Respondents to a #PCS staff survey disagree with the government that #UniversalCredit will meet its stated aim of giving claimants the tools to help them transform their lives. Hear our general secretary Mark Serwotka on @C4Dispatches on Channel 4 now https://t.co/gP1NcLgO89 pic.twitter.com/2GXBrqJovg
— PCS Union (@pcs_union) May 7, 2018
Channel Four Dispatches Lifts the Lid on Universal Credit.
Last night’s Channel Four Dispatches on Universal Credit was a thorough dismantling of the last pretensions of this failed system.
The Government is introducing the new Universal Credit in the biggest welfare reform in a generation. It is claimed the new benefit is helping people back into work, Dispatches investigates claims the new system is a shambles.
A mess is polite.
Some cases stuck out: the disabled single parent who ended up surviving on food banks, and who stands to lose £2,000 a year from the regime, the man who found that being self-employed lone parent of two children under Universal Credit was no longer financially possible, and the man who went from being a food bank volunteer to being a user.
It’s worth noting that Esther McVey did not appear, only one of her minions Alok Sharma Minister of State for Employment.
Sharma, somebody nobody’s heard of till now, apparently has responsibility for,
- Universal Credit, including labour market aspects and overall programme management
- employment strategy and labour market interventions, including:
- conditionality and sanctions
- youth employment
- women’s employment
- black, Asian and minority ethnic employment
- Fuller Working Lives
- New Enterprise Allowance
- Jobcentre Plus, partnership working and employer engagement
- EU and international affairs, including support to the Secretary of State on Brexit
- support to the Secretary of State on devolution
“Prior to entering Parliament, Alok qualified as a chartered accountant with Coopers & Lybrand Deloitte, and then worked for 16 years within banking, first with the Japanese firm Nikko Securities and then Enskilda Securities (the investment banking arm of SE Banken), where he held senior roles based out of London, Stockholm and Frankfurt, including serving as a member of the bank’s Corporate Finance Global Management Committee.”
With this background it’s not surprising that he took the Bertie Wooster line of stout denial in the face of evidence of the misery he and his boss are inflicting.
Waits, muddles, mistakes, and…..
“Some 70% of DWP staff say the roll out of Universal Credit should be stopped”!
Civil servants’ concerns over Universal Credit roll out
The latest episode of Channel 4’s Dispatches series, aired last night, focused on the roll-out of Universal Credit.
Research for the programme found two in three staff working on the flagship welfare reform – which combines a number of working-age benefits into a single payment – think it should be paused.
The programme raised concerns about staff shortages and timeliness of payments. The Department for Work and Pensions described the survey, of 550 union members, as “small, self-selected and flawed”. Here is the Mirror’s report on the programme and research findings.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has called for housing and health to be more joined up. The i newspaper published a piece about this over the bank holiday weekend. Mr Burnham has also previously called for Manchester to get its own welfare budget.
Two-thirds of frontline Department for Work and Pensions staff have said the roll-out of crisis-hit Universal Credit should be stopped, a Channel 4 investigation reveals.
Most DWP Frontline Staff ‘Say Universal Credit Should Be Scrapped’
Shock poll suggests misgivings among benefits officials.
Some 70% of DWP staff say the roll out of Universal Credit should be stopped according to a survey carried out by a trade union.
The Public and Commercial Services Union poll found 79% of respondents felt there was not sufficient staff to meet demand from claimants.
The union, which represents frontline DWP staff, many of whom work in high street job centres, polled 550 of its members for a new Dispatches documentary.
A whistleblower who currently works for the DWP told the programme: “Sometimes we’ll have a couple of people on our team on leave or off sick and then the work really piles up at that point and these claims have not been given the due attention they deserve.
A lot of [claimants] can miss their payments… It could mean that they won’t be able to eat for another couple of days, it’s very tough on them.”
In response to the survey, a spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions said: “We strongly dispute these claims entirely and this is an extremely small, self-selected and flawed survey that is unrepresentative of our staff delivering Universal Credit.”
Universal Credit is a flagship benefit reform which replaces six individual benefits with one monthly payment.
But it’s been beset by problems in its roll out amid claims it has led to a surge in foodbank use and poverty.
It was claimed last month that thousands of claimants were losing 40% of their benefit to pay back DWP debts.
The Dispatches documentary found that despite sweeping changes to the way Universal Credit works last year, many claimants continue to suffer hardship.
Mark Serwotka discussing Universal Credit on C4 Dispatches
Our general secretary Mark Serwotka will be appearing on the Dispatches programme “Britain’s Benefits Crisis” on Monday May 7th 7.30pm Channel 4.
The roll out of Universal Credit (UC) has been a disaster for people on benefits. It is driven by the government’s choice to cut public services and is inflicting misery on those who need a supportive benefits system.
We have consistently made representations to DWP about the level of stress existing across Universal Credit Service Centres and, increasingly now, in the jobcentres, where staff are also being used to clear UC tasks. Despite this, DWP has refused to work with PCS.
Our members in DWP are under huge pressure and are suffering due to the chaotic reforms taking place, job cuts and the closure of offices.
They are fully aware of the devastating effects of this policy on the most vulnerable members of society which is why our union is calling for the roll out to be suspended immediately.
Please tune into the programme and if you are on Twitter, follow our live updates during the programme at @pcs_union
Ipswich Unemployed Action. 
Reblogged this on BertieS.
AnnoyedIrishMan
May 8, 2018 at 9:45 am
Most ,DWP staff, Not sure about that one, there are many like my ex wc.
painkillersworking
May 8, 2018 at 10:05 am
Reblogged this on disabledsingleparent.
mili68
May 8, 2018 at 10:24 am
Jobcentre Plus, partnership working and employer engagement
Should think about that one!
painkillersworking
May 8, 2018 at 11:02 am
Making their hide’s pay sounds more like it!
Universal Credit plunges Huddersfield people into debt … and food bank into crisis
Welcome Centre reveals the staggering increase in demand on its vital service
https://www.examiner.co.uk/news/universal-credit-plunges-huddersfield-people-14613281
ken
May 8, 2018 at 12:31 pm
The situation in Huddersfield is fairly typical and indicative of what’s happening all over the country, but with one exception, Huddersfield is also (below Southend, Essex) at the top of the league for Low Pay. This is due to the demise of Industry and the lack of quality jobs:
https://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/huddersfield-workers-among-worst-paid-14604553
This situation has not arisen over night and has been the case for quite some time yet the DWP, however, remain in denial and have continued to trot out their usual lies:
“Jobs market in Huddersfield said to be ‘buoyant’ – Jo Ledgard, of Huddersfield Jobcentre Plus”
https://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/jobs-market-huddersfield-said-buoyant-14038531
trev
May 9, 2018 at 1:13 pm
[…] https://intensiveactivity.wordpress.com/2018/05/08/channel-four-dispatches-lifts-the-lid-on-universa… […]
Channel Four Dispatches Lifts the Lid on Universal Credit. | Ipswich Unemployed Action. | Britain Isn't Eating
May 8, 2018 at 1:36 pm
One mentally ill man, who couldn’t navigate the Universal Credit system, left for three months without a penny to his name driven into debt, rent arrears and despair due to mistakes and delays in dealing with his Universal Credit claim. Two of the ladies who appeared were driven to the edge of suicide: one stopped at the brink because she couldn’t bear to think of the desolation her death would inflict on her son; the other lady did take and overdose and ended up resuscitated by her local hospital. Another man, a self-employed single parent, lost his home, children, dog and job because he was unable, despite his best efforts, to earn enough money taxiing every month to qualify for Universal Credit entitlements.
Truly awful real-life stories illustrating how Universal Credit impacts upon and victimises the poorest and most vulnerable people most severely, even families with very young children which most normal people would find shocking if they knew. With over SIX MILLION claimants on legacy benefits destined to be migrated onto the flaky Universal Credit system by 2022, how an atrocious and catastrophic social policy failure like this possibly be allowed to continue to its terminus?
Percy S.
May 8, 2018 at 4:27 pm
De-population at work, it’s the goal of many Govs.
depopulation
May 9, 2018 at 10:53 am
I wish Labour in the Commons would bring these kind of cases up.
As it is we have this:
Andrew Coates
May 9, 2018 at 1:08 pm
Unfortunately today is Tuesday & I’ve only just heard of this tv documentary, so ive obviouslymissed it. Hopefully Jeremy corbyn watched it (if he wasn’t listening to the Archers). As for the PCS, those Class Traitors who work in the Jobcentre should have gone on strike years ago.
trev
May 8, 2018 at 4:32 pm
[…] https://intensiveactivity.wordpress.com/2018/05/08/channel-four-dispatches-lifts-the-lid-on-universa… […]
“Channel 4 Dispatches lifts the lid on Universal Credit” | Ipswich Unemployed Action | COMRADE BOYCIE
May 8, 2018 at 7:55 pm
When even the normally pro-Tory Sun turns against Universal Credit you know that something is very wrong.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/6238118/universal-credit-stops-victims-of-domestic-abuse-escaping-their-relationships/
Ros
May 9, 2018 at 8:21 am
New laws – Never give your landlord the chance to charge you..
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/landlords-fining-for-peanut-butter-in-cupboards-could-get-worse-under-new-government-law_uk_5af21947e4b00a3224ee1282?ncid=newsletter-ukThe%20Waugh%20Zone%20090518
depopulation
May 9, 2018 at 11:02 am
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/is-end-free-press-two-12503081
free speech
May 9, 2018 at 11:13 am
No chance of an easy retirement in a brutal tory regime who now want national insurance squeezed out of the elderly forced to work until they drop.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44042133
Violet
May 9, 2018 at 12:35 pm
MAKE WORK PAY – Just not in this case or that case.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/i-cancel-familys-holiday-because-12506484
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/were-promised-21-hour-just-12468564
It was bad enough just the other day that despite promises made, sexual natured job ads were still being able to be placed on UJ. Now you might be interested to know that TRH Electrical behind this scandal openly advertised on universal jobmatch.
doug
May 10, 2018 at 11:47 am
People are being ripped off by emplyers everywhere, there is a lot of it around here lately, it will no doubt get worse.
whoknew
May 12, 2018 at 11:10 am
This town ain’t big enough for the both of us – Sainsbury and Asda staff in fear of job safety
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/fears-grow-sainsburys-asda-15billion-12449236
Get ready DWP, for me fear the list of public needing welfare subsidies here on out is about to get a little larger and we all know in a gig economy, no one ever escapes needing welfare subsidies.
doug
May 10, 2018 at 11:52 am
How to treat people on benefits with respect, a lesson from Scotland.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/may/07/treat-people-benefits-respect-scotland-social-security-law
Violet
May 10, 2018 at 12:19 pm
But unlike England where a £50 ‘administration penalty’ will apply for ‘mistake’ on a claim form the Scotch will receive 5 years (FIVE YEARS!) in a Scotch dungeon.
Londoner
May 10, 2018 at 1:23 pm
Interesting but will it ever happen in the rest of the UK.
a lesson for the Tories
May 11, 2018 at 10:28 am
A lesson for Labour too.
a lesson for the Tories
May 11, 2018 at 10:43 am
The really worrying thing about the Scottish system is that it appears to equate “dignity” with the naïve belief that fraud doesn’t exist. So, if you want to make a “no questions asked” claim, north of the border is the place for you (until the cash runs out) or the working population say “NO” to paying more and more taxes.
Olivia
May 11, 2018 at 12:07 pm
And why the hell should a disabled person have to prove they are disabled? A rape victim have to prove they have been raped? It is the lack of dignity that is so wrong with the current system.
Sarah
May 11, 2018 at 12:31 pm
We all know ourselves it we are disabled, have been raped. There is no need for bureaucratic pen-pushers with their incessant questions and voluminous paperwork sticking their noses in where they aren’t wanted.
depopulation
May 11, 2018 at 12:38 pm
But unlike England where a £50 ‘administration penalty’ will apply for making a ‘mistake’ on a claim form the Scotch will receive 5 years (FIVE YEARS!) in a Scotch dungeon.
Londoner
May 10, 2018 at 1:24 pm
Universal credit reforms risk ‘crushing’ hopes of self-employed people, warn MPs
Some 5m people are now self-employed, accounting for 15 per cent of the British workforce
A new report by the Work and Pensions Committee said universal credit was “designed with little regard for the reality of self-employed work” and poses a “very real risk” to entrepreneurship and the wider economy.
DWP – “After the initial year, gainfully self-employed people are treated as if they are earning the minimum wage. If they are not and they want to maintain the same level of income, they will be expected to increase their earnings rather than relying on their UC payment.”
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/universal-credit-self-employed-dwp-work-pensions-benefits-mp-business-owners-a8341556.html
whoknew
May 11, 2018 at 10:51 am
There are too many people visiting this site and posting under daft aliases.
Tarquin Fim Bim Lim Bim Wim Bim Bus Stop F'tang-F'tang Ole Biscuit Barrel
May 11, 2018 at 5:39 pm
Nearly half a million ‘hidden’ young people left without state help to survive and find work, ministers warned
The alarm has been raised over a staggering number of “hidden jobless” who have “fallen off the government radar”, despite promises of intensive support to achieve their potential.
The new research has found that 480,000 16- to 24-year-olds are missing out on both benefits and advice – no less than 60 per cent of the official total of young jobless.
All 18- to 21-year-olds are promised “intensive support” from job centre advisers on putting in applications and interview techniques.
If they refuse to take a job, apprenticeship, traineeship or work experience after six months they can be stripped of their benefits
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/young-people-uk-unemployment-poverty-life-state-support-benefits-cuts-a8347401.html
whoknew
May 13, 2018 at 9:58 am
Keep it up people for all.
Tens of thousands protest against wage cuts in biggest march against Tory austerity for years.
Jeremy Corbyn pledges that a future Labour government will hand workers ‘more power’ to fight for higher pay
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/demonstration-london-jeremy-corbyn-tuc-wage-squeeze-austerity-minimum-wage-a8348636.html
whoknew
May 13, 2018 at 10:01 am
T May say’s “trust me” with Brexit, Sorry but the majority can’t trust anyone in Gov with anything.
whoknew
May 13, 2018 at 10:05 am
….FOR THE DWP TO SEND ANYONE ON A WORK AND HEALTH PROGRAMME THEY ARE ASKING FOR YOUR SIGNATURE………. BY GIVING YOUR SIGNATURE YOU ARE DOING FIVE THINGS. 1/ GIVING YOUR EXPLICIT CONSENT TO TERMS AND CONDITIONS. 2/ GIVING CONSENT FOR A MEDICALLY UNQUALIFIED ADVISOR. 3/ ACCEPTING SANCTION CONDITIONS WILL BE IMPOSED FOR NON COMPLIANCE. 4/ ACCEPTING THAT IF ANY ACCIDENT, POOR HEALTH OR DEATH SHOULD SUCCUMB YOU, YOU HAVE NO COMEBACK. 5/ SIGNING UNDER DURESS, AS THE FORM SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT YOUR CLAIM MAY BE STOPPED. …………………………………………………………………………………………….. Work and Health Programme: Participants “must” sign action planning evidence or give reason(s) for not doing so? Dear Department for Work and Pensions, Requests for information (RFI) [9] What benefit sanctions would apply if a Work and Health Programme (WHP participant outright declines to sign any Action Plan [RFI-1] and what sanctions would apply if the same participant declines outright to give any reason [RFI-2] they decline to sign such action plans? Please disclose details of the sanction based Decision Maker guidance that enable sanctions to be applied to a claimants social security benefits because a WHP participant: outright declines to sign any Action Plan/evidence of activities or equivalent [RFI-3] declines outright to give any reason they decline to sign such action plans/evidence of activities? [RFI-4] What specific legislation or other basis requires that a WHP provider participant “must” “sign” and action plan or other record of “all interactions” whilst on the WHP? [RFI-5] and what legislation or other basis requires that a WHP provider participant give a “reason” when they decline outright to do so? [RFI-6] https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/work_and_health_programme_partic#incoming-1155916 5/
Sarah7
May 13, 2018 at 3:44 pm
dont sign anything then and when they ask the reason why say, no comment 😉
superted
May 13, 2018 at 5:44 pm
superted
May 14, 2018 at 12:42 am
Interestingly, this ‘new; ‘Find a Job’ service doesn’t support Internet Explorer 6 so jobcentre cockroaches won’t be able to access it 😉
“Supported browsers
Internet Explorer 8
Internet Explorer 9
Internet Explorer 10+
Microsoft Edge
Firefox
Chrome
Safari 9+
Opera”
https://www.digitalmarketplace.service.gov.uk/g-cloud/services/718300940677552
Linux
May 14, 2018 at 3:55 am
And jobseekers won’t be able to access it on jobcentre IADs (Internet Access Device) or ‘provider’ computers either 😉
Linux
May 14, 2018 at 3:57 am
You can where I live. About half the Jobcentre PCs are Ubuntu workstations with very old (and now insecure) Firefox browsers. Pretty rubbish. They haven’t even installed the ttf-mscorefont package so you can’t really do much with CVs and letters.
Ro
May 14, 2018 at 8:56 am
Find-a-Job is supposed to be online today and I can’t find it.
Ro
May 14, 2018 at 6:23 am
https://www.adzuna.com/
Pe
May 14, 2018 at 7:09 am
I thought they were going to have a different front end. None of this makes sense to me. If Find-a-Job is basically Adzuna, why the heck is the government paying Adzuna millions to run the Find-a-Job site when the service is basically no different from and offers nothing better than the already freely available Adzuna? What a waste of money.
Ro
May 14, 2018 at 8:02 am
‘Jobs’ are still being posted on ujm 😉
Pe
May 14, 2018 at 7:14 am
UJM is still working but due to close and disappear – HURRAH!- in about a month’s time.
Ro
May 14, 2018 at 8:03 am
Known Unknown Unknown Known Plausible Deniability.
Northolt Boy
May 14, 2018 at 10:36 am
Find a Job is here.
https://www.gov.uk/jobsearch
Percy S.
May 14, 2018 at 8:05 am
Sorry. Here’s the correct URL for Find-a-Job:
https://findajob.dwp.gov.uk
Percy S.
May 14, 2018 at 8:07 am
I just tried Find-a-Job and there were no jobs listed within 5 miles of my post code. When I increased the distance to 10 miles I got over 2,000 jobs from all over the UK, most of which were hundreds of miles away. If this is Find-a-Job then it is actually WORSE than Universal Jobmatch, which seems impossible but is the case.
Percy S.
May 14, 2018 at 8:18 am
When I searched on Find A Job, within a 10 mile radius, advertised in the last two weeks, only FIVE local jobs appeared! That’s FIVE JOBS in about THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN SQUARE MILES of where I live! What a useless pile of cr@p. Find A Job is actually worse than UJM.
Ro
May 14, 2018 at 8:52 am
Find a Job records and date/time stamps your ‘activity’ with a convenient ‘Print this Page’. How handy and thoughtful of them.
Your activity
Job views
Searches
Applications (if you click on ‘Apply’ and it goes to an external site it will state ‘via employer’s site’.
Doesn’t offer anywhere to allow DWP access but can see some officious cockroaches demanding print-outs of these logs.
Fa
May 14, 2018 at 9:25 am
They can’t demand that work searches be recorded in any particular way as long as you can produce details as and when required. You can write them out by hand if you wish and there isn’t anything that they can do about it.
Ro
May 14, 2018 at 9:54 am
Showing searches 1 to1 of 1:
Date Search description
14 May 2018, 10:28 Ipswich, page:1, Work Coach
Job views
Date Job description
14 May 2018, 10:30 Work Coach, DWP, Ipswich
Job applications
Date Applications Via
14 May 2018, 10:31 Work Coach, DWP, Ipswich, Employer’s website
*Example given for illustrative purposes only
Zac & Sarah
May 14, 2018 at 9:35 am
The blame game
Seriously disabled pensioner who waited TWO YEARS for benefits blasts ‘disgusting’ Theresa May for ‘shifting the blame’
Theresa May tried to blame the Labour-run Welsh Government – which has no say over Alan’s benefits.
Alan, who also now has prostate cancer, was in hospital when Mrs May was confronted with his case at Prime Minister’s Questions.
After being discharged he told the Mirror: “I thought it was absolutely disgusting. It’s nothing to do with the Labour government in Wales.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/seriously-disabled-pensioner-who-waited-12527468
whoknew
May 14, 2018 at 9:50 am
From Landon to Birmingham then out of Birmingham.
2,000 Birmingham Households Moved To B&Bs Up To 100 Miles Away As Housing Crisis Deepens
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/birmingham-temporary-accommodation_uk_5af3269be4b0a0d601e94325?utm_hp_ref=uk-homepage
whoknew
May 14, 2018 at 10:07 am
https://findajob.dwp.gov.uk/privacy.html
DWP remain the data controller and adhunter (adzuna) act only as data processor.
This means DWP still in full accordance with the law have access to all the data the site collects.
To register or apply for a job on the Website, we will ask for your email address. Optionally, as part of your job seeker profile, you may be asked to provide other information.
As part of your job seeker profile you may upload CVs to send to employers when applying for jobs through the Website.
This gives an air through phrases like optional and or may that not supplying either wont prevent you from applying. We will have to see how true this is.
1: store the results of your jobs searches and job applications within an activity history, so that you can review these at any time.
2: keep a record of when you log into and log out of the Service.
3: We may also collect data relating to your visits to the Website that cannot identify you but records your use of our Website including, for example, details of how long you have used the Website and the number of jobs that have been applied for and when.
4: We may also collect your computer’s IP address in order to help us improve the delivery of and protect the integrity of the Service.
We ask you not to share this password with anyone.
I can only gather DWP will be dropping asking claimants for access. Again we will see how true this is.
In addition, we (or third parties acting on our behalf) may also store or process information that we collect about you in countries inside the European Economic Area. We have put in place technical and organisational security measures to prevent the loss or unauthorised access of your personal information. However, whilst we have used our best efforts to ensure the security of your data, please be aware that we cannot guarantee the security of information transmitted over the Internet.
This means they can/will be allowing your data to travel outside of DPA jurisdiction. Despite the new law, explicit consent is required so know what your registering to as it will be this consent used to facilitate this.
However, we will normally collect personal information from you only (i) where we have your intent to do so, (ii) where we need the personal information to perform a contract with you, or (iii) where the processing is in our legitimate interests and not overridden by your rights. In some cases, we may also have a legal obligation to collect personal information from you
This states without doubt that by registering with the findajob website you are consenting to a lawful contract. This means force/threat or deception cannot be used to gain lawful consent should you disagree in part or all with any aspect of said service/contract.
IT GOES ON AND ON SO DO READ THIS ALL CAREFULLY BEFORE DECIDING TO GIVE CONSENT.
doug
May 14, 2018 at 10:19 am
You’ve all been warned!
whoknew
May 14, 2018 at 11:22 am
Thing is: Will you be able to deny consent to using Find-a-Job? Can it be mandated by Work Coaches with sanctions if you refuse to obey? There seems to be no way to opt out of allowing the DWP access to your account which means that, I suppose, that either the DWP won’t be able to access accounts or will be able to access all accounts as a matter of course – assuming you create an account that is.
So the best advice is: Don’t create a Find-a-Job account and to use the site without logging in.
But will we be able to do this without suffering a penalty?
Percy S.
May 14, 2018 at 11:31 am
Percy S
To a degree despite being an arm of DWP, findajob like UJM requires lawful consent, SO only prior to that point can DWP enforce their right to restrict/remove benefits. Now DWP remain data controller no matter who designs and or maintains the website meaning in order to comply with GDPR that they are required where dictated to under law to ask for lawful consent. Now considering laws are made from politicians to lawmakers, it cant be argued what the legal definition of lawful consent is and constitutes.
As they know this only to well have sought to try to circumnavigate it via CC and it is on the CC that they attempt to impose a sanction whereby a claimant may have lawfully consented to register for a findajob account (more applicable to UC than legacy benefits but does not dis include them).
This means the onus of whether or not to consent to findajob during registration shifts to the claimant.
(IT SHOULD OR I HOPE BE QUITE APPARENT THAT IT IS THIS POINT DURING MAKING A CLAIM THAT THE ISSUE OF DIRECT CONSENT REQUIRED TO REGISTER WITH FINDAJOB BE TACKLED PRIOR TO CONSENTING LAWFULLY TO A CC).
Im doubly sure this will be the point DWP will try to close down the claim and thus interview without looking to engage as they should (civil duty to obey and enforce all laws in correct sequence) in tackling a very valid point even if the person taking the interview doesn’t know the legal response. Protocol as it is their industry is to ask the relevant tier of staff/department at DWP to clarify legally and will if a response cant be found at that time make a record of the date of the interview in the event should the claimant be correct, any time that transpires between then and the ensuing answer be entered as valid dates towards receipt of benefit.
There is no pretext for any judge to rule in DWPs favor on the basis that a person is being unreasonable in not giving lawful consent.
DWP has always been shoot now, hope the person wasn’t innocent or cant prove it kind of operation so often resorts to threats and ransom tactics based on the theory/fact that person is in a financially vulnerable position.
Now many a claimant for whatever reason isn’t always able to grab the bull by the horns (wait 6 plus months to go to court) so also consider why its a condition to register, its not an enforceable one that you do so with your personal data and this includes your CV. Its also worth knowing your free to have as many findajob accounts as you like and that at any given moment can close and or open them meaning you could show proof you’ve opened one but then straight away inform them that you will be closing it down and opening a new one that hasn’t been recorded as proof of. DWP claim they are not interested in access and or tracking unless a claimant agree/consents, that its just a benefit for the claimant and a way to make DWP work easier. If that’s true then they wont keep hounding you.
doug
May 14, 2018 at 5:58 pm
JC are adding “register for FAJ and upload a CV” to CCs and work plan booklets.
The Horses
May 14, 2018 at 6:21 pm
they would have to give you a job seeker direction to open a account but then you could open one take screen shots ect to prove that you did and then just close it down as they can only do a jsd one time.
as when you show them proof of a account it is put on the lms as completed so cant do another jsd for the same thing.
superted
May 14, 2018 at 6:31 pm
The horses
Its only natural to expect DWP to change now or in a months time CCs to reflect the new title.
Like i said in the previous post you either confront the issue at this stage or take option B i gave to use John Doe data in the forming of making a new account while removing certain data from your CV so as to safe guard it.
To also add a layer of security make 2 CV styles (Change profile and job detail description/wording) so if DWP ask to see you have a CV, you can show them one while you publish the other online. This prevents what is shown being digitally compared to findajob, a practice some employers and agencies do to prevent them from giving audience to someone they have already rejected. I would also do the same with mobile numbers even if you only have one mobile phone.
If you wish to prevent searches being useful, simply either open and close accounts on a daily basis, have 2 or more findajob accounts and spread applications or circumvent findajob altogether and either use adzuna itself if job listed (Jobs will come from adzuna) or trace each job to its original source and apply there instead or if its advertsied on a job website like say totaljob for instance of whom you may be a member, apply there instead.
As long as you take these steps be it take on DWP at the CC stage or option 2 to safe guard personal data, you will be just fine.
doug
May 15, 2018 at 9:13 am
You are at liberty to close you Find A Job account at any time if you want to, apparently, with a click of the mouse rather than having to ask someone else to do it hopefully. I’m not sure though. With Universal Jobmatch you had to contact them and ask them to delete your account or not use it for a year, I think it was, when it would self-delete.
Paulie
May 14, 2018 at 1:32 pm
I just created and deleted an account. To create an account all you need is an email address and a password. I wasn’t asked to fill in any name, address, NI number and so forth. You verify you account via a link in an email you get sent and then you can log on. If you want to delete your account you go to “Manage Account” check a box and click a button and you account is gone… at least as far as you are concerned. So unless the DWP can identify you via an email address they won’t know who is doing what on Find-a-Job individually, even if your activities are logged by the system. It’s sensible therefore to keep you email addresses as private as possible.
Ro
May 14, 2018 at 5:50 pm
they kept asking me for a email address i never give them one tho just in case they could find a account like that, not that id use the same one the dwp had anyway 😉
superted
May 14, 2018 at 6:12 pm
MPs warn of universal credit risks for self-employed
https://www.accountancydaily.co/mps-warn-universal-credit-risks-self-employed
ken
May 14, 2018 at 10:54 am
WAy too late
Tory MP who urged jobless people to have vasectomies has warned the party needs to shed its ‘toxic image’
Ben Bradley, who Theresa May put in charge of youth engagement last year, admitted the party is failing to reach under 40s, even with voters who agree with their policies
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/tory-mp-who-urged-jobless-12533481
whoknew
May 14, 2018 at 10:56 am
Having people like him as figureheads is probably one of the main reasons why the Conservatives are dying.
Percy S.
May 14, 2018 at 11:32 am
Lothians worst hit by ‘devastating impact’ of squeeze on rent costs
The number of people falling behind into arrears is also up, according to the report. Almost three-quarters (72 per cent) of social housing tenants in East Lothian claiming Universal Credit were behind on their rent, compared with 30 per cent of all tenants in the region.
https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/lothians-worst-hit-by-devastating-impact-of-squeeze-on-rent-costs-1-4738945
ken
May 14, 2018 at 10:56 am
These f*cking parasites have got no shame!
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/cost-harry-meghan-markle-wedding-12506707
Foxglove
May 14, 2018 at 3:34 pm
It’ll be wall to wall royal wedding next weekend. If you’ve got a recorder record about fifteen hours of TV during the week to watch while the pre-wedding, wedding and post-wedding coverage jams the airwaves.
Paulie
May 14, 2018 at 5:39 pm
Just set up account on find a job, only took a few minutes, can’t find out where you are supposed to log in your job search, silly question but do you have to write it on paper now?
Violet
May 14, 2018 at 4:44 pm
It logs your job views, searches and applications automatically. It’s under ‘Your Activity’.
Hyacynth
May 14, 2018 at 4:51 pm
I would recommend that everybody keeps a written record of their job search. Why? Because you can alter and delete things before the Jobcentre sees them; this is something that you can’t do with a digital system like Find-a-Job.
Paulie
May 14, 2018 at 5:35 pm
It also logs how far you have got in the search results.
Hyacynth
May 14, 2018 at 4:52 pm
Only if you log in. Like Indeed.co.uk you can use Find A Job without logging in, uploading a CV and covering letter without storing them on the system.
Paulie
May 14, 2018 at 5:37 pm
It’s a digital ball and chain.
Hyacynth
May 14, 2018 at 4:54 pm
I’m sick of those b*stards policing us like we’re a bunch of criminals, cheers hyacinth.
Violet
May 14, 2018 at 5:22 pm
Are all CVs uploaded to Find A Job public and viewable by anybody claiming to be an “employer”? There seems to be no option to make them private. This is very bad. Imagine how many people online, posing as employers, will harvest the personal data of Find A Job users to sell on or use for dodhy purposes.
Ro
May 15, 2018 at 8:03 am
Ro
As you and others have seen, a jobsite is no more safer than any other website service and it is to this end that people must consider censoring CVs.
1: Only put first or last name on CV, which ever is the most common like John for instance.
2: Only put and email address specially created for this sole purpose or if you have a pay as go mobile, the phone number instead. Never put both and never put actual residential address.
3: Remove company names and dates and simply put position held.
4: Only title qualifications held, never dates or grades.
DWP cannot by law compel you to,
1: Not make secure your personal and or sensitive data
2: Not encrypt and or mask (use white text on white background,reverse word,etc) personal and or sensitive data.
3: Not to replace CV with privacy notice outlining details for an employer to contact you instead via an email account to further conduct your application.
BE SMART, BE SAFE.
doug
May 15, 2018 at 8:57 am
Thanks, doug. Good advice. If the DWP can’t see the CV uploading a very brief one inviting the employer to contact you directly to receive a more detailed CV, seems like a fantastic idea to me to protect you from identity theft or even unsolicited phone calls. When I uploaded my CV to Universal Jobmatch I started to get unwanted phone calls from all over the place, so much so that I had to dump the SIM from my mobile and get another with a new number. You really can’t be too careful these days and, if you read Find-a-Job’s legal stuff, they wash their hands of any blame as per anything bad that happens to you if you use their service.
Ro
May 15, 2018 at 12:20 pm
I’ve registered with the site. And just as I suspected, it records your job search activity with date and time logged for each job you view. And if you haven’t done enough searches or spent enough time doing so you will be open for being sanctioned
Jobber
May 15, 2018 at 11:04 am
It’s pointless really because most of us will be using other job-boards to make applications; based on what I’ve seen Find-a-Job is only a jump off point to other sites anyway, so the DWP won’t know whether you have applied or not unless they contact the other party – and then you’re into the murk of data privacy since any employer you have applied to directly shouldn’t really tell the DWP whether you have applied for a job or not!
I’ve created an account but haven’t uploaded my CV and don’t intend to if I can help it.
When I last looked there were only 35 jobs within 10 miles of where I live; it’s only a ten minute job to look through all of them, most NHS or local authority jobs, all of them absolutely no good to me with my skill set.
Ro
May 15, 2018 at 12:14 pm
Find a Job’s strap-line is “access to jobs from all over the UK”; the default search setting is “UK”. Sadly, having deliberately been given a misleading impression by the Jobcentre many hapless jobseekers are unfortunately going to end up spending 35 hours a week endlessly clicking on page views on just this one site as they have been mistakenly led to believe it is the only way to keep the Jobcentre ‘happy’ and to to avoid a benefit sanction. And May the Lord have Mercy on Their Souls!
Benefit Bolshie
May 15, 2018 at 2:02 pm
As an “employer” 😉 on FInd a Job you have the option:
I would like a copy of this job to be automatically posted on the European Job site EURES
EURES – The European Job Mobility Portal
https://ec.europa.eu/eures/public/en/homepage
“within 10 miles of where I live”?! 😀
Catwoman
May 15, 2018 at 2:20 pm
Been ‘job-searching’ in Ipswich library today and no-one was on this Find a Job, everyone is still using ujm. Same with the job club.
Ipswich Resident
May 15, 2018 at 2:25 pm
I still don’t understand why they would introduce a new site with activity and search time stamps if they were ok about people refusing to use it or allow access to it. Such refusals would undermine the site’s purpose, which seems to be to monitor job search and application activity, and, therefore, find people who aren’t doing enough of this activity, so as to sanction them. In other words, the site was created as a sort of “sanction-making machine”.
Comply or Die
May 15, 2018 at 2:37 pm
There is a great big Print This Page on the activity log pages. Expect roaches will be lining jobseekers up to print this page before they can sign on.
Comply or Die
May 15, 2018 at 2:48 pm
there is a massive total of 86 jobs for the hole area i could get to pmsl and clicked a job to apply and went straight to there site and said,We are no longer accepting applications for this position.
the site is not even fit for purpose its worse than useless lol good luck spending 35hrs a week on that after a month you could have applied for every job in th hole uk.
superted
May 15, 2018 at 3:05 pm
The DWP seems incapable of commissioning a job-board without a ‘sanctioning-machine’ being part of the spec 😉
ggwpLanaya
May 15, 2018 at 3:44 pm
im not going to even bother to open a account what they going to do sanction me with a ase doubt i dont think so not gunna win that one at tribunal.
superted
May 15, 2018 at 3:58 pm
If the DWP had half a brain-cell combined (which they don’t appear to) they would use the money squandered on failed job-boards to develop a world-class job-board that jobseekers and those looking for work would WANT to use. Just think how much could be achieved at a fraction of the cost of these turd-boards and their baked-in sanction-machine.
Ciros
May 15, 2018 at 4:33 pm
GOV.UK
Universal Credit
Sorry, we’re having technical problems
Please try again in a few minutes. 18.u9d9ef50.1526383043.yyc06e
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In the name of the Father!
Hail Mary! Hail Mary! Hail Mary!
Godamn Universal Credit
Frustrated Universal Credit Claimant
May 15, 2018 at 11:20 am
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/adzunas_find_a_job_technology_jo#incoming-1158772
“DWP staff will not have access to view jobseeker accounts, CVs or
activity/application history.
Jobseeker’s Directions
Summary
1. Jobseeker’s Directions (JSD) can be used to support specific, one off activities
that will help a claimant to find work or improve their prospects of finding work and
that they can reasonably be expected to do.
2. This means that if the claimant doesn’t do the required activity and doesn’t show
good reason, a benefit sanction will be applied.
Note: A sanction can only be imposed where the claimant fails, without good reason,
to comply with a JSD which was fair, given their individual circumstances.
3. JSD must follow these criteria:
it must be personal to the claimant’s circumstances
appropriate
specific
reasonable
time bound
contain full information
give clear details of what is required
contain an explanation of consequences
must not contain multiple elements
followed up as soon as possible after the date by which the activity was
required to have been undertaken
4. Where the requirement to undertake a specific activity is supported by a JSD, it
must be clear to the claimant why the activity is thought to be reasonable and the
benefits of doing it.
5. If the claimant sees how the activity will help improve their employment prospects,
they are more likely to undertake it. In all cases however, you should make it clear
what will happen if they don’t complete the activity without good reason.
6. A JSD must be:
personalised and appropriate given the claimant’s individual circumstances
for a specific activity that will improve the claimant’s employment prospects
something the claimant can reasonably be expected to undertake
time bound and reviewed within 2 to 4 weeks, and given in writing
7. It must also give full information about the required activity, for example:
the full name and address, including postcode, of any organisation involved
exact details of what the claimant is being required to undertake
the date by which it must be undertaken
tell them clearly what will happen if they don’t complete the activity
8. Claimants can’t be mandated to undertake an activity until they have served any
waiting days. Although a JSD can be issued before this date, it must include a
period during which the claimant is required to do it, starting with the date after
any waiting days have been served.
9. All JSD issued must be followed up as soon as possible after the date by which
the required activity should’ve been undertaken.
10. The claimant must show they have undertaken a JSD.
so like i said they can give you a jsd to open a account but will have no access to it so a good reason could be you refuse the terms and conditions of the site and that you use other sites anyway to apply for jobs and it is total crap anyway worse than ujm so why use it in the first place.
or you could just open a account take screen shots of your account if a jsd is issued to prove this has taken place and recorded on the lms and then just delete the account as you dont need to log in to apply for jobs as there on every other job site anyway as links to apply direct.
remember if it is not on your cc then they cant issue a jsd in the first place so either way this new fjs looks like some half ass bodged job web site to comply with the new gdpr at massive the cost to the tax payer when it is not even needed in the first place as i have applied for 1000s of jobs on ujm and not had any feed back let alone a reply yet plenty from other sites.
so if a work coach wants to try it on with a jsd and you refuse to open a fjs account and goes to a tribunal the dwp wont have a leg to stand on as it is a 3rd party site ran buy a corporation for profit have there own tc/contract to use it so dwp would not stand a chance under law and there own rules and regulations as you have a good reason to refuse to use it buy saying NO b4 it is even put on a cc in the first place 😉
superted
May 15, 2018 at 9:57 pm
I have applied for 10s of thousands of jobs on ujm and my CV has not been looked at once. UJM is the black hole of job sites.
Jobberz
May 16, 2018 at 8:01 am
And so will FindAJob because it is connected with the DWP and snoops on users. Why would anybody not on benefits and ordered to use FindAJob use the site? You might as well go straight to Adzuna, or Indeed, or any of the dozens of job-boards out there taking DWP snooping out of the loop.
Percy S.
May 16, 2018 at 8:19 am
Hello. I have heard a rumor that eventually we will be REQUIRED to have at home internet access either through a computer or smart tv. It’s also being said that they will require us to have smart phones with watts app app and facebook. This will be for doing f2f interviews on line. They will also be able to see where and when you are.
Northolt Boy
May 16, 2018 at 9:52 am
Northolt Boy
REALLY, wow, so where do i go to pick up my FREE smart TV,mobile and internet access ?
Oh no wait, there the things this very government said unemployed people had no business owning, proves they have another income and all that old crap.
So are they going to add the question what size is your smart TV to the equal opportunities forms, what internet do you get,etc.
I know they RECOMMEND using such platforms and methods but mandating it, thats a bridge to far even for DWP to pull off.
doug
May 16, 2018 at 10:20 am
Head it all before You MUST do this”, “It is MANDATORY that you do that”, “It is a REQUIREMENT of receiving benefits that you do the other.” blah, blah, blah… All complete bollocks
This like to do with the joke centre going digital? pmsl “You will be REQUIRED to use use an online journal” pmsl ” Like paper and pen has gone out of fashion or summat pmsl
Biscuit Barrel
May 16, 2018 at 11:55 am
Doug
The DWP aren’t stupid. They can envisage many ‘uses’ of new technology and how it can be used to track, control and micromanage claimants. In short – make their lives a living Hell.
And if we weren’t stupid enough to voluntarily pay for smartphones, TVs, and internet access the government would be giving them away for free stuck to the side of cereal packets. Like with through purchasing newspapers the populace paid for their own propaganda we are paying for our own control grid, our own electronic prison.
Neo
May 16, 2018 at 12:05 pm
That’s What They Say……..PLAUSIBLE DENIABILITY (SAFE HARBOR TELLING YOU WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR)
Northolt Boy
May 16, 2018 at 9:59 am
Northolt Boy
Please do give us the link to what youve read or is this the rantings of a work coach ?
doug
May 16, 2018 at 10:32 am
Work Coach. Seminar transiting esa-jsa under conditonalit
Northolt Boy
May 17, 2018 at 3:10 pm
Important points of findajob to take note on
Findajobs program and operation can and will if applicable share data that could be personal and this transaction may or may not legally require a person lawful consent.
Also it has the capability to monitor and record all transactions that take place off its site and can detail dates,times and keystrokes,etc.
Apart from having findajob list all existing third parties, you also need to know the following,
1: Are they asking for lawful consent to future third parties that as yet they have not entered into an arrangement with or any unknown thirdparties they may do in the future. By granting lawful consent, your be be giving findajob lawful permission the moment you register to give some or all of your personal data as per applicable with need and applicable laws (via those domains) that wont require any further announcement to you asking for permission.
2: What cookies and especially supercookies they are or intend to use. Whether or not they again are also trying to secure lawful consent at registration with a view should they add further unannounced cookies/supercookies in the future that they may do so without seeking any further lawful consent.
doug
May 15, 2018 at 11:26 pm
Governments welfare reform causes mental health issues.
A recent study is set to cause fire and brimstone that will see government going to have to defend how they treat claimants.
I personally cant wait for the use of the word complex in reply to the question how do you think a claimant would feel 2 weeks in, hungry,gaunt,homeless or in the legal process of being evicted after being sanctioned.
Obviously those cognitive nudge courses they sent thousands on to be upbeat and positive were about as effective as the work programme. Amazing isn’t it that despite saving money on the new system, that they have managed tenfold to amplify how to squander it.
doug
May 16, 2018 at 10:46 am
they have facebook and social media sites on there uc work search template but thats about it.
superted
May 16, 2018 at 12:17 pm
[…] Channel Four Dispatches Lifts the Lid on Universal Credit.In “Campaigns for Unemployed” […]
Labour Needs Policies to Replace Universal Credit to Rebuild the Welfare State | Bath Against Cuts
September 12, 2018 at 11:34 am