Been on the Work Programme since Dec last year with G4S......not had any problems thus fair, infact they have been very helpful.

Recieved an email today of an appointment they have made for me to register with a recruitment agency. In the first place, I absolutely loathe agencies, as have signed up with so many of the past year, and heard absolutely nothing....infact I have already registered with the one G4S have made an appointment with....

I dont want to register again, so can I refuse to go, or will this be seen as refusing a job, even though there is no job (purely a speculative visit)?

Tell them you have already registered, This is not Refusal of Employment but Work Programme sanctions are broadly about being open to the training provider's support. I don't think it would be reasonable for them to take action because you refuse to sign up with an agency you are already signed up with.

The people at the Jobcentre are like a pack of Hyenas just waiting for the weakest of the claimants to stumble, and they'll be on you in a flash.

Do as they ask and give them no excuse for suspending your benefit.

What makes perfect sense to you and I, makes none to them.

The people at the Jobcentre are like a pack of Hyenas just waiting for the weakest of the claimants to stumble, and they'll be on you in a flash.

 

Do as they ask and give them no excuse for suspending your benefit.

 

What makes perfect sense to you and I, makes none to them.

We have current and former JCP staff on this forum (include me in the "former" category) who advise people on a wide range of benefit issues. They do this in their free time for no pay.

Posts like this are not helpful.

We have current and former JCP staff on this forum (include me in the "former" category) who advise people on a wide range of benefit issues. They do this in their free time for no pay.

 

Posts like this are not helpful.

I agree.

Oh frankie_begbie you really are a charmer!

So I am a hyena in your opinion? Thank you for that lovely description.

elfieb if you are regiastered with the agency in question then all I can suggest is that you notify your WP adviser of this as long as you are still in regular contact with them then there will be no point in attending an interview to register it will be a waste of both yours and the recruitment agency, however if you haven't been in contact recently (usually about 3 months) they can remove you from the contact list and then yes I would recommend that you attend to ensure that you do not find yourself being referred to the DMA team by the WP providers for a potentiasl sanction on your claim.

Perhaps it may also be worth noting frankie_begbie that when you are referred to the Work Programme providers any sanctions imposed on the claim are referred by the WP not JCP as you do not see a JCP adviser again until you finish the WP placement after 102 week. Yet again someone who posts things without having all the facts, if the JCP staff believe that there is a problem with your job search or doubt on availability actively seeking etc then a referral is made to the WP providers for them to bring up the issues at your next meeting.

Oh frankie_begbie you really are a charmer!

So I am a hyena in your opinion? Thank you for that lovely description.

 

elfieb if you are regiastered with the agency in question then all I can suggest is that you notify your WP adviser of this as long as you are still in regular contact with them then there will be no point in attending an interview to register it will be a waste of both yours and the recruitment agency, however if you haven't been in contact recently (usually about 3 months) they can remove you from the contact list and then yes I would recommend that you attend to ensure that you do not find yourself being referred to the DMA team by the WP providers for a potentiasl sanction on your claim.

 

Perhaps it may also be worth noting frankie_begbie that when you are referred to the Work Programme providers any sanctions imposed on the claim are referred by the WP not JCP as you do not see a JCP adviser again until you finish the WP placement after 102 week. Yet again someone who posts things without having all the facts, if the JCP staff believe that there is a problem with your job search or doubt on availability actively seeking etc then a referral is made to the WP providers for them to bring up the issues at your next meeting.

Exactly what I told him. Take no chances with them.

I had my benefit suspended for almost 6 months for not applying for a job that was out of town, working for less money and would have meant me actually losing money when I had the chance of another job on my doorstep, and for more money.

Instead of the Advisor being reasonable and seeing my point of view about the money, he reported it to the Decision Maker.

He later told me he was just a monkey following orders.

I learned my lesson after that. Tell them nothing if you can avoid it, you could be making a big mistake.

I had my benefit suspended for almost 6 months for not applying for a job that was out of town, working for less money and would have meant me actually losing money when I had the chance of another job on my doorstep, and for more money"

hope you managed to get that job then

Picture the scene: we're in a quaint old pub, with a roaring fire. At the end of the bar, a large brass bell is attached to the wall. It's late - the barman ambles over to the bell, and pulls on the little piece of rope attached. We hear a couple of clangs, and the barman calls out: "Civility, gentlemen, please!"

We have current and former JCP staff on this forum (include me in the "former" category) who advise people on a wide range of benefit issues. They do this in their free time for no pay.

 

Posts like this are not helpful.

Well said

Well said

So the Benefit Advisors I describe don't exist?

Tell that to the countless thousands of claimants that have had their benefit suspended.

OK, the original question has been answered. I don't see any good outcome if this thread continues, so I'm going to close it.

ElfieB, if you need more advice on this, please click the black "!" triangle at the bottom of this post to contact the Site Team and we'll reopen it for you.