I haven't committed any crime like this woman has, so why do I have to do 120 hours of unpaid work?

[DeadWomanWalking]

Woman sentenced to 215 hours of unpaid work for committing benefit fraud. I'm currently having to do 120 hours of unpaid work (30 hours a week for 4 weeks) or I'll lose my benefits. So what's my crime? Being unemployed? Being poor? Completely baffled by this governments policies.

Fair point.

Altinkum, I don't think it's helpful for anyone to perpetuate the myth that you are paid JSA to perform workfare. Workfare is entirely unpaid, the government have merely linked it to a cessation of benefits. Benefits are paid to people out of work to ensure a minimum standard of living. They are a cornerstone of civilised society and its a great tragedy that to be in receipt of them currently leaves you indebted to private enterprise. Not even to the government!

You'd think as a former social worker there would be more comprehension of what life on benefits really is.

Actually scrap that. I remember one I encountered last year that had no idea (and having 3 disabled kids and asking for help doesn't get you help by the way).

the point is that workfare is govt slavery to make business owners money
not to serve the interests of the people

the point is believing the evil tory rhetoric that is that the benefits system is evil, claimed by evil skivers.

and when it's gone, and when you have to work for free becuase the bankers fucked up the system and you're paying for it, i doubt there will be parties n the streets

when the tories have their drone workers to work for their fat cat friends for free. whilst they laugh at you believing this utter crap.

the crap where people are astonished one can't just re-train and get financial help

that one doesn't just get benefits for taking up a few hours work - i mean bless, they're trying

or the one that gets them free water.

concentrate on what the poorest in society are getting and ENVY them, you don't envy? hate? you dont hate? blame? you blame for sucking the country dry

You believe this tripe and refuse to look at the evidence of big banks, chief execs, big businesses, tory friends who are owners of big business

and link that to deliberate policy change and spin doctoring.

and then someone comes on ans says ' get a job'

the PCS stated that there are 6,884,000 UNDEREMPLOYED

THERE ARE 2, 563,000 UNEMPLOYED (that's registered - we all know that's not a true figure)

THERE ARE 495,000 VACANT JOBS

www.newstatesman.com/politics/2013/04/better-benefits-work-claim-complete-fallacy-wheres-evidence

blame the poor - i can only believe it's because you cannot face the reality of what the rich are doing.

Amen to that Custardo.

you are not doing unpaid work,you have been paid for the last 8 months,4 weeks work isnt that long is it ,especially if you carry on claiming, stop making a fuss or stop claiming and get over it ffs.

if there is a job, pay a wage

Out of interest...when placed on workfare, do unemployed people receive help with travel to get to and from the place of workfare? Are they entitled to any financial assistance at all to enable them to carry out the workfare placement?
Lunch allowance? Travel allowance? Anything at all really, or do they have to pay for a weeks worth of travel or any other expenses incurred out of their JSA?

Academic analysis by the Department of Work and Pensions has cast doubt on the effectiveness of workfare policies. After surveying the international evidence the from America, Canada and Australia the report states:
"There is little evidence that workfare increases the likelihood of finding work. It can even reduce employment chances by limiting the time available for job search and by failing to provide the skills and experience valued by employers. Subsidised ('transitional') job schemes that pay a wage can be more effective in raising employment levels than 'work for benefit' programmes. Workfare is least effective in getting people into jobs in weak labour markets where unemployment is high."

From Wiki... Even the DWP know that Workfare is not an effective tool for reducing unemployment. So what is it? Simply a political tool, designed to win votes.

OP if you pm me, I'll look over your CV for you - you can take your personal details off...but a fresh pair of eyes on it might help.

I haven't read whole thread, so apologies if someone else has already offered.

OMG!! How can an unemployed person afford to travel to a place of work, 5 days a week?, out of JSA?
I live miles away from any town or place of employment, apart from 1 pub and 1 small family run shop, and the weekly bus pass is £30.

My friend, who is currently claiming JSA, also pays bedroom tax and part of her council tax.
If she is put on a workfare scheme, she would be left with £21.50 a week to pay bills and buy food, after travel to and from workfare placement and her rent/CT is paid.

That is shocking!!!!!

How does anyone keep body and soul alive on £21.50 a week!!!???

if the placement does a job
then they should be paid

how is there no jobs

if the plaement is doing a job?

are they sat ont heir arse all day?

or are they doing a job?

i think travel costs are paid

Havent read all 12 pages, but I am currently signing on (JSA contributions only and I don't actually get any money as I haven't paid enough Class 1 NI contribs in last 2 years (the 25 years before that don't count)). I am doing relevant voluntary work to support a career change. The Job Centre have advised me that I am expected to give up the relevant voluntary work to do their suggested work (in a charity shop) instead. Now that is crazy.

YANBU at all.... Workfare is only benefiting the companies that use it.

For those of you that think it is fair.... have you thought that these companies are raking in the profits and not passing them on to the consumer..... they are not reducing their prices... so they are ripping you "Get a Job", "Work for £1.50 an hour" DF readers off as well.

A fairer deal would be for jobseekers to be placed on these programs for £71 and the companies that use them make up the rest to match minimum wage. It would also be fairer if they actually offered permanent positions at the end of the program.

But hey we are talking about this Government's policies here

Travel costs are only reimbursed in certain circumstances but even then they are rarely actually paid.

Oh and custardo I think I love you

This workfare stuff is the shittest shittest most bullshit plan I have ever heard.
Why do we think that it is okay to punish the unemployed?

If there are jobs then employ and pay people. Focus on all the decent hard working people who have lost their jobs and lets get them back to work. Do not force them to work as slaves.

Instead we batter on and on about the few who might not want to work

looblooMon 29-Apr-13 21:13:36

If I don't go to work for a week I don't get paid either! I have to draft in grandparents or friends to care for my DC if they are too ill for school. They are never ill for more than 2 days, as I have to go to WORK

With all due respect you are talking BOLLOCKS If you dont go into work for a week then you dont get paid for that week.
If someone cant get into their MWA placement due to their child being ill (or they themselves being ill because there are people on ESA being made to do workfare) they lose their money for SIX WEEKS because of not going in for one day. it is NOT the same so to keep on comparing the two you are just making yourself look like a laughing stock!

You are indeed being punished for being poor.

Meanwhile my taxes are paying whoever you are working for to have free labour. You and me are subsidising Tesco (or whoever) the fucking sponging cunts.

What type of work Are you applying for? If your answering adverts for work that you are not qualified/experienced in then it's understandable that you are not getting replys.

If she doesn't apply for them she will be 'sanctioned' - lose benefits for weeks or months.

I'm in a voluntary scheme due to disability I don't have to sign on but job hunting now involves the internet.

You upload a CV to the 'jobmatch' site (you can have more than one) and apply for jobs by sending it to employers.

The jobcentre staff can also recommend jobs for you, if you don't apply for any they have suggested your need a bloody good reason not to, and not having experience in that area is not good enough.

They also log the hours you are job hunting on the website.

It is not difficult to apply for 100 jobs if you are looking for anything