A thought provoking article about the Job centre and its future

http://www.fabians.org.uk/how-labour-can-make-jobcentres-work/

Benefits change: What are the Universal Credit fears?

Seventy organisations, most of which will be involved in implementing the biggest overhaul of the benefits system since the creation of the welfare state, have told MPs of their concerns about the government's plans.

BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend has been shown the written evidence submitted to the House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee, which is examining the progress being made towards the implementation of the Universal Credit in the autumn of 2013.

In over 500 pages of testimony, organisations representing councils, charities, trades unions, business groups, housing organisations and the government set out their outlook on the changes.

Universal Credit attempts to address what Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith sees as the two principal failings of the current benefits system: complexity and failing to make it worthwhile to take up paid work.

Many of those who have submitted evidence to the select committee of MPs regard themselves as key to making sure this huge change works.

Deep-seated worries

Many too, in evidence amounting to more than 200,000 words, acknowledge the government's motivations for reform are sound.

But two key themes emerge which suggest deep seated and broad based worries about the practicalities of making the idea work.

Firstly, a wide range of potential implications are raised both for prospective recipients of Universal Credit and those responsible for delivering it.

Secondly, there are serious concerns about getting the system up and running successfully in a year from now, by October 2013.

So what impact could the change to Universal Credit have?

'Digital by default'

The evidence shows there is widespread concern about managing Universal Credit online, the implications of it being paid monthly and being paid to one member of a household, and the gap when the current system is phased out and the new one starts.

Ministers are very keen to ensure that the new system should be "digital by default" - in other words, managed and run online.

"The new universal credit system risks causing difficulties to the 8.5 million people who have never used the internet and a further 14.5 million who have virtually no ICT skills," says Citizens Advice.

Continue reading the main story

“Start Quote

Only one in ten of claimants think it would make their lives easier”

Women's Budget Group

The public sector workers union Unison makes a similar point, as does the National Housing Federation, the umbrella group for homeless organisations, Homeless Link and Community Links, a charity based in east London, amongst others.

Concerns are raised too about paying Universal Credit monthly.

The Women's Budget Group, which describes itself as an "independent organisation bringing together individuals from academia, non-governmental organisations and trades unions to promote gender equality," also makes some observations.

It tells the MPs: "The government says monthly payment of Universal Credit mimics life in work.

"But many on low incomes in work have wages and/or benefits and tax credits paid more frequently, which matches common budgeting patterns for those on low incomes.

"Only one in ten of claimants think it would make their lives easier. Women are likely to be hit harder, as in low income families they tend to make more frequent purchases that will be squeezed as money is stretched."

There are concerns too that the payment of Universal Credit to one person in a household could, in some instances, upset the family dynamic: potentially putting that individual in a position of considerable power and influence.

Many of those who have submitted evidence are worried about how some people will cope when the changeover from the current benefits system to the Universal Credit takes place.

Work and Pensions Secretary Ian Duncan Smith wants to overcome problems in the benefits system

"What consideration has been given to providing grants to cover a shortfall when transitioning from fortnightly to monthly payments, rather than claimants having to rely on budgeting advances or 'pay-day loans' which need to be re-paid?" asks Gingerbread, the charity for single parents.

Manchester City Council raise a broader concern: the effects not just on people, but communities.

"We have concerns about the impacts on people but also on 'place' - either from large scale churn de-stabilising people and communities or reductions in income within areas with high concentrations of people currently on benefit."

Let's now turn to look at some of practical problems around making this change happen on time.

A wide range of organisations involved in meeting the government's deadline are clearly very worried about achieving it.

At the heart of the Universal Credit is what is known as the Real Time Information system. The aim is it will be much more responsive to peoples changing circumstances.

It will require employers to update changes in their employees' pay every month instead of every year.

This will be a "significant and difficult burden, reliant on information from others", the Chartered Institute of Taxation tells the MPs.

major concerns and a lack of understanding of I.T . system
'Real risk'

The success of the Universal Credit depends on the new computer system being completed "under extremely tight timelines," the employers' organisation, the CBI says.

"The new system's tight delivery timetable, coupled with low awareness among companies, is a risk to business and to the implementation of the Universal Credit."

"There is a real risk that the central government Universal Credit IT systems will not be ready on time," adds the Local Government Association, which represents councils.

So how does the government respond? Radio 4's The World This Weekend invited a minister to appear on the programme, but the invitation was declined.

In its evidence to the committee of MPs, the Department for Work and Pensions claims that "digital skills are a factor in around 72% of jobs", and so encouraging people to manage their Universal Credit online is sensible. It also saves a significant amount of money.

Advice will also be available, the department says, for those recipients who need help with managing their family budget.

"Rigorous, integrated IT testing has also commenced," it adds, pointing out it has "some of the best contingency arrangements in place across government" if things go wrong.

Royal Mail staff given access to confidential medical details

Confidential medical information from sick and disabled people applying for welfare benefits is opened and sorted by Royal Mail staff on behalf of the Government without the claimant's knowledge or consent, The Independent can reveal.

Medical experts reacted angrily to the potential for breaches in confidentiality after it emerged that the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) routinely uses Royal Mail to process the thousands of benefits claims, including health data, it receives every day.

The revelations have prompted fresh concerns about the fact that the handling of sensitive personal information can be legally outsourced without the subject's consent.

For example, people applying for sickness benefits such as employment support allowance (ESA) must first complete a detailed medical questionnaire explaining their conditions, prescribed medication and therapies, and the names and addresses of their doctors and nurses.

The form, which also includes highly sensitive questions about addictions and mental illness, is then posted in a pre-addressed envelope to the DWP or Atos Healthcare – the Paralympics sponsor paid by the Government to carry out controversial assessments of claimants' capacity to work.

However, it has emerged that these envelopes are routinely opened and the contents sorted by the Royal Mail, unless the envelope is specifically marked "private and confidential". In those cases they are sent to Atos unopened, according to the DWP.

The information came to light after Lynne Neagle, a Welsh Assembly member, was asked to investigate by a constituent who was told by a local post office not to bother sending ESA forms by special delivery as the envelope would be opened by Royal Mail regardless.

Former RAF man John Williams, 50, from Pontypool in south Wales, received incapacity benefit (the precursor to ESA) for 10 years, because he was unable to work as a result of arthritis and post-traumatic stress disorder. He was recently declared fit for work – which means that his benefit will stop after 12 months whether he has a job or not – and was posting his appeal documents when told about Royal Mail's role. "Nowhere in any of the paperwork does it say that a third party is involved," he said. "People are sending very personal information and have a right to know this is happening; I feel like I've been misled."

Ms Neagle said: "These claimants often have incredibly complex case histories – they may have mental health problems or be victims of sexual abuse – I imagine they'd find it incredibly unsettling to know that such deeply personal information was being treated like this.

"While I have no reason to doubt the absolute integrity of the Royal Mail staff involved, that's not the point – they simply should not have access to this kind of information."

The DWP said security measures were in place to minimise the risk of any data breaches, including CCTV in sorting rooms and procedures that mean at least two people open the mail together.

"We are a large organisation that handles all kinds of sensitive information. We use Royal Mail to sort and direct our mail to the appropriate processing centre," a spokesman said. "We hold the contract and ensure they abide by the same data protection and security checks as any DWP employee."

Dr Tony Calland, chair of the British Medical Association ethics committee, said the security was irrelevant: "We are very concerned that a government department could even contemplate allowing such sensitive and confidential medical data to be handled by a third party without the person's consent."

An Atos Healthcare spokeswoman said: "We're subject to the postal arrangements set by the DWP. Once we receive information we strictly comply with all of the Government's confidentiality and data security regulations. Where the envelope is addressed directly to Atos Healthcare it is opened by our staff."

One event

CJSS was featured the ONe event radio show with Mark Hutton throughout the Bank Holiday weekend . We hope to develop better channels the new site has a lot to offer. check out cjss.org.

Cjss.org

Yesterday saw the new forums launched at cjss.org
Approaching agencies today so that they can post vacancies. We have 80 registering a day to access site in last two days

The challenges of the day

Interviews and applications.

See not the small trials and vexations of each hour of the day. See the one purpose and plan to which all are leading. If in climbing a mountain you keep your eyes on each stony or difficult place, as you ascend, seeing only that, how weary and profitless your climb!
But if you think of each step as leading to the summit of achievement, from which glories and beauties will open out before you, then your climb will be so different.
The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' 
feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.  Habakkuk 3:19
Twolisteners.org
 _________________________________________

Cjss relaunch

Cjss has been relaunched with latest news. Forum's and members section. National resources include maps of job centres, food banks cap uk , citizens advice and much much more. Cjss.org. Unemployment uk has youtube channel for uk unemployment issues as well

DWP letters
Many of those receiving letters from DWP may not understand the letters that they receive because they may have an understanding of literacy or not have English as their first language
The letters going out connected to the work programme attendees use words like mandatary. Many of those involved with factory work do not have that level of understanding and therefore could easily fail to attend. which is sanctionable.
There is no multi language option within the set up which add's to the communication challenge.
Big One has to be requested. Big one is the DWP contracted service

Courts agree DWP letter's are not clear
The letters are often not clear to the educated
Sanctions are a target for DWP according to some sites.It reduces the bill.This court ruling could lead to some interesting decisions and appeals

Getting on your bike awareness

I haven't cycled for 3 or more years, indeed when I first considered this I thought I was going barmy would I be able to borrow a bike would i get a load of abuse. I even took a pair of sunglasses(then left them where you see in the picture..

As I cycled not only did i get the odd thumbs up but 1 guy called Mark even came over to ask me if I knew how to deal with his situation.

Cycling around the city I heard the odd comment like "Good Idea"

People are genuinely looking for help. Indeed I was really blessed because my sunglasses were still there when I returned. 

We can provide more answers on line than a job centre can. we can support job seekers with information easily if we harness the digital options in a new way. Join us onthedole.com or access cjss.org(Christian Job Search Support) and see what there is to offer.

CJSS is run entirely off donations each year

Finished the ride my thanks to prayer teAm. It was great to see people asking questions

Old and New

The challenge of the job seeker
A job seeker signing on with their job centre is encouraged to register with agencies.
When an agency text them at a weekend with a days work there is a challenge?
When you agree to take the day's work you are duty bound to notify the Jobcentre. There is a concern that if you notify the job centre you will lose all your benefits or they will be stopped.
O.K when the agency system started up the DWP had its current system.
Today companies often seek staff for a day. In the application form the National Insurance number is requested. DWP also use this same number. If payment is going through on this number there is an automatic match.
Thus the Government has the power to identify the modern economy. Indeed the DWP requires I.D to produce a new NI number.
So now you have the I.D checker
Many dread the 1 day of work, because you feel used. Not part of the business. Yet, turning down work is a breach of the Job seeker agreement.
 The Job seeker agreement was based on the start of a job. Full time Job in it's traditional sence.Yet today's economy is different. It fails to take account of today's work environment and economy. The world of net business and p/t work or 1 or two days work in a week

Deadlines

Complete saved claims by 27 July

If you've saved a partially-completed claim, complete it by 27 July - otherwise you'll need to start your claim again. Unsubmitted claims will be deleted to allow for a system upgrade.

Tax credits enquiries  Deadline- 31st  July

  0345 300 3900   

8.00 am to 8.00 pm, Monday to Friday                  8.00 am to 4.00 pm Saturday 

Tessa Jowell

She has just stated that the housing will be handed over to those in need

Olympic benefits- It is thought UK firms involved in London 2012 will be well-placed to sell their new-found expertise.

inisters forecast these events should generate £1bn in extra sales by UK firms.

UKTI has also identified an additional £4bn of "high value opportunities" such as projects linked to the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics and the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. It is thought UK firms involved in London 2012 will be well-placed to sell their new-found expertise.

Another £6bn could come from direct investment in UK projects and developments by overseas companies such as the £8bn development of the Battersea Power Station site in South London by Malaysia's SP Setia.

The project is expected to create 33,000 jobs.

Finally, the UKTI hopes its new "Great" advertising campaign fronted by Oscar-winning actress Dame Judi Dench and Slumdog Millionaire star Dev Patel will boost the number of visitors to the UK by 4 million from 2011 to 2015, generating a £2.3bn boost to the UK economy.

Altogether, the government hopes the Games and legacy projects connected to it will generate £13bn for the UK economy over the next 10 years.

Creating jobs

Many economists believe any long-term economic boost from the Games will be marginal.

Thursday's launch comes the day after official figures showed the UK economy as measured by Gross Domestic Product shrank 0.7% in the three months to the end of June.

However, new figures from the UKTI showed inward investment by overseas firms created 52,741 new jobs in the year to the end of March, which was an increase of 26% increase from the previous year.

A further 59,918 existing jobs were also calculated to have been secured by foreign investment.

"Despite a difficult international economic climate, more jobs have been created and secured than in any year for over a decade," said Business Secretary Vince Cable.

I discovered Startup UK along with many of the pages interconnected with Business Link. If you are in the prime target arena of 18-24 then StartUp UK has some interesting possibilities
Start up a Business on Onthedole.com has also gone up on line .. Check out the domains.

I suspect that the BBC learning Zone is an untapped resource to many
http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/low-cost-start-ups/11890.html

Looking at theStats is a little concerning. When you reflect on the areas that the Government are focussing on you get a real sense of progress or not as the case may be

This particular protest occcured in an area of High Unemployment . Birmingham. Why is the pressure on Jobseekers when we should be encouraging them

http://righttowork.org.uk/2012/06/protest-at-job-centre-where-claimant-set-himself-alight/

Unemployment in the U.K is a challenge