im coming up to nearly two years on the dreaded work programme,any one know what happens after the 2 years is served,do we go back to the job centre,

.. Hello all, I am new to the forum but have been reading a fair bit on here the last week or so and it seems a valuable source of information. OK, some background information. I worked for 18 years in London since I qualified from college- I am now 39. Last February (2013) I was made redundant and have since paid off all my debts. I am single and claim JSA and Housing Benefit that totals around £649.00p/m. I take looking for work seriously and have a good CV and covering lettersand do an on line diary of my searches and applications but in a year I have not had any luck due to the amount of people applying and also my geographical locations. I have been looking for work back in London and East Anglia. As my one year was up at the JCP I was referred to INGEUS for the work programme and had my first appointment last week. I have never felt so humiliated in my life, I was basically told I wasn't trying hard enough and I should accept anything. I am not prepared withmy skills and experience to do that. Also, work has to pay, i.e. more than what I get on benefits as I would then be liable for health costs and council tax as well as my rent. I was also told about the 'better off calculation' but I simply do not trust this one iota - basically they want you off the books and working even if you are worse off. I can only apply for what is relevant and usually apply for around 6 jobs a week, keep a diary and also the email receipts of applications so I really am trying. They treat me like a leper and yet I have paid in to the system for 18 years so it is MY MONEY not the governments! I had very little support from JCP when there (they are not advisers they are signer oners!) and INGEUS after one appointment seem to just run through the motions - my next appointment is this Thursday. I do not need help with CV's, CL's, IT, interview skills etc - I am job ready so I told them sending me on these courses is a waste of time and money. I also volunteer for two organisations and do 3 days a week within my allowed 16 hours so usually job search and apply around 20 hours a week. These roles keep my skills and references up to date so I am NOT going to give them up after the effort I took getting them including interviews and DBS checks. Also something work wise may eventually come of them. I am a professional person who has never claimed and paid his way and yet am treated like a criminal and the same as someone who has never worked in their lives but yet claims thesame if bot more than me - the system stinks. So, a 2 year work programme - what happens if after 2 years you still have not found employment (gainfu lnot just anything). Can they enforce anything else or stop your benefit? Also what about holidays if your parents want to pay for you? I have not been away or had a break for 3 years and my parents want to pay for a holiday for me for my 40th in August - am I allowed a holiday with benefit payments on JSA? I feel I deserve it, I am honest and openand have paid my way in life but being made redundant was not any fault of my own! I also asked about workfare and being made to work anywhere - I was told in my case it won't happen but is this soundbites or true? Surely it is not good for me or the employer (slave traders) to 'employ me' As I said I need my volunteer roles to keep skills and references up to date. I am disgusted with JCP and INGEUS at the moment and feel really down and like I am being treated like a leper or a criminal!

So I’ve got a meeting next week for post work programme help. Initially I was friendly but I’d like to know my rights before the next one. According to them I’ve got a six month work placement or 12 weeks coming into the jobcentre every day. I’m applying for jobs and studying under my own steam and doing related voluntary work which is going to lead to paid work. I can apply for jobs at home, do I have to be mandated to come into the jobcentre? I don’t mind additional help, but after several recent interviews I’m good to go. If I had to come into the jobcentre every day, I couldn’t run the IT course I’ve setup and other voluntary IT stuff. I am relying on the voluntary organisation for a reference having been out of work for a while, DWP girl said I would have to **** all that off to sit and apply for jobs instead. Any help would be appreciated.

I am now put on the wp day one induction now I have to see s money advisor Monday for what no money to advise day two Barking & Dagenham College?????? though you could not go to college?????? is this is what Maximus is about answers please.

Hi, I'm currently in the Work Related Activity Group of ESA, and have been on the work programme 2 years at the end of the month, the provider has said at this point I end the programme and the Jobcentre will take it from there and I'll be on 'Post work programme support'. I can't find much online about this, it all relates to JSA rather than ESA. Is anyone able to tell me what I can expect? I'm a bit uneasy not knowing! Thanks in advance

I have woken up today feeling awful, no energy at all, sore throat, achy and just feeling terrible, can hardly walk around the house. The thing is i'm due to go to a Work Programme appointment on Tuesday and a job fair Thursday and i'm worried because if i'm not better for those things then I won't be able to attend and I'm worried because I know the Work Programme has a habit of sanctioning people, I have only ever been sanctioned once (unfairly) and I won that appeal so technically never had a sanction. Need some advice on this, thank you.

Reviewing some of the running live memos issued to all Work Programme providers, and I came across WP138. The DWP have kindly issued a WP08 (sanction referral form) with embedded "helpful hints and tips" along with an "aide memoire". A few nuggets of information hidden in there that could be used to appeal against an unjust sanction - One that springs out is on the issue of posting a Mandatory Activity Notice: If you receive a MAN, the envelope should always be kept and the date & time it dropped through the letterbox noted on it - Worthwhile if the WP provider pulls the "send the MAN out Fri. for a Mon. app. at 9AM). On a more worrying note, The DWP hints at looking at making the issuing of a MAN by way of email or text message an acceptable method of delivery - Personally, I don't have a mobile phone, and do not regard emails as a reliable means of communication. In addition, electronic communication is a low cost route. Paper and stamps cost time and money which eats in to the WP providers profit margin Copies of the documents attached.

hi guys, i'm querying on behalf of another. what is the best way to sign off from the work programme? it's coming up to 2 years and she's managed to find a job (another part-time making it 16 hours) through her own efforts and she doesn't want the bullies from the WP to benefit if at all possible. they've been nothing but awful throughout. so will they get a bonus payment or reward regardless? she wishes to claim working tax credit after signing off. how should one go about signing off now? it's a shame that her 2 year deadline with the WP didn't finish like a month sooner. would've saved a bit of hassle thank you so much for any tips or advice!

I am a 53 year old woman.live alone, working 20 hours a week on minimum wage. get a small amount of tax credits ..Pay full council tax and only get £19 of my rent........after i then pay all my other bills and monthly bus fares I know i was definatly better off on benefits... However i need to work for my sanity Back to the original question I suffer with Restless leg syndrome and take Topamax and Zopiclone... Do i qualify for a perscription excemption certificate and if so how do i apply.. At the end of the month i have barely enough to eat let alone get my percription,but without them i would be in trouble!! And i wear glasses and have a nhs dentist that i am happy with both of which i would be unable to affored were i not helped in some way... Thankyou for advise.

Trying to make sense of the terms and conditions of ebay's Global Shipping Programme - In places, somewhat confusing and possibly unfair. This would seem to indicate that all fees and charges have been paid up front.... This clarifies the claim that all fees, including VAT has been included in the price paid for shipping.... Then we get to this section: Err.... Unless I am mistaken, previous clauses would suggest that no further charges will be liable once payment has been made.... Finally, the unfair clause: So eBay can amend the T&C without giving notice - Something is seriously wrong with that ! Having paid for this "service" on the assumption that import duties, VAT, brokerage fees, and shipping costs have all been paid up front, should I incur any additional charges, would I be within my rights to: a) Lodge a PayPal dispute and/or b) Do a S77 charge back on my credit card. c) Demand that eBay refund any additional charges on the grounds of unfair contract or mis-sold "service".

I have not worked since 1985 as a result of depression and anxiety brought on by caring for my family since the age of 10, I am now 57. I was awarded ESA on 15 April 2014 and placed in the Work related activity Group. I tried to appeal to be placed in the Support Group but was turned down because I am not terminally ill. My letter says my payment stops on 24th November, but does not say what happens after, surely I do not need to fill in another ESA50 after such a short time? The person in the ESA office said that I would not have to attend any interviews, I was classed as sick and not expected to look for work. On 21st July I was interviewed at the Job Centre where it was confirmed that I am not expected to go to work, my GP saying that I must refrain from work, but the lady who interviewed me said I had to go into a back to work programme but they did not expect me to find or undertake any work, and it would just be a matter of someone phoning me now and again. Today I received a letter for a Work Programme Initial Appointment Engage Phase. How does this apply to someone not expected to go to work?

Being currently unemployed, I was passed over to Avanata work programme by the DWP, I have claimed expenses for professional membership, provided them with copy of invoices, but now Avanta refuse to reimburse after I have paid them. They are now stating that unless I provide orginal receipts and also confirm I will provide them with employer details once I secure a job and keep in touch with them for two years once employed they will refuse to reimburse me. I have stated that I will not provide future employer details as I consider this private and confidential and that there is no legal requirement to disclose such private information. They have basically confirmed that they will get a performance related payment from DWP once I disclose any employer information to Avanta. I have raised this as a complaint with Avanta and copied the complaint to the DWP, and after a month I got a reply from Avanta saying basically the above. How can I appeal against the decision not to reimburse me and is there a legal course of action one could take to recover amounts previously agreed would be paid. I am now out of pocket by over £100. Do the DWP have any involvement or contractual responsibilities as they simply keep telling me to go back to Avanta.

Hi, I'm on JSA and currently attending the Work Programme at Ingeus. My question is about my JSA Agreement, I looked through the site yesterday and the replies to a similar question just confused me as there were so many different answers. My JSA Agreement states I have to apply for 2 jobs per week. Yesterday my Advisor at the WP told me I had to apply for 8 jobs per week (3 more per week than I have currently been applying for - I was told to apply for 5 per week when joining the WP). As I live in one of the areas of the highest unemployment in the UK; applying for 8 jobs per week is pretty much mission impossible. I was struggling to apply for 5 per week. I was also told to set my sites lower and apply for entry level jobs! My questions are: is my JSA Agreement still in effect?- I read conflicting advice about this when looking for an answer yesterday. I can't remember if I signed an agreement with the WP Provider but I must have done. Can the Advisor I'm dealing with (who seems to be a right a/hole) get my JSA sanctioned if I'm unable to apply for 8 jobs per week? I will appreciate any replies/advice given. Thanks

Hello again all. I hope you dont mind, but I have a double question for those in the know. Q1: I have to send off my ESA Assessment form (ESA50) off in a few days and need help with one thing. I am due to move from south to north but have no date to move as of yet but it should come very shortly as we are in the final stages of selling our house. What do I put in the part where it asks me if there are any dates in the next 3 months that I cant attend a face-to-face assessment? Do I say the truth? If so, how much time can I put that is realistic and acceptable from their POV? Q2: I have been on ESA since 22nd of April and was claiming JSA before that. I was on the Work Programme before that and was signed over to a new provider - Learndirect. I told my advisor at Learndirect that I had been signed onto ESA so would not be attending their appointments, I kept getting appointments from them so had to resort to telling them the rules and how because I am on ESA, my WP attendance should be treat as voluntary, they agreed and told me to send them copies of my sick notes. Which I didnt as Ive had enough on my plate without remembering to send them things they dont NEED to see. Anyway, today I received a text from my lovely WP advisor who said she is sending me an appointment for next Wednesday - no mention of "if you are still claiming ESA then no need to attend" etc. I am getting sick of their hassle and blatant breaking of the government rules so I am going to complain,can anyone point me in the right direction who I complain to? Their constant bothering me is making my condition worse and I dont need it right now as Ive just had to change medication and my stress levels are through the roof as it is. Thanks all for you help!

Hi everyone. My Dr signed me off JSA on Tuesday because of my severe depression and am in the process of claiming ESA. The sicknote is for 2 weeks but will probably be ongoing and I signed off JSA yesterday. I had an appointment with the work programme (Learndirect) on Wednesday (yesterday) but as I couldnt face speaking to anyone, I sent my Learndirect advisor a text message (they sent me one the week previous so I just replied to that one) saying I couldnt attend as my Dr has signed me off JSA. Today I find they have sent me ANOTHER appointment for Monday, my mother rang them on my behalf and they told her that even though I am on the sick, I still have to go to these appointments. Is this correct? My Dr signed me off JSA because I am unfit for work due to my depression and this stress is making it even worse. Please tell me this isnt the case as I cant cope with such things - I cant get out of bed most days never mind attend appointments!

Hi, Could anyone help me? I saw the disability advisor on Wednesday at the job centre. She said it is mandatory that i go and attend the work programme. I have Depression/Social Phobia/ Anxiety and OCD and suicidal thoughts. The advisor was told of this by my mum as i do not go out alone, i do not answer the telephone or make calls or even open my letters. I do not talk to strangers, my mum spoke to this woman for me as i have extreme shyness. I have suicidal thoughts daily about overdoseing on tablets which my GP knows about and has issued medication and has reffered me for counselling. I am in the work related group but am appealing to be put in to the support group as the disabilty advisor said maybe its where i should be. I have an appointment for the work programme on Monday 28th April, the letter asks me to bring a job seekers agreement and asks what kind of work am i looking for and how many hours in the last 4 weeks have i been preparing for interviews/ applied for jobs. I have not been looking for work as every day is a struggle with these thoughts i get, just thinking about going to this appointment makes me want to jump infront of a train, I am due to see the GP on the same day about getting support and different medication. What will happen if i do not go to the work programme appointment? I am going to get my mum to phone for me on Tuesday and explain to the advisor. Thank you for helping me, Im worried sick and feel i would be better off not being here.

Im currently attending Maximus on the work programme.On Friday they sent me a letter saying that i had missed an appointment on the previous day.The problem is i had no notification about this meeting.They did not tell me face to face and they never sent me a letter out by post.I emailed my advisor on Friday about it and all she said was a letter will have being sent out and that it is out of her hands.She also said she has notified the jobcentre. So is there much i can do or do i just wait for the sanction letter from the dwp.How long should i wait for the letter? Am i also sanctioned straight away and my jsa payments stopped immediately or do i have a chance to give my side to dwp?

Hi, I was originally put in the wrag group of esa, and was sent to a4e last year, after 2 useless induction things, 1 meeting, and a unkept (on their part) phone interview. I have now been moved into the support group, I was recontacted by a4e by phone where i was told i had a letter sent informing me of this interview, {no letter received}. I told them i was now in support group, and the man said they knew but still had to keep in contact, and would call again in 2 months, for another phone interview, I then recieved a letter stating I had a mandatoryinterview in 2 months with date and time, My question is,do I still have to keep contact etc with a4e, and can I be mandated to do anything. any links to official rules etc would be appreciated so if possible I can legally tell them to get lost. stating relevant rules Thanks in advance

Hi all, I know this may be a bit of an obvious answer but what do I do about having a 2 week holiday while on the work programme (Sarina Russo)? One of my pals booked a holiday cottage in Scotland for 2 weeks but cant go - I reluctantly volunteered (yeah right lol). The dates are Wednesday (5th March) until Wednesday 19th March. This would mean missing a signing day and no doubt an appointment or two with my WP adviser. So, what do I do? Is there a form to fill in and send off? What do I do about appointments with my WP adviser because when I see him tomorrow, no doubt he will make me another one then and there? Ive not had any holiday so this would be my first and Id like to take the 2 weeks all at once. Are there any forms I can print out and send off rather than go into my JCP? Thanks xx

Hi again everyone. I have just received an appointment for my Work Programme (Sarina Russo) Engage Phase which is on Friday with a completely different adviser. Not looking forward to this as I don't really know what to expect. As some of you may or may nor remember - I am moving to York soon (no date yet though but hopefully within a few weeks to a month) and I really do not want a job where I currently live as I want and need to move away for a clean and fresh break - coupled with the fact that I could accept full and part time work if I moved - upping my chances of finding work, if I stayed, full time in the only option. Anyway, can anyone give me any pointers as to whats in store for me? Also, would I get into trouble if I told them truth, that I do not want to work round here but am looking for employment in York and would attend any interview I may get? I don't want to land myself some kind of sanction if not wanting to work in my area is not allowed. Cheers!

I have completed the work programme and last week I attended my first post work programme interview at the job centre. I had to sign a new jobseekers agreement which says I have to do 20 jobsearch steps each week but I am required to do a minimum of 4 hours jobsearch per day. I am also required to sign up for Universal Jobmatch and provide my CV at my next appointment. My questions are as follows, I know what a jobsearch step consists of but how can I make looking in a newspaper last for 4 hours? And how can my adviser tell how long I have jobsearched for each day, they were pretty clear if I did not jobsearch for 4 hours each day then I will be sanctioned. They also didn't make it clear if this jobsearch also had to take place on Saturday and Sunday. Also I am not happy about signing up for Universal Jobmatch because of the privacy and cookie issues, can anyone advise as to what I can do and am I required to use it once I do sign up? And finally I agreed to provide a copy of my CV but she wants a printed copy, I wouldn't have a problem with this except I have run out of printer ink and don't have the money to buy anymore at the moment. Is there anything I can do? Sorry for the waffling post, I am scared stiff of being sanctioned as I know it also affects housing benefit. Thanks for any help

My son was put forward for a job by the Work Programme. Fortunately, being desperate to get a job he had the presence of mind to ask at the induction for a contact number. This he was given and a time to call. The good news is, he got the job and so far is enjoying it. However, he discovered that his "advisor" from the Work Programme was supposed to have contacted him with a start date. This they did not do and there is no record on his mobile phone or the landline (which stores every incoming phone number up to 100) of anyone from the Work Programme contacting him. There was no e-mail either. The Work Programme have all this information. This is down to one person whom my son has never liked (or trusted). It transpires that he wasn't the only one this happened to. Two of his colleagues, all from the Work Programme with the same "advisor" had the same happen to them, so to anyone on the Work Programme, if they put you forward for a job please make sure you get a contact name and number at the company you go for interview/induction with. Do not leave it to the Work Programme to contact you. My son and his colleagues are so incensed by this, that this incompetence could have lost them the chance of a job, that they want to lodge a formal complaint. Does anyone have any idea who to complain to or how to go about it? Many thanks.

Hey again everyone. I attended an appointment with my "lovely" adviser Mo yesterday who wasn't all that bothered I didn't manage to get an interview in 10 days like he asked me to but I told him I'm moving up north and he has took it upon himself to push [me] even harder to find a job so I cant move away (and no doubt so he gets the credit and commission), which I find awful as I dont want to live here anymore as its a dead end place and I hate it. He has made an appointment to see me again this Thursday to ring places and do a job search there - what is the point of this? I do a very good job search at home and everyone has been blown away by how good it is when I go to sign and I also ring a few places to inquire about possible vacancies per week - so what the hell is the point in all this? He isnt doing anything to help me, it seems like he is struggling to think of anything to do with me and I don't appreciate him pushing me to get a job here when he knows I want to move and start a new life somewhere else - somewhere I have the option to take on P/T as well as F/T work - more option than here as I can only do F/T if I stay! I really wish I could get rid of him as he is pretty useless but thinks he is the dogs doodahs! He is only standing in for my usual adviser who is off sick and has been for a month! Another thing that made me "lol", he gave me a pile of papers yesterday, which were jobs to apply for, and sandwiched in-between was a letter to a completely different person with their name, address and such private information on. Now I have someone elses details and this other person wont receive this important letter. Incompetent!!!

What happens at your first post work programme meeting? I've been informed about it occurring as my time is coming to an end. I'm coming to end of my work programme at end of March I started WP 2 years ago 22nd of mark so will that mean my post work programme will be at end of march not the start? Reason is because I've just decided benefits is enough really I've luckily had an opportunity arise through a friend where I can secure some part time work (hopefully) which is fantastic that is just awesome to me! and i'm hoping to begin before this horrible post work programme crapp. Reason I ask is my last work programme appointment was like a year ago or more and I only had a handful over my entire time.... they got my wrong address on their system and never bothered to sort it, I had few phone convos now n again with my advisor but my impression was they couldn't contact me probably tried I guess but never fixed it and I didn't bother because it was crapp anyway (Aside the useful C.V's they gave me which were actually a help) but beyond that utter crapp. Do they ask for a post work programme report etc? I'm kind of worried too they'd try sanction me if I haven't been in ages saying I didn't attend the work programme enough or something like that blah blah but truth is work programme when I did go really did not help at all. But I don't want to be sanctioned in case I don't secure this part time work but I'm hoping I do, I'm really feeling excited about it but of course risk is I end up sanctioned and in the deep end right before I get myself some work. Any info on this post work programme stuff would be appreciated!

Morning All, I am starting on a Work Programme in a couple of weeks and do not really understand how it all works. Ive tried searching around but it seems to differ on the company and each persons circumstances. I understand I have to attend, yah de yah... What I am concerned about - is what can they make me do? Last job was 36k per annum plus various benefits ... Can they force me to get a job cleaning toilets for minimum wage? If I attend interviews they force me to attend and do not get the job, is this likely to be a problem? Im aware you cannot deliberately 'throw' the interview - but this again is open to debate. If I dont look motivated and uninterested in the job, maybe they could say I didnt try hard enough - but realistically, why would I look motivated about a job on minimum wage in McDonalds? Thanks - James.