My "work coach" is trying to get me to sign up to a "Job Entry Targeted Support" scheme where I'll have to jump through even more hoops to get my bennies. How do I convince them that I don't need to take part in this scheme?
Feel free to use this thread to share general tips for staying on the dole with the most minimal of hassle from The Man.
If I'm not mistaken those schemes actually don't effect whether or not you receive any benefits. Assuming of course you're looking for work off your own back, and you are, aren't you, Anon?
JETS is voluntary, so unless your claimant commitment specifically mentions going on courses or schemes that are recommended to you, then you just need a plausible reason why you think it's unsuitable for your needs.
It helps if you've got something else that sounds like a plan, whether that's a sector you're trying to get into or a course you'd like to go on. It doesn't have to be a great plan, but having something you can vaguely make progress towards is a useful distraction technique.
The Work and Health Programme is mandatory and can involve you being referred to JETS, but only if you've been claiming benefits for more than 24 months.
If you're serious about scrounging, get intimately familiar with the the Advice for Decision Making documents. They are in effect the rulebook for the benefit system. Quoting a paragraph from them can cut through a massive amount of bullshit if you aren't arsey about it. Get to know the mandatory reconsideration process, because it's your first line of defence if your Work Coach starts making up their own rules.