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  1. I recently moved in with my partner and informed the DWP of this, I was informed the other day that I won't receive Jobseekers Allowance because my partner works even though she is on a low wage. I emailed the Work Programme provider a few days stating that as I am not getting Jobseekers now and I am not receiving any money from them I am no longer obliged to attend the Work Programme. I received this response today:- "Thank you for your email. When you attended your induction it would have been explained to you that you are entitled to support from your Work Programme provider for 2 years. As your Work Programme provider we will continue to try to engage you on programme. Job Centre Plus have informed us of your change in claim and all engagement will be reflective of this change. Shaw Trust offer free support to our customers with the aim of helping them to achieve sustainable employment. I would suggest that you continue to access the support available to you. Kind Regards" What do you make of this and what can I do about it? I have again told them about the withdrawal of consent too which they seem to be ignoring. Thanks.
  2. Anyone heard of this? I received a reply via my MP from the DWP's operational correspondence unit with regard to my ongoing complaint against Seetec, the letter ends with 'If Mr Osdset remains unhappy with any of the services provided by Seetec, he can use the strengthened complaints procedure that has been introduced for the Work Programme', no reference as to how to access this procedure though. I can't find anything much on the net.
  3. Hey guys First of all I think I should fill you in on the full story, I would like answers from people who know the answer, please no guess work as that might end up getting me nowhere. So recently my Jobcentre adviser changed due to my old adviser going off to manage a different age group, I went in there this morning (having applied for 23 jobs in the last fortnight) and she asked me how my job search was going, I said "yes not bad, I've applied for 23 jobs so hoping to get lucky on one of those" and she replied with "yes, because you will be due to go off to a work programme soon". Now, I do not receive Jobseekers allowance due to my partner working full time I am entitled to no benefits at all apart from my NI stamp for a pension which I will probably never see. So my question is, can I be forced to attend one of these "work programmes" if I am not claiming Jobseekers allowance? The reason I ask is that a few years ago I did have to attend one of these and let me tell you it gave me absolutely no help at all and I think I may be forced to sign off if this is the case. On another note, it would be helpful if someone could tell me if I am entitled to ask for a change of adviser? The reason being that I have been going there for 10 months now and have seen just about every adviser in the building, none of which have ever had a problem with my job search as I usually manage between 15 and 25 jobs every 2 weeks and they can see that I am genuinely trying to get myself back into work. My new adviser however is a completely different story and no matter what I do or how many jobs I apply for nothing seems good enough for her and she does not possess any ounce of a helpful attitude, rather just giving me a hard time when I'm doing exactly what I should be doing. Thanks Jay
  4. According to the DWP website, Post Work Programme Support lasts for 6 months but no details of what follows. If anyone has any info I would be most grateful. Those who started PWPS in June will now be asking the question.
  5. Hi Guys Very interesting programme from the other night; HERE Synopsis; Young, British, and Broke - The truth about "Payday loans" Payday loans documentary about the effects on society the multi-million pound industry has.
  6. Hi can some one tell me what is mandatory. I was told that I have to attend voluntary work that suits my illness, maybe work from home and also go on a course in the new year. he said this was mandatory. He told me that these are new rules and to ask citizens advice if I didn't believe him. I cant find anything on the internet that says what is supposed to happen. Thanks in advance.
  7. What happens if the claimant me (currently claiming JSA on the Work Programme) becomes eligible for Pension Credit during the period on the Work Programme? Income increases to full-time minimum wage rates. Do I still have to participate on the Work Programme I have already started with over a year to go? The Work Programme is of no practical use and it includes the possibility of sanctions so I would sooner not be on it as the advice given is not satisfactory. I don't mind working in suitable jobs (still applying) but there is always the question of half suitable jobs which will then not become economically worthwhile. At the moment I am applying for these without terrific enthusiasm. This is based on something interesting might come up. Can I work self-employed part-time and still get Pension Credit? Is my income then deducted from any amount I might get from my Pension Credit or is there an amount I can earn before the deduction happens?
  8. Fifty mile round trip to be kept waiting 1 hour over my appointment time (I was not the only one). 10 min interview giving all the info I have given before (nothing more added to file). Come to claim transport costs new ruling. They take the lower cost for travelling (which was train on my route) only I do not use the train no good for me, I take the bus. So many of us lose out on the extra between bus and train.
  9. I have currently been on ESA for 3 years after an attack left me disfigured. I now suffer from Severe anxiety and i am unable to leave the house on my own. I have since had two medical assessments by atos, i passed the first one but then failed the second one. This decision was later overturned after a successful appeal that took around 14 months to be heard by the tribunal. The tribunal was around December 2012 and as a result of winning I was placed in the wrag group. I didn't hear anything from them until October 2013, i received a letter stating that I must attend a WFI in which work programme providers will be discussed with me. In the interview i was told i must now attend the work programme as my adviser said that her hands were tied and there was no alternative or discussion about it or what they could provide apart from this statement from my adviser, 'One of the advisers from Avanta was in earlier and she was lovely'. I told my adviser that my mental health problems would mean i would not be able to attend the work programme and i felt as i was being set up to fail, as this was impossible for me to do due to my condition but all my adviser could keep saying was that her hands were tied. I have now recieved a letter from Advanta (The work programme provider) telling me I must attend their offices with a CV on December 3rd for 2- 3 hours or face sanctions. I don't know what to do, there is no way i am fit enough to be jumping through their hoops right now. All this has worsened my mental health and i can't stop worrying about what sanctions are ahead when i can't possibly meet any requirements... I am unable to leave the house unless someone is with me but i have nobody that can leave work to accompany me to their offices. I also have trouble relating to people for minutes without being consumed with anxiety and going into total panic inside, even with people that i have known for years, so it will be impossible for me to have an interview with someone that i don't know for over 3 hours. feeling a bit lost at the moment. Is there anyone that is going through a similar situation that could give me some advice. My anxiety is going through the roof,
  10. Work Programme or Work Choice ? What is best if you are recovering from an injury please? Just practical (not Benefit rates). Which programme would expect to have the best outcome with reduced capacities. Best outcome is thought of as the best use of my energies. Job or volunteer work, preferably a paid job. For the older worker. I am finding it a bit of struggle on the work programme which I chose to do as I thought I could handle it. Not so sure any more as there are not many jobs around and the advice is rather harsh and difficult to comply with. My status is higher on JSA but the support seems to be less. JSA WP is real life though.
  11. I have just got back from my first appointment for (Post Work Programme Support) and it wasn't so bad as I thought. My advisor was very nice towards me as I knew him 3 years ago before I started the work programme, anyway he just told me what to expect now that I have completed Work Programme like for example: going on courses to help get into employment, visit the Jobcentre more often, update cvs and mock interviews ete. Also he tried logging into my Universal Jobmatch but he couldn't as I haven't give him access anyway this is the best part, he said I don't have to give him access if I don't want to as that is up to me and he said he will not force me as he said I can just fill in them Job dairy as normal and he wasn't very angry when he couldn't access my account. He said I need to start doing more now and he also said I need to treat this as a full time Job and he said I need to contact other organisations, does anyone know what he meant by that? does he mean Job agencies? if yes then I am already registered with them. My next appointment is on 03.12.2013 at 12.00pm.
  12. Well today was the last signing on at the Work Programme at Jobcentre, got told by advisor who signed me on today, she said its going to get tough now that I have finished my 2 year work Programme and I have still not got a Job. Got appointment on Tuesday 26th of November at 9.40am, this is called (Post work Programme Support) It's to help me get more support and it also states on the letter need to do more things to get me into work. At the moment these what I do for Jobseeking: 1) Look on Jobsites from 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday. 2) Keep in touch with Job agencies 3 days a week. 3) Look in newspapers 4) Go around stores to see any vacancies mostly twice a week. 5) Send spec/cvs letters to companies. There is only so much Job search I can do lol.
  13. Hi, I'm currently on the Work Programme. I received a phone call from them today saying I'd missed an appointment with them yesterday and that the Job Centre have been informed and I will be sanctioned for 4 weeks for missing my appointment. However, I had no knowledge of this appointment. They didn't contact me by phone advising me of my appointment, they apparently sent a letter to my home which I never received. I have never missed an appointment with them and I normally get my new appointment when I attend but the last time I went I was told by my advisor that he was leaving his job and I would be allocated a new advisor who would call me to arrange an appointment. Has anyone else had this problem and been sanctioned? I can't afford to lose 4 weeks money because of a mail error. The woman I spoke to was rude and blatantly told me "its not my problem" when I explained I hadn't gotten any letter about an appointment.
  14. Hi, In 2006 I ended up in a lot of debt that I could not afford to pay. I ended up entering a financial management programme with Daniel Chandler Ltd. After 6 and a bit years I still owe my creditors money and still keep getting late payment letters even though I have never missed a payment to Chandlers. The debts started off as Capital One credit card, Lloyds TSB Loan and Lloyds TSB credit card. It seems however that these debts keep changing hands and I have no idea now of which debt is with which company. I have had letters from AIC, APEX, BLS collections and SCM solicitors. It seems like Chandlers have made payments to all of these at one time or another. Can anyone offer any advice as to what I should do. Thanks
  15. As of today I have been placed in the work programme, and await to hear from them regarding interview. Is this the start of being harassed and made to get back into work. Thanks
  16. Hi. I've been on the Work Programme for around 8 weeks now. My provider is Seetec who in turn sub-contract to a company called Groundwork (meaning I've never actually met anybody employed directly by Seetec). Over the past 8 weeks I have bent over backwards to work with them as I am desperate to get back into work and genuinely appreciate any help that is offered. Unfortunately, while my advisor has been fantastic, every other member of staff I have been faced with has been beyond useless (it amazes me some of them ever passed an interview). Today I received a letter stating that on 12/08/13 I was notified of a mandatory activity that I must take part in on 23/08/13 but I failed to attend. I now have until the 13/09/13 to respond to this letter or I will be sanctioned. The catch is... I did attend! I signed into the building, took part in my scheduled activity (jobsearch), spoke to the advisor running the group on that day, signed for my travel expenses and signed out of the building before leaving. Obviously I will be at Groundwork at 9am on Monday morning to dispute this and try to get it sorted but are they required to provide me with copies of the signing in/out book or expenses sheet in order to allow me to appeal this potential sanction? Any advice would be massively appreciated. Thank You.
  17. Today I received a letter from DWP saying that I a doubt has been raised because it appears I failed to undertake an activity Ingeus told me to do. It says that on 19.08.2013 I was notified to attend/participate in an appointment on 20.08.13 but that I failed to do so. Now they need a good reason letter from me sent to the address on the letter before 06.09.13 to explain why I didn't undertake this activity. ---------------------------------- on 19.08.2013, whilst I was with my adviser, he said that he didn't have a digital copy of my CV on file , he said that if I didn't send it over to him I will get sanctioned from the jobcentre. I didn't want him to have a digital copy of my CV so I tried to give him my printed CV on paper but he refused. He insisted on a digital one. He then issued me with a mandatory work notification which normally has an appointment on it on the first page 20.08.2013 (which is automatically generated). The details of this letter mentions that the activity to be done at the appointment is that a CV will need to be emailed to him by 5pm on 19.08.2013 as a mandatory activity on the work programme. Failure to receive this cv and cover letter will mean that the job centre will be informed. Although I wasn't interested in sending it to him by email, I have changed it to PDF (no changes can be done to it) with a copyright included then sent it to him. and he received it after checking with him over the phone and that was all completed before 5pm. Now how can he expect me to attend the appointment on 20.08.2013 if the activity to be completed is on 19.08.2013. I am sure this advisor is using this tactic to get me off the work programme. He is deliberately misleading me. I need to lodge a complaint against him. What are the best points to raise in this letter to win this case?
  18. Would it be likely to be placed on the WP for a 2nd time i.e. 4 years.? Work programme 2 years>6 month post work programme support>employed temporary for X months>back to JSA for 3-6 months> Work programme for another 2 years?
  19. Hi guys, Having a bit of a problem with the Work Programme lately, and I have no idea what to do. The Job Centre and Seetec themselves are extremely unhelpful and I'm feeling rather annoyed and wound up with them. The problem is back in March, I was sanctioned on my JSA for missing 2 appointments with Seetec. I had chicken pox and phoned my advisor at Seetec telling her that I wasn't able to make my appointments that week, and she told me there was no problem, thanks for letting her know and she'll see me the following week at my next appointment. Couple of weeks later, I received a letter saying I had missed two appointments and was being sanctioned for 4 weeks due to the fact I didn't send in a "Change of Circumstances" form. My advisor didn't tell me I had to fill this is and I'd never filled one in before so I had no idea I had to do that. So a reconsideration was sent in, which was turned into, without my knowledge, an appeal. Got the decision on that back, and the sanction stood because my advisor lied through the teeth to the decision maker saying I showed no signs of illness (Which she even commented to me on the appointment I went in "Oh your looking very spotty aren't you, how you feeling now?") and that she told me over the phone that I had to contact the Job Centre and tell them I wasn't able to go to Seetec that week (Which she didn't, but surprise, surprise, the calls aren't recorded). This isn't the problem though. Today, 15/8/2013, I received a letter saying I'd missed an appointment with Seetec on the 31/1/13. I have absolutely zero recollection of missing an appointment that day, and I was never told I'd missed an appointment. All I can think of is that at one point, I telephoned my advisor saying that I had to take my son to the doctors because he wasn't well at all, and the appointment fell during an appointment I had. I explained this to her and she told me not to worry, and come in the next day (I think It was for a job search, but I'm not sure). I really have no idea if this was the appointment they're referring too. Simple fact is, I just can't remember ever missing an appointment with them. I asked the JC why I hadn't heard of this earlier, and they said that it had been put on hold along with hundreds of others... yet they contacted me instantly about the incident with the chicken pox. I really have no idea what to do now. The JC said just think back and write down why you missed the appointment, but I just can't remember. Do I just put the doctors appointment with my son and hope that it was that? Which I told her about anyway and she didn't have a problem with? I just can't think what to do and I can't afford another sanction at all. Any help would be great as I'm at an utter loss at the moment. Thanks, Paul
  20. I don't know if this info has been posted before but it's particularly relevant to anyone who keeps getting sent on CV courses by their provider. Here http://intensiveactivity.wordpress.com/2013/08/16/employment-related-courses/
  21. Hello. I was unable to attend a scheduled appointment at Ingeus on the Work Programme due to sickness (specifically the Norovirus; vomiting, high fever, physical weakness and generally incapacitated). I called my advisor on the morning when I was ill and explained the situation, and he sent me another appointment letter out for another time. A week after I got a notice from the JCP about a doubt against my claim due to missing an appointment. I filled in all the informatoin they requested, such as what I did, why I couldn't attend and so forth. Today I received a letter saying that my JSA will be stopped for 4 weeks because "you did not have sufficiently good reasons" for not attending. I literally couldn't even get out of bed. I did everything I could do with regards to informing my advisor and explaining. I can't ring them as it's Saturday and I'm a little worried of what to do and if I can appeal again this? I'm not even sure what "sufficiently good reasons" means, tried searching Google for a list but nothing comes up. Any advice would be appreciated.
  22. I have worked for a WP provider and am frankly disgusted at how its possible for the companies running these schemes to make money. WP providers have targets and refer to something as 'buying a job'. This is where the provider pays for a position for a client, usually just for a short term, say two weeks, so it triggers them being able to make a claim. So much for sustainable employment huh. I have seen people being targeted as they are close to leaving programme (end of the 2 years) so the client is forced into a position, told its good experience etc put it on your cv etc, and their advisor gets told that if the client doesnt proceed then they raise a failure to comply sanction against them, I have witnessed times when this threat is presented directly to client. How do they get away with this 'buying a job'? . Simple. The employment goes through an agency, so thats how the job is registered...the agency shows as the employer on the clients record, and the local WP provider managers/jobsbrokers/senior staff liase with the company that the client will work for...selling it to them in a similar way...but highlighting that it wont cost the end employer anything as the bill from the agency will be met by the WP provider. And yes that means WP provider, the agency and the end (temporary) employer are all party to whats going on, although I have seen some questions raised from employers when attempts have been made to get them on board with this....some have elected to not be involved again. I guess someone has sat down and worked out that its financially worthwhile to pay for someone to be employed through an agency (the client invariably gets National Minimum Wage....but I have heard of attempts being made to encourage 'free trails..if they like you theirs a job in it for you'...yes you can guess the usual outcomes on that one) for upto a couple of weeks as the income from claiming a job start on that client means its worthwhile. Whilst some employers have happily engaged I know of occasions when the end job the client goes in to...DOES NOT EXIST...the poor client is either used as a dogsbody for a week or two or sits around and does nothing BECAUSE THEIR IS NO JOB!!!! I have seen this used on a regular basis, its nothing to do with helping people who are looking for work its about generating a revenue scheme(another one of these is detailed below). And it hasnt just started happening, its been ongoing for sometime...not just happening to people about to leave programme but to folk who the WP provider thinks is likely to be in work when the next official check to employer is made to confirm continued employment, bit of a gamble but hey, it keeps the figures up and keeps the money coming in. The check to employers to confirm a client is working is made by the WP provider themselves. If you are attched to the WP you are assigned a PG rating. This stands for Payment Group, different groups attracted different payments and payments made at different stages. Some people are basically worth more than others, and decisions get made about spending time working with people based on this and how 'job ready' someone is deemed to be. Cherrypicking. Panaroma programme aired concerns about this taking place and its absolutely true, given how the WP payments are structured, how can it not come into place??? I think the public have the right to know what a waste this programme is and I know how the above looks to me....you join the dots and you see. There are some good people employed in the work programme who thought theyd be helping people...i put myself in this category...but there all coming to a realisation that company profitability is what comes first. This is what happens when private companies get involved in these things....there only going to be interested if they can make money out of it and given the state of the offices i have seen...that money aint going on pleasant, comfortable and safe environments for unemployed people to be made to attend. Just because you are out of work should you expect less from the places you are made to attend? I think that is wrong. Oh and the other revenue stream.....WP providers offering Employability Courses...well..offering..they will mandate clients to attend....no show? you lose your benefits. Complete the course and the provider claims for it....youll be asked to sign something that proves your elegibilty for the course they NEED this to claim the money. And we aint talking small amounts here. Now the course may be of use to some people and thats all well and good, but by forceing everyone onto it it can make attending the course a very uncomfortable experience even if it is something you feel happy to do. And then theres the standard of tutor that you get to consider too. Some good, some not so....they know why there really there so they just tick the boxes and smile. Oh and speaking of signing things to facilitate a claim......If your WP provider is REALLLLLY keen for you to have an appointment with a National Careers Service Advisor....yep. you guessed it....you signing the 'action plan' is what gets the payment and if they were very eager for you to see this person....then yes, that provider probably holds the contract for providing a National Careers Service Advisor. Kerrrrrching!!! I know im not the only one who things this is all wrong...feel free to prove im not incorrect!!!
  23. the BBC is doing a consumer rights programme next wednesday at 20.00 on BBC1 about private parking companies. It is called "your money their tricks" so settle down in front of the box and see what is given a wide public airing. I am looking forward to it.
  24. ERSA have recently (20th June) published a report highlighting their success in getting the long term unemployed back in to work. Headline claim is 321,000 people starting work. Further on, the report also claims that: If the providers can only find temporary contracts that last anything from a single day to three months, might as well spin it... Job starts do not equate to sustained employment, nor should people hounded off benefits through sanctions or intimidation be counted. Comparing their figures with the last official report from the DWP wp_release_nov12.pdf, I am really struggling to see any correlation between the two - It will be interesting to see what the DWP has to say on 27th June. If the ERSA figures are to be believed, that means the providers are in line for some £1,250M for their efforts to date (using a £4,000 per participant figure based on Work & Pensions Committee figures). Before either party decide to remove their documents, I'll attach them below (they have, after all, been placed in the public domain).
  25. hello i have just been for my first appointment down at tcv was giving all the information about they help people find work but now i'm not sure when i have to attend the WP daily or weekly .is it just the advisor appointments i need to attend if someone else has been on this work programme please can some one explain thanks
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