New Style JSA (contribution based) - Timescales and Notice for Appointment / Interview

singhini

Not to my knowledge (i was never asked)

huckster

Normally there is 48 hours notice of appointments, unless a claimant says they can attend earlier at agreed time. JSA uses an outsourced company to book appointments. They will attempt to phone you to book appointment, but if they don't speak to you, they will book the appointment and send you a text message with the appointment details.

Happyalways

Hello, please may I ask a few related questions. I’m new to JSA and finding the whole thing a bit of a challenge. 

1. Twice my appointments have been changed with less than 24 hours notice. But each time I’ve been told I must attend. Is this normal?
2. My work coach told me I’m not allowed to leave the town (I went to London to see my aunt for a few days). The work coach said I cannot go anywhere without letting her know in advance.
3. I was a senior in my field before being made redundant. I’ve explained to the work coach that it can take a couple of months in my field to get an equivalent job. She told me I must take any job which my skills match and I’m not allowed to wait, so for example if an entry level job comes up I must take that. I explained that would be career suicide but she refused to accept this. 

It just all seems very heavy handed and not designed to help people looking for work. I understand there must be people who abuse the system but I’ve worked non stop for 17 years and only left because my job was made redundant. I feel like a bit of a criminal for going in to the job centre at all.

More practically I wanted to find out the following:

1. what happens if I don’t attend appointments or refuse to apply for a job I’m too qualified for. I understand the payments get sanctioned (ie I reduced or stopped). That’s ok but how long before the entire case gets closed or does that just run until the earlier of 6 months (non income based) or the date I get a job? I’m asking because I have income protection insurance and my insurer is saying my commitment agreement must remain in place else my insurance would also not pay out. I have to follow a regime for applications for the insurance too but they are more reasonable than the jobseeker centre and understand the nuance. 
2. Can future employers see the benefit sanctions? 
3. Can we go on holiday during the 6 month JSA period? I had booked a summer break  before redundancy happened. 

Thanks

singhini

Happyalways said:

Hello, please may I ask a few related questions. I’m new to JSA and finding the whole thing a bit of a challenge. 

1. Twice my appointments have been changed with less than 24 hours notice. But each time I’ve been told I must attend. Is this normal?
2. My work coach told me I’m not allowed to leave the town (I went to London to see my aunt for a few days). The work coach said I cannot go anywhere without letting her know in advance.
3. I was a senior in my field before being made redundant. I’ve explained to the work coach that it can take a couple of months in my field to get an equivalent job. She told me I must take any job which my skills match and I’m not allowed to wait, so for example if an entry level job comes up I must take that. I explained that would be career suicide but she refused to accept this. 

It just all seems very heavy handed and not designed to help people looking for work. I understand there must be people who abuse the system but I’ve worked non stop for 17 years and only left because my job was made redundant. I feel like a bit of a criminal for going in to the job centre at all.

More practically I wanted to find out the following:

1. what happens if I don’t attend appointments or refuse to apply for a job I’m too qualified for. I understand the payments get sanctioned (ie I reduced or stopped). That’s ok but how long before the entire case gets closed or does that just run until the earlier of 6 months (non income based) or the date I get a job? I’m asking because I have income protection insurance and my insurer is saying my commitment agreement must remain in place else my insurance would also not pay out. I have to follow a regime for applications for the insurance too but they are more reasonable than the jobseeker centre and understand the nuance. 
2. Can future employers see the benefit sanctions? 
3. Can we go on holiday during the 6 month JSA period? I had booked a summer break  before redundancy happened. 

Thanks

1 - Appointments being changed with less than 24 hours notice is "relatively" normal (from experience if they have staff shortages they might not know untill the day before and so have only called me the day before to reschedule). Ive had changed appointments in the past but no more than once or twice over a 6 month period.

2 - Not being allowed to leave the town  -------> ive not heard that before, so cant comment. I'm guessing the job coach is thinking your not looking for work if your visiting your aunt and thus not meeting the JSA eligibility criteria. 

3 - Standard practice in my experience being told you must apply for any job and if your offered it you have to take it. Some job coaches allow you to have a grace period to look for specific jobs (usually this is at the beginning of your claim i.e. when the claim commitment form is filled in and can be between a few weeks to a few months but they are not obliged to offer you this). 


More Practically:

1 - Not sure, so can't comment (ive always complied with what my job coach has asked me to do).

2 - Not sure, so can't comment (not sure how an employer would see any benefit sanctions? so im guessing no). 

3 - Not sure, ive never taken a holiday while making a claim (i'm guessing you would not be entitled to JSA payments since you are not meeting all the eligibility criteria i.e. actively looking for work and available for work). I'm guessing you would need to notify your job coach of any planned holiday and they either stop your claim and you need to reapply or they might pause your claim while your on holiday (Ideally they just say thats OK and your claim is not affected but im not sure). 

Lastly, you wrote: It just all seems very heavy handed and not designed to help people looking for work.
That's what i also experienced 

I feel like a bit of a criminal for going in to the job centre at all.
You shouldn't (the way i see it is, your just getting back a little bit of your own money. All be it a measly £92 a week).