We aim to keep information up to date, if you happen to find any of these have been superseded, please let us know.
How can you avoid a JSA ‘actively seeking work’ sanction? From Child Poverty Action Group
Disability Rights UK factsheets alphabetical list
These are from: Scottish Unemployed Workers Network
Advice on surviving the Work Programme, as of June 2016
Know Your Rights booklets designed to be printed on two sides of A4, folded to A5:
colour 18-01-18 Know Your Rights booklet;
black and white 18-01-18 Know Your Rights b and w booklet:
colour for areas without UC Full Service 18-02-24 Know Your Rights (not UC Full Service) booklet;
black and white for areas without UC Full Service 18-02-24 Know Your Rights (not UC Full Service) b and w booklet.
From Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC)
YOU can prevent the DWP interfering in the patient/doctor’s relationship
For ESA claimants in SG: Letter to send jobcentre BEFORE being invited to Work Related Interview
Is the 4 week time limit for ESA/WCA enforceable? Forms and advice on how to manage DWP rules
Template letters for those in ESA Support Group harassed by Job Centres
Thanks to the Black Triangle Campaign for these:
PIP & ESA Benefit Exemptions from Face to Face Assessments
Supporting documents for ESA Work capability appeals:
ESA Appeals letter draft template for G.P.s
Covering letter for the above to G.P.s.
Explanation of legal arguments for G.P.s.
This bit was all nicked from: Cautiously pessimistic, a very useful site.
It’s often really hard to find out what you can and can’t do when dealing with the DWP, and many claimants are understandably afraid of getting sanctioned. Here’s a list of tips, mainly from the excellent refuted.org.uk, that might be helpful:
Saying no to zero-hours contracts
Refusing changes to your jobseekers’ agreement
Don’t face the jobcentre alone: you have the right to be accompanied to all benefits interviews
How to appeal or dispute a decision (if you or anyone else you know can afford it, there’s also a book on how to win appeals from the Child Poverty Action Group that might be a good investment for a claimants’ group)
Withholding consent from work programme providers
Refusing to sign work programme documents
Conscientious objection to certain kinds of work
Claiming benefits without an email address or telephone number
Make an official complaint about the jobcentre
Make a complaint about a work programme provider
Claiming compensation for poor service
Thanks again to refuted.org.uk for compiling these. DWP guidance changes frequently, so these may well be out-of-date by the time you read it, it’s a good idea to check refuted regularly for the latest developments.
If you need help, try contacting the Job Seeker Sanctions Advice service here.
DWP rules and guidelines.
We are indebted to Scottish Unemployed Workers Network for these links:
A leaflet to give to Jobcentre workers, drawn up by Salford Unemployed Community Resource Centre – Law on Social Security for DWP workers double sided 2x A5
Here are the DWP Decision Makers’ Guides for Universal Credit
DWP Guidance Documents – these are the rules that the private companies working for the DWP (such as Working Links, Learndirect and Triage) are expected to follow.
You can find the DWP rules for Universal Jobmatch (Feb 2015) here. The rules about what they can make you do are in Chapter 3 paragraphs 38-73. Paragraph 40 makes it clear that you can’t be made to give the access.
DWP Decision Makers Guide for JSA Sanctions – This explains the rules for the people who decide whether you are sanctioned
DWP guide to who is sent on the Work Programme
Here is the Guidance Document on Universal Jobmatch, written for DWP workers. Paragraph 45 clearly states: ‘You also cannot issue a Jobseeker’s Direction to mandate a claimant to give us access to their account – this is their decision not ours.’
DWP handbook for people carrying out Work Capability Assessments. If anyone questions your freedom to take notes, refer them to page 155.
DWP guide for PIP assessors. The section on your right to be accompanied is on page 30.
How can you avoid a ‘work focused interview’ sanction?
Industrial Workers of the World Dorset 