jobseeker help info

CAVEAT: Information and advice posted on this forum is not qualified.
this is a combined forum of foi requests and information provided by its users from the freedom of information website and also long discussions upon its forum

Please seek independent advice regarding any information provided on this site.

please note this information provided are under disclaimers therefore the poster or the site listing the correct info cannot be held responsible if a claimant uses them for there own individual cases every case is subject to a difference

we wish you good luck with using this good information that is provided freely by the forum members of um and now of wcf that have spent there time researching these details and providing there time to assist others in need


p1 quick info

providing telephone number and providing email address
providing cv,s to dwp and the wp ( work programme )
how to stop all dwp and ujm emails ( ujm universal jobmatch )
work programmes signing documents at start of the work programme
removing consent given to the work provider at start of the work programme
a very good example avanta jobsearch

p2

removal of consent to be contacted by the work provider
dwp zero hours contract
work programme jobsearch evidence
work programme travel expenses / jcp travel expenses
dwp flexible support fund payment
help towards utility payments for the low income

appealing a benefit decision dispute a benefit decision
Benefit Sanctions: Jobcentre evidence gathering questions and computer screen shots

p3

Got a complaint about a DWP Work Programme Provider?

On Work Programme (WP)? Got/Getting a Job? Want to stop DWP/Jobcentre and or WP Provider harassment; getting paid?
work programme complaints procedure

How to claim JSA without using the Government Gateway
Universal Jobmatch: Your rights with illistrations and which boxes to tick untick to keep dwp out of your ujm account
providing various documents to wp and the jcp
usefull jobcentre + complaint letters / maladministration letters
providing jobsearch evidence to jcp
though providing jobsearch evidence to the dm ( decision maker ) is different

p4

to print your own es4jp jobsearch evidence copy.
advisor's referral evidence to a DM is available to the claimant straight away
free 0800 numbers to contact dwp and jcp
Work Choice / 1.10 Participation in Work Choice is voluntary
Jobseeker Allowance Back to work schemes guidance / Job Centre Plus offer
jobcentre daily jobsearch travel expenses refunded
hardship claims

p5

for those that are recording at jcp and the wp
Evidence of Jobsearch WPP:
work programe full id checks are not required
submission-to-first-tier-tribunal / guidance-for-preparing-for-trbunals
reconsiderations-a-appeals-basics / appealing-up-to-the-upper-tier-tribunal
medical-evidence-for-appeals
where-to-find-the-law
the-human-rights-act-1998-the-basics
renunciation-and-resumption
updated WP provider guidance
daily attendance complaint
appealing a sanction while signed off from esa or a jsa claim or found work

p6

SAR request ( subject access request ) / MF47 - Customer Compliance
district manager list
Internal guidance used by Jobcentre Plus to manage complaints:
harassment with the dwp/wp only can be used in certain circumstances
Community Work Programme Provider Guidance
If you expect to be referred to Help to Work or MWA:
FREE LEGAL ADVICE & REPRESENTATION
sanction tips and appeals


p7

how to Challenge an Actively Seeking Work Sanction (JSA)
examples of disputed Jobseeker Agreement letters
Jobseeker Agreement and Universal Jobmatch complaint letter
Complaint: Unlawful issue of Jobseeker Direction (JSD) letter
Complaint: Failure to follow proper procedures letter
The EQUALITY ACT – BEING TREATED FAIRLY BY THE WPP letter
Corroboration of job search evidence letter

p8

Withdrawal of my consent for my telephone number being held on the Jobcentre LMS and JSAP computer systems
JOBSEEKER DIRECTION - ACCESS TO UNIVERSAL JOBMATCH ACCOUNT letter
Complaint: Unlawful Jobseeker?s Agreement

1. Claimants are not being allowed to sign on if they do not provide job search evidence in a particular way. This means the claim will be closed after 5 working days and the individual has no immediate right of appeal or access to Hardship.
2. Claimants are being asked to provide evidence of emails they have sent to employers as proof they have applied for jobs.
Both of these activities are unlawful.
Jobcentre staff cannot refuse to sign you for this reason.
any debt collection companies that send you demands to pay in any communciations you may have with them.
HOW TO' TEMPLATES dwp appeals and other stuff
ES90 is now called ES90jp

p9

liberty human rights, Article 8 Right to a private and family life
Electronic Signing at the jcp is not mandatory However we do encourage claimants to sign electronically
Advice for Decision Making Guides updated 17/2/15
Framework generic guidance: provider guidance
Daily-attendance-complaint-a-appeal

providing telephone number and providing email address

Jobseeker?s Allowance (JSA) claimants are asked to supply, but are not obliged to provide, their telephone number email address.

As part of the process of claiming Universal Credit (UC), claimants are asked to supply, but are
not obliged to provide, a telephone number or an email address. If the claimant provides either
of these details then the DWP is obliged to process this information in accordance with the
Data Protection Act 1998, which requires for example, that data processing performed by DWP
is adequate.

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/173669/response/447574/attach/html/3/Response%203933.pdf.html

providing cv,s to dwp and the wp ( work programme )
S. Martin left an annotation (24 February 2012)

I can answer some of these questions for you.

You have no legal requirement to provide the Jobcentre or service provider with any personal information, this includes a telephone number or E-mail

address.

You can show them a CV, but you can delete the personal information such as telephone numbers or E-mail addresses. You are showing them you

have the ability to generate a CV, nothing more, and if you show them a CV without personal information you have complied as you have a CV.

It is not a mandatory or legal requirement to sign the form allowing them to share personal information with third parties, so you refuse to sign it. If

signed consent has been obtained you have the right to revoke it at anytime, and must do so in writing, and keep copies of this and any subsequent

correspondence from them confirming revocation.

Under the Data Protection Act you have many rights, but the Jobcentres and service providers try to circumvent these rights by applying pressure to

claimants. If this is the case then you find they won't revoke this you have the right to write to the Information Commissioner and complain. You will

also be entitled to compensation.

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/work_programme_requirements

Remember being mandated in writing to the activity of creating a new or a review of your existing CV, is not same as letting a provider keep a copy.

Evidence of undertaking the activity could be done by only showing a printed copy; a copy on a device like an e-reader; laptop or tablet computer.

http://refuted.org.uk/2013/11/20/yourcv/

how to stop all dwp and ujm emails ( ujm universal jobmatch )

The post dedicated to Universal Jobmatch has been updated with instructions on how to stop all DWP emails:
http://refuted.org.uk/2013/10/13/jobmatch/

work programmes signing documents at start of the work programme
there is no mandatory requirement for participants on the Work Programme to sign action plans, health and safety documents, sign in sheets or

acceptable behaviour documents and participants will not be sanctioned if they do not sign the documents.

http://refuted.org.uk/2013/11/05/sign/

removing consent given to the work provider at start of the work programme

http://consentarchive.wordpress.com/workfareconsent/

a very good example avanta jobsearch
Work Programme Provider Avanta has created a clone of Universal Jobmatch (UJ) called Avanta Jobs (AJ), unlike UJ, AJ does not appear to give the

choice of not giving permission for anyone voluntarily using or mandated to use AJ of not allowing Avanta staff full or read only access to an account

users activity and personal data. What is also not made clear is that all personal data entered onto AJ belongs to the DWP as the Data Controller.

http://refuted.org.uk/2013/10/22/avantajobs/

[quote="gadily" post=699]https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/avanta_access_to_claimants_accou

Firstly it may be helpful if I explain that Work Programme participants are not mandated to use AvantaJobs and can therefore choose not to use this site to help them get a job. Work Programme participants can and do only use Universal Jobmatch if they so wish however this will reduce the amount of support that Avanta can provide in getting them into a job.

so kindly take note that a claimant has the right to deny access to the provider

and another

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/219088/response/542978/attach/html/3/3068%203061%20Response.pdf.html

It is not the case that all participants are specifically required (mandated) to register and login
to ppdg.welfare2work.co.uk. This will depend on the specific action plan developed for the
individual participant.

[/quote]

removal of consent to be contacted by the work provider

https://consentarchive.wordpress.com/workfareconsent/

as removes all consent provided to them on your first induction at the work programme

removal of consent to be contacted by the jcp ( jobcentre ) dwp
Part H: Can someone in receipt of JSA or UC withdraw consent from the DWP contacting them by either [1] or [2], without being subject to sanctions

and for such a consent withdrawal to be recorded in their JSAg or CC and the claim to remain valid? If it is possible please disclose the process to be

followed?

Yes, a claimant can inform the DWP that they do not want to be contacted by a phone and/or email at any time. There is no set down process for this.

There is no requirement to record this on either a Jobseeker?s Agreement or Claimant Commitment. This would not make the claimant?s claim invalid.

There are no sanctions that would directly result from withdrawing consent to be contacted by telephone or email.

http://refuted.org.uk/2013/11/07/emailtelephone/

dwp zero hours contract
?If a Universal Credit or Jobseeker?s Allowance claimant turns down a particular vacancy then before a sanction is applied we will look into the

circumstances of the case and consider whether they had a good reason. Where the vacancy is for a zero-hours contract then no decision is needed

and a sanction should never apply.

http://refuted.org.uk/2013/10/18/zerohours/

work programme jobsearch evidence
A Work Programme provider may ask you to provide evidence of your job search as part of their support they give you but they cannot mandate you to

provide it and you will not be sanctioned if you do not provide it.

http://refuted.org.uk/2013/10/15/jobsearchevidence/

work programme travel expenses

When on the Work Programme (WP), many people complain about not being able to get job interview expenses (Travel/Overnight stays) paid by WP providers. Whilst employers can pay for such expenses the DWP guidance suggests providers only have to pay travel expenses for:

http://refuted.org.uk/2013/10/14/expenses/

job centre jcp travel expenses

many claimants are deprived and often deliberately of the financial help available to them. Thousands of claimants attend interviews/ 'opportunities' with providers/JCP staff and are not paid travel expenses at all or they are not paid the additional expenses they are entitled to.

Travel expenses are normally paid at the cheapest rate, which is usually via public transport but this is not always the case.

DWP will pay parking costs if a claimant has difficultly walking, but unless you show the staff their own guidance they will often deny expenses even at District office level. This is clearly in breach of the Equality Act.

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/232147/response/573623/attach/4/Policy%20for%20the%20reimbursement%20of%20customers%20travel%20expenses.pdf

Claimants who cannot walk to a bus stop and do not have a car are not being paid taxi fares by DWP contractors. When challenged, they deny knowing anything about assisting claimants with taxi fares! I cannot believe anyone that has undertaken advice and guidance training is not aware of the Equality Act or the necessity to assess a person's needs before any support is offered! Health and safety risks also spring to mind!

In Roland's case it was completely unreasonable to expect him or any claimant to travel 75 miles via public transport. The WP provider guidance states that participants must not be worse off by attending the WP. This rule applies to all DWP contracts.

Travel Costs, Additional Costs and additional Costs
19. Participants should not be worse off by virtue of attending the Work programme.
20.Providers are responsible for travel, childcare, replacement caring costs and additional support costs whilst the participant is on the Work
Programme. (See ITT for further information).

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/394680/wp-pg-chapter-1.pdf

Many claimants in rural areas are paying £6+ just to attend their signing appointments. In the past, postal attendance would be offered, but now claimants have to know their rights and have to ask demand the assistance they need.

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/legal_jsa_travel_distance_from_h#incoming-421282

View details of how Jobcentre Advisers and or Managers can use their discretion to provide support through the Flexible Support Fund

http://refuted.org.uk/2013/10/14/flexible/

dwp flexible support fund payment

DWP: Flexible Support Fund, Benefit Advances, Social Fund and Budgeting Loans

To support claimants in their search for work, advisers can use their discretion to make awards from the local fund. In exercising that discretion, advisers consider the appropriateness of an award, taking into account whether there is a more appropriate method of contact e.g via e-mail or telephone, individual circumstances and value for money in terms of enhancing employment prospects and reducing the time spent on benefit. It is important to note that claimants have no automatic entitlement to this funding.

http://refuted.org.uk/2013/10/14/benefitadvances/

help towards utility payments for the low income

chriss grants Got Gas, Electricity and Water debts and on a low income? You might be eligible for a grant

http://refuted.org.uk/2013/10/17/utilitygrants/

appealing a benefit decision dispute a benefit decision
Challenging a benefit decision: Ten step guide to mandatory reconsiderations and appeals

http://refuted.org.uk/2013/10/28/challenging/
DWP Benefits: How to Appeal or Dispute a Decision from 28th October 2013

http://refuted.org.uk/2013/10/27/appeals/

Benefit Sanctions: Jobcentre evidence gathering questions and computer screen shots
The DWP has disclosed computer screen shots of the ?DART (Decision and Automated Referral Toolkit). Also known as Labour Market Toolkit?. They show the evidence gathering process Jobcentre ?Advisers? undertake before auto referring a JSA entitlement doubt to a Decision Maker by computer. (DM)

http://refuted.org.uk/2013/10/29/sanctionsdecisions/

Got a complaint about a DWP Work Programme Provider?

http://refuted.org.uk/2013/10/13/providercomplaint/

*

On Work Programme (WP)? Got/Getting a Job? Want to stop DWP/Jobcentre and or WP Provider harassment; getting paid?

http://refuted.org.uk/2013/10/23/providerharassment/

work programme complaints procedure

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/work_programme_complaints_procedure

How to claim JSA without using the Government Gateway

http://refuted.org.uk/2013/10/28/gateway/

Universal Jobmatch: Your rights with illustration and which boxes to tick untick to keep dwp out of your ujm account

http://refuted.org.uk/2013/10/13/jobmatch/

providing various documents to wp and the jcp

Customers are not required to provide a bank statement as a result of completing the Work
Programme. A benefit sanction cannot be imposed for not producing a bank statement.

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/165970/response/403624/attach/html/3/Response%202830.pdf.html

useful jobcentre + complaint letters

http://www.welfarecentral.org/forum/index.php?topic=79.msg125#msg125

providing jobsearch evidence to jcp

the old es4jp booklet for jobsearch evidence

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/113076/response/277283/attach/3/ES4JP.pdf

unemploymentmovement.com/forum/unemploym...g-the-rules?start=56
From LMCG:
188. The JSA Regulations do not specify that claimants must keep written records of their job search.
www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/169272/re...ach/3/FOI%203354.pdf

From UJM Toolkit:
92. We cannot specify to a JSA claimant how they provide us with records of their jobsearch
activity and Universal Jobmatch will not change this ? it is not therefore possible to require
JSA claimants to give DWP access to their Universal Jobmatch account.
www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/174779/re...%20Response.pdf.html
5 January 2014

Dear Department for Work and Pensions,

Please could you provide any specific guidelines and any information relating to any specific guidelines issued to Jobcentres covering the retention of written jobseeking evidence submitted by claimants, either on an ESJP4 or on any other piece of paper.

It has come to my attention that some Jobcentres are insisting on claimants handing in a copy of their jobsearch on every signing appointment whereas others simply look over the evidence and then return it to the claimant. Some jobcentres make use of the ESJP4, others, for some reason, insist on the use of other forms. What is the correct procedure?

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/jobsearch_evidence_2

though providing jobsearch evidence to the dm ( decision maker ) is different

For info:

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/the_work_programme_good_reason_l

You need to provide additional information for the Decision Maker to re-consider.

Good reason is not defined in law, but I do know from experience that forgetting to do things without mitigating circumstances such as a bereavement or something similar will not usually be treated as a good reason.

to print your own es4jp jobsearch evidence copy.
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121015000000/http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@benefits/documents/digitalasset/dg_201774.pdf

What I was seeking an answer to was whether or not an advisor's referral evidence to a DM is available to the claimant straight away.

Put in writing a request to the DM and the Adviser for a copy, you can say you require it asap to ensure procedural fairness and to formulate good-reasons for any appeal, you can mention the personal data is required urgently and state that the Data Protection Act require you be provided with your personal data.

For added good measure you could write that if you are not given the evidence to allow enough time for an appeal you consider maladministration will be self-evident and you would intend to seek financial redress (compensation). http://refuted.org.uk/2013/10/13/maladministration/

free 0800 numbers to contact dwp and jcp

Surplus Labour

Apparently from an foi request. Don't know if they are already posted.

As found untested:-

Main Benefit Enquiry Line - for new claims and changes to disability benefits
08009174163 ESA & Lone Parent New Claims Appointments - geographic
08009174161 Lone Parent New Claims - geographical
08009178077 New Deal Lone Parent New Claims - geographical
08007319091 Crisis Loans - geographical
08009174164 New Claims Appointment Line - geographical
08000556688 First Contact New Claims - claims to working age benefits
08000121888 First Contact New Claims (Welsh) - claims to working age benefits
08000328360 Crisis Loans - geographical
08005878065 Crisis Loans - geographical
08006783717 Crisis Loans - geographical
08000328345 Crisis Loans - geographical
08000327952 Crisis Loans - geographical
08000328356 Crisis Loans - geographical
08000328350 Crisis Loans - geographical
08000328347 Crisis Loans - geographical
08000328349 Crisis Loans - geographical
08000328352 Crisis Loans - geographical
08003891241 Crisis Loans - geographical
08000328341 Crisis Loans - geographical
08003283036 Crisis Loans - geographical
08005875986 Crisis Loans - geographical
08000304355 Crisis Loans - geographical
08000328366 Crisis Loans - geographical
08000328369 Crisis Loans - geographical
08000328344 Crisis Loans - geographical
08001699891 Crisis Loans - geographical
08001695198 Crisis Loans - geographical
08000327950 Crisis Loans - geographical
08005876716 Crisis Loans - geographical
08003890271 Crisis Loans - geographical
08000856318 Northern Ireland - claims to Employment and Support Allowance
0800220674 Northern Ireland Benefit Enquiry Line - claims to Industrial Injuries Disability Benefit
08000224250 Northern Ireland Customer First Line - for new claims to working age benefits
0800991234 Pension Credit Application - new claims to Pension Credit
08000857075 Pensions ? Method of payment Reforms for customers changing to payments into a bank
08007314811 Pension Credit - for customer to respond to departmental instigation of Pension Credit claims
08007317898 State Pension New Claims
08007317936 State Pension New Claims - Welsh
08000856528 Customer Payment Centre - for customers changing to payments into a bank
08000857144 Customer Payment Centre Welsh - for customers changing to payments into a bank
08000857102 Customer Payment Centre - for customers changing to payments into a bank
08009171744 Lone Parent New Claims - geographic
08000326436 Disability Act Line - hard of hearing and speech impaired (text phone)
08000857380 Winter Fuel Payments
08007839632 New Claims - geographical
08007839533 New Claims - geographical
08007839022 New Claims - geographical
08007839837 New Claims - Automated Welsh
0800378249 New Claims - geographical
08005876712 Pension Credit New Claims (text phone)
08006783682 New Claims - geographical

http://savvycaller.com/company/dwp-department-for-work-and-pensions/

http://savvycaller.com/popular-companies/jobcenter-plus/

Originally posted by agnes Fairchilds:

Work Choice

Work Choice Provider Guidance

1.10 Participation in Work Choice is voluntary.

Work Choice Provider Guidance Chapter 1[/quote]

Originally posted by agnes fairchilds:

Jobseeker Allowance Back to work schemes guidance

gov uk pdf

Job Centre Plus offer

Job Centre Plus Offer: final evaluation pdf