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I have been transferred to Work Programme after receiving JSA for a year I have two children one 8 one 10. I need to know my rights re resticting hours to school time and tem time only and can I be forced to do unpaid work somewhere I dont want to.
Please I am still trying to find out information about unpaid work placements - I have induction for Work Programme on Friday and need to know if I can refuse a work placement if it is somewhere I dont want to work. I did a voluntry Launch Pad course last year which was a complete waste of 10 weeks I was told I would be placed somewhere with a chance of a job and was put in a charity shop which I enjoyed but is the one place you will not get a paid job! I know there was a recent court case about unpaid placements but dont know what my rights are re work programme.
Hi sheljen, i am not sure if you can refuse a work placement on the grounds of it being somewhere you don't want to work, do you know if you have to find your own placement or will the work programme provider find you one?
I know that some of the work programmes here in Bristol have people try to find their own work placement whilst they are attending the work programme and help them to find one if they have not managed to find one on their own, there could be a different practice in your area.
As far as restricting hours, this would be dependent on what restrictions or hours that you are meant to be available to work that are on your JSA agreement, and also can be dependent on if there is adequate childcare provision available.
The work programme is something that is mandatory once you have been on certain benefits for a period of time and refusal to do this can result in being sanctioned.
I will check with Laura our Parlimentary Advisor to see if there are any rights/guidance regarding excepting work placements.
hello just wondering how do you apply for lone parent payment?
Hello and welcome
I am not sure what you mean by Lone Parent payment. If you mean income support (which is for single parents with a child under five who are working less than 15 hours a week) then you can apply online by clicking here
You may also be entitled to Council tax Reduction. I presume you are already receiving Child Benefit and Child tax Credit
If you are in rented accommodation you can also apply for Local Housing Allowance/Housing Benefit
Click the blue links to see and if you would like some help, email our Benefits Expert by clicking here
Hello shelgen, we have a couple of threads running about this already, see them buy clicking here and here and read the information in them. There is also a document which we have produced, see here. The whole system has confused and upset a lot of parents, as you will see!