Just a question, does anyone know if any company that conducts pre-interviews by webcam or skype before offering a formal interview? I have never heard of this before.

1) My 'Actions for getting employment" doesn't stipulate a number of jobs to apply for per week (which is odd, when I claimed before I had to apply for 2). Obviously I don't want to display every single job I apply for (which would risk creating a baseline figure), but what is the minimum number that an Advisor needs to see in order to sanction me (for insufficient applications)? 2) They also included 'log into my UJM account daily' - I have NOT ticked the box that allows the DWP to view the jobs I've applied for, BUT can they still see how often I've logged in? Ta

Please can someone explain the purpose of group interviews with more than one candidate - does this mean they're looking for more than one person?

I think i've found the answer (as usual jobcentre didn't follow proper protocol) but to help others i'll post some links. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/473426/admu4.pdf Page 4 seems to say that i am exempt from any work related requirements due to being a carer. On page 9 claimants who must attend WFI but are not subject to WRA are dealt with separately. From https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/advice-for-decision-making-staff-guide https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/224561/response/568813/attach/html/9/07%20Post%20Work%20Programme%20Support.pdf.html The above details what happens after completing the work programme (NJWFI is the appointment you will likely have had after first being awarded ESA, linked at bottom). Take away is that voluntary claimants (those exempt from WFI and WRA) don't need to attend the completer appointment that follows the work programme (may be another request to attend within 26 weeks). Participation is PWPS remains voluntary in any case. 30. For purposes of Post Work Programme Support voluntary claimants are:  Support Group  Credits Only  Full Time Carers  Lone Parents with a youngest child under one  Claimants at or over the age at which they are eligible to receive Pension Credit  Claimants awaiting their initial WCA outcome  Claimants appealing a WCA decision that they have no LCW i.e. disallowed ESA  IB claimants NJWFI link: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/224561/response/568813/attach/html/6/04%20Conducting%20the%20NJWFI.pdf.html

Hi, my advisor says I can not have telephone interviews anymore, which has really distressed me. I can not make physical appointments at all. I find it hard enough to even make it to my doctors (the only time I do out, with someone with me) Maybe 3 times a year or less. So I was just asking for help if this is true or not? Because If I can't make appointments.... then I will lose my benefits? Thank you.

Hello, Thanks for adding me! My question is (and I have tried researching here and others) before asking, so can anybody please clarify, when a RTW has to be completed by, basically my wife has been back at 4 days and still has not been approached to have one. Is there a time limit for instance, that if her employer has not completed by, then it becomes null and void and the 2 weeks sickness cannot be added to her records. (I only ask as this is "hearsay" at the moment) Regards, Dave

This post may help to clarify the legal status of claimants who wish to, or choose to, record their interviews at Jobcentres or other locations where their concerns and personal circumstances are being discussed and may affect them personally. Jasta11, posted on another thread a FOI Response dated Sept 2012 that included the following paragraph: Under the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA), Section 36, there is an exemption which states that:- “personal data; are exempt from the Data Protection Principles and the provisions of Part II (individuals’ rights) and Part III (notification) of the Act where they are processed by an individual only for the purposes of that individual’s personal, family or household affairs (including recreational purposes).” That paragraph still applies, it is quoted again in a DWP FOI Response dated Oct 2014 which can be checked at: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/130864/response/322027/attach/5/Recordings%20by%20claimants.pdf I don't believe that there is any doubt about claimants being able to covertly record interviews with DWP advisers for their own personal purposes. In fact, this paragraph states clearly that anyone doing so is exempt from the Data Protection Act 1998. This means that the DPA 1998 can't be used to prosecute a claimant for recording an interview since s/he is exempt from it. Recordings processed 'by an individual only for the purposes of that individual’s personal, family or household affairs' would cover sharing them with such as one's solicitor or legal adviser, personal advisers attached to a charity or Citizens Advice. other advisers and/or representatives. Could not social advice forums such as this one also fit into that category? The other important part of the above quoted paragraph to consider is that in addition to an 'individual's personal, family or household purposes' the law makes provision to 'include' that recordings can be processed for 'recreational purposes'. This part of the clause doesn't get a mention in the DWP's guidance, wonder why not? What does 'recreational purposes' mean? Could it not mean what is now commonly termed the social media such as Facebook, Youtube, etc? Are they not recreational? What else but recreation attracts so many people these days to that type of social media? In any event would it not still be regarded as the individual's personal affair to publish his/her individual interviews where and when s/he chooses? We know from experience that any time we receive a letter from DWP telling us what they want us to do, or threatening the consequences of failing to do what they expect us to do, they always quote the law, chapter and verse. It will be noticed that the guidance on this topic does not mention a single law on which a claimant can be prosecuted for, not only recording interviews, but from doing what s/he likes to do with that recording. Two actions are suggested for the DWP to take: 1. write to the claimant; 2. write to the Internet Service Provider (ISP). They rule option 2 out themselves as being almost worse than useless. That leaves option 1. Under option 1: We have already examined where the action of the claimant is exempt from any action under the Data Protection Act. DWP could only bring a prosecution under the Act if they could show that the claimant was a 'Data Controller'. From a quick perusal of the law this would appear laughable to suggest that the claimant is a 'Data Controller' on the internet. The ISP, I would suggest, is the data controller, and DWP are more or less conceding in their guidance that any appeal to them to control anything anyone might publish would be futile. This is the relevant part of Section 1 of the Data Protection Act 1998 that defines a data controller: “data controller” means, subject to subsection (4), a person who (either alone or jointly or in common with other persons) determines the purposes for which and the manner in which any personal data are, or are to be, processed; Sub-section 4 says: (4) Where personal data are processed only for purposes for which they are required by or under any enactment to be processed, the person on whom the obligation to process the data is imposed by or under that enactment is for the purposes of this Act the data controller. As a last resort they attempt to scare people off by bringing the Information Commissioner who is Parliament’s independent regulator of the Data Protection Act into the mix. This is what they tell us the information commissioner has to say: "It is a criminal offence for a data controller to process personal information if they have not registered this with the Information Commissioner." Here again we have already shown that to suggest that a claimant is a potential data controller on the internet is laughable. Anyway read for yourselves and I believe that you will reach the same conclusions that I have reached and that is that in this, as in so much else, DWP are relying on bluff, ignorance on the part of the claimant, intimidation and fear to continue to get their own way. Finally, is it to be supposed for one minute that if there was a law to prevent covert recordings from being published that Mr. Jack Straw and Sir Malcolm Rifkind would not have exploited it to keep their careers from such an ignominious ending.

Hi , I had an interview last week [ did`t get the job] but i had to go by taxi , can i claim full or part of my expenses back ?. NB Sorry i should of made it clear that i am claiming JSA & if i could claim the money back from the JC when i next sign on.

All facts and no conjecture or opinion from me ,,the company I work for have recently restructured and openings have become available within other departments which I have applied for, the latest of which I was informed by 3 colleagues (1 management) who was `going ` to be successful,, and this was duly the case (despite the applicant being 45 minutes late for the interview, and clearly not the best person for the role).This is probably starting to sound like sour grapes but hand on heart isn't, now ive been informed that my manager and his immediate superior asked for 2 people not to get this job and likewise previous jobs purely on grounds he doesn't want to lose me. While very flattered ,I feel the hours spent on cv`s cover notes and applications as well as the actual interview were a clear waste of time, and am certain future applications are futile ,,,I believe I am getting what is termed as pigeon holed, Whilst im certainly not after any kind of payout ,what realistically is my best course of action to avoid this occurrence in the future without upsetting manager ,hr and interviewing manager? how I stand legally(if at all),and advice on resolving this would be greatly appreciated ,,,and as said at the outset this is 100% the facts with no spin or exageration

It's quite a long story, bare with me. In 2009, I was interviewed for a position with a company which is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. I did not get the job, however, the employer was so impressed with my work that when I offered to volunteer I was welcomed with open arms and then they were so impressed with my work that they decided to pay me on a freelance basis and I was offered 2 hours per week for a term. I was then given a different full time job with a separate company and had to turn down those 2 hours - which I did in very good time before I was due to start. Recently, the same position I had initially applied for became vacant again. I reapplied, hopeful that I would be given an interview as the job spec and form were exactly the same, in addition to my current job giving me more experience in several of the desired fields. I was not offered an interview and when I asked for feedback I was ignored. It feels unfair... If I'm just being silly then I'm happy to accept that, but is what the company have done ok? Any advice anyone could offer would be fantastic. Thank you!

I have been selected for an interview on the 23 September 2010, the company cancelled this for another date which I was not able to attend. The company told me it would get back to me with another to fit in all the managers. How long do I have to wait for them to get back to me? They have actually finished all interviews as I saw the dates, and would be implementing someone soon, do I have any rights, such as legitimate expectation?? or any rights within employment rights and The HRA 1998.