Are job centres contacting people to attend again?

donnajunkie

calcotti said:

MarkN88 said:

tomtom256 said:

MarkN88 said:

Remember too, not everyone is on UC, still plenty on JSA so therefore they don’t have a journal so they will be relying on a phone call without warning unless they send a letter first. 

If an appointment is booked without a letter, legacy customers should get a text message sent to them about the appointment, but only if a mobile number is held on the system. Only downside is its generic, so will probably say it's a face to face appointment and not a telephone appointment.

I Would imagine they would need to make that clear to people though otherwise people will think they need to attend the job centre. 

Even before COVID I have heard of someone failing to be available for a telephone appointment on their landline because the communication had told them to go to the JobCentre!

If this happens via texts its just another reason to not tell them you have a mobile. Telling them you have internet at home is a bad idea as well because they will instantly increase what they expect you to do.

tomtom256

donnajunkie said:

How do you send a journal message to a person who does not have a mobile or the internet at home at the moment?

To be fair donnajunkie, that would be your issue to sort out, as you have agreed to check your account regulalry as part of the current claimant commitments, that people would have agreed to.

So if you get a sanction for not checking your account or responding to a to-do/telephone appointment, you only have yourself to blame.

Do you want to twist everything to suit you or are you going to do what you have agreed to do?

Maybe people need to take ownership and do what they have been asked and agreed to do, unless they have a medical or disability reason not too.

If you spent more time doing what was asked/agreed, rather then trying to find ways around the system, it would be a lot better for all and far less sanctions would be needed.

For most work coaches, a sanction is the last thing they want to do, as it is time consuming, butthey get forced down that route as people don't/wont't answer the phone or respond to journal messages.

beatthebookienet

I moved area in February and was sent in circles trying to get a work coach (went to job centre and was told to go online, went online and was told to phone, phoned and was told to phone another number so gave up). They only called me in to prove my rent payments. After a few weeks the lockdown started and I haven't been contacted or anything either yet

[Deleted User]

donnajunkie said:

MarkN88 said:

donnajunkie said:

MarkN88 said:

donnajunkie said:

MarkN88 said:

This guidance has had a slight update so I’m thinking for the foreseeable anyway it looks like you will be asked to attend in exceptional circumstances. 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-what-to-do-if-youre-already-getting-benefits

if its over the phone then they surely still have to give you an appointment. you cant be expected to be in all day everyday monday to friday on the off chance they could call. although i suspect it may just continue to be in the form of the odd courtesy call rather than a set fortnightly of right what have you done to look for work.

I speak to my mum, relatives and friends that still claim JSA and they say all there courtesy calls have been on their usual day of signing so you wouldn’t need to be available everyday of the week. 

As the email my mum received suggests, there is still support there if you need it and you can be expected to attend a JC in exceptional circumstances but even the work coaches are pointing out, even though the opening of job centres are happening it’s not going to be business as usual for a while yet. 

Even if just your usual signing day if you aren't expecting it you may not be in.

You are only required to sign 1 day out of every -4, if you want your benefits I’m sure you can keep that 1 day free. 

You are missing the point. Currently people have no scheduled expectation to either attend in person or over the phone. As and when they are expected to then they should be informed. You cant be penalised for not attending an appointment you have no knowledge of. I doubt many people have spent the day waiting for a phone call once a fortnight over the last few months incase they get a call.

Sounds like you want it all your way and have no consequences? 

donnajunkie

tomtom256 said:

donnajunkie said:

How do you send a journal message to a person who does not have a mobile or the internet at home at the moment?

To be fair donnajunkie, that would be your issue to sort out, as you have agreed to check your account regulalry as part of the current claimant commitments, that people would have agreed to.

So if you get a sanction for not checking your account or responding to a to-do/telephone appointment, you only have yourself to blame.

Do you want to twist everything to suit you or are you going to do what you have agreed to do?

Maybe people need to take ownership and do what they have been asked and agreed to do, unless they have a medical or disability reason not too.

If you spent more time doing what was asked/agreed, rather then trying to find ways around the system, it would be a lot better for all and far less sanctions would be needed.

For most work coaches, a sanction is the last thing they want to do, as it is time consuming, butthey get forced down that route as people don't/wont't answer the phone or respond to journal messages.

It was a reasonable question unless you are saying it is a condition on qualifying for uc that people must have the internet at home.

donnajunkie

MarkN88 said:

donnajunkie said:

MarkN88 said:

donnajunkie said:

MarkN88 said:

donnajunkie said:

MarkN88 said:

This guidance has had a slight update so I’m thinking for the foreseeable anyway it looks like you will be asked to attend in exceptional circumstances. 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-what-to-do-if-youre-already-getting-benefits

if its over the phone then they surely still have to give you an appointment. you cant be expected to be in all day everyday monday to friday on the off chance they could call. although i suspect it may just continue to be in the form of the odd courtesy call rather than a set fortnightly of right what have you done to look for work.

I speak to my mum, relatives and friends that still claim JSA and they say all there courtesy calls have been on their usual day of signing so you wouldn’t need to be available everyday of the week. 

As the email my mum received suggests, there is still support there if you need it and you can be expected to attend a JC in exceptional circumstances but even the work coaches are pointing out, even though the opening of job centres are happening it’s not going to be business as usual for a while yet. 

Even if just your usual signing day if you aren't expecting it you may not be in.

You are only required to sign 1 day out of every -4, if you want your benefits I’m sure you can keep that 1 day free. 

You are missing the point. Currently people have no scheduled expectation to either attend in person or over the phone. As and when they are expected to then they should be informed. You cant be penalised for not attending an appointment you have no knowledge of. I doubt many people have spent the day waiting for a phone call once a fortnight over the last few months incase they get a call.

Sounds like you want it all your way and have no consequences? 

Thats correct, i dont think someone should be sanctioned for not being at home to receive a call they didnt know was going to happen.

TheShape

donnajunkie said:

tomtom256 said:

donnajunkie said:

How do you send a journal message to a person who does not have a mobile or the internet at home at the moment?

To be fair donnajunkie, that would be your issue to sort out, as you have agreed to check your account regulalry as part of the current claimant commitments, that people would have agreed to.

So if you get a sanction for not checking your account or responding to a to-do/telephone appointment, you only have yourself to blame.

Do you want to twist everything to suit you or are you going to do what you have agreed to do?

Maybe people need to take ownership and do what they have been asked and agreed to do, unless they have a medical or disability reason not too.

If you spent more time doing what was asked/agreed, rather then trying to find ways around the system, it would be a lot better for all and far less sanctions would be needed.

For most work coaches, a sanction is the last thing they want to do, as it is time consuming, butthey get forced down that route as people don't/wont't answer the phone or respond to journal messages.

It was a reasonable question unless you are saying it is a condition on qualifying for uc that people must have the internet at home.

It isn't a condition of Universal Credit that you have internet access at home.  It is however, reasonable to expect many/most claimants to access the internet regularly.  Claimant circumstances vary but a claimant living within a reasonable distance (again dependent on their circumstances) of a local library or jobcentre would (present Coronavirus limitations accepted) be expected to regularly access the internet in those places.

TheShape

donnajunkie said:

MarkN88 said:

donnajunkie said:

MarkN88 said:

donnajunkie said:

MarkN88 said:

donnajunkie said:

MarkN88 said:

This guidance has had a slight update so I’m thinking for the foreseeable anyway it looks like you will be asked to attend in exceptional circumstances. 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-what-to-do-if-youre-already-getting-benefits

if its over the phone then they surely still have to give you an appointment. you cant be expected to be in all day everyday monday to friday on the off chance they could call. although i suspect it may just continue to be in the form of the odd courtesy call rather than a set fortnightly of right what have you done to look for work.

I speak to my mum, relatives and friends that still claim JSA and they say all there courtesy calls have been on their usual day of signing so you wouldn’t need to be available everyday of the week. 

As the email my mum received suggests, there is still support there if you need it and you can be expected to attend a JC in exceptional circumstances but even the work coaches are pointing out, even though the opening of job centres are happening it’s not going to be business as usual for a while yet. 

Even if just your usual signing day if you aren't expecting it you may not be in.

You are only required to sign 1 day out of every -4, if you want your benefits I’m sure you can keep that 1 day free. 

You are missing the point. Currently people have no scheduled expectation to either attend in person or over the phone. As and when they are expected to then they should be informed. You cant be penalised for not attending an appointment you have no knowledge of. I doubt many people have spent the day waiting for a phone call once a fortnight over the last few months incase they get a call.

Sounds like you want it all your way and have no consequences? 

Thats correct, i dont think someone should be sanctioned for not being at home to receive a call they didnt know was going to happen.

I wouldn't expect a Decision Maker to impose a sanction for missing an appointment that wasn't correctly and appropriately notified to a claimant.

[Deleted User]

TheShape said:

donnajunkie said:

MarkN88 said:

donnajunkie said:

MarkN88 said:

donnajunkie said:

MarkN88 said:

donnajunkie said:

MarkN88 said:

This guidance has had a slight update so I’m thinking for the foreseeable anyway it looks like you will be asked to attend in exceptional circumstances. 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-what-to-do-if-youre-already-getting-benefits

if its over the phone then they surely still have to give you an appointment. you cant be expected to be in all day everyday monday to friday on the off chance they could call. although i suspect it may just continue to be in the form of the odd courtesy call rather than a set fortnightly of right what have you done to look for work.

I speak to my mum, relatives and friends that still claim JSA and they say all there courtesy calls have been on their usual day of signing so you wouldn’t need to be available everyday of the week. 

As the email my mum received suggests, there is still support there if you need it and you can be expected to attend a JC in exceptional circumstances but even the work coaches are pointing out, even though the opening of job centres are happening it’s not going to be business as usual for a while yet. 

Even if just your usual signing day if you aren't expecting it you may not be in.

You are only required to sign 1 day out of every -4, if you want your benefits I’m sure you can keep that 1 day free. 

You are missing the point. Currently people have no scheduled expectation to either attend in person or over the phone. As and when they are expected to then they should be informed. You cant be penalised for not attending an appointment you have no knowledge of. I doubt many people have spent the day waiting for a phone call once a fortnight over the last few months incase they get a call.

Sounds like you want it all your way and have no consequences? 

Thats correct, i dont think someone should be sanctioned for not being at home to receive a call they didnt know was going to happen.

I wouldn't expect a Decision Maker to impose a sanction for missing an appointment that wasn't correctly and appropriately notified to a claimant.

Plus no one is suggesting that. 

donnajunkie

TheShape said:

donnajunkie said:

tomtom256 said:

donnajunkie said:

How do you send a journal message to a person who does not have a mobile or the internet at home at the moment?

To be fair donnajunkie, that would be your issue to sort out, as you have agreed to check your account regulalry as part of the current claimant commitments, that people would have agreed to.

So if you get a sanction for not checking your account or responding to a to-do/telephone appointment, you only have yourself to blame.

Do you want to twist everything to suit you or are you going to do what you have agreed to do?

Maybe people need to take ownership and do what they have been asked and agreed to do, unless they have a medical or disability reason not too.

If you spent more time doing what was asked/agreed, rather then trying to find ways around the system, it would be a lot better for all and far less sanctions would be needed.

For most work coaches, a sanction is the last thing they want to do, as it is time consuming, butthey get forced down that route as people don't/wont't answer the phone or respond to journal messages.

It was a reasonable question unless you are saying it is a condition on qualifying for uc that people must have the internet at home.

It isn't a condition of Universal Credit that you have internet access at home.  It is however, reasonable to expect many/most claimants to access the internet regularly.  Claimant circumstances vary but a claimant living within a reasonable distance (again dependent on their circumstances) of a local library or jobcentre would (present Coronavirus limitations accepted) be expected to regularly access the internet in those places.

Indeed, that is why i said those without the internet at the moment wont be able to access their journal or do anything internet related.