Seeking advice on leaving the Work and Health program

Hi all.

In January last year I was mandated to the work and health program after being unemployed and claiming jsa for 24 months. In May last year I got a full time seasonal job (worked until October), so ended my benefits claim May. Now, since leaving that job I haven't restarted any benefits claims (I basically saved most of what I earned so that I could avoid claiming or working for a while), however my Work and Health provider is still insisting that I take weekly scheduled phone calls etc and all of the bother of the WHP that I neither need or want at the moment. My question is, given that I'm not claiming any benefit that could be sanctioned, can I simply end my involvement with the WHP provider, or could this affect any future claim I make? Thank you for reading, I hope someone can help answer this, or point me in the right direction.

Yes you can end their involvement with you, even if they "helped" you get the short term seasonal work.

A WHP provider can only contact you if: a) you are in work and you give your consent for them to ring you or b) you are in full receipt of benefits. No other scenario exists. As long as you are living off your own private income (your savings) neither the DWP nor the WHP provider has any right to contact you. Basically, if you say NO to the WHP provider ringing you and they keep on ringing you, it's harassment and you can report them to the police.

As for any comeback from the DWP if you do reclaim benefits (which will be UC, not JSA) you might have to complete any remaining time left on the WHP. However, your refusal to have anything to do with the WHP provider while you were a private citizen, is not the basis for a sanction or refusal of a new claim (for UC), unless you were sacked or left your last job voluntarily, which doesn't seem to be the case here.

Ask the person who insists that you take weekly phone calls where in their contract with the DWP it says they can ring a person who is not in work and is not claiming benefits. I would be interested in their reply.  

If you can, just block their number. I ended my involvement with the Work programme (because I had no claim in place) and there were no consequences at all even though I needed to claim again some time after.

I had a claim in place and still told them don't contact me until we have agreed contract. They'll have a bloody long wait for that day to happen. Or put it this way. To tie me to it in a way they'd like.

This was when I was asked to attend the great opportunity of the WHP. I wrote to them to decline consent and blocked all their office number's. They like to call from offices outside your local area in the hope of you will pick up and divert your call

My other pet hate is roachshop using their free call 0800 method.

Devlad111 wrote:Hi all.

In January last year I was mandated to the work and health program after being unemployed and claiming jsa for 24 months. In May last year I got a full time seasonal job (worked until October), so ended my benefits claim May. Now, since leaving that job I haven't restarted any benefits claims (I basically saved most of what I earned so that I could avoid claiming or working for a while), however my Work and Health provider is still insisting that I take weekly scheduled phone calls etc and all of the bother of the WHP that I neither need or want at the moment. My question is, given that I'm not claiming any benefit that could be sanctioned, can I simply end my involvement with the WHP provider, or could this affect any future claim I make? Thank you for reading, I hope someone can help answer this, or point me in the right direction.

Hello devlad111, welcome to this site.

Send an email or letter to the provider notifying them that you are withdrawing consent to being contacted and the removal of your data.

Withdrawal of consent

Name
Address
Date of Birth
Contact details

I wish to disengage from the Work & Health Programme and withdraw my consent to [name of provider] using my personal data with immediate effect.

I am no longer claiming any benefits following a period of work. In these circumstances I am not required to participate in the W&HP.



Signature __________________ Date ___________


If you wish, you can also request all the data the W&HP holds about you.

Early completers of the WHP
26. An early completer is someone whose time on the WHP ends before the 456 calendar days’ time on the programme is reached.
27. A Participant will complete the WHP early in the following circumstance:
Participant reaches earnings threshold or self-employed claim fully validated
28. Where a Participant obtains employment and reaches the earnings threshold, or a self-employed claim is fully validated, they will complete the programme.
29. When the final outcome payment in respect of the Participant has been made by DWP to you, the line will automatically close in PRaP.
30. Participants may also complete the WHP early in exceptional circumstances, which would result in the programme no longer being appropriate:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/work-and-health-programme-provider-guidance/chapter-11-programme-completers-and-early-exits

Let us know how you get on please.

and could add this for good measure:

EU GDPR Article 7 (3) - Conditions for consent
3. The data subject shall have the right to withdraw his or her consent at any time. The withdrawal of consent shall not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal. Prior to giving consent, the data subject shall be informed thereof. It shall be as easy to withdraw as to give consent.
 

The above act of law has no post affect because of the United Kingdom's Brexit.

Always like to remind them in red highlight.

I have a friend whos been on some kind of "specialist" help course and was for the first 4 weeks conducted by Zoom method. However, as the connection kept repeatedly breaking down, the 'provider' company, has told her she MUST go in and attend the course in person. What a bloody joke these people are. I'd insist that they fix the connection at their end as mine is all working fine  .I knew they'd start to play this game eventually, as they cant micro bully people in the way they want.

Not sure if this is an introductory course to the WHP 2 year sentence. Maybe she's just on another provider specialist course. Which once fully taken, ''will get you back into work quicker and remain in it for longer'' .