mandatory work activity

Thanks I will do that. I hate to think how many more vulnerable people have said nothing about this and allowed themselves to be intimidated. It is so shocking that they try and cheat people like this.

I was told that crisis loans don't exist anymore...?

The payment of Housing benefit is NOT related to whether you are working/seeking work/complying with the Work Programme etc but on income HOWEVER it sounds as if there have been people who have found it stopped because a general "stop" was (wrongly) placed on their total benefit package and they only got the HB as a backdated payment. So do speak with your housing benefit provider just to cover your back, this is a good idea, Helly, and I did not realise that was happening! I have edited my previous post to reflect this as I would not want anyone to get the wrong information.

In the meantime anyone wanting extra clarification can email our benefits expert here

The Consumer Action group link is here

Ange46

If your son does have chicken pox then it is reasonable that he should stay at home (after he has seen a doctor to confirm).  If this is the case JCP should allow you to delay starting your MWA until he is better. I would contact JCP as soon as you know in good time for Thursday.  Get it in writing that you are excused from attending until your son is better (and can return to school).  Schools are usually strict about not allowing children who have chicken pox back to school because of the risk to others (such as pregnant people or people whose immune system is compromised).  Get everything confirmed and on the record because in the past I have seen parents sanctioned for not attending JCP when their child is unwell (although I have not seen such cases where a child has chicken pox).  Let me know how it goes because if there is any threat of sanctions in your case I will take up with the DWP.

Laura 

The way I work is to have  EVERYTHING on paper, always have a paper trail. Never leave anything to chance verbally. I communicate with my Work Programme Advisor by email, nothing can be misconstrued.

that's tragic. ask them why exactly they are doing it, and ask for it on paper. if you want to delay it maybe tell them your not happy and have written to your local MP about it and maybe they at least delay it a bit. I think they are also supposed to pay for help for your kids if you're not able to pick them up, though I doubt they'd come forward with that information. 

At a time when there aren't many jobs anyhow this scheme is just an insult to the whole country, not only those that are forced to do it. The numnuts in parliament have no experience what its like for normal people, but these people at the job centre are worse than traffic wardens, baliffs, and acting like pimps.  they should hang their heads in shame, and stop saying "well i don't know, I HAVE a job"!! grrrrrr

ange46. What a dreadful journey! I underestimated the time it would take too. From my understanding if the journey takes longer than 1 hour 30 minutes it would be considered too long and you wouldn't have to do it. Also it's great that you have such a good friend who is willing to look after your ill son for no payement. Because if you didn't then you wouldn't have been able to attend. If you don't have someone who can pick up your son every day for no payement you would be able to leave the MWA early so that you can be there when he finishes school.

Of course if you feel that the MWA is a valuable experience you should put up with the extra journey time and try and get all the help looking after your son that you can.

Ange46

Fantastic that you are now going to be nearer for your MWA but frustrating that the other advisers were less helpful.  If possible try to get this same adviser again and make sure that all the points about your son and circumstances are written into your Jobseeking Agreement.

This is the difficulty with adviser discretion it can be too much down to a personal view of an individual.  Bottom line you have a son and as well as being a job seeker you should also have time to care for him.

Find out as much as you can if you are transferring to the Work Programme.  If you are transferring you are on the Programme for two years and it is really important that you have a decent Jobseekers Agreement.  Make sure that the Jobcentre notify the WP about your circumstances.

Anyway good news about not having to travel so far for the MWA.  Have a good weekend.

Laura

ange46. I am so pleased for you that this has been sorted out x

Great about the new adviser but he was only doing his job. Way too much discretion is given to "advisers" who are really one of the lowest levels of civil servants. That they can give "directions" with such scant regard of rules that have been put in place to protect clients is shocking. That it is done with so little thought to the implications on mothers and children is IMO nothing short of scandalous. That they can threaten mothers with sanctions that will leave them and their children close to destitution and yet there is little repercussion for them if they "misinterpret" the rules or even just decide to be vindictive is just plain wrong.

I bet that guy gets sacked!

They don't want people who are good at helping, they want people who are good at harrassing.

It's just a dumb scheme to basically appease daily mail readers who think that the countries biggest problem is all the 'sponges' on benefits, so it's good PR for the government to make people jump through hoops in order to get a basic standard of living - a standard of living which we all deserve, as our countries been stripped of industry and sold off for the benefit of the rich. Even in Libya people got a cut of the countries profits, so why if we also get basic help are we labelled lazy? The general attitude in this country is one of snide misplaced jealousy as people are so paranoid that they're getting shafted and someone else is getting something for nothing, and they look at the easiest to blame rather than the real orchastrators of our problems.

Many in this country think the poor are the problem, while the rich get richer, politicians and bankers get away with fleecing the system, companies register abroad to avoid paying tax, and we waste millions  bombing other countries, while using tax payers money to arm dictators who act in the interest of big business.

They send people on mandatory work bullsh*t, when there's not enough jobs for people as it is. it's a sick joke just in place to appease the  bitter and greedy and at the cost of those already suffering due to their failed policies, destruction of community and general f*ckery.

Unfortunately they'll be little chance of any change until a real disaster and people no longer get their dose of sugar and brain dead TV.

OK rant over. have a nice day y'all ;)

I've wondered about the reasoning behind MWA. If it is like you say Sally W to get women back into the routine of "working" and juggling family life then the implication is that being unable to do this is the reason why single mothers can't find paid work. I have to say I don't think this is the reason. The main reason is that single mothers can't find work is because work that can be combined with having the sole charge of a child or children is rare.

This used to be acknowleged as single mothers were able to claim income support as a recognition that they already had a job. It is still acknowleged in that single mothers are able to restrict their hours to 16 during school hours and in certain circumstances during term time. This concession was made because it is obvious children will suffer without it and also because of the problems in the provision of afordable and suitable childcare. But there are hardly any jobs with these restricted hours. I would say virtually NO jobs.

 It would be difficult to provide a valid arguement that ange46's work in the charity shop is in any way useful as a way of finding paid work. Also sometimes single mothers have to stop doing courses or other voluntary work that might be more useful for finding work in order to do MWA. So IMO the MWA is not being used as a preparation for work or to improve "employability". It does cause stress. It does make life difficult. It makes mothers feel they have little control. It will cause disruption to children. It does sometime look very much like a punishment.  Why are single parents being forced to do it under constant threat of punishment? I'm not sure but I hope making life difficult for single parents and their children isn't the reason. That would be depressing...