Say no to pointless courses if you’re happy to be sanctioned – Kate Belgrave

Last Updated: December 27, 2014By
[Picture: Skwawkbox blog]

[Picture: Skwawkbox blog]

I’ve been trying to get information from the DWP about the ridiculous “work skills” and “employability” courses that JSA claimants must attend, writes Kate Belgrave.

Interesting answer from the DWP on the compulsory nature of this… What could be fairer:

“A claimant may refuse to attend a course for the reasons you mention, but the consequence of doing so is that they may be subject to a benefit sanction. Claimants have recourse if their benefit claim is sanctioned. They can lodge an appeal against the decision. As part of consideration by a DWP labour market decision maker, claimants are given the opportunity to provide details of why they refused to attend and within this they could include their view on the relevance of the course in improving their prospects of employment.”

Pretty sure that this is a long way of saying “people must attend these useless courses, or we’ll cut their f***ing money off.”

Bet the companies that provide these courses at god knows what cost think the system is brilliantly fair.

Read more on Kate Belgrave’s blog site.

Follow me on Twitter: @MidWalesMike

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7 Comments

  1. Bill Kruse December 27, 2014 at 1:51 pm - Reply

    I don’t suppose they think it’s fair for a moment, they’d probably agree with me (privately) the point of the co-called training schemes is they provide a socially acceptable front for funneling taxpayer money from the public purse into private pockets where it can be divvied up later by the crooked businessmen and corrupt politicians involved. In my view, that’s all there is to it.

    • Mike Sivier December 27, 2014 at 2:51 pm - Reply

      Yes.

    • concernedkev December 27, 2014 at 4:22 pm - Reply

      I fully agree Bill but the JC supervisors have to ensure the referrals are made, what about their dividend. Any chance of a peek at some bank accounts ???

  2. Rupert Mitchell (@rupert_rrl) December 27, 2014 at 4:21 pm - Reply

    I suggest a training course in the ability to act like a responsible human-beings should be compulsory for all DWP bosses and employees

  3. Jim Round December 27, 2014 at 5:34 pm - Reply

    This could be made into something so much better.
    To someone claiming:
    “So what job would you like to do?”
    “I’ve thought about getting a HGV licence”
    “Right, if we pay for it and set you up with a local trusted employer you have to stay there for X number of months/years”

    • Mike Sivier December 27, 2014 at 7:26 pm - Reply

      “… no matter how badly they pay you”?

  4. Jim Round December 27, 2014 at 9:43 pm - Reply

    No, this would be a job paid at the living wage at least.
    As I said before, those who genuinely want a real job with a future should be given the chance, be it a trade or a go at running a small business.
    Done through a college/council/local enployer partnership.
    You would have to have a mutual contract though, saying that you will attend and go through with the training and that the employer/college will provide what you need.

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