Thousands of West Midlanders are failing to turn up for job interviews at a cost of millions of pounds to taxpayers, says a report out today.
JobCentre Plus staff were stood up by about 16,860 people in the region last year - one of the highest figures in the country - an investigation by the Commons Public Accounts Committee revealed. Of these, some 13,710 were punished.
New claimants who fail to show up for interviews and actively seek work risk being disallowed from claiming Jobseekers Allowance or Income Support.
Existing claimants risk a formal warning if they fail to provide a valid reason for missing an appointment - and face losing 20 per cent of their benefits for each missed interview.
Nationally, 1.8 million jobseekers failed to show up for interviews, costing the taxpayer £16m.
The committee, a cross-party panel of MPs, said more should be done to remind people of their responsibilities.
They suggested staff take steps to avoid scheduling interviews at inconvenient times such as during the school-runs.
Committee member, Bridgnorth Tory MP Philip Dunne, said there was a lack of joined-up thinking in closing offices all over the country and requiring benefit recipients to have face-to-face meetings.
17 Comments
I wonder how many of those 16,860 are still not working(Or claiming they are not) and are still on income support?
Many of these ‘failed to attend’ may have found work and not bothered to tell the Jobcentre. As far as I know ther is no law that says you ‘have’ to sign on and consequently no law that states you ‘have’ to tell the Jobcentre that you no longer wish to claim. You can just not turn up. I do think that the Jobcentre should keep a tighter leash on those who are signing on. It’s far too easy to spin the Jobcentre staff a line. Why not make the longterm unemployed pick litter up in the streets? I bet the unemployment figures would drop then!
I don’t understand why it is costing the taxpayer millions, surely the system to be be revamped if it is, considerably.
Are officials ‘doing nothing’, because of the no-shows, can’t they simply move onto the next on the list? They’re supposed to have a computer system in place, so filing a no-show shouldn’t be taking long to complete.
Time can be re-allocated to do something worthwhile, ie not wasted money of the part of the taxpayers!
It is not only the Jobcentre who suffer. I have recently been recruiting and received quite a few very strong looking CV’s. On calling people to interview the attendance rate is less than 50%. I am sure that the majority of no-shows were applying purely to tick the boxes to continue their claim for benefit.
Probably the most galling was the gentleman who rang to say that the interview time was inconvenient. I re-arranged at a time to suit him and he still didn’t turn up.
I reported the absentees to the local Jobcentre but I suppose that it is too much to hope that sanctions have been taken against them.
What about the ones who do turn up for interviews after having to take time off from work only to be told “we’ll let you know” and then the firm doesn’t bother. A quick call or email wouldn’t hurt them
Once again, the finger points one way only..just like CCTV. Perhaps JobCentre Plus should have a few reviews put in place, especially regarding things like the disgusting, routine manner in which people are treated when they attend Job Centres as well as the forced labour schemes.
‘I am sure that the majority of no-shows were applying purely to tick the boxes to continue their claim for benefit.’
So you kow this for certain? Your experience may not be the same as everyone else.
If you think ’signing on’ is a joke, I suggest you actually try it. I also suggest you witness the treatment in certain local job centres, especially in the Black Country. It is shocking. I have no problem whatsoever with looking for work, but the treatment was despicable, from the security to the inefficient, arrogant, rude, loud staff who were obviously institutionalised and/or trained to persecute. Try the New Deal if you think it’s easy - try actually doing the jobs advertised, for the pay offered.
And as regards New Deal ‘advisors’..ask what they get for every client who is ‘persuaded’ to take ‘an option’ which is basically no option. Ask why the PRIVATE sector is so keen on New Deal and then wonder why some people refuse to line the pockets of the few..
John you sound like you’ve been ’signing on’ a while! And as for the ‘disgusting manner in which people are treated’ by Jobcentre Plus staff, it is often the customer who threatens and abuses. I’ve witnessed it myself.
There may be some coercion to get people onto New Deal, but as this is only for long term unemployed people, apparently willing and able to work, you can’t blame them for wanting to give people a ‘helping hand’. It’s funny, but so many ‘jobseekers’ suddenly sign off when New Deal and actually working is presented to them!
And for the record, New Deal advisors do not receive anything in return for getting jobseekers onto these options, regardless of how much abuse they get. Finally, to the original point of fail to attends - For every interview there’s 30 - 60mins of preparation work lost. Telephone interviews need to be made, computer records created and New Deal files to collate. You don’t have to actually sign off, but then don’t complain when you don’t receive the money you’re due up to the day before you started work.
Jobcentre staff work because they care. They want to help people, but more often than not this is thrown back in their faces. You can’t blame them for being defensive. What I find disgusting is the people who feel they have a right to the money in the first place, don’t want to do anything for it and have never paid into the system.
I just wish someone would give me an interview.I’m 59 and an experienced warehouse supervisor.I have been unemployed for a year.In the past week alone I have applied for around 18 vacancies with no reply,sorry 1 reply who said you seem to be just what we we want that was over a week ago then silence.I,m told age don’t matter anymore and experience counts,my experience tells me otherwise
I’ve just retired after fifty years
working for a living.I’ve seen it all,young strapping fella’s who just dont want work.peaple laughing at me and my mates as we go to work.One chap said to me a few years ago” Their throwing money at me” Someone ought to have a walk around duing the day with their eyes and ears open.
I’ve worked in the recruitment industry for over 15 years now. I’ve worked and recruited in a number of locations throughout the UK, including the Midlands.
I find it harder to recruit at any level in the Midlands and find the majority of people who apply to be rude, lazy and expect something for nothing.
The benefit system is a mess and is very easy to swindle. I’ve also encountered countless individuals who say they don’t want to work as they actually receive more money in benefits. Again, I’ve only come across that one in the Midlands.
It always makes me laugh when I ask someone at interview, why they haven’t worked for the last 12 months. I alway get the same reply - “’cause there ay no jobs”.
As a matter of fact there are thousands of jobs on offer throughout the region. It just seems that many Midlanders are too bone idol to get one!
Too bad the poor weren’t born rich then they could live without lifting a finger and no one would think any worse of them.
It is disgusting how people have been treated in job centres etc. I nearly had to loose a chance at a promising career after they tried to force my husband into a low paying work camp. I now am a well paid professional and neither of us will ever be in need of assistance again. This is one example of how the system can shoot itself in the foot. I would never have elevated my position if they had carried out their threats.
anon your quite right, it happens and the only response you get is its the government that makes the rules. Dhss staff seem to live in a black and white world where theres no gery areas. Another thing they seem to be oblivious to is the wages and job prospects that some of these jobs offer, its ok for most of them dishing out the rules because they dont have to live by them. Many of them certainly dont appear to be living off the same wages as the second rate jobs they offer, you just need to sit outside the car park and watch them arrive in their vehicles.
I work hard in the job I do and could never afford a car in the same category as these people never mind a mortgage, but do you know what my problem is?
Im british and dont have kids .