Zero hours contracts and work related requirements under UC

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Dear Department for Work and Pensions,

If a claimant is on UC he/she could be subject to full work related requirements (and face sanctions for failure to keep to them) if they are earning less than their individual "threshold" normally 35 hrs pw @ minimum wage.

What happens if someone is on a zero hours contract and doesn't know from day to day how many hours they will work? Will the DWP make an assumption that during that week there will be no work (and therefore a requirement to look for work for 35 hrs during that week) until such point as work arises? Or is there some other method of deciding?

Thanks

Yours faithfully,

Glenys Harriman

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DWP Strategy Freedom of Information, Department for Work and Pensions

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Dear Glenys Harriman,

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request. Please find enclosed our acknowledgment of its receipt.

If you have any queries about this letter please contact me quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely,

DWP Central FoI Team

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If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office for a decision. Generally the Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted our own complaints procedure. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF www.ico.gov.uk

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DWP Strategy Freedom of Information, Department for Work and Pensions

1 Attachment

Dear Glenys Harriman,

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request. Please find enclosed our acknowledgment of its receipt.

If you have any queries about this letter please contact me quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely,

DWP Central FoI Team

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Your right to complain under the Freedom of Information Act

If you are not happy with this response you may request an internal review by e-mailing [DWP request email] or by writing to DWP, Central FoI Team, Caxton House, Tothill Street, SW1H 9NA. Any review request should be submitted within two months of the date of this letter.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office for a decision. Generally the Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted our own complaints procedure. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF www.ico.gov.uk

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Dear DWP Strategy Freedom of Information,

Your response to my FOI request Zero hours contracts and work related requirements under UC law is overdue.

Please could you reply

Yours sincerely,

Glenys Harriman

DWP Strategy Freedom of Information, Department for Work and Pensions

2 Attachments

This reply was sent to you on 17 December 2013 and is attached for ease of reference

Regards

DWP Strategy Freedom of Information Focal Point

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Graham Jenkins left an annotation ()

The reply states: "If a claimant turns down a particular vacancy (including zero hour contract jobs) a sanction may be applied but we will look into the circumstances of the case and consider whether they had a good reason. "

This seems to contradict the reply published at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/sy..., which states: "Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants are not required to apply for zero hours contract vacancies and they will not face sanctions for turning down the offer of a zero hours contract."

Graham Jenkins left an annotation ()

(That is, a difference between UC and JSA?)