UC claim, employment and travel.

peteuk

My son has his first UC appointment which I will take him to (can I sit in on the meeting?)

But before we do that can I get a feel for travel and employment.  As an 18 yr old none driver and living in a small village, our bus route is somewhat difficult.  Its about an hour (Left or right) from the village to the two larger cities, but to get to our main local town, its an hours bus to the main city and an hours bus back out.   Although the distance as the crow flies is somewhat 10-15 miles.   

Can they expect him to do that on a daily basis?  Or can we expect them to look at possibilities along the main bus routes.

He is going to learn to drive but needs money first and even then theres no guarantee he passes his test. 

Spoonie_Turtle

The default has always been that someone can be expected to travel up to 90mins each way, for Jobcentre appointments and for work.

In reality of course, limited transport options will mean the time radius limits the geographical radius of where he will be expected to look.

elsien

Given that there is likely to be more jobs available in the city than the town, an hour’s bus ride to the city each way is a fairly normal commute.

I don’t think it’s usual practice at the job centre for an adult to have someone sitting in with them, unless they are vulnerable in someway. 

peteuk

@elsien thanks - getting to the cities isn’t difficult, his appointment is in one of them so had I not been able to take him then he would have caught the bus.  My concern is the local town being so close but technically so far away.  On certain days either myself or my wife can take him its a 30 minute drive, but in days we cant its a difficult bus ride. 

He suffers with social anxiety and so wont say much at the meeting unless someone is with him.  It’s taken us a year to get him to go the the barbers on his own.  I might make a journal note and let them know.  I haven’t got a clue how he will fare in a job interview. 

huckster

Does he go to his GP to discuss help with anxiety ? 

Job Centre can refer him to Work and Health programme, which is a scheme with a local provider, where they receive additional support outside of the Job Centre. And they then attend appointments with the providers and have fewer appointments at the Job Centre, as the provider is helping move the claimant towards employment.

peteuk

huckster said:

Does he go to his GP to discuss help with anxiety ? 

Job Centre can refer him to Work and Health programme, which is a scheme with a local provider, where they receive additional support outside of the Job Centre. And they then attend appointments with the providers and have fewer appointments at the Job Centre, as the provider is helping move the claimant towards employment.

huckster said:

Does he go to his GP to discuss help with anxiety ? 

Job Centre can refer him to Work and Health programme, which is a scheme with a local provider, where they receive additional support outside of the Job Centre. And they then attend appointments with the providers and have fewer appointments at the Job Centre, as the provider is helping move the claimant towards employment.

No, his social anxiety has never been that bad that we have needed medical input.  I took him to the hospital last week and he did well with reception and the doctor but mainly because I was there,  When ever he gets stuck he refers to me.  Only in put I had was asking about a sick note.

elsien

What sort of work does he think he would be able to manage? Job coaches are there to basically make people apply for anything and everything - he probably needs to be prepared for that otherwise his claimant commitment will be unmanageable for him.
If he's not seen the doctor then what evidence does he have that he will struggle in some jobs - any input from school, for example? It will really help him if he can show the difficulties that he has been having. 

peteuk

@elsien we have warned him that he will be expected to apply for a number of jobs.  He has previously worked in a cafe where we knew the owner so he wasn’t too bad with customers.  We have two local supermarkets (within walking distance so that would be our next step, even if it’s Christmas work.  Currently in a walking boot with a small fracture but still seeking employment.