The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has apologised after a 57-year-old man from Wrexham was mistakenly placed on an employment programme intended for people aged between 16 and 30.
Former construction worker John Colamatheo had been offered an opportunity that he understood could lead to work as a Universal Credit Agent with the DWP.
He bought new clothes for the workplace and attended a week of training before being told during his second week that he should never have been placed on the programme because of his age.
The DWP has acknowledged the mistake and said it is now helping Mr Colamatheo explore other employment opportunities.
Wrexham Man Hoped to Return to Work After Injury
Mr Colamatheo had been out of work for about a year after suffering an ankle injury that prevented him from continuing in the construction industry.
Although his disability meant he was able to claim Universal Credit, he wanted to return to employment.
Speaking to the BBC, he explained that getting back into the workplace was important for more than his income.
“I needed it, not for the money, for my mental health,” he said.
He also said he missed the camaraderie of working alongside other people and believed his own experience of disability and claiming benefits could help him support others navigating the benefits system.
When the possibility of becoming a Universal Credit Agent emerged, Mr Colamatheo believed the role could give him an opportunity to put that experience to practical use.
He bought new clothes so he could look smart during the training, despite saying he could ill-afford the expense at the time.
Mr Colamatheo said he expected to recover the cost once he started earning.
Training Stopped During Second Week
The opportunity came to an abrupt end during the second week of training.
Mr Colamatheo said he was taken aside and informed that a mistake had been made because the programme was restricted to younger participants.
He said there had been nothing in the job advertisement he saw that indicated the opportunity was limited to people in that age group.
Mr Colamatheo questioned why a desk-based role advising benefit claimants should be age restricted and said the experience had “destroyed my confidence”.
The DWP later confirmed that he had been mistakenly placed on the Movement to Work programme.
[INTERACTIVE SECTION PLACEMENT: Add after the paragraph ending “mistakenly placed on the Movement to Work programme”.]
What is the Movement to Work Programme?
The Movement to Work programme connects young people aged 16 to 30 who face barriers to employment with work experience, training and employment opportunities.
The Civil Service also operates a Movement to Work recruitment pathway. Its published eligibility criteria include being aged 16 to 30 and not being in education, employment or training.
The Civil Service describes the recruitment pathway as a two-week work experience placement that can potentially lead to a temporary fixed-term appointment for up to 24 months, with the possibility of permanent employment later.
That distinction is important in Mr Colamatheo’s case. He said he believed completing the training could result in a job, but the published Civil Service pathway describes employment as a potential outcome rather than an automatic guarantee.
The incident also comes as the Government continues to develop employment measures targeted at younger jobseekers. Recent changes to DWP youth guarantee funding have placed further emphasis on helping eligible young Universal Credit claimants move towards employment.
DWP Apologises for Wrexham Training Error
The DWP said Mr Colamatheo had been placed on the youth-focused programme incorrectly.
A spokesperson said: “We sincerely apologise for this error and are in contact with Mr Colamatheo to discuss other job support available, as we help him to explore further employment opportunities.”
The department’s response confirms that alternative employment support is now being discussed with him.
No further outcome has yet been confirmed in the information available, including whether Mr Colamatheo has been offered another DWP position or a different training opportunity.
For Mr Colamatheo, however, the mistake came after he had already committed time and money to preparing for what he hoped would be a route back into employment.