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This site is an archive of the OneSpace Forums. Return to forum index.
From October 2013 the Government introduced the Claimant Commitment for people on Jobseeker's Allowance. The Claimant Commitment is replacing the Jobseeker's Agreement. To start it is for new claimants and those people returning from the Work Programme. The Commitment is meant to be a detailed statement of what you have agreed with your 'work coach' to prepare and move into work. It is meant to be a personal work plan which takes account of your circumstances and sets out agreed work seach activity and job preparation. The Commitment is also meant to clearly state the consequences of not complying (sanctions).
What are your experiences of the Claimant Commitment? Do you think that what you are asked to do under the Commitment is reasonable for your circumstances? Did you feel that it was negotiated? Have you been sanctioned under Claimant Commitment?
Do share your experiences. It will be useful for the Single Parent Action Network the charity that runs One Space to give feedback to the Government about this new scheme and how well or not it works for single parents.
Laura
Thanks for sharing your experience. 40 hours, that's ridiculous. Surely from a purely financial point of view, all that matters to them is that you are no longer a JSA claimant, not how many hours a week you work. As your child is still in fulltime education, while she remains there (well at least until her 19th birthday as long as this is non-advanced education) then you only need to work 16 hours a week to be eligible for Working Tax Credit. However, if she is planning to leave school this summer then you only have a few weeks of this situation before the WTC option runs out anyway and you would need to consider any wages you earned as your main income.
I see that you have already had some correspondence with Laura on this topic so I am sorry if some the things I say overlap what she has said.
On a practical note, the ideal situation would be to find a job where you could still do the school pick up (something like a sandwich shop or a cafe?) At 16 hours, spread over 5 days, this is only just over 3 hours a day...but this also depends on what your daughter will be doing next.
On another note, have you applied for DLA for your daughter? It sounds to me as if she would be eligible for the care component. Also, if your depression is preventing you being able to take up work in any form at the moment, please do see your GP and get a letter to this effect (as well as getting any medical and counselling treatment that can help the situation)
I am so sorry that you are having to cope with all this.
Hi
Have just finished the work programme and had my first proper job centre appointment (took nearly 10 weeks) a couple of days ago. I found the whole attitude harsh to say the least and was not happy with the claimant I found myself having to sign (or be sanctioned)
I have a 16 year old child with a few mental health issues and who i still have to meet from school. I was told in no uncertain terms, that now my daughter was 16 I could not put down that she had problems or have them taken in to consideration.
Nor would they put down my depression as I was told that makes me unavailable for work and i would have to claim JSA which it was unlikely I would be eligible for with depression (the inference being it was not an illness)
Far from it, I have to be
Available to start work immediately
Available to work any hours on any day for at least 40 hours a week (!)
I have to seek and apply all types of work plus any my adviser chooses
If I am not available as stated then my JSA & NI credits will be stopped. If I then make a new claim for JSA after such failure (and sanctions) I will not receive JSA for either 4 weeks or 13 weeks depending on whether they consider I will fulfill the claimant contract
It is harsh, and worrying. Most of the jobs I have applied for up until now have either been part time or to fit around school hours somehow - but at least 40 hours??
Am worried sick