JCP won't allow me onto JSA from ESA

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Eeee...s...Ayyyy

Jay...see...peeeee....

M-O-U-S-Eeeeeeee!! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !!



Sorry.

I guess you have to be an American old enough to remember the Mousekateers to get the joke.

Haha, indeed!

Yeah, sorry for all the abbreviations. We're Brits and those of us unfortunate/fortunate to be stuck in the benefits system quickly have to get used to all of this. I'm doing some autism engagement stuff linked to social care and that's got a whole other set of silly sounding terms to get used to.

JCP is Jobcentre Plus for non-Brits. It's where we have to go for government assistance for unemployed people. (By the way, do google the origins of the word 'dole')

The 'plus' was added when they added extra 'services' like computers for job searching. They are still [rude word meaning rubbish] though and have things like security staff on the door and minimal privacy. Mine works for me as I have a wonderful adviser with ASD in her family and a commitment to public service. She knows I want to work but that many jobs would be bad for my health.

But 'the system' currently isn't good and there are lots of targets to meet, which means that innocent people end up being punished e.g. the job searching and recording requirements are horrible if you have dyslexia or learning difficulties. You can go into the office and overhead horrible stories like a guy with a speech impediment on a landline phone there trying to explain that he didn't get a letter about an appointment as he lost his home and was now homeless and not receiving any money. He couldn't communicate clearly so a member of staff took the phone off him and tried to explain to the staff in a decision-making office. Who refused to talk to them as they weren't the client! It's easier for staff to 'pick on' people to remove benefits from who can't defend themselves. People who know how to play the system ('dole scroungers'), or who are educated and able to google their rights (like me) make a much more difficult target.

You've read the terrible story about the guy with autism whose benefits got removed and he died?

I think you would be a bit mad to want to change from ESA support group to JSA. You get more money on ESA and will not be aggressively pushed into having job interviews for roles that are totally unsuitable for you.

What other services would JSA enable you to get? - I'm sure there must be local colleges or charities that offer similar services at no or low cost to people on ESA.

Getting in the ESA support group is like winning the lottery. I would guess if you did switch to JSA the chances of being able to switch back to ESA without further medical assessments and court appeals are slim.

I have to agree with those who are telling you it would be a wrong move to want to leave ESA for Job Seeker's Allowance.

You know that getting on ESA is indeed like winning the jackpot? It's extremely difficult to qualify for it -- some very, very disabled people very deserving of ESA get turned down!

And once you're on it, you get relatively left in peace.

By contrast, when you're on Job Seeker's, your life is not your own. Seriously. They are on "on" you full time, because the whole objective is to get you off JSA and into a job, any job. The talk a lot of talk about helping you find the right path blah blah, but it's all rubbish -- they don't care if you have to take a job completely unsuitable for your needs and skills -- they just want you OFF jsa.

You'd be crazy to want to be on JSA instead of what you have now, trust me. You've clearly met the very strict requirements to be on ESA, meaning there are valid and approved reasons why you may not be able to work, or at least work conventional hours and tasks other people might handle.

On JSA they don't care about you at all, they treat you like dirt and they do anything they can to just force you to take the first job that's offered, even if it's 50 hours a week down a coalmine, or customer service regardless of social overload problems. If you don't they cut your money. Stay on ESA!

Here is a link to the story about the man who died following his benefits being cut:

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/feb/28/man-starved-to-death-after-benefits-cut

http://www.autismdailynewscast.com/a-man-with-aspergers-syndrome-starved-to-death-after-benefits-cut/8319/joworgan/

The "fit to work" assessment is harsh. I truly feel I myself am not able to cope with work and yet I have no intention of even trying to get this benefit, as I know they will laugh in my face.

As Ukguy says, these days local further education colleges can be very good at helping disabled people. If they have a 'two tick' mark it's likely they will do absolutely everything they can to help people enrol and complete a course. (Being cynical, it's because they get 'brownie points' for disabled students.) They have academic courses, tech courses as well as fun short courses that are good for just getting out there into the community or back into a routine or studying. My local council also funds free half day community courses such as CV writing, introduction to 'Access' university courses, relaxation classes, 'what is stress?' etc. And church-based charities may do 'help back to work' training as a community service, e.g. accessed through foodbanks. I'm not religious, but in my area they do very good stuff through churches.

You might be able to access help through the JCP disability adviser anyway. Presumably there is a contact person you can get in touch with about wanting to access opportunities.

Tough Diamond: 'Dole' was originally the ration of bread given to Roman citizens. In Medieval times they then 'doled out' bread as an act of charity to poor people, before 'the dole' was introduced about 100 years ago.

Because each region has a different specific name for the various energy and water providers, I think most people just colloquially talk about "the water board" or "the electric company".