This week’s article on the illegality of Jobseeker’s Agreements and Claimant Commitments imposed on benefit claimants appears to have caught the attention of the public, and will hopefully catch the eye of the press so that people don’t fall for the con tricks used to deprive them of benefits.
So I thought it would be worthwhile reblogging this post, which shows that (wilful) ignorance and misrepresentation of the law to penalise benefit claimants is nothing new in the DWP. Please share.
Thanks for pulling these stories together. It has greater impact.
I refuse to let DWP have access to my UJM account -as ‘punishment’ I now have to put down every single job reference and email to whom I sent my CV. (Like all the jobs I’ve applied for aren’t genuine as I sink into a pit of debt!)
My CV isn’t public now as I’ve had spam/unwanted texts/scam jobs.
As and when start a job I’m changing my email as a precaution. Fed up.
Furthermore there aren’t the jobs on UJM – most of my job sources are via other sites eg CV-library.Adzuna, the JOB CENTRE will only look for jobs for you on UJM. Avon lady anyone? or distributing catalogues for a career?
I am very sorry to read the Job Centre staff are bullying you.
There is no requirement in law to corroborate your job search evidence:
Corroboration of evidence
01380 There is no rule of law that corroboration of the claimant’s own evidence is necessary 1
But the DM should not accept evidence, from the claimant or anyone
else, uncritically. It needs to be weighed carefully, in the light of the circumstances of the case.
1 R(I) 2/51; R(SB) 33/85
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/251149/dmg-vol1-ch01.pdf
You may wish to point the staff to their own guidance and the legislation.
For your own peace of mind. you may wish to retain a more detailed record. However, there is no requirement to show it to the jobcentre unless the evidence is improbable or self contradictory. If the adviser asks please insist for his or her reasons in writing.
FAO Mary
Is there any requirement in law for a Jobcentre advisor to make a photocopy of a Jobseeker’s written jobsearch diary?
According to the DWPs Universal Jobmatch “toolkit”, Jobcentre personnel “cannot specify how a JSA claimant provides us with records of their jobsearch activity and Universal Jobmatch won’t change this”.
Mind you, Universal Jobmatch is doomed as you might already know – but not until 2016 when the contract with “Monster” ends!
This normally happens if an ‘actively seeking work’ doubt is being raised. DWP must have a bonafide business need for collecting information and/or claimant data.
“This normally happens” to one person I know as a matter of routine – the jobsearch diary is photocopied every fortnight at each signing appointment!
Moreover, the person has never had an “actively seeking work doubt” raised!!
It appears Jobcentre personnel are a law unto themselves!!!
The person may request all information held clerically or on the JC computer about him/her.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-request-for-personal-information
A challenge can then be made, if necessary.