You must use a Universal Credit journal to provide your CV or Jobsearch record?

Below is a details of an FOI request on claimant’s being required to provide their CV or Jobsearch record to a  Work Coach via the claimant’s own Universal Credit account journal. There are a number of FOI requests on this and similar topics, so the comments below explore what options UC claimants can pursue to lessen use of the journal.

https://mrfrankzola.wordpress.com/2017/09/19/you-must-use-a-universal-credit-journal-to-provide-your-cv-or-jobsearch-record/

thankyou zola very interesting read

From Frank Zola's link:

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/427385/response/1039925/attach/html/2/FOI%203563%20reply.pdf.html

Whatdotheyknow wrote:DWP considers that it is generally reasonable to require Universal Credit claimants to have an
up to date CV and to make a public CV available.

 Is a claimants UC journal available to be viewed by the public?

its worse they can make you print it and hand it to the work coach using uc regs to do it

its also the same with your jobsearch evidence you can be made to print it and hand it to your work coach compared to what is described by showing your cv or your worksearch history

ive posted a discussion post so it can be discussed

https://respectfulbenefits.forumotion.com/t663-you-must-use-a-universal-credit-journal#2761

This is a worrying turn of events "claimant’s being required to provide their CV or Jobsearch record to a  Work Coach via the claimant’s own Universal Credit account journal.". As recently the work-roach didn't want to except my written job search evidence , even thou I am not in the  Universal Credit! Is this a back door way to get people to record their job search online via the Universal credit journal/ UJM Account.

Also with the changes to the rules of job-search evidence, has anyone got a list of the new rules. As I can feel a lot of people getting 'sanction' with the changes of the goalposts from the JCP?

This might be worth starting a new thread of job seeking evidence ?????

Just out of interest, has anyone seen one of these UC accounts or the associated journal?

It would be a good idea to know what they look like.

you wont be happy



by a users point of view

For JSA claimants the Jobcentre cannot keep, make a copy of or distribute your CV without your permission, I think because it goes against the DPA. On the old JSA book there was a tick box you had to actively tick to give permission for the Jobcentre to keep your CV which, strangely, has disappeared from the new JSACC!

This makes me think it goes against the DPA for them to copy or keep your CV no matter what regime you're under ( JSA, UC etc.). But I also think it'd be one more case of having to fight it at tribunal if a UC claimant refused to do this. Certainly I can't see how they can force you to make a CV public though as that is clearly a breach of the DPA, unless the CV is presented in a redacted form with your personal info removed which I believe the UC system can do and I don't think there'd be any reasonable argument against that.

ABC wrote:Certainly I can't see how they can force you to make a CV public though as that is clearly a breach of the DPA

Indeed, it's also asking for your identity to be stolen if any old Tom, Dick or Harry "employer" can get access to your name, address and mobile number. I was told by a DWP lackey that such details are omitted by UJ for a "public" CV but until I have actual evidence of that via a third party computer I don't believe a word of it. (No, I don't trust what the DWP says )

The DWP as a whole acts like fraud doesn't occur against unemployed people. They also refuse to recognise the fact that CVs are mass harvested for their data.

What is put forward on
https://mrfrankzola.wordpress.com/2017/09/19/you-must-use-a-universal-credit-journal-to-provide-your-cv-or-jobsearch-record/
is that to use the UC Claimant Commitment as the mechanism to 'agree' to show a CV (or Jobsearch record) as a "printed copy" or via one's own smartphone screen or own digital device and ensure nothing is retained by the DWP.

“...but alternatively they [claimant] could show their coach [a CV] on screen or by printed copy”
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/427385/response/1039925/attach/html/2/FOI%203563%20reply.pdf.html

There is also unresolved issues of how someone who put's their CV and Jobsearch record on Universal Jobmatch, can then be asked to 'agree' for it to be replicated onto the UC journal, as such gives rise to Data Protection Act conflicts, with regards consent. Noting:

‘Universal Jobmatch: Why does DWP need your permission (consent) to access your account?‘ https://refutedarchive.wordpress.com/2015/06/04/unfair/

and

"63. However, the onus is on the claimant to provide evidence that they have
created a profile and public CV by whatever means they choose.

89…the onus is on the claimant to provide evidence of their
jobsearch activity (by whatever means they choose)"
DWP FOI reply 25 July 2017 https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/418038/response/1011868/attach/html/4/Ch%2003%20Using%20Universal%20Jobmatch.pdf.html

Admin wrote:its worse they can make you print it and hand it to the work coach using uc regs to do it

https://respectfulbenefits.forumotion.com/t663-you-must-use-a-universal-credit-journal#2761

What method and tool is used by the Work 'Coach' to communicate to a UC claimant that a UC claimant can be required to "print it and hand it to the work coach using uc regs"?

Any links to the relevant regs on mandating such and the method compliance can be communicated to the claimant?

ive just had a quick look myself frank

even on the second posting on the site of references to uc

https://respectfulbenefits.forumotion.com/t663-you-must-use-a-universal-credit-journal

i cant find it as of yet myself but i think ive read it in one of the documents however i could be wrong and will change and apologise for making that mistake i believe i skimed through your docs and a mention of that you had to hand it to a work coach

im looking now to check if im wrong

J3023 In order to verify that the claimant has complied with a work-related requirement, the Secretary of State can require1 a claimant to
1. provide information and evidence as specified and
2. confirm compliance as specified.
ADM Chapters K1 – K9 provide guidance on the sanctions which may apply to claimants who do not comply with a work-related requirement.
1 WR Act 12, s 23(3)

Example
Gillian is in receipt of UC and she is subject to all work-related requirements. As part of her work-search requirement, she was asked to draw up an up to date CV. This action was recorded on Gillian’s claimant commitment. Gillian’s adviser at the Jobcentre arranges an interview for Gillian to attend to discuss her work search and to bring with her the up-dated CV. The adviser asks Gillian to bring the up to date CV with her to the interview so that compliance with that work-related requirement can be confirmed. J3024 – J3027

The ADM currently includes alternative ways to provide jobsearch information when claiming UC/new style JSA

J3102 Evidence of work search includes
1. evidence from employers, employment agencies or other bodies that the claimant has contacted
2. the claimant’s activity on Universal Jobmatch
3. copies of letters or applications that the claimant has sent to employers online, by post or in person
4. the claimant's uncorroborated written evidence (claimants should keep a record of their job search and other efforts to find work)
5. the claimant's own verbal evidence, recorded by an officer of the Jobcentre Plus office.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/618967/admj3.pdf

J3004 A work-related requirement when imposed on a claimant can be subject to change and can be revoked. The Secretary of State has the power to change or revoke what has been specified or imposed on a claimant1 . 1 WR Act 12, s 24(3)

27Other sanctions
(1)The amount of an award of universal credit is to be reduced in accordance with this section in the event of a failure by a claimant which is sanctionable under this section.
(2)It is a failure sanctionable under this section if a claimant—
(a)fails for no good reason to comply with a work-related requirement;
(b)fails for no good reason to comply with a requirement under section 23.

1. The Data Protection Act
The Data Protection Act controls how your personal information is used by organisations, businesses or the government.
Everyone responsible for using data has to follow strict rules called ‘data protection principles’. They must make sure the information is:
used fairly and lawfully
used for limited, specifically stated purposes
used in a way that is adequate, relevant and not excessive
accurate
kept for no longer than is absolutely necessary
handled according to people’s data protection rights
kept safe and secure
not transferred outside the European Economic Area without adequate protection
https://www.gov.uk/data-protectionhttps://www.gov.uk/data-protection

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2012/5/section/23
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2012/5/section/24
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2012/5/section/27

In a nutshell, the SOS can require a claimant to provide information and evidence as he sees fit.  However, the claimant can disagree /object and the requirement can be revoked or amended.   The information and evidence requirement must be reasonable and in line with the DPA.  

An information request to the Information Commissioner's office may be helpful.

Edit: DWP access to UJ remains unchanged at this time.

A UC Journal cannot be seen by the public.