This site is an archive of the OneSpace Forums. Return to forum index.
do you think maybe cause its this intensive 6 months after the works prog there laws are different its as if they are pushing more and more on to me, trying to set me up for a fall i read something about advisors have been threatened with sanctions themselves if they dont sanction more people cause gov want to show they are getting benefit scroungers off benefits to impress voters it is a bit silly asking me to explain every job they are hindering me really cause now i am just looking in part time cause i dont want to explain hundreds of full time jobs that i cant apply for i might try Bubblegums advice and just ref a couple of jobs i cant apply for see how i get on with that can i ask if i wanted to request a lone parent advisor do i have to make request to the advisor i am not happy with?
Hi amars as a single parent you should be signing with a lone parent advisor or at least meeting with one regularly, as they are the ones that are aware of the flexibilities that are available to lone parents, so yes do ask that you meet with a lone parent advisor.
sally i better ask you first can i put on my job match activity that i attended job centre for more bullying and threats? guessing if i do i would end up with a sanction just had enough of it affecting my homelife now
Hi amars, I don't think its the best idea to mention that! Although have you told them how all this pressure is affecting your wellbeing?
no it would be pointless as he rubbishes everything i say app all he hears from me is cant cant and i am using 9/3 school hours as another barrier not to work i told him he was bullying and threatening constantly he justified that by saying he has to be like this cause of orders from upstairs 1 point today he just chucked my book on the table and said he might aswell just send upstairs and they would sanction me cause i am not listening to what he is saying but didnt go through with his threat i wrote that i had been into our local hub to see about cscs badge training and they had added me to list that was not good enough i should have asked when and told them i need it urgently he is never satisfied anyway he has organised 4 weeks work exp think its called wma if its in school hours times i am happy to do that it might give me a break from him
I'm sorry your having such a awful time with the advisor amars you could make an official complaint you can check this link on how to go about it.
i dont want to go down that road just yet cause i am worried they might have it in for me all the more if i complain but if this guy continues afraid i will have to take that route hoping the work exp get in touch b4 i have to see him again then i might avoid him for 4 weeks while on work exp
Good luck amars, it doesn't sound right that he is harrassing you like this though. The job centre aren't there to bully you into a job.
anna i am sure dwp in there rights but thought i would check with you today he changed my hours from 9-30 till 2-30 to 9 till 3-15 same time school finishes i told him i didnt want to sign till i got advice so i got usual you will be sanctioned threat so i just signed anyway i tried to explain to him yet again i cant get childcare after school only in morning but he took no notice and said i was just trying to put another obsticle to try and prevent working.due to go on mwa soon i fear now i will be made to do 6 hours were i was going to ask them if i could do 10 till 2 but for 6 weeks instead of 4 too make up for hours i lose
Hi amars, regarding the time your available to work from/to is one of those greyish areas, take a look a this Guidance to Help Single Parents on Job Seekers Allowance you can still request to do the work programme from 10-2 if this suits you better, how long will it take to get there?
ok thx had a look he is within his rights to change them so i will have to cope horrible man had depression years handled it well but since they put me on this intensive prog with him its comeback on me tempted to go doctors again but dont think that would be much use would just look like i am trying to get back on esa so i will put up with it best i can. yesterday i kept telling him i needed to go to pick my child up totally ignored me till the end when he said his kids are on holiday next week thought thats what i meant but he knew exactly what i was trying to tell him my ex went mad at me cause it made her late for work, he kept me there hour and half oh well happy days
Next time you could refuse an appointment that is near a time when you have to collect your children as it does not allow you the time to meet with them and collect your children, or have a sentence ready that they will plainly understand i.e i have to collect my children from school at 3pm so i need to leave here at 2.30pm.
They do have to take your childcare responsibilities into consideration. Why did he keep you there for an hour and a half?
thx sally my app was a hour and half b4 picking him up but the advisor likes to make me sit around waiting then he kept wandering off during the interview i actually recorded some of the interview but his conversation didnt come out to well he was quiet at 1 point i shouted across the room to him when he walked off i need to pick my child up 10 mins ago lol i was tempted to walk out and go tell reception desk why i needed to go but was not brave enough for fear of dreaded sanction but got letter back from work placements so hopefully while doing that i can avoid him
Hi amars, are the work placement hours going to work for you? Are they decent work placements?
i wont know till monday anna gonna ask them if i can work 10-2 for 6 weeks rather than 9-3 4 weeks but not sure they will let me now advisor forced me to sign to 9-3-15 if they force me to do 9-3 not sure i can get childcare so its either refuse and get sanction or have my boy do a 20 min walk home from school which i will not be happy about at all he is 10 now but coming from hattersley were those 2 police women got shot near enough right next to his school there are some dodgy ppl in our area dreading my son having to walk these streets alone no matter what age he is
Hi amars, yes I understand why you are concerned about that walk even though he is 10 now. It feels important that you mobilise some support now and find a friend's parent he can work with or someone else that can pick him up occasionally while all this is going on. If you don't know of anyone then maybe you can ask at the school about whether there are any families in your area who could help you out, or maybe he could even go to their house to chill for a short time.
i will ask at school explain my circumstances to them hope they can suggest something
Hi, I have a work thingy coming up soon. They said if I miss a day I'll get sanctioned again (2nd time).
My daughter is refusing to go to school; I've told them but they say it's "tuff".
Any idea's on what I can do?
They stop the housing benefit too. The LA will still pay it but I have to pay it back.
Hi StevieMac, ah yes I saw the issue about your daughter and the school on the other thread. Whilst I would not like to leave a 13-year old all day on their own, the regulations tend to have 13 as the magic cut-off point for childcare issues, not a very sensible rule!
I will ask Laura, our Parliamentary Officer to comment on this for you.
Amars,
Sorry that you are having such a tough time at the Jobcentre. You have got to be very careful to work within any agreement that you sign at the Jobcentre, otherwise you are in danger of being issued with a sanction. If you are not happy with your agreement you should ask to have it reviewed. It is reasonable that if you have a child that is 10 that they are dropped and picked up from school and so any work placement takes account of your need to also care for your child. Ask the Jobcentre if they have a Lone Parent Adviser to review your Agreement? If they do not have a specialist adviser and you are not happy with what you have been asked to sign then ask for this to be reviewed by another adviser (you have the right to ask for a different adviser). Any Jobseeker's Agreement must take account of your need to also protect the well-being of your child. I know that you have already got details of our guidance for working with the Jobcentre (maybe take this along for your meeting with the Jobcentre).
Laura
StevieMac
Have you been asked to go on the Work Programme or a Work Placement? Your Jobseeker's Agreement should set out the hours and commitement that are expected of you. It might be useful to look through our leaflet about your rights on Jobseeker's Allowance. http://www.onespace.org.uk/benefits/new-guidance-help-single-parents-job...
Louise is right in that as your child gets older there is an expectation that they can be left on their own while you look or prepare for work. If there are underlying problems with your daughter and school is there someone at her school who could offer support and a letter for the Jobcentre? Obviously your priority is to help your daughter attend school. The important thing with the Jobcentre is to make sure that they are kept informed of your circumstances. Ask if they have a Lone Parent Adviser that you can speak to. You are right that if you go against the provisions of your Agreement that you could be sanctioned again which you really want to avoid.
Laura
i started work placements today the placements advisor did not turn up was my signing on day so the charity let me leave early but thats my worry until last week job centre agreed 9-30 to 2-30 but this other advisor changed my hours uptill what time school finishes 3-15 despite me keep telling him the school does no aftercare i am expecting the placements advisor to tell me i have to work at the placements till 3-15 although a girl at the charity told me no way would the charity make me stay if i did not have anyone to look after him after school. would i be able to ask for a review of my hours if i could not get care or would they just tell me i have to agree to 3-15 cause thats when school finishes?
I am currently on the work programme and have just been enrolled in to a college course, which, I wanted to do some time ago but was told that adult funding for learning had been cut. I am concerned after speaking to job centre staff and people who have been on work program for 2 years haven't managed to find employment. I have been told that after work programme they put you on an intense JSA scheme. I was also told today that they expect JS' to start spending 35 hours per week looking for work.
One issue I had with the work programme is during the holidays, we have children home but aren't allowed to take them to work program meetings. I phoned head office and complained but they just told me, "that is the rules". Insurance purposes because they have offenders/ex offenders visiting the buildings.
Hi amars
You can request that they review your hours, if you are unhappy with them, but in my experience most of the time the other services that work along side the Job centre are usually quite accomadating if you explain your situation to them.
Hannah40
Adult funding has been cut, but i don't think that it has gone altogether, so you may still be o.k to do the course, you could contact student support at the college to see if it will affect you being able to do the course.
There are currently flexibilities for lone parents, so you should not have to look for work for 35 hours a week, as for the work programmes it depends on the provider as to if they will accept children on to the premises, it maybe worth notifiying the job centre and the work porgramme at the appointment before the holidays that your children are going to be out of school, they maybe able to make alternative arrangements.
Amars,
The Jobseeker's Agreement is the document that sets out your availability to prepare and move into work, it is really important that this reflects your responsibility to care for your son. You talk about another adviser changing the hours that you must do your work placement. Was this someone at the Jobcentre or at the Placement? Make sure that you keep telling the Jobcentre that you need to have sufficient time to drop off and pick up your son and that this needs to be reflected in your Agreement and any instructions that you are asked to comply with. It is your right as a single parent to prepare for moving into work and to find employment that takes account of your caring responsibility for your child. If your child is under 13 then you have a right to do this during school hours (which also should take account of your travel time to and from the school).
Laura
Hannah 40,
Thank you for posting. You can study whilst on JSA but this needs to be part-time and you must state on your Jobseeker's Agreement that you would give up the course if a suitable job came up. Here is the link to the basic information https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/eligibility
Studying and increasing your skills can be a great way to improve your work prospects. What are you hoping to study?
In terms of the amount of time you are expected to prepare for work will depend on the age of your youngest child. If you have a child aged under 13 you have the right to prepare and move into work during school hours. If you child is 13 or over then you can still request to prepare and move into part-time hours but this is not a right. You are right that after the Work Programme there is an intensive programme for people when they return to the care of Jobcentre Plus. However, they must still take account of your need to care for your child (so for instance when they schedule appointments and the frequency of attending the Jobcentre). Make sure that any agreement that you are asked to sign at the Jobcentre reflects your caring responsibilities.
At the Single Parent Action Network, the charity that runs One Space we have interviewed single parents about their experience of the Work Programme. You are not alone in being told not to bring your child along to the Work Programme office. This is something that we have raised with the Government. The Work Programme should take account of your need to care for your child and so if they will not let you take your child to appointments during the holidays then they should make other provision (either postponing your attendence or providing and paying for childcare). Were you threatened with a sanction if you did not attend the Work Programme?
I hope this information is helpful.
Laura
Hi Laura,
Thanks for the link, it turns out it's a Mandatory Work Activity.. I have to work in a charity shop for 4 weeks.
StevieMac
Thanks. Good luck with the Mandatory Work Activity.
Laura
hi mandotory works officer came today she was very understanding allowed me to do 16 hrs pw i was really surprised dont want to worry you hannah the intensive is bad from my exp its mainly bullying and shameing have been told im suppose to look for work 37 hrs pw which is laughable my advisor has started mentioning he does not think im spending 37 hrs pw searching but if your children are off school they can not insist on so much searching has you have parenting responsibilities off course my advisor tells me i am using my parenting restrictions as a excuse but getting past caring what he thinks just hope the works placement gives me a break from him its nice being around such kind caring ppl
Amars,
So glad that the mandatory works officer is nice.
Laura
The work programme is a joke.
They are just another department, Campbell page (EU funded) who are just pointing us in the same direction and saying 'Find a job'. There are people who have been on JSA for a year then been on work programme for 2 years and still haven't found work.
The jobcentre give us a sheet of paper with about 40+ job sites on and tell us to search them.
Well, I'm sorry but that is ridiculous, why can't it all be put in one place?
Over the Christmas they gave me a list of jobs and said "You can apply for at least "10 jobs on there" so, I took on the challenge and as I was working through the list I couldn't find the jobs listed on their sites, so, I resorted to phoning the companies and asking them about these jobs that were advertised. I was told by a few that they didn't have any jobs, whilst others said they had vacancies but nowhere near Bristol.
I didn't find a single job on there that I could apply for.
I made a note of all my findings and took it with me to my next WP meeting and told them I was furious that I had basically been sent on a wild goose chase which took several hours and cost me on my phone Bill. They didn't seem bothered.
So, my conclusions are that either the job ads are 'Fake' or the vacancies are not being updated/deleted regularly.
Hannah40,
How do you find Jobsmatch? It is meant to draw together jobs in an area. Again, I have heard from some parents that it is hard to navigate and that it is not updated so again jobs are listed but have actually already been filled. Does the Work Programme and Jobcentre insist that you use Jobsmatch?
Laura
HI everyone
new here but, sadly, not to jobcentre.
am mid 50's with 15 year old child. Have just finished work programme which, although very helpful, didn't help me find a job although had lots of interviews
am due back at jobcentre soon and will come under this new 'help to work' regime which looks terrifying
It's highly unlikely that will be able to restrict hours as child is now 15 but - at present - have to meet her from school as she hears voiuces telling her to kill herself and all manner of nasty things so I meet and bring her home
It's not brilliant when she is indoors. She had a complete nervous breakdown last summer which I cannot begin to describe, but it was distressing to watch this beautiful child in such a dreadful state. She had counselling for months after and, although much better now, is still not fully recovered.
am happy to work, would prefer to work, as not working is stressful and depressing but am actually scared of what jobcentre will say/make me do and where it leaves me child.
Don't want anything to put extra stress on her as she is taking her GCSE's in a couple of months, but wondered if anyone might have some constructive advice please?
Have no family nearby who could help and cannot afford to move.
Probably rambling, but very worried
thanks
HI everyone
new here but, sadly, not to jobcentre.
am mid 50's with 15 year old child. Have just finished work programme which, although very helpful, didn't help me find a job although had lots of interviews
am due back at jobcentre soon and will come under this new 'help to work' regime which looks terrifying
It's highly unlikely that will be able to restrict hours as child is now 15 but - at present - have to meet her from school as she hears voiuces telling her to kill herself and all manner of nasty things so I meet and bring her home
It's not brilliant when she is indoors. She had a complete nervous breakdown last summer which I cannot begin to describe, but it was distressing to watch this beautiful child in such a dreadful state. She had counselling for months after and, although much better now, is still not fully recovered.
am happy to work, would prefer to work, as not working is stressful and depressing but am actually scared of what jobcentre will say/make me do and where it leaves me child.
Don't want anything to put extra stress on her as she is taking her GCSE's in a couple of months, but wondered if anyone might have some constructive advice please?
Have no family nearby who could help and cannot afford to move.
Probably rambling, but very worried
thanks
Avallen,
Good to hear from you. I am pleased that you found the Work Programme helpful even if it did not lead to a job. Yes the Government are introducing a new programme at the Jobcentre for people returning from the Work Programme. However, I have been assured by the DWP that they will still take into account single parents caring responsibilities when Jobcentres set activity for you to do. Although your daughter is older if she had caring needs that need to met by you then they should take this into account. Do you have someone at the school that could support you in terms of the Jobcentre setting out why you need to be there for your daughter. Perhaps a letter from her head of year or the headteacher or your family doctor? Apart from anything the time leading up to GCSE's is stressful for a child and they need you. Have you got a Lone Parent Specialist at the Jobcentre who you could talk to and make sure that your Jobseeker's Agreement reflects your need to also be there for your daughter. In some parts of the country the Jobseeker's Agreement is being replaced by the Claimant Commitement. Make sure that anything that you sign reflects your circumstances.
Let me know how you get on.
Laura
Anna please can you help i am in trouble with that advisor again i called him a few unsavoury names which was wrong but as per usual he provocted me so i gave him a excuse to refuse to let me sign so i guess thats no jsa this thursday i thought he might give me a break as i am on placements but no such luck the thing is if i dont get no jsa this thursday how am i suppose to feed my boy this advisor as brought my depression right back on me i cant handle it no more i am worried sick. i am going to complain about him and ask for different advisor but i think with this intense nonsense they will prob just pass me on to another bully please advise if you can
Hi amars, i can understand why your upset about potentially not getting any JSA this week, have you contacted the Job Centre to find out if you will be getting any benefit this week or to find out on what bases they refused to allow you to sign?
If it is a sanction you can appeal against it, would this be your first one?
If your going to make a complaint about this advisor i would suggest that you do it as soon as possible, have you been keeping a record of the issues and dates that you have had problems with the advisor?
If this has all contributed to your depression starting again then you should go to your doctor to get help, you maybe able to get a supporting letter from them you could include with your complaint regarding the treatment of the advisor.
they phoned me to say come and sign at 4-30 so i dragged my boy after school i asked them would i still get jsa thursday the women told me she thinks it is being refered to a decision maker so sounds like i will get a sanction the fact i am at work placements all day is making it hard for me to complain i did mention to the lady i wanted to complain but it seemed to fall on deaf ears but will see if i can do it online after i have bathed my boy
Is this a placement that they have arranged amars? It may not be a sanction amars it could just be that your being referred to another department due to the work placement! How many hours are you doing at the placement?
Hi Laura
Many thanks for replying. Am still waiting to hear from Job Centre about what they are going to do with me. I think there is a lone parent adviser but, apparently, as my daughter is now 15 I cannot see her? They also haven't yet asked me to sign a new Jobseekers agreement, and I am beginning to think they are waiting for April when new rules come in to play.
I currently volunteer in the mornings for British Heart Foundation, so it's not as if I'm not doing anything at all. Am more than happy to work at anything offered (legal obviously!) between 9am - 2pm just don't want to to distress my daughter between now and end of her GCSE exams
Will keep you updated
regards
Avallen
Once we get our jobs, deny these bullies their 5,000 pound outcome payment by registering off JSA quoting change of circumstances. When WP phone to chase your employer details, tell them some BS like 'you're leaving the country'. They wont like that. shame.
Once we get our jobs, deny these bullies their 5,000 pound outcome payment by registering off JSA quoting change of circumstances. When WP phone to chase your employer details, tell them some BS like 'you're leaving the country'. They wont like that. shame.
Amars
I can offer you the practical advice regarding surviving this sanction. You must as soon as you know the money has not gone in (thurs?) lodge an appeal. As you fall in to the catagory of vulnerable with a child under 16 you can make an application for hardship loan or crisis loan - best go to the HMRC/Benefits section of Consumer Action Group website they have masses of posters who are in your position. If you receive Housing Benefit you must inform them (the council) of the sanction as the DWP will notify them and suspend your Housing Benefit. In order to qualify for a continuation you need to show evidence of lack of funds, a child benefit letter to prove you are in receipt of CB and the childs birth certificate also when you receive a letter of doubt from the DWP that must be show too. I would do this ASAP. Any queries just shout.
Avellen,
Good to hear from you. You should still be able to ask to see a Lone Parent Adviser even though your daughter is 15. I think in your circumstances this would be useful. A general adviser might not understand the flexibilities that should be open to you. As I have said even though your daughter is 15 you still have the right to ask to work part-time to take account of your caring responsibilities towards her and the challenges that she is facing. Evidence from the school or family doctor would help with providing evidence of this.
It is great that you are doing voluntary work which the Jobcentre should see as part of your preparation for moving into work.
Laura
Helly13/ Amars
Good advice. It is also important to carry on signing on and following any job seeking instructions or you can be at risk of a further sanction.
Laura
thx just seen doctor he gave me a 1 month sick note the mad part is i am happy to work the placement has been good its just that advisor that is making me down i am terriefied of seeing him if i get a sanction its not cause of the placement has i have done more hours than i needed to its because i called the advisor a a###h### and was shouting which i deeply regret but he does bring to worse out of him basically he tells me i am a liar and lazy when truth is he is lying claiming for example that he has constantly told me to write email addresses of firms i send cv when he has not
thx helly13 being on the placements makes it hard to respond straight away but have day off friday was going to attend as a volunteer but if i get sanctioned the appeal will have to take priority do you think i would be better asking citizens advice to appeal on my behalf or would it be better to do it myself
It is up to you amars, if you would prefer to get citizens advice to help with an appeal thats fine, though that could take longer to do if you have to wait for an appointment, then it may be quicker to do it yourself.
Hi Amars as I have never had a sanction and not on JSA anymore I personally myself have not had to go through the appeal process. The Consumer Action Group members will give you the information of the process and exactly what you need to do. As Sally states the CAB will take longer , appointments are taking longer to book. You could request a Freedom of Information from the DWP too, again the Consumer Action Forum members are brilliant on this. The arsnel I kept as I listed above was advised by a member of the DWP who posts on that forum to help people. Hope that help. I just need to impress on you, you have a very shoret period to appeal, I think it is 14 days.
Amars! Are you registered on the jobcenter website, Universal jobsearch thing? Before I was working and I was claiming I just used to log on each day and apply for my agreed three jobs, mark another few as unsuitable and then get on with my day, and nooooo one ever got back to me, except Tesco to tell me thanks but no thanks : )
Then on my signing on day the Jobcenter staff would look, see what I had been doing and then send me on my way.