campaign against welfare cuts and poverty

[treelover]

"automatic car washes were once the future, but labour is now so cheap that "American-style" hand car washes run more profitably on humans than machines."

one insight from the book

 

[Awesome Wells]

The new 'help to work(fare)' scheme starts today, in the news.

If after 2 years of being treated like shit by DWP you are still unemployed during a recession you get your choice of 30 hours slave labour a week/6months, 'training', intensive jobsearch/daily signing. No doubt the 'customer' will have no say in this.

This isn't news of course; we all know about this, but I wonder if the 2 years thing starts from now, or will be applied retrospectively - ie to everyone coming off the Fail Programme.

Someone from the DWP was on lcoal radio discussing this. She was asked if there was evidence to support it's supposed success. Yes! The presenter took that on faith. Oh well.

 

[StoneRoad]

Coverage on BBC news website
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-27177767

contains this gem:-
"BBC social affairs correspondent Michael Buchanan said the government had signed up more than 70 organisations to provide work experience under the scheme.

However, our correspondent added that the Salvation Army is not taking part, because it believes if someone has not found a job after two years of intensive support, their lack of work experience is not their only barrier to employment. "

which in an "interesting" stance, given they support(?) the work programme.

Personally, I wonder how this might work if you are a "postal claimant" - I live over 1 1/2 miles from the bus route (and about 600ft higher up the hill! - although I'm currently still working (despite the gov'ts lack of real help to SME/third sector)

 

[Jeremiah18.17]

Interesting that the media focus is on the measures affecting one in 30 JSA claimants (harsh though they are) rather than "day one conditionality" that affects all new claims. Divide and rule? Before first signing all new claimants must now have an email address, a usable CV, Universal Jobmatch account and some jobseeking.....

 

[Jeremiah18.17]

The clear intention of day one conditionality is to discourage/delay claims from those without IT skills and access - with predictable consequences...

 

[RedDragon]

This daily signing measure is nothing more than pure harassment, not to mention the JCP staff must overjoyed with the extra workload.

 

[Schmetterling]

This daily signing measure is nothing more than pure harassment, not to mention the JCP staff must overjoyed with the extra workload.

My suggestion would be for all claimants concerned to insist on signing on daily. I know it would be a pain in the arse, and costly, but might put a spanner in?

 

[treelover]

Where does all this end?, will these measures just go on and on? every new Minister brings in ever more brutal measures, and of course the obscenity that is Duncan Smith presides over it all. The end point must be some kind of Workhouse, the phone ins(or the 'Down Your Way' types that inhabit them) seem to support whatever measures Govt's bring in, where do they draw the line? people are already dead as a consequences of benefit reform.

its a real question,

 

[ddraig]

keep volunteering voluntary
http://www.boycottworkfare.org/?p=3543
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Keep-volunteering-voluntary/592238264202734

 

[Awesome Wells]

Coverage on BBC news website
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-27177767

contains this gem:-
"BBC social affairs correspondent Michael Buchanan said the government had signed up more than 70 organisations to provide work experience under the scheme.

However, our correspondent added that the Salvation Army is not taking part, because it believes if someone has not found a job after two years of intensive support, their lack of work experience is not their only barrier to employment. "

which in an "interesting" stance, given they support(?) the work programme.

Personally, I wonder how this might work if you are a "postal claimant" - I live over 1 1/2 miles from the bus route (and about 600ft higher up the hill! - although I'm currently still working (despite the gov'ts lack of real help to SME/third sector)

The same Salvation Army that refused to even listen to me when I tried explaining my non-work experience problems whilst on the Work Programme.

Fuck them and their hypocrisy and fuck their god.

 

[Awesome Wells]

Interesting that the media focus is on the measures affecting one in 30 JSA claimants (harsh though they are) rather than "day one conditionality" that affects all new claims. Divide and rule? Before first signing all new claimants must now have an email address, a usable CV, Universal Jobmatch account and some jobseeking.....

Are they now allowed to force people to give them their email addresses?

Even the data protection act no longer applies?

 

[treelover]

http://johnnyvoid.wordpress.com/201...ngled-help-to-work-scheme-attempts-to-launch/


Sickening , Groundwork Trust are going to use slave labour

 

[Awesome Wells]

Do we know if travel/food expenses are to be reimbursed for people forced to go places daily that are miles away? Not everyone lives nxt to a JC+ or a vandalised cenotaph.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Interesting that the media focus is on the measures affecting one in 30 JSA claimants (harsh though they are) rather than "day one conditionality" that affects all new claims. Divide and rule? Before first signing all new claimants must now have an email address, a usable CV, Universal Jobmatch account and some jobseeking.....

I haven't noticed any media focus on any of this. Some of it gets mentioned in the papers and some of it doesn't but there's never any in depth analysis of exactly what's going on.

 

[treelover]

 

[treelover]

Oliver KluweThis workfare schemes have been going in Germany since 2006. People are forced to work there for 1 Euro per hour to keep their benefits. They get placed in private companies for 6 months at at a time. Supposedly they should get a paid job in these companies if they work well (obey all orders) after this time. In 99.9% of all cases this doesn't happen, because the companies get a bonus just to take you on as a slave labourer. Why should they employ you and pay for you? After 6 months they just get another slave and get another bonus. The whole idea behind this scheme is to make employed people afraid of losing their job. To avoid this they work for less money as there is no minimum wage in Germany (or is just coming up with lots of exceptions). A typical hairdresser or baker, for example, works for about £1.75 an hour. Of course this is not enough to live on. So they have to go to the Jobcentre to get "Top-Ups" which makes them dependent on the Jobcentres who force them to apply for other, better jobs, although they have full-time regular jobs, just to keep control over them.
7 hours ago · "}' data-reactid=".n.1:3:1:$comment761269000579682_761515117221737:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.3.$likeToggle:0:$action:0">Like

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  Oliver KluweA little bit more about Germany and what is hopefully not to come over here in the UK: If you are more than 1 year unemployed you have to sell everything before you get any benefits. Housing benefit is not only restricted by the rent, but also by square meters. One person isnot allowed to have more than 45 square metres and every additional person in the household not more than 12, even if the rent is cheaper than the current benefit rate. Unemployed people are not allowed to leave their town without asking. You have to be available for job offers at any time. You are not allowed to stay away more than 2 hours from your letterbox. You are forced to attend lots of useless courses. The same ones over and over again. And a forced 1 Euro-Jobber is teaching you, while the company gets 800 Euro for each attendee. Fight this before it happens in the UK as well.
  7 hours ago · "}' data-reactid=".n.1:3:1:$comment761269000579682_761517377221511:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.3.$likeToggle:0:$action:0">Like · 1

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  Oliver KluweThey even tell you what to do with your money. From the benefits you get there are, for example, £114 per month for food, 26 pounds for electricity, gas, furniture and maintenance, £6 for pubs and restaurants and a fantastic £ 1.20 for education. You see, an economically strong Germany doesn't help its citizens at all. Don't let the tories tell you lies about this. THey just work into their own pockets.

Someone on Another Angry Voice posted this about the benefit situation in Germany, if its true most of it is appalling.

 

[Awesome Wells]

Oliver KluweA little bit more about Germany and what is hopefully not to come over here in the UK: If you are more than 1 year unemployed you have to sell everything before you get any benefits.

Disgusting.

 

[superfly101]

http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/news_and_e...cfm/sanctions-ineffective-jobcentre-staff-say

Sanctions ineffective, jobcentre staff say

30 April 2014
Jobcentre staff do not believe stopping people's benefits encourages them to look for work, according to our new survey.

Echoing the government's own research, in a survey of our members who work as jobcentre advisors, 70% of respondents said sanctions had no positive impact.

More than three quarters of those who took part said they had seen an increase in referrals to foodbanks.

The findings contrast sharply with outrageous comments made yesterday by one of the Department for Work and Pensions' most senior civil servants.

Questioned by Members of the Scottish Parliament, Neil Couling said many people who face benefit sanctions "welcome the jolt" it can give them.

He also claimed poor people were "maximising their economic choices" by turning to foodbanks.

When we exposed the prevalence of advisers being given targets for referring claimants for sanctions last year, it was Couling who tried to rubbish it, despite the overwhelming evidence.
Targets for sanctions

In the survey, 23% said they had been given an explicit target for making sanction referrals and 81% said there was an 'expectation' level.

Almost two thirds said they had experienced pressure to refer claimants for a sanction inappropriately.

More than one third stated they had been placed on a performance improvement plan (PIP) for not making "enough" referrals and 10% had gone as far as formal performance procedures.

The performance system can lead to dismissal so this kind of pressure is a thinly veiled threat to people's jobs.

The DWP is yet to provide any evidence that advisers who make an excessive number of referrals are challenged in the same way.
Damaging effects

The stricter regime has led to an increase in violence and threats, with 72% of respondents reporting an increase in verbal abuse and 37% seeing an increase in physical abuse.

While we do not believe it is acceptable, we understand the anger directed towards jobcentre staff and we have a shared interest with claimants in bringing this counterproductive system to an end.

We continue to work with Unite Community branches, Unemployed Workers Centres and others and are raising our concerns with senior officials.

We believe the government must fully analyse and take responsibility for the damaging effects sanctions are having on claimants and their families.

 

[Awesome Wells]

Questioned by Members of the Scottish Parliament, Neil Couling said many people who face benefit sanctions "welcome the jolt" it can give them.

Is the most cuntish thing i have ever heard.

 

[Treacle Toes]

Judge refuses DWP leave to appeal ruling on Universal Credit reports
Posted on April 30, 2014 | 19 Comments
By Tony Collins

An information tribunal judge has unexpectedly refused consent for the Department of Work and Pensions to appeal his ruling that four reports on the Universal Credit programme be published.

The ruling undermines the DWP’s claim that there would be “chilling effect” if the reports were published.

The judge’s decision, which is dated 25 April 2014, means the DWP will have to publish the reports under the FOI Act - or it has 28 days to appeal the judge’s refusal to grant consent for an appeal. The DWP is certain to appeal again. It has shown that money is no object when it comes to funding appeals to keep the four reports secret.

http://ukcampaign4change.com/2014/0...to-appeal-ruling-on-universal-credit-reports/

 

[Awesome Wells]

So they can keep appealing until they find the right judge?

 

[Greebo]

So they can keep appealing until they find the right judge?

That's about the size of it.

 

[Treacle Toes]

Bath Campaigner to go to Police to Bring Charges Against Tory Ministers

Keith Ordinary Guy - the Bath man who sends a letter to David Cameron every day - is heading to Bath Police Station at 2pm on Friday 2nd May to send the message that the government's new Claimant Commitment Contract contravenes the Human Rights Act (HRA), and that Iain Duncan Smith and Lord Freud are in breach of the Human Rights Act.

- See more at: http://www.dorseteye.com/north/arti...-tory-ministers#sthash.zhE6Rgv6.uM5b9oNP.dpuf

 

[Awesome Wells]

These changes really have gone too far (again).

This recent stuff has really upset me and that's because it just feels, now, that there is no 'safe word': there's no point at which someone can feel so pressured, stressed or just plain exploited, that the system/state will back off and say "sorry that's clearly too much, how can we help you?"

There really is no safety net. Just a hard concrete floor covered in broken glass and shit.

 

[Awesome Wells]

- See more at: http://www.dorseteye.com/north/arti...-tory-ministers#sthash.zhE6Rgv6.uM5b9oNP.dpuf

I fully endorse this.

I don't fancy his chances though

Here's his letter from today

 

[Awesome Wells]

http://ukcampaign4change.com/2014/0...to-appeal-ruling-on-universal-credit-reports/

According to Political Scrapbook:

But a second tier tribunal upheld the decision to order disclosure yesterday, with Judge David Farrer QC saying there was no evidence of a chilling effect.

The DWP now has 28 days to decide whether it wants to throw yet more taxpayers’ cash at a losing battle.

And just when you thought the DWP couldn't be more callous (and noone thinks that); here's a man with cancer who's benefits have been cut that's been told to stop getting cancer treatment if he wants his benefit reinstated.

 

[Greebo]

According to Political Scrapbook:
<snip> here's a man with cancer who's benefits have been cut that's been told to stop getting cancer treatment if he wants his benefit reinstated.

What the unholy fuck?

 

[treelover]

30 April 2014
Jobcentre staff do not believe stopping people's benefits encourages them to look for work, according to our new survey.
Echoing the government's own research, in a survey of our members who work as jobcentre advisors, 70% of respondents said sanctions had no positive impact.
More than three quarters of those who took part said they had seen an increase in referrals to foodbanks.
The findings contrast sharply with outrageous comments made yesterday by one of the Department for Work and Pensions' most senior civil servants.
Questioned by Members of the Scottish Parliament, Neil Couling said many people who face benefit sanctions "welcome the jolt" it can give them.
He also claimed poor people were "maximising their economic choices" by turning to foodbanks.
When we exposed the prevalence of advisers being given targets for referring claimants for sanctions last year, it was Couling who tried to rubbish it, despite the overwhelming evidence.
Targets for sanctions
In the survey, 23% said they had been given an explicit target for making sanction referrals and 81% said there was an 'expectation' level.
Almost two thirds said they had experienced pressure to refer claimants for a sanction inappropriately.
More than one third stated they had been placed on a performance improvement plan (PIP) for not making "enough" referrals and 10% had gone as far as formal performance procedures.
The performance system can lead to dismissal so this kind of pressure is a thinly veiled threat to people's jobs.
The DWP is yet to provide any evidence that advisers who make an excessive number of referrals are challenged in the same way.
Damaging effects
The stricter regime has led to an increase in violence and threats, with 72% of respondents reporting an increase in verbal abuse and 37% seeing an increase in physical abuse.
While we do not believe it is acceptable, we understand the anger directed towards jobcentre staff and we have a shared interest with claimants in bringing this counterproductive system to an end.
We continue to work with Unite Community branches, Unemployed Workers Centres and others and are raising our concerns with senior officials.
We believe the government must fully analyse and take responsibility for the damaging effects sanctions are having on claimants and their families.

That's really damning

 

[Awesome Wells]

I could think of a way to give Neil Cunting a jolt that a lot of jobseekers would welcome...

 

[Treacle Toes]

Exclusive: So-called 'in-work poverty' soars by 59% under Coalition as more people with jobs are forced to claim housing benefit


The number of people in work and claiming housing benefit has rocketed by 59 per cent since the Coalition came to power and will cost taxpayers an extra £5 billion by next year’s general election.


The figures, compiled by the House of Commons Library, highlight the growth of “in-work poverty” in recent years while wages fell in real terms and rents continued to rise. They also undermine claims by some Conservatives that benefit claimants are “skivers” because many people qualify for state help even though they are in jobs.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...-forced-to-claim-housing-benefit-9340907.html