Hi all,
First off this is my first time here and my first-ever post so I apologise if this has been brought up a hundred times before or I get the general idea here wrong, I post on a few other forums so I'm just going to go with the flow! :)
Anyway, I'm a "jobseeker" and claim JSA, it's the only benefit I claim and I've been claiming it for the better part of two-and-half-months now. It's the only time I've ever claimed in my life for any form of benefits and I'm 26, I have a degree, several other qualifications and I've worked since I was 14, even when I was at uni I had a full-time job as I got the basic student loan and no grants due to the household income of my parents.
There are several reasons why I've ended up claiming - 1) My previous employer of my last job went bankrupt, which is what you get for the state of the current economy along with a £400-a-day gambling addiction and numerous other, shall we say, "questionable" business attributes 2) I live in the south-west, jobs here are notoriously thin on the ground at the best of times and 80% of our local trade is holiday work, which after three painfully slow years (and it may not seem like it has been if you are a tourist who has visited the area but trust me I have the experience to know compared to 7 or 8 years ago it really has been!) has led to a real downturn in unemployment there and most businesses looking to cost-cut wherever they can, and that, as most of you probably already know, starts with new or potentially new staff, and the season hasn't really started yet anyway, even this half-term week has been relatively quiet compared to the past 3) I live in a remote area, not back of beyond, but a village, and rely solely on public transport. The first bus leaves at 7.40am and gets to the nearest mass population centre from me about 8.30am and the last one departs from that town at 5.40pm and arrives back at me at approx 6.30pm. As you can imagine this seriously restricts my employment options and I have worked hard to give myself as many opportunities as possible beyond just my very local area by discussing lifts with family friends, enquiring about cap prices, looking at other alternative transport options etc. I am also learning to drive currently but that's quite expensive so am having to balance out my lessons whilst being currently unemployed.
Anyway like I say I've had to comply to the dreaded - the signing-on! My "local" JCP is 18 miles away in the forementioned town and costs me £5.75 a return to get there. That's fine, it's got to be done, I should have to check in every two weeks to obtain this benefit in order to assist me with day-to-day living whilst I seek employment but at my signing yesterday I was told by my adviser they had a letter for me requesting me to attend an interview at the end of next month. This is what the letter states -
"You are required to attend an interview to discuss your award for Jobseeker's Allowance alongside your job seeking requirements for receiving this benefit. This will include a referral to 4 weeks of Mandatory Work Activity as appropriate."
It then gives the time, date and location and some other basic rules and regulations and contact information. The adviser did his level best to make it appear an entirely normal set of circumstances by virtually letting me get up out of the chair before very causally stating "Oh yeah, just need you to sign for this letter and come to this meeting, it's just to discuss your benefit and stuff...." I obliged, casually glanced at the letter myself before leaving and taking a better look outside away from some of the inevitable dregs you get at the JCP. It's the Mandatory Work Activity that caught my attention, obviously I've heard of this scheme as I've watched the news and am a regular devotee to updating myself on politics wherever I can, but I didn't know a great deal of background too it so came home and researched and now, if I'm reading correctly, it's a scheme designed, on polling taken from all JCP employees, to target the groups within JSA claimants who, either, have such little work experience in their lives they need to fill a gap and generally beef up their CV to make them more attractive to potential employers or claimants who don't understand the "expectations and behaviours required to seek and obtain work" (which by my plain English translation is can't be arsed and not really interested anyway?). That seems to be the main two reasons why, and this, understandably, has left me quite confused, perplexed and I'll be frank, upset.
I have 12 years of "work experience" under my belt. I have three previous promotions to my name, I've never been sacked from a job, I've never been previously unemployed up until this point. I have always worked hard, I have a good references, several printed to show this. I have done voluntary work at a primary school and as well as my degree, I have experience and qualifications relevant to two other completely different industries, catering and retail. So, unless I'm dreaming, I'm fairly certain it's not an issue within my CV.
Which leads me to deduce it's option B. Which means, and by my research I see a Customer Compliance Officer (who will be conducting the interview although should "their" signature is from what I can tell, effectively, a scribbled 'M' which makes me wonder if this generated letter has been one of many signed yesterday) is essentially a 'fraud investigator'. Now I don't tend to panic when I see these things as I know I have done nothing wrong, I am only claiming JSA and I'm not working on the side so there's nothing wrong there. However I also see CCOs conduct interviews with claimants who "may not be fully expressing themselves in their drive and desire to find work." Now, as far as my signing-on sessions go, they've all gone quite so far. I usually see a regular lady and she's very pleasant, helpful and assists me where I can. She's never had any issue with my record sheets but I had one problem - Universal Job Match, I couldn't upload my CV, and according to her this was a common problem, and I was never told prior to a signing-on session with a different adviser that as well as logging in and searching for jobs, you can also list an activity history, which shows you've been active on the account. The most information I had about UVJM was a small sheet thrust into my hand when I first went to my workseekers interview and that was it, I've called up for technical assistance several times with regards to my CV and have recently corrected the problem, but I'd already done the self-build one on the website in the meantime although naturally I wanted my own uploaded as it has more information and is generally better.
That lady had no issue with this and the last time I saw her was three sessions ago and she just asked me if I could bring in a copy of my CV just so they could take a look at sign off on it as they couldn't access the copy on my UVJM, no problem, I brought it to my next date. However I was with a different woman this time, well two in fact, the other was a trainee who just sat there watching her, she was quite offhand with me, not rude by any means, just very dictatorial and clearly unconvinced about the problems I'd experienced with UVJM, I told her about the CV, she never even looked at, it just sat on the whole desk at the time whilst she stared at her computer screen. There was also a jobs fair with a local retail outfit in the JCP later that week as there were posters up about it but there was no time listed and unclear if it was an all-day event and obviously living some considerable distance I wanted to know what time was best for me to visit, the response I got was, "well, I don't know. Call closer to the time I suppose." It was 3 days away.:cool:
She didn't really criticize and just seemed generally in a bad mood to be honest, but she did launch into the UVJM thing and what I need to do with the activity history, she then showed me a new job that was added that day from a new company setting up in the local area and saved it to my jobs list for me to apply too, her last words to me were "make sure you apply for that job." I did, I've heard nothing back. To be honest it unsettled me and I wondered if there would be some sort of result of that particurlar session, now the date on the letter I received yesterday would be exactly a week after that signing-on and the letter is stamped not at the JCP address but at my local DWP in Plymouth which suggest the information has been passed on to there and the letter's come from there. 7 days to complete a 'referral' and then a few days to send the letter back in time for me to receive at my next signing-on? Sounds about right I think you'll agree?
So, basically, what I want to know is this.....what have I done wrong? Is it something I've done wrong because I can't possibly see what it is, I fill out my job-records honestly and truthfully, I've met my all requirements, the only outcome I haven't been successful in is actually finding a job but I haven't been on JSA for long, have never been on it before and am effected, as everyone is, by the lack of jobs currently in this country and my surrounding area? Or is this something JCPs routinely do, has my number come up so to speak and am I just adding further to their polling data? Or was this lady in a filthy mood and unfortunately I got the wrong time and the wrong place and have copped it for that? I'm not especially worried about the interview, I have nothing to hide and relish the opportunity to prove others wrong in these kind of circumstances to be honest, as smug as that may sound, it wasn't how it was intended.
If MWA is what I have to do, it's what I have to do, personally I think the scheme has all sorts of flaws and is not going to provide me with anything I don't already know and 30 hours a week work for £140 is scandalous but if I do it I won't be working for one of these tinpot recycling companies the government have sold out too as the highest bidder or however this latest mickey-mouse scheme works, I'll go back to the primary school my relative teaches at and I'll do it there, they shouldn't have an issue with that should they? I know the headteacher will contact them directly and reassure? It's a good, professional set-up with the chance of me to learn new skills and ideas I won't pick up in other work-places that I have held employment in the past, and given how the government regularly roger the public sector from behind with mean intent, I'm sure they'll welcome the unpaid work! The only reason I haven't done it recently is because I've been traveling around looking for work, not just down here.
My issue is the referral. Why have I been referred? Is this going to result in me becoming a statistic that the government and DWP dare to label me a 'scrounger' because if it is I'm going to take issue with it because, quite simply, I'm not, and I will not have anyone tell me I am without evidence and without really even knowing who I am. If it's just something I have to do because my number's come up or they think there's something that could help me, then fine, but if this is done under the duress of me failing to 'comply' when I have and fully I'll fight it on those grounds, take away my measly £140 a fortnight if you so wish, I'd rather not have it than be labelled a dosser and sent to a work-place where I may as well wear a t-shirt that says that, I've had some rubbish jobs in the past, some really bad employers as I state in the opening of my post, but I won't be humiliated for no official pay and contract, sorry, no chance.
So, I apologise for the length, I just wanted to make sure I fitted everything in! So can anyone help me in clearing up why they may think this has happened, or anyone who has been in the same or similar circumstances? Just a general idea of what I should be prepared for! Many thanks.
First off this is my first time here and my first-ever post so I apologise if this has been brought up a hundred times before or I get the general idea here wrong, I post on a few other forums so I'm just going to go with the flow! :)
Anyway, I'm a "jobseeker" and claim JSA, it's the only benefit I claim and I've been claiming it for the better part of two-and-half-months now. It's the only time I've ever claimed in my life for any form of benefits and I'm 26, I have a degree, several other qualifications and I've worked since I was 14, even when I was at uni I had a full-time job as I got the basic student loan and no grants due to the household income of my parents.
There are several reasons why I've ended up claiming - 1) My previous employer of my last job went bankrupt, which is what you get for the state of the current economy along with a £400-a-day gambling addiction and numerous other, shall we say, "questionable" business attributes 2) I live in the south-west, jobs here are notoriously thin on the ground at the best of times and 80% of our local trade is holiday work, which after three painfully slow years (and it may not seem like it has been if you are a tourist who has visited the area but trust me I have the experience to know compared to 7 or 8 years ago it really has been!) has led to a real downturn in unemployment there and most businesses looking to cost-cut wherever they can, and that, as most of you probably already know, starts with new or potentially new staff, and the season hasn't really started yet anyway, even this half-term week has been relatively quiet compared to the past 3) I live in a remote area, not back of beyond, but a village, and rely solely on public transport. The first bus leaves at 7.40am and gets to the nearest mass population centre from me about 8.30am and the last one departs from that town at 5.40pm and arrives back at me at approx 6.30pm. As you can imagine this seriously restricts my employment options and I have worked hard to give myself as many opportunities as possible beyond just my very local area by discussing lifts with family friends, enquiring about cap prices, looking at other alternative transport options etc. I am also learning to drive currently but that's quite expensive so am having to balance out my lessons whilst being currently unemployed.
Anyway like I say I've had to comply to the dreaded - the signing-on! My "local" JCP is 18 miles away in the forementioned town and costs me £5.75 a return to get there. That's fine, it's got to be done, I should have to check in every two weeks to obtain this benefit in order to assist me with day-to-day living whilst I seek employment but at my signing yesterday I was told by my adviser they had a letter for me requesting me to attend an interview at the end of next month. This is what the letter states -
"You are required to attend an interview to discuss your award for Jobseeker's Allowance alongside your job seeking requirements for receiving this benefit. This will include a referral to 4 weeks of Mandatory Work Activity as appropriate."
It then gives the time, date and location and some other basic rules and regulations and contact information. The adviser did his level best to make it appear an entirely normal set of circumstances by virtually letting me get up out of the chair before very causally stating "Oh yeah, just need you to sign for this letter and come to this meeting, it's just to discuss your benefit and stuff...." I obliged, casually glanced at the letter myself before leaving and taking a better look outside away from some of the inevitable dregs you get at the JCP. It's the Mandatory Work Activity that caught my attention, obviously I've heard of this scheme as I've watched the news and am a regular devotee to updating myself on politics wherever I can, but I didn't know a great deal of background too it so came home and researched and now, if I'm reading correctly, it's a scheme designed, on polling taken from all JCP employees, to target the groups within JSA claimants who, either, have such little work experience in their lives they need to fill a gap and generally beef up their CV to make them more attractive to potential employers or claimants who don't understand the "expectations and behaviours required to seek and obtain work" (which by my plain English translation is can't be arsed and not really interested anyway?). That seems to be the main two reasons why, and this, understandably, has left me quite confused, perplexed and I'll be frank, upset.
I have 12 years of "work experience" under my belt. I have three previous promotions to my name, I've never been sacked from a job, I've never been previously unemployed up until this point. I have always worked hard, I have a good references, several printed to show this. I have done voluntary work at a primary school and as well as my degree, I have experience and qualifications relevant to two other completely different industries, catering and retail. So, unless I'm dreaming, I'm fairly certain it's not an issue within my CV.
Which leads me to deduce it's option B. Which means, and by my research I see a Customer Compliance Officer (who will be conducting the interview although should "their" signature is from what I can tell, effectively, a scribbled 'M' which makes me wonder if this generated letter has been one of many signed yesterday) is essentially a 'fraud investigator'. Now I don't tend to panic when I see these things as I know I have done nothing wrong, I am only claiming JSA and I'm not working on the side so there's nothing wrong there. However I also see CCOs conduct interviews with claimants who "may not be fully expressing themselves in their drive and desire to find work." Now, as far as my signing-on sessions go, they've all gone quite so far. I usually see a regular lady and she's very pleasant, helpful and assists me where I can. She's never had any issue with my record sheets but I had one problem - Universal Job Match, I couldn't upload my CV, and according to her this was a common problem, and I was never told prior to a signing-on session with a different adviser that as well as logging in and searching for jobs, you can also list an activity history, which shows you've been active on the account. The most information I had about UVJM was a small sheet thrust into my hand when I first went to my workseekers interview and that was it, I've called up for technical assistance several times with regards to my CV and have recently corrected the problem, but I'd already done the self-build one on the website in the meantime although naturally I wanted my own uploaded as it has more information and is generally better.
That lady had no issue with this and the last time I saw her was three sessions ago and she just asked me if I could bring in a copy of my CV just so they could take a look at sign off on it as they couldn't access the copy on my UVJM, no problem, I brought it to my next date. However I was with a different woman this time, well two in fact, the other was a trainee who just sat there watching her, she was quite offhand with me, not rude by any means, just very dictatorial and clearly unconvinced about the problems I'd experienced with UVJM, I told her about the CV, she never even looked at, it just sat on the whole desk at the time whilst she stared at her computer screen. There was also a jobs fair with a local retail outfit in the JCP later that week as there were posters up about it but there was no time listed and unclear if it was an all-day event and obviously living some considerable distance I wanted to know what time was best for me to visit, the response I got was, "well, I don't know. Call closer to the time I suppose." It was 3 days away.:cool:
She didn't really criticize and just seemed generally in a bad mood to be honest, but she did launch into the UVJM thing and what I need to do with the activity history, she then showed me a new job that was added that day from a new company setting up in the local area and saved it to my jobs list for me to apply too, her last words to me were "make sure you apply for that job." I did, I've heard nothing back. To be honest it unsettled me and I wondered if there would be some sort of result of that particurlar session, now the date on the letter I received yesterday would be exactly a week after that signing-on and the letter is stamped not at the JCP address but at my local DWP in Plymouth which suggest the information has been passed on to there and the letter's come from there. 7 days to complete a 'referral' and then a few days to send the letter back in time for me to receive at my next signing-on? Sounds about right I think you'll agree?
So, basically, what I want to know is this.....what have I done wrong? Is it something I've done wrong because I can't possibly see what it is, I fill out my job-records honestly and truthfully, I've met my all requirements, the only outcome I haven't been successful in is actually finding a job but I haven't been on JSA for long, have never been on it before and am effected, as everyone is, by the lack of jobs currently in this country and my surrounding area? Or is this something JCPs routinely do, has my number come up so to speak and am I just adding further to their polling data? Or was this lady in a filthy mood and unfortunately I got the wrong time and the wrong place and have copped it for that? I'm not especially worried about the interview, I have nothing to hide and relish the opportunity to prove others wrong in these kind of circumstances to be honest, as smug as that may sound, it wasn't how it was intended.
If MWA is what I have to do, it's what I have to do, personally I think the scheme has all sorts of flaws and is not going to provide me with anything I don't already know and 30 hours a week work for £140 is scandalous but if I do it I won't be working for one of these tinpot recycling companies the government have sold out too as the highest bidder or however this latest mickey-mouse scheme works, I'll go back to the primary school my relative teaches at and I'll do it there, they shouldn't have an issue with that should they? I know the headteacher will contact them directly and reassure? It's a good, professional set-up with the chance of me to learn new skills and ideas I won't pick up in other work-places that I have held employment in the past, and given how the government regularly roger the public sector from behind with mean intent, I'm sure they'll welcome the unpaid work! The only reason I haven't done it recently is because I've been traveling around looking for work, not just down here.
My issue is the referral. Why have I been referred? Is this going to result in me becoming a statistic that the government and DWP dare to label me a 'scrounger' because if it is I'm going to take issue with it because, quite simply, I'm not, and I will not have anyone tell me I am without evidence and without really even knowing who I am. If it's just something I have to do because my number's come up or they think there's something that could help me, then fine, but if this is done under the duress of me failing to 'comply' when I have and fully I'll fight it on those grounds, take away my measly £140 a fortnight if you so wish, I'd rather not have it than be labelled a dosser and sent to a work-place where I may as well wear a t-shirt that says that, I've had some rubbish jobs in the past, some really bad employers as I state in the opening of my post, but I won't be humiliated for no official pay and contract, sorry, no chance.
So, I apologise for the length, I just wanted to make sure I fitted everything in! So can anyone help me in clearing up why they may think this has happened, or anyone who has been in the same or similar circumstances? Just a general idea of what I should be prepared for! Many thanks.
