I have also noticed that, I thought maybe the company just had few new postings but when you click on it was the same job......looks like they are just trying to fill the job search pages so it looks like there are plenty of jobs out there for us all........when we all know that is just not the case

I very rarely job search on a weekend, as I am a single mother and I like to spend that time with my child, I also tell the JC that when I am asked what I have been doing to look for work, a advisor told me that my job search is a job in it's self and because my available to work times are weekdays I only have to job search weekdays during those times......I never knew that no one had ever explained that to me before. On a slightly different note, I have a UJM account I didn't give them the right to view it for a long time but it just got too much whenever I signed on, the hassle and grief they give you, so in the end I give them the right to view it and to be honest I have had no bother at all, most the time they never check it when I am there any way, never have any messages from them, and it is easy just to log all my job search where they can see that I am trying my best to find work.

The funny thing is I did voluntary work few years back, worked for a year and a half for free, the JC made me leave in the end as they said it got in the way of me looking for paid work....fast forward few years and now they want us all to do that.....plus if we have to sign on daily, it will cost them a hell of a lot more for all our travel expenses, it would be nearly £4 a day for my fares. how does IDS think that is a good way to save on welfare (he is so deluded)

I am on month 8 after the work programme, I attend the job centre on my sign on days to which I also see my advisor (if you can call them that? ) my advisor is okay...ish, they have their moments when you can tell their boss is on their back as that is when she tries to get me on another course, like this week when I signed on she told me her boss is on her back to get things moving and she is trying to get me to go on a 3 week full day course to which I will get a guaranteed job interview at the end of it (it's a job I want guaranteed not interviews I can get them myself)......this is the same course she sent me on at the beginning of this year which I couldn't do as had just had surgery and the guy running the course said no days could be missed and I still had follow up appointments with the hospital. Again the day this course starts this time, I have a hospital appointment, she said she needs proof of this and needs to see my hospital letter (even though the course isn't mandatory until you are signed up on it (which I am not) my advisor and I both had the same kind of surgery (in fact me telling her about mine, made her go ask her GP about her problem) she let me have 4 days off sick to recover from my surgery, she took two weeks.....I was made to travel in to sign on while still recovering from the operation. I now have just found out I have Vertigo and when I mentioned this to my advisor, she looked at me as if I was making it up and asked how I had got it.....now I am no Doctor but even I know you don't catch Vertigo so how she expected me to answer that I don't know. She also told me that at the end of this month, they are changing the rules and post work programme claimants will either have to come and sign on daily or do community work ( I know we have all heard this rumour for a while yet she said it is starting end of month?) no idea if this is true of just a scare tactic on her part to try and get me to agree to go on courses etc.

Thank you for your help and advice, I was just unsure why they needed it as the module I am doing is to learn how to fill in job applications and how to dress and act in job interviews, no mention of doing a job search while I am there, My god I spent two years on the WP doing job searches haha

Thank you for the advice Mr.P Don't understand why they need it as from what I know about the module we are just going to be learning how to fill in job applications, how to do telephone interviews and how to dress and act in a interview...which of course me being 38 years of age I have no idea how to do those things.....

Hiya SJM78, it was in the letter I received from the place I have to go to who are doing the module, they were also nice enough to let me know even though I will be there from 9am until 4pm they will not be supplying lunch so to bring something with me.... think I would rather walk the streets during my lunch break.....

Hey guys/gals after a bit of advice guidance, I have been mandated to attend a Finding and Getting a job module for two full days next week, the letter say's I must bring with me my UJA log in details along with details of the associated email address. The email address I use is the same one I use for my private emails, now I have been told in the past to change my email and have a separate one for jobs, but to be honest I would forget to check that one so I like to use the same one as I check my private one daily, So what I want to know is do I have to give out my email address to these people? Thank you in advance for any help

I did this to get my confidence back after not working for a long time as I was raising my child, I did voluntary work in a community café (charity based) I worked 18 hours a week unpaid even though the JC said I could only do 12 a week as that was the law (laws must of changed?) I would do the extra hours to help out the people who ran the café, the JC were on my back the whole time to give it up as they said it got in the way of my job search, after a year and a half the JC said I really needed to quit as I needed to find paid work (fair enough) so they sent me on the WP...well we all know how well that turns out the most of us... Now they are wanting us to do unpaid work for our bit money, but not 12 hours a week we have to do 30 to 35, if 12 hours got in the way of finding work wonder how the 30 hours will help. they really have no clue do they.

I agree, I have also finished the WP, total waste of 2 years, all the courses they are making us go on now we are back at the JCP should of been done when on the WP...instead I spent 2 years sitting in different offices, job searching online, all the while I had internet at home and would do a better job there, as I never got hassled by drunks or non English speaking men asking me to go for drinks with them, or had to listen when the young lads full of drugs would come in to see the nurse for their drug rehabilitation, or being told my child wasn't allowed in the office as it was too dangerous as some clients had just come out of jail for crimes against kids.....like you say could be a Hollywood movie

I have finished at the WP, I am now on my 6mths back at the JCP, now my advisor/clerk has said because I haven't had any luck with my job search there must be something I am doing wrong (of course it has to be me, not the fact thousands are applying for hand full of jobs) so I am now mandated to go on a 2 day course from 9m until 4pm to learn how to fill out application forms, do mock interviews and how to talk through a telephone interview, I am 38 years old I have filled out god knows how many application forms to be honest how can you mess that up it is mostly your name and information then the little box you get to fill in about your hobbies. I did say that I thought all this learning how to look for work was what the WP was meant to be about, just got a funny look back. p.s I even got wrong for looking after my niece one day for my brother , as I was told she isn't my job, so in their eyes we have to keep every day of our lie free just in case.

So now we have to work for our benefits for 30 hours a week as well as 35 hours a week job search sitting in your local job centre office, don't know about you guys/gals but my local office doesn't even have any tables or chairs for people to sit on as they took away the waiting area, if you turn up early for a appointment you are not even allowed to wait within the building, so the first thing they will have to do is buy new table and chairs for all us that will have to be there form 9am until 5pm. What was the whole 2 year WP about, if there is so many of us still unemployed after it they must now know it is useless and not working, instead of making us work for free, I did do voluntary work for 18 hours a week (was only meant to do 12 ) just before the WP started and the job centre made me quit as they said it was getting in the way of me looking for paid work, so now they want me to work for 30 hours plus and look for work when? Wonder what wonders they will help us with in our time there as I signed on Monday just gone, I asked my advisor if they could print a job application off for me that I had been sent from a job I had applied for, as I had no ink in my printer at home. I was told sorry we can't do that, I was told I would have to go to the library. this is a honest question: what is it they are there for?

First thank you for your reply. I may well have to complain about her if she does the same at my next appointment. I also mentioned to her that a job I printed off their job point a fortnight ago was non existent as the job I printed off was for a certain shop in a area near me 20 hours a week (perfect for me ) I tried to apply when I got home that day it wasn't there so called into the shop the job was at ( as live near by) even the staff said they was not a job for 20 hours it was a 4 hour a week job for a Saturday girl, to which my advisor replied to me that I must of went to the wrong shop...I told her there was only one of this brand of shop in the whole area, she still wouldn't have it that they had advertised the wrong details. I get when claiming JSA we have to be available for work and seeking work but surely I can help out my family if as far as I know I have no plans or job interviews, do they honestly believe we should stay at home job searching 9 til 5 ( I know that is IDS next plan ha) while I was there a lad came in to sign on shouting the top of his voice telling all the staff he was back on his meds, the security guy showed him to a seat came over to a JC staff member who this lad was due to see, said something to her she turned round and told the security guy that the lad was f**king full of ****...(sorry for my language just repeating her words) and she works there and talks aloud about a JSA claimant like that in front of others , fair enough in the staff room as I am sure they get a lot of hassle daily, but not on the floor where everyone can hear....god roll on when I get work.

Brace yourselves for my long rant (SORRY) Been to my 3rd JCP interview since I returned for WP, Advisor was a few minutes late (no sorry was mentioned) advisor asked how my job search was going I said ok, not a lot on the sites at the moment, mostly temp work or jobs that are 4 hours a week, was about to tell her about the jobs I have applied for when she asked me had I give them access to my UJ yet, I said no, she didn't even ask or look at my job search evidence after that, she said now that my child is 14 I can't now restrict the hours/days I work (even though I am a singe parent) so she changed my JSA agreement to state that. She then did a job search for me and said there was a two week course I could go on, it was at a local college, it was two days out of each week 9am until 4pm, and it was to do a online assessment of how to work for John Lewis, it starts this Thursday, she asked me how I felt about it, I told her I have worked in department stores and I have qualifications in retail, NVQs in retail and Customer service so don't feel I would learn anything new from that course, I then also added (my own fault) that I was looking after my baby niece that Thursday as my brother has to go to a work meeting up in Edinburgh that day and he was stuck for someone to watch her, my advisor then said you really should of said no as it is not your job to look after her you should be available for work. This is what made me mad yes I know our job while on JSA is to find work, but this isn't a job interview I am turning down to babysit it is a course that isn't mandatory and I really don't need to do, of course if it was a interview with a chance of a job after it I would of done it, in fact last year I cancelled my son's birthday plans we had as I had a job interview that day, he was upset but understood I need to find a job, so he spent his birthday alone at home. So in their eyes we can't plan anything on any day in case a course pops up that we need to attend at short notice. (job interviews I would attend) she then asked for my Cv I was told to bring in, as she keeps telling me she can't view mine on my UJ as I haven't given them access, she then picked at it and told me to look for a job club in my area and ask them to sort it out for me (like many others Ingeus had already changed it when I first went there to their standards) as she says it doesn't pop. she then printed off a few jobs for me to apply to as she kindly reminded me she couldn't save them for me on my UJ as I haven't given them access. Rant over sorry for wasting those few minutes of your lifes haha

My advisor is the same because I haven't given them permission to view my UJ account I write all my job searching down when I last saw my advisor she asked what I had done, give her my note book with it all detailed she opened the first page and went this is no good I need to see dates of everything you did, I told her if you look I have dated every day that I have job searched and every job I have applied for if you turn over the pages, she quickly glanced then went back telling me how much easier it would be if I just let them view my UJ account. She then said what jobs have you applied for, again I pointed out my notebook (which she still had and not bothered reading) and told her it is all detailed in there the same as what was put in my UJ she never bothered looking she spent my whole session with her trying to get me to agree to them having permission to my UJ account. She said all excited that she had done a job search for me and had found .......two jobs then she read them and said oops sorry one is no good you are too old, it was for a apprenticeship ( I am 38) She then said what time does your child get out of school, I said 2:30pm she then made my next appointment for 3:30pm....thankfully my child is old enough to be left alone but why ask that then make sure I won't be there for my child coming home, they really are getting worse.

Well at my local JCP you can't have anyone with you unless they are school age children, if you have someone with you they have to wait outside the building for you and they certainly can't come upstairs when you go for your interview...(they have even removed the table and chairs from waiting area so you can't hang around) maybe that is why they started those rules to stop people having witnesses.... Also at my interview on Monday with my Advisor at the JCP when she told me I would have to start applying for temp jobs no matter how short they are or else it would be seen as refusing work, she then turned round and said if I didn't want temp work they would have to remove Retail workl from my JSA agreement as most the retail jobs are temp at this time of year, Now I have only really ever worked in Retail and did my NVQ in retail and most of my training and skills are all for retail so what do they want me to apply for if they remove that from my agreement, am I missing something or are they that dumb?

So was at my 2nd JCP interview today since I left the WP my advisor was ok, she asked again why I haven't give them permission to view my UJ, I told her I thought it was optional and she agreed but still tried to get me to give in (didn't) she did have a job for me to apply for I have to email them(JCP) and then they will apply for me? don't know why (came home can't find job anywhere on the internet) she also did a job search for me and like we all know there was almost nothing there a few temp jobs I mentioned I didn't want a temp job as I have a child and my last job was temporary and it was so much hassle trying to get everything sorted when the job ended, took JC 5 weeks to get my money sorted last, which with a kid and bills to pay was a nightmare, she then told me I will have to start applying for temporary jobs as if I don't the JC will look on it as me refusing work, and they can sanction me for it, in her eyes 3 weeks work is better than nothing. my JC agreement doesn't say temp work so can they make me apply?

Sadly don't think Ingeus are going anywhere any time soon.....I saw one of the advisors from the office I was sent too on FB (mutual friend of a friend) saying in her status how stoked she was because they had reached the targets for their office (Newcastle ) and others were saying "yes we are back" Newcastle rules etc so what ever they are doing (which was Sweet...F...A...when I was on WP) they seem to be happy about their progress....Plus can't see the Government ever admitting their were wrong when it comes the how rubbish the WP actually is.

Hey guys/gals as I have posted before I am now back at the JCP have had to register on Universal Job match as part of my new JSA agreement, I didn't tick the box to let them view my activity (although I have done all the job search requirements they have asked of me) at my last signing (yesterday) they tried to check my activity and as it was set to private I was told that they couldn't check that I had done what they asked of me and that by next time I sign on I should tick the box that allows them to view, now I know everyone's reasons why to not tick the box and I don't really want to let them spy on me all the time what I am wondering today is could I tick the box the morning I sign on so they can see I have done what I needed to do then un tick when I return home so they can't keep check or once you tick box does it disappear and you can't change it???? Thank you in advance for any replies

Hiya Charlotte, I rang my local JCP and asked them, they will or should be able to tell you your start date and you have to been on WP for 104 weeks ...good luck hope you are nearly free

Thank you RebeccaPidgeon and Jasta11 for your help and advice much appreciated.

Hey guys/gals after some advice have posted here before and had some great advice so thanks again for that and in advance for next lot haha, Finished WP.....:whoo:But sadly back at JCP had my first interview last week, just standard rewrite of JSA agreement, did try to put me on a 3 week course but I am a lone parent and it was during the school hols so they have postponed it for now. was told I had to get a UJ account, came home set up account have not ticked the box that allows them to watch what I do (as you guys/gals let me know I didn't have to by law) but I was wondering when I next sign on and they want to check what I have been doing job search wise how will they? I have done my daily job search and filled in the activity part of UJ as they told me not to fill in my paper diary anymore I don't want them to know my UJ ID etc so how will they know I have fulfilled my agreement, and what do you say if/when they ask for my ID. Thank you

Hiya Alfie29, I think it is all different from JC to JC at mine (Newcastle ) my first time back after WP I was told everyone coming back had to go on a 3 week course at our local college it was from 9:30am to 3pm with me being a lone parent with a kid off school just now with the school hols I was told I would not have to go on course until later in the year, so the person just re wrote my JSA agreement, with new targets I was told I had to get a Universal job search account and I now have to do 18 things a week to find work...which consists of checking two job sites 5 times a week, the chronicle once a week (which I don't buy but was told to check the website) I have to write to 2 employers a week and ring 1 employer a week....I can manage the websites, but I have yet to find a job to ring about (unless they want me to just ring up random companies to see if jobs are available ) which would annoy places that are not looking for workers if we all rang up each week....hope this helps and sorry if it has made you feel worse, sadly I think we are all in this mess until they realise the whole WP and follow up rubbish is just that rubbish (which sadly can't see happening as they never admit when they are wrong) or until we find work, which again looks grim as the country is in the Sh**.

I saw a bit of my exit report today while I was at my return interview at JC, it was completed by a guy I have never met or heard of in the whole 2 years I was on the program, so have no idea how he can say how I did on WP or what help I may need in the future, I at least thought it would of been filled in by one of the 8 advisors I had while on WP, the whole thing is a total waste of time.

The WP is crazy I got a temp job during my time on the WP...thankfully for me those weeks working did still count and went towards my 104 you have to complete I am now done with the WP had my first interview back at the JCP today, a lot of people returning from WP are being put on a 3 week employment course at our (Newcastle ) local college its a all day daily course ( 9:30am to 3pm)they say they will pay for fares to this course but what about lunch time people will be there all day how can they afford to buy lunch I know I can't afford to eat out every day for 3 weeks in town, also can just imagine the great knowledge we will be learning, wish they would just use all the money they waste on these courses and WPs and invest in some businesses that can then employ us guys/gals who want to work.