Work Health Programme

Hi my name is Roland I am almost 63 and confused as hell with what is expected or required in the Work Health Programme i also noted that the current system is a stop gap untill later this year, when the new plan will be launched that changes the current system as it stands. Timed at the new budget probably

I am from a small town in Northamptonshire and it is like the blind leading the blind off a cliff as i am being asked for a list of things i require from them to help me find work, i have health issues and depression i have not worked now since major surgery in 6 years and have over 2K rejections or i am just ignored by potential employers.

They will not tell you anything and expect you to know what you need without having a clear objective of what i am trying to achieve, my 30 minute meetings last less than 5 usually and i think its frankly just a way to push people into any job to get the tax revenue we would supply! I under went the work assessment check resently and am awaiting a letter telling me to get a job!

Considering i have been trying for 6 years now I am stumped as to what the hell this is trying to achieve, or just anothe bunch of hoops to jump through as the civil service of our wonderful nation went to the same schools as the politicians past and present new governemt included and god forbid the 43 years of work i had put in and 22 years in the army make me lazy or a scrounger as is implied by some attitudes of the staff in our JC Plus. I admit i have all but given up on finding employment i am not allwed to drive anymore and get sod all help or additional benefits to aide me and they wouldn't help if i tried to apply for them.

I am an angry old unemployed man with a lot to offer but due to my health and now depression all employers seem to pass over the CV I regularly submit or update apparently needlessly i could lie on my application for employment as our chief police officer did and ignore my poor health but you get found out quickly as the afore mentioned did.

Sorry for my rant but where can you vent or find help then i found this by accident


Roland

Hello,

How long til you can rightfully claim your State Pension and be free of the world of awful back to work programmes?

Don't feel bad about ranting, it is positively welcomed on this forum.

The Work & Health Programme is a funny one. Designed to make it look like the government are doing something to help people whose health may impact on their ability to work. It's basic aim is to make you more employable by means of a CV workshop or getting you to re-consider the types of work you could still do, that kind of soft thing. In the real world this can mean providers not taking heed of health problems, and more saliently, how employers will perceive them.

Usually with these programmes they are very hands on to begin with and then when they decide someone is too difficult they just go through the motions and park you until the end of the programme. You alluded to the real issue - employers need to see through your health issues and look at the skills you have and how they can make them work for both parties. The problem is that's too hard for the Work & Health Programme so they will try and blame you for having the wrong attitude. A good way of dealing with these fools is just to repeat the same things like I can't make anyone give me a job or remind them that they are supposed to be the professionals guiding you back into work. Be aware, if you are not already, that for them any job they can get for you is a success, regardless of how unsuitable it is for you. They will always push you to the low hanging fruit of retail, hospitality etc.

How many more months have you got to suffer this dirge? Hopefully not many.

Hi Roland333789,

Study this forum as in depth as you can, particularly the WHP as could save you many months of wasted time and heartache.


"They will always push you to the low hanging fruit of retail, hospitality etc." Very true. The great economy and some unaware that half the country are forced to claim benefits' to ...work/survive.

I have no idea as to the length of time i have as they have told me nothing other than what i have read on here, the JCP lady i am dealing with is trying to portray the image of a caring individual but it comes over clearly as false and not heartfelt at all. They have only asked me to write a list of what they can do to help? Considering i have no idae of what they could help with it is senseless, they told me that they may be able to give me a passport to work, with a local employer. Who i am sure is going to be rather unhelpfull and unsympathetic to my needs as the rest have.
It is the early stages, and they say they are trying to guage what I am capable of doing to find work, my skills and experience..blaaaa blaaa

I got put foreward for Cyber Security Training and found myself free online basic training and then discovered it is 3 to 4 years at Uni and 40 -50 K of debt to pay off even if i could get a student loan which i would not in the first place. As at 63 almost i am not going to be able to pay off my debt!

Sherlock they are not are they, it appears that they are attempting the typical Military Mushroom Keep you in the dark and feed you BS Civil service or SA80 as we collectivlt called them as they did not work and you could not fire it!

I have in my journal asked repeatedly what is the objective what am i trying to achieve here as when looking for work i had a purpose hense finding my own training as they canceld all our local stuff recently due to cost issues until October when the budget will be and new rules become law and the changes will appear.. these are the ones the past government put in place to do over the disabled and make us all economically active again there are 20 jobs advertised locally and 1800 applicants already so being at the tail end of a que is where i stand even if my CV got noticed or met the criteria once they see no work in 6 years that ends that as i have lost the work ethic and habbit. Posh way to say you are lazy and not making money tell me about it !!

Roland, apologies if you already know about this and if I sound like a WC, but are you aware of Skills Bootcamps? If work in the digital sector is your thing, there used to be plenty of stuff available, although availability is variable according to region. One good feature is you can do them remotely. They are a government thing and are open to just about everybody, so potentially a bit better than the usual dress foisted on the unemployed. Even making enquiries might get the jobcentre off your back for a bit.

The Work& Health Programme is for 15 months .

The cost of training/student debt just precludes doing anything once you get to a certain point in life when you have no realistic ability to out earn such a whopping debt.

Roland333789 wrote: ... i also noted that the current system is a stop gap untill later this year, when the new plan will be launched that changes the current system as it stands. Timed at the new budget probably
Roland

What plan is this?

Will be the same rinse and repeat as has been over the past 20 years only this time, there will be more stick in the form of financially impacted upon these on certain benefits. Thats my opinion, if it's still ok to have one.

And this "They have only asked me to write a list of what they can do to help?" With that kind of 'tailored help' if they were a business, they'd surely go bust, and quick.

Similar to, 'tell us what you can do, rather than what you can't.' My answer will be, tell me what UK employer can be highly flexible with me taking many sick days per year due to medical conditions, where i can start and finish anytime i want. Answers on a Postage stamp please. All idealistic clap-trap and I'm personally sick of it...literally