JSA beyond 2 years.

Does anyone have any details regarding 2 years completion of the work programme? We have a volunteer and she has been told that at the end of the 2 years she will have to attend the JCP+ office daily and sign on.

I am being dim and can’t seem to find anything to back, or disprove, that this is the procedure?

I did find this: -

From June 2013 claimants who have been on the Work Programme for two years will have an interview with Jobcentre Plus to determine the support they need to move them towards employment. All claimants will receive flexible support tailored to their individual needs. More intensive support will be given to those who need it, which will include face to face meetings and sanctions for those who don’t take necessary steps to prepare for work.

This would suggest some flexibility and or discretion, any ideas and thoughts greatly appreciated

Thanks in advance.

I have found that the client is re-interviewed by JC+, the amount of work they have to look for is increased and they normally have to agree to a new JSAG. They have in some instances made claimants attend daily and sent them on lots of courses all of which they have done before on the Work Programme.

Bryan,

Thanks for that, sounds similar to what my client has been told. It would be a great shame if she had to stop volunteering here, she is half way through the basic course, as she would have to give it up. Seems crazy that overall she is more likely to be ‘work ready’ if she completes the course with us.

Anyone have the Regs or guidance on this?

Thanks again.

Regs
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/378/contents/made

also

https://www.gov.uk/volunteering/when-people-can-volunteer

Ask your client how many employment related courses they undertook as the Guidance below is from the DMG

Employment related course

94. Claimants who are participating as a full time student in an employment related course can be treated as available and ASE for a maximum of up to 2 weeks and one such course in any period of 12 months. e.g. if claimant attends a course lasting 3 days, they do not have another 11 days banked to use within the 12 months. They can attend one course, up to two weeks within the 12 month period.

95. A week in this case is a period of 7 consecutive days starting on the first day of the course. Attendance on the course must be agreed with an adviser before they start the course.

96. Jobcentre Plus employment or training programmes are not employment related courses.

97. If a claimant wishes to participate full-time in a longer employment-related course, eg 4 weeks, they can only be treated as available and ASE for the first 2 weeks. For the remainder of the course they will be a full-time student and therefore cannot be treated as available for work.

98. An employment related course is a course which will help a claimant acquire or enhance the skills needed for:

· employment; and/or

· seeking employment; and/or

· a particular occupation, for example:

o deep-sea diving course;

o large goods vehicle driving course; or

o a period of trial before employment begins.

99. For a course to be accepted as ‘employment related’ it is not necessary for it to be the type of work that is recorded on the claimant’s JSAg but it must improve their chances of getting a job. A CV writing course would be regarded as employment related if it improved the claimant’s employability.

Bryan,

That is fantastic.

Thanks for taking the time to reply to extensively, it looks like there could be a solution afterall.

Cheers.