KP Services (Jersey) Limited (FOI)KP Services (Jersey) Limited (FOI)
Produced by the Freedom of Information officeAuthored by States of Jersey and published on
07 July 2016.Request
A
How many of the jobless people sent to KPS by Social Security were in receipt of benefits from Social Security eg Income Support etc?
B
How many of those did not even turn up?
C
How many of those who did not turn up for interview, thereby making themselves unemployed, had their benefits stopped or reduced.
D
How many of those who were offered a job left after a short time, thereby making themselves unemployed, had their benefits stopped or reduced?
Response
Back to Work is a programme within the Social Security Department which works with jobseekers to help them to find sustainable employment and move towards financial independence. More information about Back to Work is available at:
Back to Work Recruitment: support available to employers
20 jobseekers were assisted by Back to Work in submitting applications to KP Services (Jersey) Limited (KPS) although KPS chose not to use the screening support service offered by Back to Work Recruitment, so candidates applied directly in response to a public advertisement.
The ages of the candidates assisted by Back to Work ranged from 17 to 60 years. Of these 20 Back to Work applicants, eight were employed by KPS as of the end of June 2016 according to the Social Security Department's records.
A
14 of the 20 Jobseekers assisted by Back to Work in submitting applications to KPS were in receipt of Income Support.
Income Support claimants are expected to look for work, unless there are exceptional and specific circumstances. Looking for work includes participating in agreed training or work experience placements, attending interviews and taking up suitable work that is offered.
If claimants fail to do this, Social Security officers have the power to reduce or stop Income Support payments to an individual or a household.
If a claimant leaves work without a good reason, the Social Security officers can enforce ‘giving up work’ sanctions. In all situations, the application of sanctions is considered on a case-by-case basis.
The sanction process and penalties for failing to look for work are explained in the table below which can also be found on the gov.je website
First occasion | Warning | None | In place for one year from date of receipt |
Second occasion | First breach of warning | Adult component of Income Support removed for 2 weeks | In place for one year from date of receipt |
Third occasion | Second breach of warning | Adult component of Income Support removed for 4 weeks | In place for one year from date of receipt |
Fourth occasion | Third breach of warning | All Income Support removed for 6 weeks | In place for one year from date of receipt |
Subsequent occasions | Subsequent breach | All Income Support removed for 6 weeks | In place for one year from date of receipt |
The sanction process and penalties for giving-up work (GUW) are explained in the table below.
From day after last day of work | Letter | Adult component for 91 days / 13 weeks | n/a |
B, C and D
The number of individuals in these groups is so small (less than five) that disclosure could lead to individuals being identified, therefore an Article 25 exemption is applied.
Exemptions applied
Article 25 Personal Information
(2) Information is absolutely exempt information if –
(a) it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is not the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2005; and
(b) its supply to a member of the public would contravene any of the data protection principles, as defined in that Law.