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The Work Programme helped me get a job – and then nearly lose it The Work Programme helped me get a job – and then nearly lose it
(3 months later)
I missed my appointment at the jobcentre on 19 April. I had a lot going on that day and just forgot about it. It was my fault. You have to go for an appointment every three weeks or so, to show you're looking for work, or they stop your benefits.I missed my appointment at the jobcentre on 19 April. I had a lot going on that day and just forgot about it. It was my fault. You have to go for an appointment every three weeks or so, to show you're looking for work, or they stop your benefits.
They sent a letter saying they were going to stop my benefits for two weeks. I get £71.60 a week jobseeker's allowance, paid fortnightly. £140 is a big chunk of money to lose when you're on a low income.They sent a letter saying they were going to stop my benefits for two weeks. I get £71.60 a week jobseeker's allowance, paid fortnightly. £140 is a big chunk of money to lose when you're on a low income.
It took a few weeks for the stop to come into effect. I still got the next payment, but not the one after that. By then, I'd been offered a job at Guy's & St Thomas' hospital in London. I went to the jobcentre to tell them, but they still stopped my benefits. They said, even though you got a job, you are still suspended. It's the law now.It took a few weeks for the stop to come into effect. I still got the next payment, but not the one after that. By then, I'd been offered a job at Guy's & St Thomas' hospital in London. I went to the jobcentre to tell them, but they still stopped my benefits. They said, even though you got a job, you are still suspended. It's the law now.
The job is as a housekeeping assistant. There's a lot of cleaning involved, and I'll be caretaking a small part of the hospital building. They wanted experience of using vast buffing machinery and that sort of heavy-duty equipment, which I have from a while ago.The job is as a housekeeping assistant. There's a lot of cleaning involved, and I'll be caretaking a small part of the hospital building. They wanted experience of using vast buffing machinery and that sort of heavy-duty equipment, which I have from a while ago.
The jobcentre put me on the Work Programme because I had been out of paid work for more than two years. I'm a bit embarrassed, really, but 2010 is when I was last in regular work. I was a train cleaner.The jobcentre put me on the Work Programme because I had been out of paid work for more than two years. I'm a bit embarrassed, really, but 2010 is when I was last in regular work. I was a train cleaner.
I had to pass a numeracy and literacy test and then an interview for the hospital job. Thirty-seven people applied for the job and only five got through the test and interview stage. I was pleased when I was offered it. I got my references done really quickly, by the Rev Janet Corlett and two other people from the South London Mission. I volunteer there sometimes. They offered me a room in their hostel in 2010 when I was homeless for nearly a year. I help with the mission's food parcel scheme when it runs from October to June, shopping and helping pack on a Thursday, distributing the food on a Friday.I had to pass a numeracy and literacy test and then an interview for the hospital job. Thirty-seven people applied for the job and only five got through the test and interview stage. I was pleased when I was offered it. I got my references done really quickly, by the Rev Janet Corlett and two other people from the South London Mission. I volunteer there sometimes. They offered me a room in their hostel in 2010 when I was homeless for nearly a year. I help with the mission's food parcel scheme when it runs from October to June, shopping and helping pack on a Thursday, distributing the food on a Friday.
The problem was I was very short of ID for the job. I only had a provisional driving licence, which was a little bit out of date, and a letter to say I get jobseeker's allowance.The problem was I was very short of ID for the job. I only had a provisional driving licence, which was a little bit out of date, and a letter to say I get jobseeker's allowance.
I needed to go to Croydon to get a birth certificate. If I couldn't get the ID, I wouldn't be able to have the job, but after my benefit was stopped, I had no money. I tried for a Department for Work & Pensions crisis loan, but since the cuts on 1 April, the DWP no longer provides that kind of discretionary funding. All they could offer was a referral to a food bank. How that would get me to Croydon and back, I don't know.I needed to go to Croydon to get a birth certificate. If I couldn't get the ID, I wouldn't be able to have the job, but after my benefit was stopped, I had no money. I tried for a Department for Work & Pensions crisis loan, but since the cuts on 1 April, the DWP no longer provides that kind of discretionary funding. All they could offer was a referral to a food bank. How that would get me to Croydon and back, I don't know.
The interview at Guy's was through the Work Programme – the same people who put a stop on the money. The man from the Work Programme was there when I took the tests, so they knew I was looking for work. They didn't seem to care I'd lose the job I'd just been offered. Since the cuts, it's just what they do now – they won't use any discretion.The interview at Guy's was through the Work Programme – the same people who put a stop on the money. The man from the Work Programme was there when I took the tests, so they knew I was looking for work. They didn't seem to care I'd lose the job I'd just been offered. Since the cuts, it's just what they do now – they won't use any discretion.
Janet is such a kind minister and a great friend. She gave me the money to get to Croydon and also £10 for the birth certificate. I also needed to get photos done. Without her help, I wouldn't have been able to do it.Janet is such a kind minister and a great friend. She gave me the money to get to Croydon and also £10 for the birth certificate. I also needed to get photos done. Without her help, I wouldn't have been able to do it.
I'm what you call "bank staff" – it's like agency work. It's just a start, but it can be a way of getting into a job. I'm waiting to hear when I start. It's taken a few weeks, but it should be any time now.I'm what you call "bank staff" – it's like agency work. It's just a start, but it can be a way of getting into a job. I'm waiting to hear when I start. It's taken a few weeks, but it should be any time now.
• Philip Emans was talking to Fiona Bawdon• Philip Emans was talking to Fiona Bawdon
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