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new version of guidance for work programme providers working with universal credit claimants
scary… an individual can only be vulnerable of they have a WCA prognosis so anybody who’s got a relapsing remitting condition who’s not managed to get back onto ESA cuz they’ve got the same thing they’ve had all along will be excluded unless we get clever.
I can see some interesting Equality Act issues arising… I would argue that this guidance is on breach of the Publis Sector Equality Duty from the outset.
Hi Dan,
In relation to defining vulnerability, para 4.05 says
“This definition [of vulnerability] can be applied to UC participants in Payment Groups 5, 6a, 6b and 7, who are in the Work Preparation regime and have a WCA prognosis.”
That is either clumsy or clever. Clumsy if the Work Programme Provider can see that you could construe the sentence as meaning ‘including’ WCA status, or otherwise if they take it as meaning “only” WCA. I suspect the working definition will be the latter.
On a different matter, the guidance offers more confirmation of the self-employment gateway ordeal:
“...A.02 The participant will be required to bring a completed Self-Employed Declaration and as much evidence as possible of their self-employed business.
For example:
• their unique tax reference
• list of customers, suppliers, invoices and receipts
• previous tax returns
• previous declarations of income for tax credits
• business account bank details and statements
• trading accounts from the previous year
• name, address and telephone number of their accountant
• A diary of appointments, business meetings, etc.
• business plans and or marketing material
This list is not exhaustive and the participant does not need to provide all of them.
It is comforting that self employed people will not be expected to produce the lot! I don’t know how my window cleaner is going to cope. If he fails gateway, I suppose he will have to give up the work that is job that is currently supporting his family and paying tax, and become a jobseeker!