Jobseekers tricked into being eligible for Mandatory Work Activity

If you are issued an code LFW1 “Looking for work” form – it might be in your best interests to avoid filling it in and refuse into surrendering it for their use and abuse.

Work Programme Network has formulated a potential 8 categories of circumstances that will form someones eligibility (or chance of eligibility) onto the Mandatory Work Activity scheme. Six are as proposed by DWP, one is of claimants deemed not to be meeting the jobseeking conditions (due to this being granted as how Jobcentre Plus advisers will judge eligibility although strangely enough neither of the six proposed conditions are consisting of that) and the final one category is basically “none of the above”: even if its rare, due to the eligibility being discretion based there will be advisers over the 4 years referring someone due to dislike over other criteria.

Just to recap what this “questionnaire” (that isn’t anonymous) is for:

• Checking you are adhering to your Jobseekers Agreement
• Checking if you are Actively Seeking Employment
• Checking if you are Available for Work
• Checking if you are eligible by your own admission into the Mandatory Work Activity scheme
• Checking if you have applied for jobs (that were not Jobseeker Directions) for any employer names you specify on such form
• Checking if you have registered for recruitment agencies and jobsearch websites
• Tricking the claimant into stating they are not ready for work by means of misleading questions

This can result in:

• Eligibility to the Mandatory Work Activity scheme, and/or
• Sanction doubts deemed to be from not meeting the “jobseeking conditions” – up to 6 month benefit sanctions; or
• Claim closed

This form (although implied) isn’t mandatory, however, if you allow the Jobcentre Plus to trip you up; this form although not signed will be used against you.  If you aren’t looking for work I hope you lose your benefits but its not fair for the rest of us jobseekers to be tricked into benefit sanctions.

In regards to this LFW1 form being posted or randomly handed in… the fact that its not signed means it cannot legally be attributed to you, however when you are at an signing on appointment which you are legally obligated to declare any work or change of circumstances, it will be claimed an implied contract of the disclosure of such content was made.

This is why it asks for jobseekers to submit such at the beginning of the “discussion” this is so your signature when you sign on makes such questionnaire attributed to you. Perhaps they will get you to sign to say you have handed it over.

In some cases you might be asked to complete such questionnaire during such appointment – you must refuse.

It is absolutely useless as an anonymous questionnaire, so arguing for your name to be removed and filling in another without such information, will only result in the adviser sticking those details in at a later date.

My suggestions are:

• If we all refuse it, it becomes less likely that we will be placed on the Mandatory Work Activity scheme as default due to refusal to complete it (initially there is only a set number of placements)
• There is no law requiring anyone to complete the questionnaire
• Avoid being tricked into benefit sanctions
• Let the adviser know you are looking for work (as you have been asked to prove every 2 weeks)
• Let the adviser know the types of jobs you looking for etc. are located on the Jobseekers Agreement