tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8247615769084489401.post5957802676487842424..comments2023-05-08T02:27:14.997-07:00Comments on Haringey Green Party Blog: An End to Victorian Era Welfare Reform – Citizen’s Income a Progressive AlternativeMike Shaughnessyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16796480031110991460noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8247615769084489401.post-55177261115996489972012-07-10T22:45:51.658-07:002012-07-10T22:45:51.658-07:00I have seen both sides of the "fence" wh...I have seen both sides of the "fence" when it comes to claiming benefits and working in a Job Centre.<br />It used to be possible to sign on for years and the money was paid. I used to go round and remove low-paid job cards from the boards because a government department should not advertise low paid work as this can lead into more poverty.<br />As an adviser in the job centre, I apply fairness. I will not ever leave people who sign on, uninformed or unaware of which legislation applies (Jobseeker's Act 1995, latest amendments made in 2009 resultant ever more right-leaning "New" Labour!, Social Security Act and Social Security Adminstration Act). Unfortunately, it is correct that not many advisers will inform but merely apply/comply with the "numbers game": statistics that purely look at numbers (quantity) than actual QUALITY.<br /><br />With regards to doors not being open at 0830, this must be a local job centre failing. Our doors ARE open at 0830 and we do see people on early appointments. I would suggest to write a letter to the "CSOM" (Customer Service Operations Manager) as it is their responsibility to ensure access.<br />With regards to appeals against e.g. sanctions, the worst problem is that they can take up to 6 months to be considered, when loss of income is immediate. <br />The only option is to apply for a crisis loan, which then normally gets refused - ConDem policy was introduced to prevent payout of a crisis loan where a sanction is in place. The independent review for appeals can still be a useful tool, although independent review bodies are also being dismantled by the ConDem regime. <br /><br />It is a very difficult one to solve and all I can say is that the jobcentre experience sadly still depends on local office arrangement and advisers. Statutory law gives only two options: to "comply" or not to (and sign off) and "compliance" as a jobseeker is still achievable, albeit admittedly much more difficult under the current regime.<br /><br />Sadly, people in Britain, always "forget" and by the time the next general election comes in, the "divide and rule" tactics will have conditioned the electorate perfectly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8247615769084489401.post-39139142246314476302012-07-10T05:20:00.910-07:002012-07-10T05:20:00.910-07:00Thank you for this.
Before Green Party government...Thank you for this.<br /><br />Before Green Party government is voted in and Green Party Citizen's Income is introduced, what can people sanctioned on JSA or the 'Work Related Activities Group' of Employment & Support Allowance do when they have been sanctioned? Often at jobcentres now, interviews are set for 08:30 while Jobcentre main entrances are closed - the ill-informed claimant's eventual non-attendance leads to sanctions.<br /><br />Where is the nearest unemployed workers group to Haringey?<br /><br />I'm a member of both Haringey Green Party and Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group. Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group weekly meetings regularly have 'casework' slots that seek to help resolve and even stop such sanctions before they happen.<br /><br />We welcome members of various political parties and none. (No far-right parties, please.) We meet on Thursdays, 3-5pm at Kingsgate Community Centre, 107 Kingsgate Road, London NW6 2JH.<br /><br />We also have a forthcoming public workshop at the same address, 6:30pm-8:30pm entitled 'Universal Credit?' that will look at Con-Dem replacement of the existing JSA, ESA, etc.<br /><br />RaymondoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com