JSA sanction because of community work placement, do I have grounds to appeal?

Hampshire345

hi, I am on jobseekers allowance and I have been told that I will be sanctioned because I did not start my placement, the reason I did not start my placement was because when I arrived at the placement (which was a charity) and told them that I woud have to travel for roughly 2 hours to get there, due to the placement being 21 miles away from my home, and they said that this would be inappropriate and that I should not be doing the placement with them, they said they would phone my provider and told them that I attended the intitial meeting and they said they woud say that it was not appropriate for me.

however my placement provider has told the job centre that it is my fault and that I had no problem with the travel distance, when I already told them it will be very difficult,
when I spoke to my placement provider they even had the check to suggest I hurridly try and arrange my own placment, even though it is what they are supposed to be getting paid for.

I have never had a sanction before and wonder how long my sanction will be for

tomtontom

Failure to take part in MWA is a higher level sanction, so a minimum of 13 weeks. Did you raise your concerns about the distance before attending the placement? Did you ask whether anyone lived nearby so you could get a lift, even part of the way?

You can arrange your own placement, and this would be a good idea if it meant you would avoid a sanction. It also means you can tailor the placement to your own interests.

Hampshire345

tomtontom wrote: »

Failure to take part in MWA is a higher level sanction, so a minimum of 13 weeks. Did you raise your concerns about the distance before attending the placement? Did you ask whether anyone lived nearby so you could get a lift, even part of the way?

You can arrange your own placement, and this would be a good idea if it meant you would avoid a sanction. It also means you can tailor the placement to your own interests.

I now have to referred back to my provider from the jobcentre.

I raised concerns about the travel distance, I rely on public transport, I cannot drive and i would also have to walk for several miles to get there too.

I read online that placements must be within 90 minutes travel time, therefore I shoud not have been put on a placement so far away from where I live, would this help me to appeal

I do have mental health problems ( depression and mood swings - I do not have any medical evidence of this though

I was only told about the placement 1 working day before I was due to start, I got a letter though the post and thankfully it arrived just before the placement was due to start, my placement providers have been useless.

Hampshire345

does anyone know if I would have a good chance at an appeal?

FBaby

For a start, can you at least evidence that it does take you 2 hours to get there using the quickest method of transport? Ie. show bus/train timetable and working time to walk etc...

Mersey_2

It's always worth appealing where you are given misinformation by the DWP, or in this case their W2W provider. Detail that to JCP for their reconsideration (that's now compulsory before you Appeal). Also detail the 'good reason' ie the time to travel that distance as 90 mins is usually the standard maximum in any JSA Agreement/Claimant Commitment.

Hampshire345

Mersey wrote: »

It's always worth appealing where you are given misinformation by the DWP, or in this case their W2W provider. Detail that to JCP for their reconsideration (that's now compulsory before you Appeal). Also detail the 'good reason' ie the time to travel that distance as 90 mins is usually the standard maximum in any JSA Agreement/Claimant Commitment.

I will be appealing.

I have told the jobcentre but they just don't understand and are almost as useless as the placement provider

Mersey_2

Best putting your request for reconsideration of the decision in writing to the JCP Manager and obviously date the letter or email.

FBaby

I have told the jobcentre but they just don't understand and are almost as useless as the placement provider

Or maybe your misinterpreted what the charity told you. Maybe what they were trying to tell you was that they were surprised about the distance and would speak to the JC to get confirmation that it was within the rules and you read behind this that you didn't have to go any longer.

Hampshire345

FBaby wrote: »

Or maybe your misinterpreted what the charity told you. Maybe what they were trying to tell you was that they were surprised about the distance and would speak to the JC to get confirmation that it was within the rules and you read behind this that you didn't have to go any longer.

the charity took my details and said they would tell the placement provider that the placement was not suitable for me as the travel time distance was too much, they were already aware of how far I had to travel.

Feyfangirl

I would definetely appeal, I did funnily enough my MWA with the Job Center, and I know that one of the disclaimers is that as long as the job your applying for (they did verbally tell me this applies to placement) is 90 minutes away, you're fine to go, but as yours is well over that... I just think it's disgraceful o.O gather your details up (and try get a record of you calling them) and really hope you can appeal.. because that's so bad o.O good luck!