Work Programme Provider Live Running Memo 069

Work Programme Provider Live Running Memo
To: Work Programme Providers
From: Work Programme Division
Memo Serial Number: 069 Date: 3 September 2012
Subject:
Action:
Change to the Work Programme Requirements of Jobseekers
Allowance (JSA) Credits Only Claimants
For information and action
Timing: From 3 September 2012
Background
JSA claimants in receipt of ‘National Insurance credits only’ currently participate in
the Work Programme on a mandatory basis. They are referred by Jobcentre Plus at
their eligibility point of entry or earlier if they satisfy one of the early entry criteria.
The regulations only allow for sanctions to be imposed on credits only cases if the
claimant fails to meet the availability and actively seeking work requirements. If you
raise a doubt with the Jobcentre about a claimant’s participation, no Decision Making
and Appeals (DMA) action will be taken. For this reason, the referral and participation
requirements of JSA credits only claimants will change.
From 3rd September 2012, JSA claimants in receipt of credits only will be given the
option of accessing the Work Programme and taking part on an entirely voluntary
basis from their eligible entry point.
There will be no change to their entry point (eligibility date) to the Work Programme
and they will be referred according to their own claimant group.
In addition, JSA credits only claimants already on the Work Programme will
participate on a voluntary basis with immediate effect.
We expect a small number of participants to be affected by this change.
Summary and Action
At the appropriate entry point, JSA credits only claimants can access the Work
Programme on a voluntary basis. Where a claimant decides to join the Programme,
Jobcentre Plus will annotate the Action Plan with ‘JSA Credits Only – Voluntary
Referral’ when they make the Programme referral on PRaP. This will enable you to
identify JSA credits only claimants who will participate in the Programme on an
entirely voluntary basis so they are not referred to any mandated activity.
All claimants already on the Programme who move on to credits only will receive
support through the Programme as a credits only participant. Their participation will
become voluntary, rather than mandatory. Conversely, if a JSA credits only
participant moves on to contribution or income-based JSA, their participation status
will become mandatory, rather than voluntary. Either way, all payments are based
upon the original claimant group regardless of any changes in benefit.
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Jobcentre Plus will notify you of any change in a participant’s benefit status on the
change of circumstances notification form (WP07b) so that you can take the
appropriate action.
Any doubts about a participant’s availability for work or actively seeking employment
should continue to be raised in the usual way.
Further Information Contact Details
All enquiries on the subject of this memo should be raised with your Performance
Manager in the first instance; they will endeavour to provide you with an answer as
soon as possible.
Regards
Contracted Customer Services Directorate
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