Jobseekers Allowance Scandal
Post Categories: DWP • New Deal • Welfare Reform • uk government
Tags: DWP, Jobseeker Agreement, jobseekers allowance, jsa, low income, poverty, unemployment benefit
Jobseekers Allowance: the Scandal (A MUST READ FOR ALL JOBSEEKERS)
How many scandals can there possibly be?! Its becoming crazy now…
Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
As described further here, when unemployment benefit began it was equal to 22% of average male earnings. By the 1980′s it was still 21% of average earnings. In 2008, Jobseekers Allowance became equal to 10.5% of average earnings.
Unemployment benefit has decreased!
Although, new taxes have been introduced and existing taxes have increased, beyond inflation, and the conditions behind Jobseekers Allowance have been introduced since the previous system, the equivalent amount has halved.
Jobseekers Allowance Conditions
There are numerous conditions that unemployed people who wish to claim benefit has to adhere to in order to receive it. I am generally in favour of this system – it has got rid of the “live on benefit” lifestyles – and makes it fairer.
The problem is not just the fact this amount has halved (and cost of living has significantly increased) BUT you now have to do activities to look for work (which cost money) out of that budget.
What is Jobseekers Allowance for?
Jobseekers Allowance is what the law says is the minimum amount of money you can live on. It covers food, bills, clothing, appliances (kettle, toaster, fridge etc.) and in some circumstances shelter.
Housing
Housing Allowance/Housing Benefit exists but not everyone can claim. If you rent (or pay contributions) to a place owned by a relative (regardless of how close and sometimes even with a friend), even if you have a tenancy agreement, rent book and evidence on your bank statement that you pay out a certain amount of money to them every month, you will not be able to claim. This means some people have to pay for their shelter too out of their Jobseekers Allowance (JSA).
The Cost of Seeking Employment
Of course, Jobseekers Allowance requires other deductions (and the bastards make it taxable income) such as costs of finding employment. We will work out the bare minimum that is expected of every Jobseeker.
Attendance
Of course you will need to attend the Jobcentre – travel costs are all claimable apart from attending labour market declarations (“signing on”) appointments – even though you need the money upfront before being reimbursed; for the purposes of this we will not include it.
(Location, Price one way, price both ways, cost per year, cost per month, cost per week)
Cardiff £1.50 £3.00 £81.00 £6.75 £1.56
Glasgow n/a £3.20 £86.40 £7.20 £1.66
Ipswich £1.70 £3.40 £91.80 £7.63 £1.77
London n/a £3.80 £102.60 £8.55 £1.97
Manchester n/a £4.00 £108.00 £9.00 £2.08
(may not be the cheapest fares, passes may get cheaper travel, includes weekly signing period too)
We will take an average of the weekly cost in this example: total travel is £1.81 per week.
Telephone or mobile
In order to be able to be contacted about a job you will need to be contacted by phone from the employer. You also require the use of a phone to ring up employers to apply for jobs. Public phone boxes are not included because you can’t be contacted back (unless you live in one).
(Type, line rental, cost of minimum calls (approx), total a year, total a week)
BT (British Telecom) (landline) £11.25 £5.00 £195 £3.75
NTL/Virgin Media (landline) £11.00 £5.00 £192 £3.69
Orange (mobile) £34.25 inc. £411 £7.90
Vodafone (mobile) £25.00 inc. £300 £5.77
(doesn’t include installation costs or additional services, mobiles are contract (PAYG has initial upfront payment of phone and also cost of credit top-ups) – includes some free credit – both types exclude personal calls)
We will take an average of the weekly cost in this example: cost of being contactable is £5.28 per week.
Writing to Employers
Jobseeker Agreements (JSAg) change depending on the person and so does what people do to look for work. A lot of applications are done online these days – either via a website or CV’s sent by email… (computers can sort applications out so humans are not required for short listing anymore, hence the popularity with them)
In this example, we will assume that 3 letters/CV’s are sent a week. For this example we will not include costs of making letters (i.e. electricity) and printing (paper, ink etc.) – but will include the envelopes.
Envelopes are expensive but we will use some from a cheap £1 store. Jobseeker will use around 3 packs costing £3 in total in an entire year. First class stamps cost 39p for small letters – works out as £60.84 a year (if prices not increase). You could use second class; application forms would be large letter and heavier so would cost more.
This works out at £1.23 per week – just for sending 3 CV’s.
This gives a grand total of £8.32 – almost £10 per week for the minimum, I will not covert it in to a percentage of the full weeks benefit money to soften the blow.
Further costs of finding employment
Of course, there is more to securing employment than the initial enquiry, sending a CV and sending an application form. You will need to attend interviews… You could have the clothes already but you may not. You will need some decent clothes to show you at your best. Then there is travel costs.
Catch 22
In order to claim unemployment welfare benefit (a lifeline of the minimum you need to live on – or as the law sees it) you have to seek work. Even when receiving that benefit, the benefit covers only the minimum costs to live on and applying for jobs isn’t about living, its not essentials to living, it is desirable.
So is this a defence for those that don’t bother looking for work?
Politicians continuously go on about people claiming who don’t bother looking for work: maybe they can’t afford it?
Requirements
An £10 a week additional allowance (similar to the £15 training allowance, idea) is required to fill this gap.
Link Summary
33 Responses to “Jobseekers Allowance Scandal”
- £250 million cut to Housing Benefit: claimants plunged deeper into poverty « DWP New Deal Scandal
- Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) falling? « Job Hunting John
- £1.2 billion DWP Fraud: DWP Underspend, Claimants struggle « New Deal Scandal & Welfare Reform
- New Deal Scandal & Welfare Reform: network snippet « New Deal Scandal & Welfare Reform
- Housing Poverty: action required now! « New Deal Scandal & Welfare Reform: Flexible New Deal and Welfare Reform Bill
- Benefit scroungers are Britains most annoying pet hate « New Deal Scandal & Welfare Reform: Flexible New Deal and Welfare Reform Bill
- Available for Employment: Jobseekers Allowance terminology « Jobseekers Allowance Advice:
- Is Jobseekers Allowance actually enough to live on? « Flexible New Deal | New Deal Scandal: Leading Welfare Reform proposal concerns
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But some places, take the first £4, from the travel ticket from a person, so the mythical training allowance is realy £11.
£15 for a weekly travel pass, you get £15 per week extra. but since you have to pay the first £4. its only £11 allowance
the a4e where i went (not mentioning where but can send you a copy of what was said), they had a meeting, i made notes.. apparently they were only contracted to provide water to clients, and the coffee and tea, were there as gifts from a4e
the clients joked.. that it was for them all to go to the pub in the afternoon on the friday.
Morning Ipswich,
Thought this may be of interest to you.
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2009-07-14a.284572.h
I usually ‘see’ you on Harpymarxs’ blog
Like horses muck I get around
lol
I think the information on this site should not only be expanded upon but this government should be held to account for the fact that more and more people are living below the poverty line. Is it possible to find out how the government work out the amount of jsa that an individual should have to live on? As this amount is no doubt below what is needed and therefore putting people further into debt should the government not be made to repay those that have been put in this position!
My husband has been waiting for 8 weeks for allowance incomed baised, many phone call still no joy, saying they have lost his forms, 3 times I don’t think so, letter of complaint, do they act on them or is it put with the pile of other forms? good job we have family to help us and we got a crisis loan last week! Why isn’t the top dogs doing something…like everyone else we have worked, be 40 yrs now and as a tax payer we are treated like this as many others are
how do you live on £64pw
nicholas godwin Says: how do you live on £64pw
answer: I’ve been eating Shredded Wheat for every meal for the past 10 months and maybe once a week some strawberries. After bills and debts I’m left with about £3 a day for food. I’ve been overdrawn at the bank for the past 2 years and just can’t get into the black. I’ve been wearing the same two trousers and same two shirts for two years and the same pair of second hand shoes every day that someone gave me. If I could find an interview to go to, in theory I wouldn’t be able to afford it and in practise I doubt it too.
J O B S E E K E R S…..IT IS ALL A CON & THE VAST MAJORITY WILL BE FORCED ONTO WORK TRIALS a.ka. Y.T.S AFTER 12 MONTHS,EVEN FOR MIDDLE AGED PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED ALL THERE LIFE. THERE ARE VERY FEW JOBS & ABUNDANCE OF PEOPLE(2000+)PER VACANCY IN THIS AREA.TRANING & FURTHER EDUCATION IS NOTHING MORE THAN A GESTURE. £300 PER PERSON WILL BUY YOU NEXT TO NOTHING AS FAR AS COURSES GO!BUT THEY WONT GIVE YOU THE MONEY UNLESS YOU CAN PROVE THAT THERE WILL BE A JOB AT THE END .WHAT!!..SO AN EMPLOYER IS GOING TO HANG ABOUT WHILE YOU DEAL WITH ALL THAT NONSENCE!!IVE BEEN BULLIED& THREATENED & FORCED TO SIGN AGREEMENTS UNDER DURESS.LEARN ABOUT YOUR RIGHTS & QUESTION EVERYTHING BECAUSE THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING,& WHEN THE THATCHERITES GET INTO POWER,IT WILL ONLY BE WORSE!
The reason why the “live on benefits lifestyle” you refer to may have ended is precisely because benefits are now so small and only seem (like tax credits) to be given to people who are actually still working.
I’m generally against the current system, particularly the stopping of your first 6 months benefit if you leave your job voluntarily. Its the same kind of daylight robbery as the retention by central government of money earned from council house sales.
There is a much bigger debate to be had here about the virtues of a mutually cooperative, financially fair, mutually beneficial relationship between government and citizen. If central and local governement to take my money in direct and indirect taxation I should expect to get the same or equivalent money back in services and benefits.
Where JSA is concerned that simply doesnt happen. If I work and choose to leave my job voluntarily, my hard earned taxes and benefits are kept forever. I dont get it back later. I dont get it back in the form of other benefits while I am actively seeking work (which I have no problem with). Its a ripoff pure and simple.
It would be a better arrangement if the system was reversed i.e, you get increased benefits for the first six months after which you either get 3-6 month extensions or graded reductions based on means and circumstances behind and after leaving your last job.
with regard to written job applications use cheap envelopes from poundland use the cheapest paper available write the letters dont print them out send all applications second class post and if you know the closure date post the letter in a post box where the uplift is after 4pm that way the letter will be delayed especially if you have been submitted for it by the jc idiots this way the letter arrives after the closure date but ensure you date the letter the same date as your signing day dont worry about the postmark most arent legible and most employers wouldnt look at the postmark anyway
if you need copies of your cv ask at the jobcentre but only when THEY SUBMIT YOU FOR A JOB say ive only got one cv left and my printers broken any chance of half a dozen photocopies my jc would photocopy my cv for me lets face it it saves printer ink and they are the twats making you apply for the job so why shouldnt they contribute a bully ea told me that i was responsible for job application costs not the jc if this is the case why was it that job clubs supplied paper, newspapers, stamps, use of phone, telephone directories mind you job clubs were a waste of space i know several people who were at job club for six months yes six months and you think 13 or 26 weeks on new deal is bad and none of then got a job through jobclub.
the trouble with jobclub was a) you had to apply for jobs in england(why? an unemployed person in manchester for example is more entitled to the job than someone from scotland) B) some of the jobs you were put forward for even if they were newspaper adverts refuse and guess what they sanctioned your benefit luckily jobclubs were done away with dont remember when possibly when new deal was introduced
dont forget it was KEN CLARKE a TORIE chancellor who introduced jsa not the labour party
Did anyone know that the government are paying benefits to people from Europe three months after they left the UK?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/3381173/Returning-Polish-workers-encouraged-to-keep-claiming-British-benefits.html
There are thousands of people in Britain not getting benefits when they should be.
Is this supposed to be news to me? Where have you been for the last 30 years? Oh, in a plush job right?
Your comments interested me while I agree benefit payments are not as high as many people believe they are as we always hearign stories of people (usually frauduntly) recieve obscene amounts of money throguh the benefits system, where as in reality people on benefits have it tough.
Having said that there are many things you may not be aware of.
The cost of attending any appointment the jobcentre has direct you to go to can be reimbursed.
If you have been invited to an interview outwith your local area you can ask for payment through the travel to interview scheme.
You can get clothes for your interview throught e advisor discresion fund providing you can prove you have an interview.
You can use the warm phones in teh job centre to apply for jobs.
The jobcentre will post on any applications or CV’s if you ask tehm to, as postage is very expensive.
I hope these solutions help you in your quest to find work.
Good luck.
FND: Regarding using the phones in the Jobcentre to apply for jobs, you can do this. You usually have to press 9 for an outside line then enter any phone number as normal.
With the ADF, we get a voucher for £100 to spend at Burtons. Any change due would likely be at the discretion of the store.
Yes good point. I am currently chasing DWP about this. No law allows this deduction it is only mentioned in the Provider Guidance which is contractual and because statutory laws always take preference it is unlawful.
For example, if someone got your permission (via an agreement i.e. contractual) to be killed, they would still be prosecuted for murder.
What we noticed in Ipswich was you exceed the £11 difference by buying food everyday. That is around a budget of £2 per day.
As far as I understand as far as employment goes, businesses have to supply water, and coffee/tea but with the latter they can charge a fee for.
Training centres… I am not sure if the contract even states this, however, I am sure water would be a minimum requirement.
As “gifts” takes the piss. They mean they use it to say they are treating New Deal participants properly when it is so far from that truth.
Thanks for sharing the link.
Yes, I usually visit and comment on harpymarx’s blog.
Are you the Rosemary from there?
I remember that when I made my first claim for the very first time… it was around 7 weeks wait.
That was… one attendance to the new jobseeker interview, and signing on 3 times… BEFORE getting even a penny (even though I was presumed to have been “in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance” and receiving payment – so if you did any work while signing on and notified them once you finally received the actual payment asking them to recoup the difference they would launch a benefit fraud investigation on you).
Do not believe all this b*llsh*t about it taking time to process claims – thats nonsense – I have heard of numerous benefit fraudster recently that claimed for both JSA and Housing Allowance while owning the house (yes in their name – surely they would check that?!).
I recently didn’t receive my money through – I rang up the BDC – they told me “its not due until tomorrow” (thats 6 days after signing on) and I realised that it was sent directly by DWP under “D W P ADVICE CONFIRMS” along with a reference number instead of the usual combination of National Insurance number, “DWP” and “JSA”. So if you expect that the Jobcentre didn’t stick your claim through and hence not receiving any money get on to the BDC and they usually send it within a day.
The loosing forms isn’t significant so is very worrying. Happened to me so many times and I am not one of these people claiming over a decade or anything. I have been claiming around a few years (with some short term employment (2-10 months a time) in between).
Did you read up on the news of DWP staff not knowing about Data Protection rules and policies?
The delay for payment and processing times generally are stalling techniques so the Government doesn’t pay out. It does take time to process claims however no where near 8 weeks – payment is 3 days max; any longer you have to wait is deliberate attempt of not paying out. So many people give up and lose their entitlement. Of course, the first payment will take longer than 3 days but no more than 2 weeks including processing the paperwork too.
Complaints don’t normally get you anywhere (although I do recommend it) – I have heard (and seen evidence of) letters backing up racism, threats of appealing to decisions and justification for unlawfully ringing the police on people. Of course these aren’t frank but actions of spin and making excuses i.e. YOU misunderstood what was said, YOU done this and that (which you didn’t) etc. So if you get a response then don’t get upset when it isn’t resolving your problem.
Sarah feel free to email me on newdealscandal [at] live [dot] co [dot] uk if you require any assistance, 8 weeks is taking the piss quite frankly.
Hi Roy – thanks for posting. The problem is and a lot of people don’t understand this… politicians want what they want to do, not what needs to be done or what YOU the public need. Whether you die tomorrow they couldn’t care – you are just a statistic to them… as long as they get their HUGE salary and expenses they are happy. I think they even like destroying the country – it gives them the sense of power of making a difference. We must NOT vote the two main parties in the next General Election – we need to break this cycle and vote in some people who really cares.
I currently rent a place but can’t claim Housing Allowance because I pay it to a family member even though I have an proper agreement and my bank statements prove I make payment every month. I have to pay it from my JSA money so I know how bad it is. I am lucky my rent is very cheap… but this said, its not when it is way over half my monthly JSA income (if I am not sanctioned or had my claim terminated for appointments I wasn’t told of – of course).
I knew about the Child Benefit scam…. the JSA stuff don’t surprise me though…
30 years? We are referring to Jobseekers Allowance which isn’t no where near that old.
Jobcentre Worker:
You may get travel reimbursement for appointments at the Jobcentre…. however, this is only if its not on the day you sign on or if its at a different location to the Jobcentre you normally sign on too. Also, this isn’t automatic, you have to request it – sometimes it means waiting half an hour to get the money back.
(Please Note: this is a reimbursement, that means you can claim it back, you don’t have the money upfront and typically you are waiting to receive the fortnightly payment. Usually New Deal Personal Advisers (NDPA’s) arrange appointments if possible on your signing on day – even though its a Jobcentre Plus arranged appointment you are unable to get reimbursed for them (unless you aren’t signing on that day).)
You can typically apply under the Travel to Interview scheme if you have been given quite a lot of notice to an interview. Generally speaking, you can’t go to an interview and then reclaim the costs afterwards – it all has to be agreed in advance. There are other restrictions also including having to live where you live for atleast 4 weeks, the job must be over 3 months in duration for atleast 16 hours and the interview mustn’t be local (this normally means anything under an hour travel you can’t claim; but typically it doesnt cover the 1.5 hours travel noted on Jobseekers Agreement (JSAg)).
Adviser Discretion(ary) Fund (ADF) might be available for interview clothes. Jobseekers have to contact their NDPA to get an appointment to discuss and (if applicable) to apply. Typically, it is limited to a shirt, tie, trousers and shoes. It is unlikely to get a big award, typically jobseekers are limited to the cheapest available clothes where reasonable quality isn’t a factor. The amounts for each item are recorded and payment organised. If the clothes comes to less than the amount given, the jobseeker has to hand back the difference along with the receipts. If any item of clothing cost more than each individual item then the Jobseeker has to pay the difference. For example, if the jobseeker was awarded say £6 for a shirt and tie (itemised) out of a bigger amount, even if the combined total is still below the total amount, if the shirt and tie cost say £10, the jobseeker has to pay the £4 difference.
The phones at my local jobcentre are solely for ringing the Jobcentre Plus numbers (which have one press buttons specifically assigned). I can assume this is the same at all Jobcentres. You are unable to apply for jobs from there unless by applying for jobs you mean Jobseekers Direct which is solely to find out information about them. Your NDPA (if you have an appointment) might be happy to allow you to make a short phone call to find out about an employment opportunity (be in a job interview, training course etc.) but wont allow you to apply for jobs.
My jobcentre wont post job applications or CV on behalf of jobseekers. NDPA’s are happy to photocopy CV’s if you ask them nicely and it has been known for them to give clients the prepaid envelopes; but they wont post items for you. This is a nationwide policy to prevent “customers” abusing that by sending free letters not applicable to jobs.
What annoys me, is I am about 6 months into my claim and obviously know more about the system then you do, and you are employed by them! The travel reimbursement stuff, the phones and posting are simple, you should know them. The travel reimbursement policy is always specified on letters to appointments – have you not ever seen one?