Is a Universal Jobmatch account a mandatory requirement for JSA UNIVERSAL CREDIT

DAVID JAMES made this Freedom of Information request to Department for Work and Pensions Automatic anti-spam measures are in place for this older request. Please let us know if a further response is expected or if you are having trouble responding.

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Dear Department for Work and Pensions,

Can you please inform me specifically what policy/directive/order or other legislation/guidelines are used, by Jobcentre Plus staff, to make the creation of a Universal Jobmatch account a "compulsory" requirement in the initial "claimants commitment" of a first time JSA applicant.

In The Universal Jobmatch Toolkit - s. 23 states claimants will be "encouraged" to create a UJ account; s.80 states Advisory teams will...promote uptake of UJ; s.95 states a Jobseekers Direction cannot be issued to require a claimant to create a profile and CV in UJ or mandate a claimant to allow access to their account - this is their decision not Jobcentre/DWP's. There is no mention of the creation of a UJ account being a mandatory condition of claiming JSA.

This request is on behalf of a long-term (12 months +) unemployed, skilled and multiple qualified person, with a variable and chronic health condition that affects their day-to-day living and ability to work (no other benefits claimed) - but has home access to the internet, has competent IT skills, and has not previously accessed Universal Jobmatch. They have been told that creation of an account and CV on UJ is compulsory/mandatory, and is necessarily included as an "agreed action" in their "claimants commitment", in order to continue with JSA claim.

I would be grateful if you can provide PDF copies of the relevant information, and clarify the specific reasons for Jobcentre Plus staff mandating (and for NOT mandating) sign-up to Universal Jobmatch - with a clear indication as to the specific paragraphs/sections of the relevant information that apply.

Yours faithfully,

DAVID JAMES

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James C Kelsall left an annotation ()

Any guidance, policy or other document which refers to Universal Jobmatch is extremely outdated.

If you have been given a claimant commitment which requires signing up to Universal Jobmatch, you should challenge that with your work coach.

It isn't possible to sign up for a Universal Jobmatch account as the service was shut down in 2018.

freedom-of-information-request@dwp.gov.uk,

3 Attachments

Dear David James,

I am writing in response to your request for information, received 7th
June.

Yours sincerely,

DWP Central FoI Team