Job Seekers Allowance?

D

Dry Rot

Well-Known Member
Joined
31 May 2010
Messages
5,847
Location
Scotland
Visit site
I'm told that it is a requirement of receiving Job Seekers Allowance that the job seeker regularly submits proof that they are actively seeking work. Is this so? And would an email offering an interview be the sort of proof the DSS are looking for?

The reason I ask is that I occasionally advertise for help with the ponies. Some have regularly done a 70 - 80 mile round trip to help out for free because, frankly, it's fun and they get free riding, finance for showing, etc. Others get travelling expenses and perhaps occasional pocket money. I always get a good response.

But, the last year or so, I've had a lot of applicants who just haven't turned up. I mean probably 75%. I don't think my reputation is that bad and anyway everything sounds fine until a day is fixed for an interview....then nothing! I had one booked in for today but of course she didn't turn up.

Frankly, it is becoming very annoying and I am wondering if I ought to report it to the DSS? What would you do? If constantly provoked, they say even a worm will turn! Well, this one is getting thoroughly p*ssed off and definitely rather aggressive!:mad:
 
Dry Rot said:
I'm told that it is a requirement of receiving Job Seekers Allowance that the job seeker regularly submits proof that they are actively seeking work. Is this so? And would an email offering an interview be the sort of proof the DSS are looking for?

The reason I ask is that I occasionally advertise for help with the ponies. Some have regularly done a 70 - 80 mile round trip to help out for free because, frankly, it's fun and they get free riding, finance for showing, etc. Others get travelling expenses and perhaps occasional pocket money. I always get a good response.

But, the last year or so, I've had a lot of applicants who just haven't turned up. I mean probably 75%. I don't think my reputation is that bad and anyway everything sounds fine until a day is fixed for an interview....then nothing! I had one booked in for today but of course she didn't turn up.

Frankly, it is becoming very annoying and I am wondering if I ought to report it to the DSS? What would you do? If constantly provoked, they say even a worm will turn! Well, this one is getting thoroughly p*ssed off and definitely rather aggressive!:mad:
Click to expand...

The thing is they don't really check up on people tbh.
I was on jobseekers for a few months earlier this year and I found out that it would have been so easy to fake it and take the money. I worked my butt off trying to get a job and filled out my seekers diary religiously but on my sign on day they just signed the bottom without looking at it or asking me any questions! :mad:
It's a totally ridiculous system and it's not surprising there are benifit frauds out there.

In your case though it may be possible that the applicants have had a job offer? True common courtesy would suggest they inform you prior to their interview and not leave you hanging about waiting for them if they don't plan to turn up but then common courtesy seems to be a rare commodity these days :(

To answer your question you are right that they require "proof" and an invite to interview would be classed as such but they don't follow up on it, I had a couple of interviews I was unsucessful with and they didn't even ask any questions about the interviews and how they went.
 
Last edited:
sandi_84 said:
The thing is they don't really check up on people tbh.
I was on jobseekers for a few months earlier this year and I found out that it would have been so easy to fake it and take the money. I worked my butt off trying to get a job and filled out my seekers diary religiously but on my sign on day they just signed the bottom without looking at it or asking me any questions! :mad:
It's a totally ridiculous system and it's not surprising there are benifit frauds out there.
Click to expand...

This. I was on job seekers for 4 weeks and tbh I could be telling them I wasn't working and still claim my money if I wasn't such an honest person. Not once did they look at my seekers diary even when I produced emails or letters. It was just sign and go in and out in mins
 
After I had a whole day booked for interviewees from the dole queue and none of them turned up I rang the DSS and shopped the lot. That was in the old days when one had to offer all vacancies through the JobCentre and in order to get one's money one had to have interviews booked.

If you've provided proof that interviews are booked and they don't turn up then yes, I'd let the DSS know.
 
They don't even want you to sign if you're a new graduate, I used to just show up and someone at the front podium would flip through my sheet and tell me I was done.

Dry Rot - if you really really want to, it's possible to report people you suspect are comitting benefit fraud confidentially online or via telephone. Then they'll follow up with an investigation, and probably sanction that person's allowance in the meantime until it's resolved. Bear in mind people are allowed to turn down jobs if the wages just aren't suitable or the work doesn't match the hours/travelling distance they agreed with the employment office.
 
Last edited:
I think all they even have to do is apply for a job not even get an interview

I recently advertised a 20 hour a week low wage admin job and got over 400 responses some from over 100 miles away!
 
Last edited:
I think WelshD is right - I they are just required to apply for, not necessarily be getting or attending interviews. IMO the job centre is about as much use as a chocolate teapot! I'd report them for not bothering to turn up, but there's no guarantee anything will actually be done about it.
 
The whole set up seems totally arbitrary, I've heard of people being sanctioned for three months because they couldn't prove they were literally working 9 to 5 looking for work, because they were looking for work on a home computer not the slow Jobcentre ones, because they were looking for work relevant to their degree not just minimum wage work, yet others seem to do virtually nothing and no one cares. I think it depends on the person in the Jobcentre and blind luck!
When I worked in a shop we often advertised for Saturday staff and most applicants were just after the forms and proof they had applied. They were totally unsuitable for the job or had no intention of taking it anyway.
 
Yup I went to sign on whilst with a broken shoulder. I enquired if I would need proof and got told don't bother, just write in your diary " today I looked in the times newspaper, today I applied for a job on reed.com, yesterday I looked on the village notice board"that was it, three tthings a week saying you looked! Not even what the jobs were!! Thankfully I got a job the next day without signing on.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top