work yet, a bed, a fridge, a tiny telly, camping chairs and a microwave we have had to get all these for free and its taken months. There is no money spare. I don’t understand depression so I can not really comment but if I was in his situation and so far away from my family, I would be very very down. So currently im in a dilemma, he can be a pain and I know me doing too much won’t help him long term. But tbh my life is easy (compared to people with jobs) on benefits but its v v boring…..the challenge of helping him gives me something to think about instead of my own probs!