JCP and Voluntary Work?

Montoyer

We need to be cautious about offering advice in this area as there can be a fine line between activities that are mandated and can lead to sanction if not performed and those that are not and for which you cannot be sanctioned.

As a general rule, you should ensure that any request you receive is in writing, that it details what you have to do, when it is to be done and where relevant, when it must be completed by, finally whether the activity is mandated or not.

It is also worth saying that any activity you are asked to do must take into account any limitations that result from your conditions, if you have concerns that this is not being adhered to then you should first raise the problem with you advisor and then if necessary with their supervisor.

Finally, you cannot be asked to work, to seek work or to undertake medical treatment.

I am afraid that there is no longer any restriction on the number of WFIs that a claimant can be asked to attend.

Voluntary work now comes in two flavours, what you and I would recognise a voluntary work, my understanding is that this cannot be mandated and then there are work placements, this is voluntary work is a commercial environment for the benefit of the community, this can be mandated.

You should be cautious of any written instructions that reference JSA rather than ESA, as I understand it these may not constitute a properly phrased request by your advisor, however, this is all about the legal (in the literal sense) interpretation of the request and is not an area that we currently advise on.

Gordon

Montoyer wrote: Thanks for the reply. Whether deliberate or not it seems the voluntary work/WRA is quite a grey area.

In my local JCP they're starting to pack it out with 'volunteers' who are on JSA and my adviser said they've now started doing it for ESA claimants customers, she offered this opportunity to me which I refused. I'm wondering if this is national DWP policy or just some idea from a bright spark at my local JCP?

There is an increasing focus on pushing ESA claimants towards a return to work across the country, voluntary work is a logical stepping stone for this, assuming that the claimant is capable of it in the first place but is also able to reap the benefits from doing it.

Gordon