New UC Claimant

0409daniel

I recently lost my job after always worked and at 47 hard to start claiming UC with my partner who works 20 hours a week. 
We currently claim UC and have been doing a course to improve my CV, I have been signing my work commitments that is to look for full time perm work. I was told to apply for a vacancy that was for 47 hours a week only for 1 month temporary, I applied for this job before they told me to anyway but my question is this.
They have told me I will be sanctioned because the employer tried to phone me to book me in for an interview, I told them I never received a call from them then I checked my journal and saw a message asking me to call the employer to arrange an interview this message was sent 2 weeks prior to me checking my journal. I have not received a message to say there was a journal message or any phone call message. my phone number is the correct one on my journal. now im worried as they told me I will be sanctioned   

KxMx

You are supposed to check your Journal regularly, this would have been one of the commitments you signed agreement for. 

0409daniel

Unable to check all the time as don't have access to the internet, unless I go go town to use library computer KxMx said:

You are supposed to check your Journal regularly, this would have been one of the commitments you signed agreement for. 

TheShape

0409daniel said:

Unable to check all the time as don't have access to the internet, unless I go go town to use library computer KxMx said:

You are supposed to check your Journal regularly, this would have been one of the commitments you signed agreement for. 

Depending upon how far away the library is from home, they may reasonably expect you to be going to the library multiple times per week to log on.

If you don't have internet access at home, have you had a discussion about how you carry out (up to 35 hours per week) job searching activity?

huckster

Job Centres do not decide on sanctions. They pass on information to Decision Makers who are independent of Job Centres. Before a Decision Maker makes any decision on sanctions the claimant is provided with opportunity to provide reasons for not complying with the actions requested of them in the claimant commitment.

freesha

One of the commitments you signed up to is checking your journal regularly. You need to make this happen.

M25

Did you start this thread in the library? If MSE is that important so should your UC claim.

Why don't you have Internet access? Can't you use 4G or 5G?

There's social tariffs (as low as £10.00PM) and maybe even a grant depending on where you live in the UK https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/saving-money/social-tariffs/#full-list-of-available-tariffs

tls123

Use your journal to request a mandatory reconsideration this means they have to reconsider the sanction if you put that you do not have 100% access to the internet anything else you think is relevant 

kkkklinky

I don't think not having access to internet would be a valid excuse for not being sanctioned...most people can get a basic data package including calling credit on a mobile phone for as little £5-£10 and it's cheap to get a simple smartphone nowadays for as little as £25 brand new for a cheap brand and rubbish battery(acceptable for logging into UC). And if going to the library(which is free with membership) is necessary attending once a week should be enough to check your commitments regularly without risking sanctions like the commentor stated above they went to the library to type this thread or do have another way of getting online.

8dayweek

Ask your Work Coach about the Talk Talk offer. 

8dayweek

Quite an old article, but it’s still available:

https://www.talktalkgroup.com/newsroom/2021-Talktalk-DWP-free-broadband-jobseekers