Benefit Sanctions are unlawful, cruel, unjust punishments on the poor
Welcome to the Unlawful Sanctions website! This website is dedicated to exposing the unlawful, unfair, cruel and criminally unjust financial punishments on our societys poorest people. Whats more, criminals convicted of benefit fraud are sometimes "punished" by applying the same length sanctions to their current benefit claim (instead of jail) that Joe Bloggs, the typical genuine jobseeker is receiving for arriving late to sign on because the bus was late!
Added 04/2011:The Guardian, Unlawful Sanctions and PCS have received evidence about Jobcentre Plus offices setting targets and unfairly forcing sanctions on the disabled, those who speak English as a second language and by race. This violates the Equality Act 2010. Jobcentre Plus denied this before admitting to it. They have attempted to justify it as a “misunderstanding” and has ensured people that it has been resolved.
Why we care
The aims of Unlawful Sanctions
Unlawful Sanctions is a campaign against the unlawful benefit sanctions claimants receive.
We want to:
- Directly challenge the Government regarding these benefit sanctions
- Make sure benefit fraudsters are jailed or denied benefits instead of imposing pathetic benefit sanctions
- Abolish the unlawful benefit sanctions
So, you were made redundant, lost your job or left your job by other means or left university or other education but couldn’t secure a job … whatever your reason for being a jobseeker, regardless of the message the Government puts out about such people, Jobseekers Allowance is a very low benefit to scrape by while you look for employment. You can’t live on it comfortably in rip off Britain!
The Jobseekers Act 1995 which came into power in 1996 (making it 14 years old) outlawed the something-for-nothing benefit culture. Everytime a jobseeker signs on he or she must specify evidence showing that he or she has attempted to seek work. Jobseekers are obligated to register for any "training" to better their job prospects. Jobseekers are even forced to apply for selected jobs issued by an Employment Officer (EO) in the form of a Jobseekers Direction (JSD).
Jobseekers do not have the ability to free choice of labour – if submitted to a job they are expected to take it – regardless if they have a decent enough reason not to. Jobseekers are also required to attend specific dates as requested in writing to a depressing building called Jobcentre Plus. You can’t be a few minutes late but you could be waiting up to an hour to sign on without even an apology.
So lets get rid of any thought that jobseekers are people happy to live off the "dole" – its way below the poverty line and there are only a handful of people who are happy to remain on the dole. These have the common pattern of going through generations via the same families. This is a corruption in DWP and Jobcentre Plus as although the Jobseekers Act 1995 was designed to outlaw this and prevent people claiming who are not "Actively Seeking Employment" (ASE) for some reason these people rarely have any problems with their benefit claims.
Social Security: a right!
Some people may disagree but Social Security has long been an human right. This doesn’t mean a something-for-nothing culture or that people should be able to claim forever.
As far as Jobseekers Allowance goes, this human right has been layered with a conditional criteria to be able to claim. Again it is a human right, everyone has the ability to make an application for Jobseekers Allowance without restriction (whether its denied is another thing though). Even those caught fiddling the system and had been jailed for benefit fraud is freely able to reclaim after prison (how wrong is that?!)
The concern with the unlawful benefit sanctions is it is a loophole around the human right of social security. When you are sanctioned your claim for Social Security doesn’t end – you just don’t get paid. Your Jobseekers Allowance claim is still active and you are still requested to sign on. To most people like me and you can clearly see and understand that it is the point of benefit: to bring in money when you have none. The second aspect is, all offences resulting in a sanction are applied to your future claim thus again you are not denied Social Security (in the present anyway).
If Jobcentre Plus terminated your benefit claim and banned you from claiming for a set period – this would be against Human Rights (including Human Rights Act 1998 and the European ECHR).
It has not been tried that:
a) stopping a payment for a benefit is as good as terminating your benefit claim
b) preventing payment of a benefit for a set period is no different than banning someone from claiming for a set period
We want to take this argument to court – because it is a scam. If it was a business it would have been closed down but because its the public sector not private sector it seems to have been got away with. Its not the Government who loses, its you the taxpayer always!
A poor "jobseeker" isn’t a jobseeker
Just remember: if a person has no income its almost impossible for them to apply for jobs. This delay into finding employment cost the taxpayer much more than if they were claiming for a shorter period. The longer someone is unemployed the less likely they will secure sustainable employment.
Sanctions are unlawful under the Jobseekers Act 1995
Yes, it is true. The Jobseekers Act 1995 clearly states that Jobseekers Allowance (Contribution based or Income based) is paid in a benefit week. So common sense here: if a person commits a sanctionable offence in one week, how can he lose 2 (or more) weeks benefit? Whether or not the person loses out on that specific week or a future week of an ongoing claim is neither here or there – or so it could be argued.
Now
I have been given an unlawful sanction on my jobseekers claim.
I was on the final stages with my advisor before the mandatory work placement, and as part of my general jsa agreement the advisor has to “sub” two jobs every visit which I must apply for or I would not get my JSA.
I applied for every job put my way, and because the jobcentre don’t take into consideration my personal circumstances (for a joint claim)I have to explain them at every visit, which is tiresome and damned annoying.
I made a complaint against the jobcentre regarding a breach in confidentiality of data, which was quite serious, and still to this day it has not been sorted. But mysteriously as soon as I filed the complaint and had a meeting with a “manager” my claim had a sanction on it overnight.
The sanction was for a job which they claimed I had not applied for, and I returned the relevant forms to say I have followed jsa rules regs and i DID apply for the job, and I can prove this because the job in question had actaully been signed off on the PC by an advisor and signed by myself. I have actually confirmed this by phoning up, and the advisor told me on the phone that everything looked “normal”
My reply to the sanction has mysteriously been “lost” and I have approached my local MP with the problem too, as I have not broken any of my jsa agreements and I have done as I am told!
Why is the jobcentre so corrupt? they have broken the law with regards to my partners claim, and as part of their guidelines which I followed through the correct channels I am now being made a scapegoat for their own incompetance.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
91 
1
Jobcentre Plus is very corrupt – its part of the DWP. Some sort of Government Lab for (Human) Life Sciences.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
79 
3
i have been sanctioned without even being told after i was forced out of previous job. (job centre saying i left voluntarily) i have contacted my local mp and also created an epetition to get sanctions outlawed in parliment!
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
66 
4
HI, I have also been sncationed for not applying for a job my advisor gave me even tho I clearly told her I was not qualified for it and had no experience in that area. I have a child and don’t see how she must also go hungry. I am also trying to raise awareness of this horrible tactic and would be interested in your petition. Do you have a link? Thanks
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
56 
4
I had my jsa stopped for 2 weeks due to the obnocious advisor saying i had not filled in enough on my form of what i had done in the last fortnight to search for a job …no more or less filled in than on my previous job searches .i appealed and won and still they did not pay me for the fortnight they had stopped .It took 3 months from the appeal to eventually get my dues and it was only due to my determination not to let them get away with it. I also made a complaint against the rude advisor with no reply untill i took it futher ,then i got phone calls ( they were panicing because i took it to a higher level) Hence an appology and all the talk of repremanding the advisor and giving more training ect.wether that was the case or not i am glad i made the complaints and took it further ,why should we be treated like second class citizens because we are unemployed because of no fault of our own !!! All i can say is stick up for yourself because no one else will and dont let them get away with unreasonable behaviour .
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
51 
2
i had a sanction earlier this year and was given no money for two weeks which landed me in hospital with severe quincy due to my body not being able to fight of infections because i couldn’t afford to feed myself or heat my flat for over a week and a half (no heating in a flat with Sash Windows in Scotland is not a good thing at this time of year)..
And now am sanctioned again a day after my JSA was returned to full money (sanction was for a job i did not apply for but explained that my granddad had past away that week and that i had forgot to apply due to funeral planning etc) just now i have little food left (porridge and soup is all i have left)and 4 pound to last me for heating my flat(electric) for the two weeks and have spent the last 3 days in bed just to stay warm (still freezing)..
The job Center staff don’t seem to care all they care about is getting u in and out of there as soon as they can so they don’t get a back log of people waiting to sign or for interview.
isn’t life great
Just watch the crime rate soar
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
38 
2
I ‘m not allowed full housing benefit because I am on sick
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
CASE STUDY:
In early September 2011,
The Job Centre Plus Office in Bolton indicate that a Job match has been found on the system, the Job looked good, Bar Tender for Holiday Inn Hotels in Salford. The adviser and I looked at the Job Description and noticed a problem, finnish time was around after 1am. We discussed taxis as a means to return back to Bolton, but this would have resulted in having next to no wage left, so it was agreed for me not to pursue this Job, as it was not suitable after Personal Circumstances was taken in account and consideration. It would have left me stranded in Salford with no trains back to Bolton, and would have ment that I would have to travel to Piccadily Station in Manchester and wait for the 4:45am. The Job Notification was to be removed from profile, however, this did not happen and was left on the system awaiting response.
As I was looking into Royal Mail Christmas Jobs and other lines of enquiry, my attention was focussed on the immediate present at the time, and not on the 3 weeks prior. The system alerted the Job Centre Plus admin as it was a Sanctionable Offence.
I took immediate steps to appeal, and notified staff of the situation. The appeal form was handed in, but the return verdict was as follows:
WE HAVE LOOKED AT YOUR CLAIM AGAIN FOLLOWING A RECENT CHANGE.
WE CANNOT PAY YOU JOBSEEKERS ALLOWANCE FROM 18 NOVEMBER 2011.
THIS IS BECAUSE WE RECENTLY TOLD YOU THAT A DECISION WOULD BE MADE ABOUT A DOUBT
● on weather you failed to take advantage of a Job opportunity with Holiday Inn.
The letter goes on to say,
This decision applies from 18th November 2011 to 12th January 2012.
Further more, we cannot pay you Jobseekers Allowance From 13th January 2012.
There are, within the Job Centre Plus Administration Team, allocated people called Decision Makers. These decision makers, without taking into consideration of the Jobseekers Personal Circumstances, apply Sanctions.
These sanctionable offences are unlawful and breach the Jobseekers Act 1995.
I appeal and urge you to please reconsider this decision as it was not fault of mine and consider reviewing this case. Im a single person living on my own with no other income and have no one I can ask for help from.
I don’t have any personal transport as I don’t drive, or have ever took a Drivers Licence. I am experiencing anxiety attacks and suffering from depression.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
24 
3
BE WARNED DO NOT TAKE A JOB CENTRE APPLICATION FORM. Took a job centre application form for a job I knew i wasen’t qualified for. I felt under pressure from jobb centre staff to apply for work even if not qualified, as i was told my money would be stopped. I read the job description further and decided against applying for this job as it was for a retail manager and I have never even worked in a shop. I have now had six days money taken from me due to this plus a possible loss of benefits as the the letter says i am not entitled to jobseekers allowance from 28th dec 2011. does this govenment not realise if men cannot feed and clothe their familiys we will all turn to crime to eat.
mralansharp@googlemail.com
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
mmmmmm strange something very similar happened to me
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
I have also been sanctioned. I went to sign on and had completed my booklet to show I was looking for work. However, the book was on its last page leaving only 3 spaces to fill out. I completed the booklet and also had 4 print-outs from the JC machines. Only to be told by the advisor this was not sufficient and I had to complete a verbal job search. I did this, but again told me this was insufficient. This has now been passed onto a decision maker. I filled out a supporting sheet and added more searches I had completed.
I have since spoken with the advisors manager who told me (even without looking at any evidence) the advisor was correct and she trusts her judgement. She also told me the advisor had said my job searches were vague. I explained that I had copied the example on the booklet. She said they always explain to everyone who signs on that this is not how the booklet should be completed (as it is not very good). Instead company names, telephone numbers and who you spoke to must be included. This is a joke as now she is saying an official document is rubbish! She proceeded to put the phone down on me and that is the last I have heard.
I am very worried about my claim and have been told I cannot get a hardship provision just for the two weeks. I have nothing to live on and to these people it’s just a joke.
Having read other people’s experiences and loss of money for long period I feel for them. Can the government get away with this? I hope there is an increase in crime and everyone’s defence should be ‘I had nothing to live on’.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
72 
5
this excact same thing happend to me today, i do not know how i’m going to survive for the next 2 weeks without money and also how am i supposed to travel without money to look for jobs? i have already got in contact with my local mp because i seen 3 advisers over the course of today and all they said was that it goes to a decision maker which can take up2 15 days an no doubt i will have to appeal against which will probably be another 15 days, i signed to the working links work programme yesterday aswell where i expressed my views on how much i’m worth to a private company like themselves, its a little strange how i went to sign on today and they sanctioned my jsa over a little thing like my work book can some one help please?
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
33 
2
I know that from behind the scenes a new brainwashing training has been implemented within the lead thickened walls of JCP. Anybody signing over the last month must have noticed(unless they have already been assimilated) a more severe fascist approach to JCP customers, this is the thanks we get for all those years we have paid tax to give those Fuckers a job(yes this joke that all unemployed have never worked and have 15 kids and a fucking 9 bed mansion in London. There has been ‘probably’ a hand full of cases(overly paid actors) meeting that criteria- Inducing the most destitute to throw up in sympathy. These people were ‘setup’ and were encouraged for the pure entertainment of being made a mockery of and to (via proxy)throw everybody else in the same idiotic boat and beefed up by the media SUN and Mail and the other parasitical media merdochial cesspools of unhumankind, not that his crew alone should take all the credit. This is not Reality TV folks, that indeed my friends is on the street, in your family and relatives, listen up. Unfortunately when THEY (job centre plus advisor’s) become redundant in November 2012 due to fuhrer/further system automation development (i have seen the development plans for this first hand)they will have to endure the same shit as us, at least momentarily. Fortunately for them poor buggers they have already received the high voltage current deep within there bowels and have therefore been pre-anaesthetized to the prevailing storm. Sorry to be a bearer of bad news. Wish id taken the other pill now…
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
79 
6
This is absolutely spot on and very well written.
Increasingly often it seems to me that this ‘CamelLegg’ government wants to get everyone on the dole whereby they have total control – or think they will have – mistakenly. The attempted ethos seems to be control of most of the people all of the time, which in my opinion is the true definition of ‘national sovreignty’.
I am increasingly of the opinion that it would be cheaper, easier and fairer to run everything from Brussels whilst scaling down individual parliaments. We would most likely achieve a far higher standard of social provision for most people most of the time. However in the meantime i really hope the Legg goes up the arse of the Camel very soon ! When the big depression strikes early in the new year DWP and JCP will be demolished by the voclanos of chaos which will erupt in our land of dope and tory.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
31 
7
The jobcentre plus and DWP are criminals.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
29 
3
They are criminals indeed.
http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/2011/11/08/bedworth-suicide-pact-couple-found-lying-side-by-side-92746-29739580/
Like or Dislike:
3 
0
This Government needs to be got rid of. They are so corrupt. This Government will let people die before thay will pay benefits. The Tories will have blood on their hands this winter when many older individuals die because of the cold.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
40 
2
they have to be seen to be doing something to justify their fat cat pay.It makes me sick how they come up with all this crap new deal a4e now WORKPROGRAMME total crap.We have too many people and not enough jobs,every goverment over the last 25ys plus is to blame, we are now a pea pod in a very big world and cameron and his silver spoon men still spout great britain to all.We are great at looking after everyone else in the world but our own.With unemployment steadily rising workprogramme is going to become clogged up and a waste of billions of tax payers money AGAIN!
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
18 
0
WORKPROGRAMME and all the other such useless CRAP courses are run by PRIVATE Co’s and UNIVERSITIES….
These Co’s and uni’s make MILLIONS out of this rubbish! Its all ways for regeonal Fat-Cats to get fatter, helped by their cronies in Westminster.
They have NO INTEREST in the individuals FORCED to attend their RUBBISH COURSES!
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
I’ve just had a letter today telling me i’m getting no JSA from now on because i didn’t attend a “work program” run by the Jobcentre’s bully boys Working Links. This is a private company who are making profits off of the backs of the poorest people in society and it surely is disgraceful. I am constantly looking for work that is suitable for my circumstances. I write for tons of jobs, attend second interviews when i get to that stage of the interview process and generally am doing all i can. The Working Links situation is set up to where they bully people into applying for 5 jobs a week, all scuzzer bottom of the rung, demoralising jobs, if you don’t do it they again threaten you with benefits sanctions. The employees of WL get bonuses for every poor soul that is bullied into accepting their fate. I have worked almost continuosly since i left school, including 15 years in the civil service yet the reality of present day Britain is that i get treated no better, indeed worse, than someone who has never had a job in their life. The whole situation stinks and i’m truly disgusted with this country. When you have a job you get shafted with taxation then when you lose a job and have to claim benefits they load the claim up with all these shameful hoops that you have to jump through.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Absolutely!
Unfortunately, a United States of Europe is only the start–and, ISNT a Good Thing!
We are ALL sefs to the System, and for the most part, Blind to it!
The JCP and its masters, the corrupt and never-to-be-sufficiently-damned, DWP is a symptom of the degredation in society, an indicator of the breakdown orchestrated in Social Re-Engineering thats been going on for decades….
What changes to laws and rules/regs are going to be implemented and go unnoticed during this years DIVERSIONARY RUBBISH like the Olympics and Jubilee celebrations!!–Just more ‘Control Of The Masses.
Orwell was a greater Profet than he was an Author!
Just signed on,–Expecting Sanctions soon…….
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
who ever puttin thumps down u suck, people should not be treated like this
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
60 
9
THE ONLY REASON FOR ALL THIS CRAP IS THE GERMAN “NEW WORLD ORDER” IS TAKING OVER, AND YOU ALL KNOW “WHY AND HOW” THIS IS POSSIBLE AS “WE” HAVE PROVIDE ALL THE MONEY DO YOU KNOW ATOS MADE 8.5 BILLION QUID FROM THIS NOV – LAST NOV AND ON THERE HOMEPAGE THERE OFFERING SHARES TO THEIR SHAREHOLDERS “BASICLY SELLING “THEM” YOUR “STOLEN” MONEY, THE WORLD LEADERS ARE BEING TOPPLED “1 BY 1″ TO PUT THE “NATZIS IN PLACE PLUS 660 BILLION QUIDMDISAPEARED FROM UK ECONOMY FBI WAS “MEANT TO BE INVESTIGATING” NOW NOT ANOTHER MENTION OF IT? GOOGLE “THE BILDERBURG GROUP” “THE CARLYLE GROUP” “NEW WORLD ORDER” GOOGLE OR U TUBE IT AND SEE AND FEEL THE “REAL TRUTH”
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
19 
12
Just like to say my own experience since being made redundant has been a nightmare. Initially the first 6 months weren’t so bad but after that I began to dread going there. Every week threats were made to call a decision maker and so on but the worst thing that got up my nose was the form-filling. The staff weren’t actually helping me to find work so I was just filling in endless forms sent to employers who rarely even responded. Then I was blamed for not doing enough. Very negative and not constructive, supportive or helpful.
What I’d really like to know is whether anyone has so far actually used human rights legislation to take these people to task? By that I mean in a case where you have been actively seeking work but have been sanctioned on a technicality?
I have been threatened maybe 12 times with sanctions of 6 months but then I found casual work here and there and just stopped using the jobcentre altogether. Not all the staff were bad but it seemed as if pressure was coming from above to sanction people and meet targets.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
41 
1
HUMAN RIGHTS- Article 4- SLAVERY
(1)No one should be held in slavery or servitude.
(2)No one shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour.
(3)For the purpose of this article the term “forced or compulsory labour” shall not include;
(a)any work required to be done in ordinary course of detention imposed in accordance to the provisions of article 5 of this convention or during conditional release from detention
(b) any service of a military character or, in the case of conscientious objectors in countries where they are reconised, service exacted instead of compulsory military service
(c)any service exacted incase of an emergency or calamity threatening the life or well being of the community
(d)any work or service which forms part of normal civic obligations.
the person who keeps disliking these is probably a stuck up greedy snob who cant get enuff of money, if our country kept itself to itself an stop relying on other countries for food, clothes, electronics n cars wed be just fine, we was GREAT BRITAIN wen we manufactured all our own stuff, we not great britain anymore, just a poxy island called england
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
38 
1
our country kept itself to itself an stop relying on other countries for food, clothes, electronics n cars wed be just fine, we was GREAT BRITAIN wen we manufactured all our own stuff, we not great britain anymore, just a poxy island called england……..
Sugar, Tea, Cotton, Oil, Entertainment like Computers, music, films culture, Great Britain could not surrive without this soundly.
But on the jobbie and there ideas on sanctions is only gonna make the prisons full, where you can get a warm bed, food and plus rent free. crime will grow and prehaps grow in westminster were there all rich.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
11 
0
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike:
0 
6
You wanna try having to find somewhere to live before you become homeless in a few weeks, while trying to complete your part time college course and applying for job after job after job, and a company then claiming you did not apply for one of theie positions when you have applied and facing a sanction which means NO money for however many weeks the jobcentre decide you to go without. Benefits stopped means no chance of claiming dss to pay for a place you’re trying to get so you’re not on the streets. Trying to live off what the “goverment” say you need to live off when what the goverment SAY you need and what you ACTUALLY need are two completely different things. The same goverment that decided how much you need to live off have probably most LIKELY never lived off that amount in their life. To be someone who has worked since leaving school and when unemployed IN THE TIME OF RECESSION, who is doing MORE than what MOST people would do to find work to be treated like some no mark that don’t want to work even though you are most weeks applying for 3 or 4 times more than the 3 jobs a week you’re asked to apply for. To be refused financial help to live on so you can go on a course that gets you a qualification and guaranteed interviews at the end, to instead be sent on crappy courses that don’t help you like they’re supposed to, you’re not learning any new skills to entice employers to want to snap you up, and oh the course you wanted to go on to better yourself, the one that you were told NO, you could be working now as the sector you went for are not CRYING OUT for people in that field. Don’t have an opinion on something you know nothing about. Maybe you’ll be unemployed and be treated so badly that maybe you’ll actually understand what some of us have to put up with with these people. What are we supposed to do, put a gun to employers heads and DEMAND a job… yeah ok cos we REALLY want to get out of work and instead go to prison. GROW UP
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
and you been on the dole two weeks, give it time love then you’ll see for yourself
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
They do think this is a joke – my friend, they most certainly do. I hadn’t filled in that grey record and was told by the advisor that he wouldn’t “do anything on this occasion”. When I asked him what he meant, he just said “stop your money”. I told him I didn’t take kindly to being threatened in that way, I’m a single mum who’s spent many years paying taxes to my country, trying desperately to find a job to support a youth at uni, another at college and another still in primary school. I don’t think he expected me to stand up to him (I’m just a bit too long in the tooth to take that kind of treatment from some farty old government jobsworth. He stood his ground but was definitely back-pedalling, and told me he’d said it as a joke. Not funny I said, and have some respect. It’s hard to fight back when you’re feeling vulnerable, but if you can, do say something, just stay polite and they won’t have a leg to stand on in that respect.
By the way, as this was going on, there was a young pregnant woman at the next desk in tears – can you believe it? I’m going to complain on all our behalfs. Who the hell do these people think they are?!
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
6 
0
It was interesting to see a comment on this website stating that since may2011 the unemployed have lost their rights to hardship payments. I lost my right to jobseekers allowance a number of years ago and was able to claim the equivalent of 60% of benefit. That was for a twelve month period and it was difficult to survive. Basically one meal a day for twelve months as my basic bills remained the same. It was a great relief to me when the year was over. I remember every fortnight hardly able to walk to the post office to cash the giro and when I got home I soon had stomach pains if I treated myself to an extra meal. I can understand sanctions for people who deliberately mess about on courses for the unemployed but even they should be allowed some income for the basics we all need.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
53 
1
these couses are “really neuro liguistic programmers” brainwashing us thats why million of people are on the dole to the “must attend a brainwashing course do you kna the bbc has over a 100 thousand “trained” n l p brainwashers notice the hand signals washing all over bbc i dont even watch it anymore and i feel happier learn more on the subject you will be amazed the people are evil and our royal familys origins are german just like the people in power with “all the cash” wake up people
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
8 
2
Hi,
I had no option but to leave me apprentice i had off this Island due to not been able to afford a place to live when my ex partners parents had a falling out with me, i came back home in Late Febuary this year, i put a claim in and recieved 1 payment then i was sanctioned until july as the “Decision Makers” who ever these pr@cks are decided i had other options which i didnt. Early July i put forward another claim i am still waiting for the decision maker to make a decision…. I have been without any money since Febuary as i spent my last pay cheque on the costs to getting home.
Also before i got my apprenticeship i was on jobseekers i found the apprenticeship myself with no help from the jobcentre as lets face it there a bunch of useless monkeys who sit on there arse all day long clicking their mouse i had to go away for a couple of days to have my interview for my apprenticeship and informed the jobcentre of this as it conflicted with my signing day but i signed the next day, i was told i would still recieve my back to work pay im not too sure what it is but ive heard its about £100 to tied you over until you receive your first payment from your new job. I was denied this as i missed my signing day by 1 day which i rescheduled about a month before i had my interview and i was also told it wouldnt affect me.
Keep in mind ive recieved no source of income since Febuary at the end of this month that will be half a year since ive had any money. Thankfully Ive been staying with me parents who are housing and feeding me for free.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
30 
0
Looking forward to the next news headlines next week, hopfully the protest will make a difference, yet the way Cameron is at the moment – stubborn and thick, I think we might feel victory a fight more than a success, but chin up u lot!! Cameron is famous now – his answer to all problems – “cut off their benefit”, like I said – he’s thick. He is actually making things worse for himself the way he deals with politics so the fight will continue until Cameron gives up!!
K
(MUD)
—
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
32 
2
i agree the man is a fool, as he stated absent fathers are just as bad as a drink driver who kills a kid, well upsetting as ive got no choice being a absent father, and went to cort for over 3yrs to see my daulter and lost, and had to pay extra out of my benefits for solicitors as legal aid wouldn’t cover the full cost, and to the the other comments about hardship allowance, i got put on this twice to no fault of my own and not knowing the rules, once i had to answer bail at the police station, and informed the joke shop (job center) i could not make a appointment due to this, and had my bail sheet with me and went in person, as i thought this would help, and they didn’t care and said you need to make this appointment, and another time i asked for a thew A4 print outs of jobs, as these give more info on the job, i applied for four of the jobs and left one, because of travel and time it starts, before public transport started, so wasnt able to do it as i dont drive, then i was put on hardship allowance again, but if i was informed of this rule that you have to apply to the jobs the advisers print out on ther comp i would not of done it, and now ive just swapped over to this new Employment and support allowance and had problems all ready, but thats another story lol cammron is messing this country up, hope he goes soon or i mite lol prefer to live in holland and live on noodles lol
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
15 
1
First rule, whenever asked if you applied for a job, say yes! Never say no as you give them a reason to sanction you, many things could go wrong, Letter lost in the post etc, main thing is you say you applied for it.
As for the appointment you couldnt make, did you phone prior or wait until the appointment start? You had a valid point, if you didnt go to the police station you would have been arrested… Job centre is full of idiots..
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
20 
0
Agreed…..there’s obviously no place for honesty in the JC I wish I knew that earlier. mmmmmm…even if you do not understand the implications of a job match or even know you have been matched, for a job that you actually asked them for more information on, and when you later looked up the job description and essential requirements, you do not have the skill set!
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
16 
0
i would have been inclined to go to the police station and ask for the time to be changed when you had to attend for your bail that way you are avoiding the possibility of arrest besides even if the inevitable happened any good solicitor would put up a good defence on the basis that the jobcentre refused to change their appointment time even though you showed them the bail sheet
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
“cut off his b**lls then” we can all be barbaric
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
9 
0
yes i totally agree with you this might sound extreme to some but to me looks like like the next best thing to do. people have you all forgot that we hold the power we the people and if we just keep moaning nothing will ever change so i say we should all march down to government and not just protest for a day but for weeks months and years if we have to we hold the power so lets all get together and prove we aint gonna tolerate thiis tory bullshit if we dont do something now our future is gonna look very bleak. Nothing changes unless we make it change. basically we need a revolution or we will be counted as weak and poor and in todays society means loser and i aint havin that! who is with me? i promise i will make this happen with many peoples support please dont be scared to fight for your right. POWER TO THE PEOPLE….. i hope to hear from you all soon peace out.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
27 
0
nice i agree HOWEVER if we all riot they will declare we are all committing treason , THEN THEFULL WEIGHT OF THE LAW WILL BE INFORCED AND THAT WIEGHT INCLUDES “KILLING THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMMITTED TREASON” and its “totally lawful” but is it legal? so id forget that idea….
Like or Dislike:
1 
2
We need to get an e poll going about the way job seekers are treated and the unfair sanctions, all that is needed is 1000 votes on the e poll and it has to go to parliament, with the amount of people suffering on jobseekers there will be thousands, then they have to listen to us.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
10 
0
Things are much worse. The people at JCP are evil. They’ve just sanctioned my benefit for no particular reason, there’s no jobs except care or telesales, I’m disabled, and I’m I’m suicidal.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
19 
0
Never let them grind you down my freind.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
When I last signed on, I had a very demoralising experience (I know it’s meant to be, but this was worse than usual). Though I’d applied for 8 jobs, which were the same sort of jobs I always had applied for, and that my freshly updated jobseekers agreement state I was looking for, the signing clerk (without calling me to the desk) passed me over to an adviser on suspicion of not actively seeking work.
To provide context, I’m over 40, long-term unemployed, well qualified in IT but with a poor work history; my only recent work experience has been through new deal work placements (four of them, IT and admin related, totalling 2 of the last 12 years) and I have been gaining new qualifications through part-time study with the OU. This I think entitles me to apply for such low-level IT roles as ‘IT support technician’ and ‘database clerk’, I’m not being unrealistic and trying to get analyst/programmer roles even though I’m trained to do that.
For 40 minutes we argued as she nitpicked my list, but I could justify every one of those applications and escaped a sanction this time.
To give you some examples, one job required A levels or equivalent, so she said “Do you have A levels?” to which I replied “no but I have equal qualifications such as NVQ3″. “NVQ’s aren’t better than A levels”, she said with authority. I calmly explained about the national qualification framework and was amazed someone in her job was so ill-informed.
Another criticism was that I’d applied for too many of the same kind of job, there was no indication I was looking for “any work”. How stupid of me to think I have more chance of getting a job I can do than one I can’t. When I pointed out I had applied for basic admin jobs too, she flat out said I hadn’t, even though there was at least one on the form in front of her.
I’d also applied for what she said was “an old job” that was long since filled. I may even have applied for it before. It was implied that this was a fiddle on my part but it had come up in a directgov search for vacancies added in the last 5 days and I applied in good faith.
Another basic admin job was titled “Membership Manager.” “You’ll never get a manager’s job” she sneered, though as I explained through gritted teeth, the job involved managing membership records, and not the kind of manager she implied.
To be fair, I accepted her reasoning for questioning one vacancy, which was a 4 week temporary job. Other advisers had told me these were ideal to apply for because there’d be less competition and it would get me experience and an up-to-date reference. She took the opposite view, that the employer would expect someone who could do the job from day 1 and not have to be shown the ropes. In my defence, there was nothing in the job description I couldn’t do. “It’s implied” said the adviser, “it’s like a factory worker applying for a doctor’s job”. I’d had trouble finding enough to apply for, so I’d applied for something less than ideal as the best option available.
This will have a huge effect on what I apply for as I don’t want to be in that situation again. They seem to be enforcing a new way to screw us, an arbitrary judgment that if you’re applying for a job that in the current climate you’re unlikely to get, this counts as not actively seeking work. No matter if you have experience, or relevant qualifications, or if there’s nothing in the job description that precludes you from applying.
“IT jobs will go to a young person” was another barb. Age discrimination is illegal but I have to assume an employer discriminates and bar myself from applying? “So should I abandon the part-time computing degree I’ve almost finished?” “I’m not saying that” she replied but she was thinking it.
In the days that followed, it has preyed on my mind a lot. Between that and the work programme, which I’ve been on for 3 weeks, I’ve never felt so low in years, so worried about the immediate future. I’ll go into the jobcentre not knowing if I’ll leave with money for the week.
Now when I apply for something, I’m paranoid about whether the jobcentre will approve. I’m rejecting myself, not risking anything that could be considered “a good job”. The employer never gets my application when before I always took the approach that an email is free so why not have a go?
One of my job goals has been changed by the adviser from “government clerical” to “general factory labourer”. I wish I’d protested but I was shellshocked. I’d have signed anything to get out of there. I accept I should apply for unskilled work as well as the jobs I’d prefer, but when I searched for labourer vacancies the other day they all want experience and/or a CSCS card. Of course I don’t have the first idea what that is. There’s no way I’ll ever get a labourer job but it’s on my agreement now.
To try to get a straight answer, and avoid seeing an adviser again I ended the meeting with “just so we’re clear, I can continue to apply for the same jobs I always have as long as I also apply for one unskilled job each week to show I’m looking for any work” and she said yes. I’m not sure I can trust that as it’s unprovable in future. Stuff I’ve read on this site makes me think my changed agreement is a trap and I need to get it changed somehow (but I won’t see an adviser at an interview while on the work programme?)
Since signing on, I’ve attended an “advert analysis” module on the work programme. They tell me I should apply for a job if I match 60% or more of the essential requirements. My experience has taught me that you can match 100% and still be told you shouldn’t have applied. They’re happy with me applying for the jobs that the jobcentre tell me I can’t. I can’t please them both.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
50 
0
http://www.workprogramme.org.uk/201108091633/refuse-work-programme-when-you-have-participated.html
Firstly check out this site, as the work programme and the way you were referred onto it were illegal, you can choose to refuse the work programme (Which I’m doing as its run by the same people who ran the last 3 useless courses I did, altho its your choice and may have consequences).
Secondly, you could have asked to deal with someone else, I know you probably wanted to get out of the job centre as fast as possible, I know how daunting an experience signing on is, but you can waste their time, and asking to deal with someone else is a perfectly reasonable request which wastes their time and holds no consequences to you.
As for the fact you had one of your job goals changed, next time you sign on, ask them to change it back, just say “Instead of general factory labourer, can you change the goal to government clerical” and they should do so with no problem.
Next time you go in, if you have to deal with her again, simple state you dont like her attitude or whatever you want, and ask to have someone else sign you on.
As for your job choices, nit picking on anything, she just seemed like a rhyming word for Titch but with a B haha, the “NVQ’s arent better than A levels” and “you’ll never get a managers job” are demeaning things to say and you could complain about it, I got a similar person in trouble for telling me I was just leeching taxpayers money because I didnt apply for a job that took 4 buses to get to. She sounds like a nightmare.
Also with the Temp job, she had no reason to dispute, a job is a job, no matter how short its span, and also Temp jobs sometimes lead to pernament jobs, could she foretell the future and see you wouldn’t get a pernament job out of it? No.
Complaining about the work you’re looking for, it’s making me laugh at her idiocy, in my book, 70% of it is filled out with Bar Staff repeated a number of times. Then when I run out of jobs, instead of leaving it blank, I just list random shops near me and say I handed my CV into them.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
22 
0
I am a qualified, experienced social and health care professional. However due to changes in the way local authorities work with agencies, it is near impossible to get work through agencies. However, I apply for permanent and temporary jobs. I have had interviews and offers but financing is the main issue (budgets withdrawn) or internal candidates. But nonetheless I persevere. However, after a recent job offer fell through, I am now on the work programme. I discussed in detail my experience, job search etc..and it is is clear I am actively looking for work and doing everything I can, however the work programme advisor (who admits he is only there filling in time until he finds something better) is already pushing me to apply for other jobs (which I had been already) and mocked me for applying for jobs that are actually set at my salary level. Worse was to come, I then had surgery and a sick note for 2 weeks to be reviewed. I made sure the job centre were informed and had all the information they needed (no problem) except the work programme advisor then phoned me at home on the pretense of asking me how I was before launching into a lecture on what jobs I must apply for, how many jobs I must apply for and generally being argumentative with me. In the end I terminated the call saying he had no right to harass me at home especially while i was off sick (actually I was bedbound the first week and the second week was about 50% better but not great. During this period I am entitled to ESA. I am upset (and his actions were deliberate)that someone could target someone when they know that person has a valid reason for not being fit for work. I asked him to remove my contact email and mobile number from the database saying that I cannot afford to continue paying for internet and mobile phone use (which is true). His only reply was he has made note of my comments (namely that I think they are financially motivated) which were made at an exasperated point in the conversation (I was in pain and he knew this too). I have asked he confirm he has removed my contact details and to date he has not so I will have to raise this at our next appointment. My job centre sometimes get things wrong but they have been sympathetic when they heard all this. My last comment to this advisor was to please stop harassing me as i still think he had no right to contact me in the way he did. I still believe although the advisors are salaried, they are sales driven. They don’t care what job you do, how you would pay the bills and manage so long as they have reached ‘targets’ and futhermore, whether they are instrumental in finding you a job or not, they will try to take ‘credit’ for it. I have also the experience in just a few weeks of them looking for any information for example on my CV that will be of ‘benefit’ to them for example contacting former employers and agencies not on my behalf but so they can use them in ‘general’. I have had suspicious anonymous telephone calls and the ‘voice’ has sounded remarkably the same as one of the advisors who has a very distinctive ‘hmmm’ every other word. When I contacted the agency he pretended to be from phishing for information, surprize noone at the agency had phoned me. I really do not like the tactics these advisors are using. I don’t want to dumb down all advisors but my experience so far has been ‘negative’. One of my advisors admits he was unemployed (nothing wrong with that) and was sanctioned for a year (although why remains a mystery). At the end of the day although the rehabilitation of offenders act is in place, what do i know about these advisors. They could have criminal charges for armed robbery for all i know. Further, some of them maybe ‘bright’ but they are not reasonable. So although I do all the ‘right’ things, I fear they may be looking to ‘trip’ me up to sanction me but you cal rest assured,I am strong and will always stand up for my rights and the rights of others.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
18 
0
I am on ESA I have active R/A in my hands wrists ect. Cant believe i was made to apply for a sales assistant job , which i knew i couldn’t do. Even went to interview, was so soul destroying . The working link advisers dont give a damn about me. they just want me back to work, ive only been going there for a few weeks for goodness sake.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
10 
0
good on ya mate – there are tons of us getting the same treatment – don’t let the bastards grind you dwon!
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
12 
0
Sounds very similar to my experience of the job centre. All I can say is I feel for you.
Some, a very few are almost bordering on O.K. these ones don’t tend to last in this job.
The long term employees are generally either sadistic or grow to be so. Admittedly they do probably have to take abuse from people on a regular basis, I would not like their job. But they know the rules quite well and do like to lead you into situations to try and pressure you into compliance. They also are often ambiguous about what is mandatory and what is optional. This is to get you to do things that are not mandatory by tricking you into thinking possibly that they are.
I am sure no matter who Governs our country it will not change the civil servants. It won’t get any better under the Tories or in this recession. Fear not the Chinese will be taking over in about ten years time and you will look back on these times with fondness.;-)
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
iam going though same thing from tng group they messed a date couple months back and wat if you ring them up saying ur going to be late i but can catche next train in town and they makening oout its my fault but was due to weather yet they expext me to walk a very busyduelcarrage way with trucks and cars flying pass maken it dangers to walk on road and they thinks i gets paid on wednesday saying i spent in on day when i gets paid on the friday yet they knows this all ready plus can they give out 4 week sanctions then nother 6 month sanctions and miss out on the 2 day to one week up to 6 six weeks sanctions then one month up to six months yet they missed out on the frist 2 week sanctions to so iam taken t,n,g to a tribunral with me solicetors in vold and theyve made the sanctions all to gethere 7 months with out a break so you can pay no bills thanks to t,n,g ian in dept owwnning over £500 pounds rent and food and stuff they should give people brithing spaces to pay bill.s extra other wise they be homeless nother human rightes should be in cluded force t,n,g pay ur depts of if found guilty
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
10 
0
how can any one live from one month to 6 month sanctions should be british rightes to live if not broken no lawers and if you needs buy food and rent and pay bills if them people found in wrong they should be madfe to pay you depts of cause they caused it to happen and messed it up if found guilty
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
7 
3
Eh?…
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
8 
1
SUICIDE- The Work Programme- For what else can it inspire? can reveal details of the six point suicide plan issued to Jobcentre Plus staff.
6 point suicide plan (Declarations of Suicide & Self Harm)
1. Take the statement to self harm or suicide seriously
Listen carefully and clarify. Check your understanding of what was said.
Suspend all other activities you are carrying out.
2. Summon a colleague
Workplace procedures must be in place and you must know how to summon support from a colleague who will act as your ‘support partner’.
This is most likely to be your line manager
Your support partner is there for two reasons – to assist you as you help the customer, and to act as a witness to what was said. They will need to be able to hear, or listen into the conversation, as best they can and record key points as it progresses.
3. Gather information
You need to make some assessment on the degree of risk, by working through the following steps.
You should remain calm, as this will help the customer gain perspective on their situation.
Clarify and confirm that the customer has said they intend to self-harm or commit suicide.
Determine if they tried to harm themselves before and if they received treatment or are currently receiving treatment
Let the customer talk about their plans to self harm or commit suicide.
Find out specifically what is planned, when it is planned for, and whether the customer has the means to hand?
Find out if action has already been taken, e.g. have tablets or something else been taken? If so, find out What? and When?
Keep the customer talking and record key information, including their location and any plans they have for going elsewhere to harm themselves. This will be important should you need to inform other services.
4. Provide referral advice
Encourage the customer to speak to someone who can help them
Have relevant telephone numbers to hand
Ask the customer about their GP, or health care team – find out about their location and contact arrangements.
If the situation is non-urgent (i.e., general distress but no immediate plans or means-to-hand) help the customer to contact their support team or encourage them to contact their GP immediately.
5. Summon Emergency help
If the customer is distressed and is in immediate danger summon emergency help.
You do not need their consent to do so, but it is important to advise the customer about what is happening and why
Inform your line manager, who should arrange contact with the emergency services
Let the emergency services know the location and any other relevant details you have uncovered.
6. Review
Whilst this experience can be upsetting you need to look after yourself and be reassured that you have done what you can to help the customer. After the incident you may have thoughts and feelings about the situation. This is all part of the process of coping with the experience and is normal.
Seek support from your colleagues and line manager
Your line manager must review the incident with you. This is your opportunity to reflect on the event and ask to agree on any further support for you. As part of this process, you should also review your written records with your line manager and check that office procedures were operational and useful. Pass a copy of your notes to your line manager.
Line managers must retain the notes and issue a copy to the manager in your particular office who is responsible for developing and reviewing local plans.
Managers should ensure that any member of staff who has managed an incident are provided with further opportunities to discuss the impact and how they are feeling.
An independent, confidential counselling service is also available under the Employee Assistance Programme, if necessary.
Managing Customers Suicide and Self Harm Declarations
Introduction
This framework introduces a new policy for all DWP businesses, to help them manage suicide and self harm declarations from customers.
Managers, in all DWP businesses who work with customers, are required to develop suitable arrangements to suit their own working environments, to help staff deal effectively and safely with customer declarations of suicide and self harm.
The framework summarises the plans and procedures that must be in place, as well as current best practice, advice and guidelines.
The framework will be subject to regular review to ensure it continues to meet its objectives, as outlined above, and for continuous improvement purposes. Management information will be collected from business managers periodically, at a national level, to facilitate the review process.#
Background
From time to time it is possible that a member of staff will hear a customer make a statement of intent to harm or kill themselves.
Declarations of this nature can cause distress for those concerned, but there are some important points a member of staff should know that can help resolution. Both the distress and the chance of an outcome where everyone is safe are best managed by being prepared and knowing in advance how to respond.
It is important to be clear that if a customer states they will harm themselves they may well do so and our procedures and actions have to be organised around that assumption.
For the member of staff concerned, the key to responding effectively is to plan ahead so they know what to do before someone says they intend to harm themselves. Systems, procedures, and responses need to be in place, ready to apply to ensure an appropriate response.
There are two things to be considered:
1. What the response should be, and
2. The capability of the individual officers to respond appropriately
Planning & Preparing Yourself and Your Staff
Managers must consider the attached six point plan and decide what arrangements will be appropriate in your office. This includes appropriate responses for all face to face contact staff, telephony teams, any out-of-office services, and for visiting staff. Some elements may not be appropriate but the important factor is ensuring arrangements are in place that suit the individual officer’s working environment.
Local procedures must be developed in consultation with your local trade union side.
DWP staff are not counsellors. The aim is, by having suitable arrangements in place, to help staff deal effectively and safely in these situations to achieve a safe outcome for themselves and the customer.
Arrangements must also be put in place for a debriefing after the event to provide the necessary support for the member of staff concerned.
Actions & Responsibilities for Managers
Local managers must determine:
The procedures to have in place to make the six point plan work. (See Local Procedures Below)
The sources of advice to draw upon for help
How the plan is to be kept up to date, operational and communicated to staff
Local Procedures
Local Procedures need to cover:
Staff training (initial and refresher) covering action to take at the time of the incident (bearing in mind that intentions can be stated in writing, or verbally), the local procedures that are in place and roles and responsibilities. The training will vary according to the roles and responsibilities agreed. DWP is not a counselling organisation, but recognises that customers have varied needs and will seek appropriate support for them.
A signalling system within the office: so the member of staff concerned can summon support (the support partner) and trigger local procedures whilst maintaining contact with the customer. This principle must be extended to consider what action would be suitable in the event the member of staff and customer are off-site (for example, in the customer’s home).
The arrangements to ensure the member of staff dealing with the customer has no further interruptions.
The arrangements to ensure the support partner is active in supporting the member of staff. They will assist in assessing the nature of the risk present and organising the relevant action according to local procedures. They will also tactfully and unobtrusively monitor the contact for the well-being of both the member of staff and the customer. This frees the member of staff to gather relevant information and give the customer their undivided attention. The support partner will most likely be the line manager as they will be in the best position to assist.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
14 
0
So nice to think that they are so caring of their staff, getting them all geared-up for this eventuality! At least it shows they do know the true potentially devastating impact of the fascist way they’re treating people. From many of the accounts by the unemployed on here, its clear that the aim is to minimize the number of claimants by intimidatory treatment, and to blame those that have the ‘cheek’ to try to keep claiming their entitlement for their own jobless/poverty stricken predicament. It’s a useful smokescreen for the real culprits of this mess, namely inept government/capitalism and greedy bankers. It’s obvious to any fool that there’s simply a dearth of jobs to apply for, particularly anything actually worth doing, when so much worthwhile work does indeed need doing, for example council house building.
Well done to all who are keeping their heads up and still managing to sign on. Remember it’s not our (the poor, the sick the disabled, the unemployed’s) fault however much this wretched system tries to tell us and everyone else otherwise.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
HOW LONG CAN THEY SANCTION MY BENFIT 4
Like or Dislike:
4 
1
from 6 wks to 36 months, t***s arnt they ?.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
13 
1
THE NEW ENEMY of the WORKING CLASS who will soon be working for free on workprogrammes like you following there future redundancy’s. Oh yes MR Cameron we are so thick we dont realise unlemployemnt is raising despite you statistical employment figures scam- Free labour means we are employed?…I Think even your average SUN reader will work this one out. NEWC-em…
DO NOT BLINDLY SIGN UP as YOU are contributing to all the PAID jobs being taken from your local area. AND ‘YOU’ ARE BREAKING THE MINIMUM WAGE LAW Remember that. YOU MAYBE TAKEN TO COURT FOR SUCH A BREACH WHEN THIS HOUSE OF CARDS FALLS DOWN. Tf a jobs needs doing, it HAS TO BE to be PAID at least minimum wage. The government KNOW they are breaking the law and pulling of a trick here. The ONLY reason they tried to ban minimum wage – NO coincidence there.
ASK YOURSELF WHY? Why would a company involved in getting your work for free,simply turn around and hire you? They are a company interested in reducing costs, no emotion, no empathy, just a yearly tax return. And when they are under no obligation to,where does this 32 million go? Angela kerins the head of JOBFIT has recieved 32 million for jobfit and it is part of the TGB UK network,
Will David Cameron’s wife Samantha use this free labour in her own company giant ‘Smythson’ after all those redundancy’s?
What is the difference with JOBFIT Rehab? than all the old providers? On there website they boast “JobFit is a dynamic and fresh new partnership, combining expertise, enthusiasm and a broad range of skills that will ensure success) I will tell you the ONLY differnce with JOBFIT is that they are backed by Fine Gael,they are the same type of quango,it has the exact same structure as our last ”jobs agency”,FREE LABOUR,NO JOB PROTECTION,REPLACES WHAT COULD BE TAX RETURNABLE JOBS WITH FREE LABOUR,STEALS JOBS FROM THE COMMUNITY,SUBSIDISES THE RICH MULTINATIONAL AT THE EXPENSE OF GOVERNMENT REVENUE,ONE HAS TO ASK,ARE OUR POLITICAL BRIGHT SPARKS NOT SO BRIGHT?After all they are giving money to a semi state agency whose only concern and function is it’s own parasitic self survival at the expense of any community they happen to enter.They get a large chunk of government funds every year,without the tough questions.http://indymedia.ie/article/90107
Job fit is basically a similiar scam,the central idea is that they provide free labour,to whatever business might be interested in their services,and approach them.They got funded 32 million by our government this year for 12,000 welfare recipients.http://jobfit.ie/ ,and are the companies getting your free labour going to pay you and pay government revenue,well their not obliged to!!!!Companies are getting enough tax breaks,why have a ”service for the unemployed” that subsidises them?????
Why do our government persist on consigning people on the poverty line into further poverty and on letting agenices like this drain public funds and deliver very little in return other than pad their own c.v and of course wallet…I hear as you get richer your desire for more money becomes even more ravenous..
How can our government provide jobs for the community when they are letting agencies like JOBFIT steal what could have been a full time paid job for our nation which makes up millions,isn’t it time we invested in the real people who can pay prsi in their droves as opposed to hiring yet another vampire semi state agency..
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
29 
1
i have been told on jan 11th i have to go on a work prog, i told my so called advisor i may have a problem here because i dont intend to be sent to so called work exp for jobseeker rate, she tried to belittle my argument by pointing out i also get housing benefit and school meals and school uniform vouchers for my child, i am not good at arguing my point so i just kept quiet, i failed to mention to her i would be willing to do community work but i just dont want to give some employer the satisfaction of using me for cheap labour tomorrow they have me going to a options and choices event i am dreading it and dont want to go but felt like i had no choice but to agree to go, it really bugs me the fact that i am a lone parent with 1 child being hounded by them,yet at my sons school i see for instance 1 mum has 8 kids and she gets left alone, prob does not need to claim jsa cause she gets 8 lots of child tax allowance
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
9 
2
And people wonder why the birth rate is going up
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Is it any wonder why the birth rate is rising. Makes me angry the way lone parents are targeted, but married partenered women are left alone to be stay at home mums. I haven’t got a maternal bone or any desire to have anymore kids, but the worry everyday about signing on and being dictated to (there’s too much of that now) “You’ve got to do this or you must do that!” and it is making the idea of having another baby and going on income support more and more apealing everyday ! am I the only lone parent who feels like this if people are completly honest I very much doubt it. Sorry but someone has to be brave and honest enough to say these things, and you are hounded simply because you are an easy target. x
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
EXPLAIN THIS! In 2006,£3.9bn was spent on income support for lone parents.
HAT TRICK:
3 billion per year spent on workprogrammes, with average individual contract values estimated to be approximately £10 – 50 million per year.
=6 billion total.
How many new real sustainable jobs have been created? Assume its 10 percent which is of course is an unreal exaggeration. work it out. Im all for getting this country back to work but whilst governments continue to blatantly lie, fiddle unemployment statistics by FORCING people on workprogrammes(if help is sincere, as we all appreciate HELP why do they need to FORCE people on these programmes? work it out.
We need to talk about reality to move forward in this world, with intelligence. So far Britain is becoming more destitute and more violent. If this is the way forward please continue sticking your head in the dirt. If we indeed revert back to an old gang nation(which we appear to be doing so) It ain’t just the poor who will be bleeding.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
24 
2
I have had five appointments on the work programme and as we all know it’s just like the flexible new deal scheme. At my most recent appointment I was given the old statement that all the providers tell you “Most jobs are not advertised”. This statement is to encourage us to cold call employers in the hope of finding a job. I have gone along with it in the past and phoned employers but I have never really believed the statement. If an employer has plenty of work then he will advertise the job in most cases as he will be making money on the back of each employee he hires. The thought that an employer will turn down work just because he doesn’t want to phone the jobcentre or put an advert in the paper is crazy. Imagine if an employer employs someone for £200 a week and makes a good £100 a week from that employee. If they had work for another five employees would he just not bother looking for workers to make himself another £25k a year. I guess most of the jobs that are not advertised are probably ones that are cash in hand and the employer would never consider employing someone and pay national insurance and holiday pay entitlements so in effect they are not jobs that are really available to law abiding citizens as we are.
Of course some jobs might be available but stating that the vast majority of jobs are not advertised is absurd.
Can you imagine a businessman going into dragons den and asking for an investment. When he states that he has plenty of contracts and could employ many more workers the dragon would ask him “what is he doing to find employees?” He responds,”Nothing, if someone phones me and says they want a job I will give them a chance.” Somehow I don’t see an investor showing much interest in an idiot like that.
As we all know people in business want to make as much money as possible and no way would they not advertise jobs if they can make thousands from each employees efforts every year.
Next week I have to turn up at the work programme with my questions ready to contact employers. It seems I will have to research a few companies and then contact them to see if they have any vacancies and from now on I will be changing my cv and customising it to fit in with the employers requirements.
Two years of this but I guess once every ten days or so might give me time to recover.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
15 
1
they needs to re think how sanctions ment to be fore other wise i can see sum one committing suicides over theses sanctions cause theres hell getting them in dept I ASK YOU yous going to pay there depts of when tng groups jsa stick them on sanctions they going to bail them out of dept i guess they cant get way with it sum ones going to kill them selfs over it
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
10 
0
LOL as from 31 August everyone on JSA or ESA will be refered or still be registered under “employment focusing organisations” such as “REMPLOY”. Joy. not
So if you are injured, mental, cant spell or is just ill, tough shit, the government have now got power to squeeeze tax from anyone so long as youre alive according to Cameron youll work! lol
he’l start on my pet rabbit cat and dog next if he could.
Protest went no where
What next ?
K
—
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
14 
0
I’m 52, a merchant seaman and have worked all my life with just a couple of small gaps of unemployment.
I went sick last October with what I believed was a minor ailment initially misdiagnosed by my GP and hospital consultant. In my health authority it takes 6 – weeks to get to see a hospital consultant, another 6 – 8 weeks to get a scan, 6 – 8 weeks to get the results, another 6 – 8 weeks wait for a different scan, 6 – 8 weeks for the reults – get the picture?
So all in all it’s been a year and they’ve now decided what’s wrong with me and what they’re going to do about it.
After 13 weeks of being on the sick I had my work assessment medical and they decided to put me in the work support group. Now I’m on the workfare programme. Today I got a letter saying if I didn’t have a job by April they’d stop my benefits.
What’s wrong with me? I need a new heart valve and a couple of meters of new artery. They also want to repair some damaged disks in the lower lumber region.
So there it is. I need open heart surgery and spinal surgery and they’re telling me to get a job or I lose my money.
Couldn’t make it up!!!
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
44 
0
so sorry going through something similar and feel like never waking up again :~(
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
17 
0
Keep your chin up and don’t let them get you down. Check out the Occupy movement near you, its really inspiring. Together we are stronger!
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
11 
0
legalised theft is how the government the tax man and the dwp ARE best descibed, the trouble is the more anyone complains , the more they have got it in for you , they are on a personal crusade to destroy and crush anyone who dares to challenge their ruthless decision making , it has taken me 6 months to claim housing benefit ,fighting their dirty tricks , after a lengthy battle via a solicitor an MP and the ombidsman ,i now receive the correct amount, i now find myself being sanctioned only a month later due to a trumped up charge of why my last employment terminated, the effect is that i will lose my housing and council tax benefits that i have fought for for the last 6 months? I can now see why people turn bad and to crime, but we are not the real criminals here.
And what happens when you cant pay your bills because of these scum?
Thats right you get the threatening letters which equate to”pay us or we will take all your belongings or send you to prison”
So well done to the coalition , you are just crucifying the workforce of britain, and creating more crime and unemployment than ever before.
cutbacks? no no no GREED!
to put it crudely “they all piss in the same pot” and you cant win, they allways find a way to get at you.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
30 
2
A man of my own words. Im seriously considering why be put through all this hell and insane bureaucracy and finger pointing to mearly survive, ‘barely’ on 60 quid a week. You are in-prisoned both sides of the fence these days. So why not take the better new deal ‘BND’ prison/crime, less paperwork, more support, ability to do a worthwhile training course full time(more than 16 hours on this side of the fence) No stress paying rent to some cunt of a lanlord and getting thrown on the streets and becoming homeless ALL due to a sanction from some fucking drone in JCP – you are now destitute. Prison is surely a better way forward for britains in poverty. And yes the gove tell you ,the masses, they must cut spending. When crime is on the rise, prisons bursting at the seams- It costs more than 1000 pounds a week to bang someone up, wait? money we simply dont have? wheres that comming from? the gov are not stupid – so think about what this is really about?? – Money is not the issue, it is simply an execution tool for control. End of.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
43 
1
When will someone mount a legal challenge against this total farse THE WORK PROGRAMME has some interesting stuff on you tube regarding the providers playing very sneeky games getting people to sign a data sharing consent form “its optional” dont get tricked into signing.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
9 
1
European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) Article 4 Servitude prohibts Forced Labour (4.2). Basically means we cant be forced to work for dole under that law.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
16 
1
I have just recieved a “doubt has arisen” letter from the DWP. It came as a complete surprise as I thought I had jumped through all their hoops. I have been on the grubby work programme for just over 2 months now. The letter states that I failed to attend the first appointment with the work programme some 2 months ago. It is true I didn’t attend but I contacted them that morning to tell them I couldn’t attend. I am a widower with a ten year old child and my child had been sick all weekend. The appointment was for the monday morning and, as my child was still sick, i decided to keep him off school for the day. I contacted the work programme and informed them that I couldn’t attend because of parental duties. They told me all was fine and they would arrange a second interview. A few days later a letter came with the date of the interview which I attended.
Everything seemed ok. Nothing was said about my “failure to attend”. I have been attending the wp for the past two months. They have smiled their greasy smiles at me and I have sat through their patronising speeches and bullshit “job searches. I never gave the initial meeting cancellation a second thought. The letter was a bolt out of the blue and now I am facing the possibility of my benefit being sanctioned two days before Xmas. Imagine, the heartless bastards are considering sanctioning the benefits of a widower with a child two days before xmas. I wonder have they ever read Dickens?
I have contacted the DWP and given my side of the story. The guy on the phone seemed fairly sympathetic and took a page of notes to pass on (of course it is never the person who makes the decision who talks to you. Bloody cowards) I have to call tomorrow to find out if they are going to take xmas off my child or not. Of course I will appeal if the decision goes against me and I will make a claim for hardship payment. For now I have a stressful night worrying. I am due to go to the wp tomorrow but I am seriously worried about my temper and whether I will be able to resist losing it on the two faced smiling bastards who speak nicely to me and then run to the DWP behind my back in order to starve my family over xmas.
I know this, I may be poor and I may be struggling alone to raise a child with all this grief heaped on us but I am glad I am not them. I am glad I am not the kind of cold hearted bastard who can sign off on a letter to the DWP intended to deny the measly survival benefits of a widower and his child.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
25 
0
What a disgusting way to treat a widower and his innocent child! Have you and your son already not been through enough upset!! These people are inhumane they must be. and as we are alwys being told “we’re all in this together, I firmly believes though that goes around comes around. I hope you got everything sorted out with your money, and that you and your son had a lovley christmas you both certainly deserve it. Your story should have been on the front page of your local paper to show how people are being treated in the 21st century. x
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
kind of says it all to me,these self serving pigs in goverment arent trying to bring in work to this country but get us all packing boxes in huge ware houses for £2 an hour and they think the unemployed should be happy with this.The WORKPROGRAMME is a complete joke!! forcing people onto a programme with ill fit advisers ,no real training is totally nuts,we have a skills shortage in IT they have been spouting to us all for nearly 10yrs we still have but bugger all training associated with it,i wonder why.Still we have THE WORKPROGRAMME that should gey us all into well paid jobs once they have shown us all how to write cvs AGAIN!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
spot on mate withdraw youre labour and watch the cards fold…….refuse the medicine
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Well–I just wrote a full description of my last encounter with JCP and how to avoid all the nastyness/time-wasting.
Wouldnt let me post it–Why Not??
Like or Dislike:
0 
0