Jobseekers and acessing the internet

[babelfish]

I have been claiming jobseekers for several months. When i signed my jobseeker agreement I was living with family and had access to wifi 24/7 so stated I could go online and look for jobs every day. Since moving to my own place I do not have wifi or internet access. I tried to change my agreement but they wouldnt and said I could go to the local library or ucan centre or even the job centre to access the internet every day. I cant afford to pay travel costs every day to travel to these places and the nearest one is a 45 minute walk, which is fine when its not raining.

Can the jobcentre force me to walk for 90 minutes there and back in the rain to access the internet?
Can I claim back travel costs if I choose to travel to these places to access the internet?
Can they really penalize me if I cant access the internet?

[Kati]

Re: Jobseekers and acessing the internet

Hi [MENTION=96151]babelfish[/MENTION] ... have you asked for a Mandatory Reconsideration of their decision to not allow you to alter your CC?

I'd suggest that you write to your local DWP District Manager (details can be found here - https://www.gov.uk/government/public...-opportunities)

Additionally ... they cannot force you to travel to the jobcentre every day to use their internet without paying your bus fares (only your regular sign-on day is not paid for )

I'll pop back on here later (we're just about to eat) and put up some more links and info ... please try not to worry too much xx

[babelfish]

Re: Jobseekers and acessing the internet

Thanks I will try that. As for as the jobcentre was concerned I still had access to the internet, albeit 45 mins away.

[Kati]

Re: Jobseekers and acessing the internet

I'm just waiting for a couple of people to get back to me with links and FOI request answers, but in all honesty I cannot see that you will have trouble changing your CC to reflect the fact that you have no internet access at home (have you got a JSA agreement/CC or are you actually on Universal Credit?) xx

[babelfish]

Re: Jobseekers and acessing the internet

Thanks. I have a JSA agreement. Just in case anyone is wondering, im at my brother's house now and using his internet, he is an hours walk away from me.

[Kati]

Re: Jobseekers and acessing the internet

Thanks. I have a JSA agreement. Just in case anyone is wondering, im at my brother's house now and using his internet, he is an hours walk away from me.

tbh, it hadn't even crossed my mind :lol:

Have you access to a Welfare Agency of any kind (CAB etc...)? You are going to need to get your CC changed to say you cannot access the internet every day and having proof of income/expenditure would help sway the DWP decision in your favour
If the JCP people didn't agree to that they'd need to provide you with expenses to let you travel to their office and use the IAD's there