UC journal tips for optimal use and management

That is a very useful link ND.







DATA REMOVED FOR SECURITY REASONS

You could check with your GP, to ask if they would write a letter supporting you, which could
highlight how unsuitable work search or preparation actions" are detrimental to your health.

I do not have a DWP reference/link, but its internal guidance talks about a claimant disclosing
disability and it not being appropriate for a 'coach' to dispute such as that can engage
discrimination
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/discrimination-in-the-provision-of-goods-and-services/discrimination-in-the-provision-of-goods-and-services1/discrimination-in-services-provided-by-a-public-authority/common-situations/disability-discrimination-and-welfare-benefits/

You can ask for your CC to be reviewed and consider ways to get your full circumstances recorded in the CC or on your digital or clerical (paper) records.

DWP also has scope to carry out a skills audit or possibly get support from an external provider, but this can also lead to being required to attend skills training or assessments

Consideration also related to the DWP 'disability confident' employer scheme and how employers guarantee to offer disabled people a job interview when they meet certain criteria, example:
What is the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/how-citizens-advice-works/job-and-voluntary-opportunities/citizens-advice-job-opportunities/disability-confident/disability-confident-guidance-for-applicants/
The https://findajob.dwp.gov.uk/search also has search filters to show 'disability confident' employers.


This https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http://www.cpag.org.uk/sites/default/files/uploads/Commentary%20on%20govt%20response%20to%20WP%20Comm%201%20Apr%2019.docx
talks about GPs issuing a 'fit-note' related to "constraints on ... work search or preparation activities" (page 5) and using the 'fit-note' "to certify these", in connection to claimants who are 'fit-for-work'. Not sure how this would function in reality but when health and disability mean meeting a CC would be difficult, a 'fit-note' or GP letter could help.

A core issue with UC is the requirement to seek more or better paid work, equal to minimum wage x 35 hours, though the in-work conditions are currently suspended when earning the same or more than the UC Standard Allowance. Resulting in a far greater expectation/requirement to undertake differing types of work (zero hr, temp, casual)

When  'coach' has not taken account of a claimant disclosed health or disability, not sure if submitting a 'change of circumstances' would be a way to secure formal recognition?
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-if-you-have-a-disability-or-health-condition-quick-guide/universal-credit-if-you-have-a-disability-or-health-condition#declaring-a-health-condition-or-disability-on-an-existing-universal-credit-claim
But this seems to assume a health or disability that is "new", rather than ones not acknowledged by a 'coach'/DWP.

Caker, hope this information is helpful but please do not feel obliged to disclose your personal situation on this topic/thread, but understand the frustration of your 'coach' using the Journal to put you in this stressful situation. In terms of your CC you could request your 'coach' agree to discuss with you any jobs they might want to recommend to you, only at a face to face work search review, based on:

"must be jobs that the claimant can reasonably do based on their individual skills, ability, location, capabilities and capacity and their own resource and should normally be discussed with the claimant at work search review. The claimant would have to show a good reason why a particular vacancy is unsuitable in their good reason for any failure, for example the job required a skill or qualification the claimant did not have."
https://respectfulbenefits.forumotion.com/t3601p50-what-is-a-35-hours-jobsearch#9913

Also in this situation/thread, think it totally ok to suspend the idea of keeping to the topic as we are trying to develop ways of dealing with Journal misuse by  'coach'

For myself, I have good work based phone skills, but would hate a job in call centre or being a call-handler. A central aim of UC is to create claimant 'self sufficiency' and a 'coach' using a Journal to 'recommend' unsuitable jobs is a direct opposite.

Let me know if you need any off-line assitance Caker.

https://respectfulbenefits.forumotion.com/t3364-revocation-variation-of-uc-claimant-commitment-template-letter

https://respectfulbenefits.forumotion.com/t2379-top-tips-your-claimant-commitment?highlight=top+tips

Thanks for that kind offer ND. It is appreciated.

Be interesting to clarify and understand the full implications of:

"Claimant Journal
The journal is a tool which belongs to the claimant."
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/537363/response/1352056/attach/html/4/UC%20Claimant%20Journal%2012504.pdf.html

FYI

Your Universal Credit claim
Work capability assessment decision

What happens next

We'll contact you using your online journal to review your Universal Credit commitments.
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/565917/response/1355469/attach/5/UCD21%20WCA%20FFW%20DNP.PDF.pdf
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/universal_credit_work_capability#incoming-1355469

MrFrankZola wrote:FYI

Your Universal Credit claim
Work capability assessment decision

What happens next

We'll contact you using your online journal to review your Universal Credit commitments.
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/565917/response/1355469/attach/5/UCD21%20WCA%20FFW%20DNP.PDF.pdf
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/universal_credit_work_capability#incoming-1355469

This looks like a big topic Frank. I think it is beyond the scope of this thread and deserves a new one all to itself

For information:

If your claim is closed (perhaps because of starting work) and you then go on to make a new claim, your journal will be wiped when you complete the new online reclaim.

You will not have access to any previous journal content or the statements containing details of your previous payments. Because of this, it is a good idea to save screen grabs of anything you might wish to keep. It is also a good idea to keep PDF copies of payment statements (just click on 'print' then choose 'save as PDF' from the drop down menu), particularly any which vary from the standard amount and show how the amount was calculated. This is especially important if your UC amount varies from time to time, and any query arises.

Welfare-Champion wrote:Some information, which may help to inform the discussion:

PART 1USE OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS
Use of electronic communications by the Secretary of State

1.  The Secretary of State may use an electronic communication in connection with claims for, and awards of, any benefit.
Conditions for the use of electronic communications by other persons

2.—(1) A person other than the Secretary of State may use an electronic communication in connection with the matters referred to in paragraph 1 if the conditions specified in sub-paragraphs (2) to (5) are satisfied.

(2) The first condition is that the person is for the time being permitted to use an electronic communication for the purpose in question by an authorisation given by means of a direction of the Secretary of State.

(3) The second condition is that the person uses an approved method of—

(a)authenticating the identity of the sender of the communication where required to do so;

(b)electronic communication;

(c)authenticating any claim or information delivered by means of an electronic communication; and

(d)subject to sub-paragraph (6), submitting any claim or information to the Secretary of State.

(4) The third condition is that any claim or information sent by means of an electronic communication is in an approved form.

(5) The fourth condition is that the person maintains such records as may be specified in a direction given by the Secretary of State.

(6) Where the person uses any method other than the method approved by the Secretary of State of submitting any claim or information, it is to be treated as not having been submitted.

(7) In this paragraph “approved” means approved by means of a direction given by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this Schedule.

Evidence
A claimant has to provide information and / or evidence if requested in order to show they are able to comply with the rules relating to work-related requirements.
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/427386/response/1035443/attach/4/Annex%201.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1

Section 23(3) of the Welfare Reform Act 2012, which states:“The Secretary of State may, for the purpose of verifying the claimant’scompliance with a work-related requirement, require a claimant to—(a) provide to the Secretary of State information and evidence specified bythe Secretary of State in a manner so specified;(b) confirm compliance in a manner so specified.”This requirement is underpinned by two sets of instructions for handling Universal Credit claimants in both a Full Service area and a Live Service area. These instructions are attached as Annexes 1 and 2, respectively

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/427386/response/1035443/attach/3/FoI%203564%20Response.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1

What do I do with my journal?

Your online journal is used to maintain your Universal Credit claim
https://www.learnmyway.com/files/Universal-Credit-Your-Online-Journal.pdf

To Do’s
A To Do is a task left for you by your work coach. You’ll need to complete these as soon as possible to continue to get Universal Credit
Using your online account

Your online account

You will use your online Universal Credit account to:
https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/already-claimed/if-you-have-an-online-account/

Digital Strategy

16. Change legislation or internal processes which prevent services from being delivered online, and build in flexibility to allow for continuous improvement

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/193901/dwp-digital-strategy.pdf

Universal Jobmatch was initially voluntary, but then became mandatory via a Jobseeker's Direction.  There always been good reason why claimants cannot use on-line services, but JCP staff often ignored their own guidance.  

My top Tip
Only use your UJ to your advantage

Just saw this now. You say "Only use your UJ to your advantage", but your advice seems to be suggesting that the DWP rules are reasonable and that we should follow them. How is that an advantage? I ask this as a genuine question and not as sarcasm.

Caker wrote:@Pintel, you are so right.
Also, the UCj also makes it possible for you to raise queries about things such as UC rules and regs, which JC workers are supposed to be able to help with. These can be generic queries, not necessarily specific to your claim. If they are busy keeping up with those activities they will not have so much time for scrutinising your activities.

This is perhaps the only tip we need.

Committed Claimant wrote:Mr F

“CC Can you quote where ND has said UC Journal can be totally ignored and not included in a UC CC?”

I can’t quote where ND said that, nor have I said that he ever did, if that is what you are implying.

What I did say was: “You have rightly acknowledged that both ND and I have accepted that there are grounds for not signing up to The Universal Credit Journal.”

What ND actually said was: “This is a good reason for not using your Journal to record your work search.” He goes on to give those reasons. He wrote this in a post this morning.

You repeated that remark word for word in your post also this morning, you even added a link to where he posted it. If you read your own post you will find it. Sometimes it seems to me that you don’t follow this discussion but just throw a spanner in as you pass by.


The ‘What do they know’ link that you provided says exactly what you quote:

“It is not a mandatory requirement for the claimant to provide the required work search evidence via their journal...

“It is not mandatory for the claimant to upload their CV onto the journal...”

Not only did I know that, but I’ve been repeating it regularly during discussions. It also appears in many of the numerous links that you and others have posted. I don’t understand why you post it again here now, what do you want me to say or do about it?

I’m not sure whether the rest of your posts refers to what you think, your impressions of what you have read, your interpretation of anything I may have said, or what. I can just about manage to answer questions if put one at a time preferably. I can also answer for anything I said. I can’t answer for anything you claim that I said but didn’t say.

To that end I am baffled by what you mean by this:

“Useful approach, when unpacking issues. Can a claimant outright refuse to provide/show their CV to a 'coach', with no risks of sanctions, claim closure or claim suspension, as no social security law makes any reference to a CV, or am I wrong and it is included in social security law for likes of JSA and UC? How can a claimant 'evidence' having an up to date CV, yet not provide/show their CV to a 'coach'?”

Are you referring to something you believe I said, asking me, or telling me something?

Good points. I often find that Frank's posts are convoluted, chaotic and side-tracking. I'm sure he means well, but his presentation skills leave much to be desired.