Jobseekers Allowance

[Itsthejoeker]

I recently signed up for Jobseekers Allowance, mainly because it'll put me in contact with someone to offer me advice finding work, but also the financial boost can be put a long way.

I am a self-employed swimming teacher but work less than 16 hours a week, so I put off signing on for a while, but got round to doing it 5 weeks ago, in those 5 weeks I have not had a single constructive meeting with my job advisor or received any of the reduced benefit that I am entitled to. I have been told that my chosen career path isn't suitable and had various attempts at tripping me up with paperwork.

So I wanted to know what your opinions and experiences with the JobCentre or benefit system have been like?

And if you've not gone through it, what do you think about it all?

[Ozwin]

Utterly soul destroying, don't know how anyone can happily sponge off it for years on end. Must have zero self worth to put yourself through it for so long.

[Lamby]

Utterly soul destroying, don't know how anyone can happily sponge off it for years on end. Must have zero self worth to put yourself through it for so long.

I've been on it for 3 years in Feb, it's horrible, but it's still money though

[ScouseFox]

It's pretty grim but if you keep getting rejected from everything you apply to it's the only way of getting enough money to survive. It's barely enough for that either, really.

Some of the "advice" is useful but quite a lot of it isn't.

[ithuriel]

Useless mostly, when i did two courses at the same time some self important dick gave me the wrong advice, i found out it was wrong because i finally got round to seeing someone who actually knew what they were doing in one of the back offices after pressing for information.

One of the security staff was a self important little **** too, doing shop floor security the little gimp would have gotten his ass kicked.

Glad i presently do not have to go to those soul destroying crap houses of fakery, when i was redundant over three years ago peeps used to fill in there job seekers booklet with crap whilst waiting to see the uninterested advisors.

[Harry - LCFC]

I am a self-employed swimming teacher but work less than 16 hours a week, so I put off signing on for a while, but got round to doing it 5 weeks ago, in those 5 weeks I have not had a single constructive meeting with my job advisor or received any of the reduced benefit that I am entitled to. I have been told that my chosen career path isn't suitable and had various attempts at tripping me up with paperwork.

Is that not illegal? I don't know how they're managing to do that, surely they have to give you whatever amount you're entitled to?

[kingfox]

I have been on it since February, I look and do all I can, stuff available but nobody wants to employ me, probably cause i'm younger than most other applicants and don't have enough experience.

They have shoved me on this and that, which has been a waste of time, one thing a couple of months ago they sent me to do mandatory work with another place in town thought fair enough might be a breakthrough, they placed me at Leicester Riders got there and they knew nothing about it, I was fuming, absolutely mad at the thought that I've been let down again, went back then they just shook their heads and chucked me to the British Heart foundation which I refused because I was so mad with them, all these let downs were getting beyond a joke. Of course my benefit was threatened to be stopped, so I had to write to the Job Centre explaining my reasons why it shouldn't be stopped, nothing back yet so hopefully they have decided my rant was enough and believable. Plus the woman I saw at the job centre basically called me a liar, I said I turned up to Riders and they knew nothing about it, then all of a sudden she started saying "no no no, that's not what I heard". I thought to myself what the hell, what a bitch.

My personal adviser is a pretty decent chap, but the people I see on a weekly basis on a normal signing on day can be complete arseholes. I have seen four different women and three of them were absolute idiots, one said she would send me on something which I was willing to do, but she never sorted it out, the other who happened to be the woman who accused me of lying has messed about 2-3 things up with me, while this other woman had a right go at me for not filling my book with enough description, and not applying to a job in Asda Thurmaston which I would struggle to get to plus it was nights, when my hours state i'm willing to work 8am-8pm. I had to ring up yet again to clear it up, and not make them stop my benefit.

Can't wait to get off it, but finding a job with people willing to give the younger generation a chance is almost impossible.

[Itsthejoeker]

Having spent a great deal of time and money on professional teaching and coaching qualifications, to be then told that I shouldn't bother because I should be looking for retail work is utterly depressing.

How do you find peoples attitudes towards you when you tell them you go to the job centre?

[Itsthejoeker]

Is that not illegal? I don't know how they're managing to do that, surely they have to give you whatever amount you're entitled to?

It's gone to a review board, which seem to be taking their time about it, but I'm 100% sure I'm eligible.

[Ozwin]

I've been on it for 3 years in Feb, it's horrible, but it's still money though

Jesus man, how do you afford to go to football games and stuff? No way does JSA cover a game a week.

[Harry - LCFC]

It's gone to a review board, which seem to be taking their time about it, but I'm 100% sure I'm eligible.

This kind of treatment doesn't help the unemployment situation in the country, if you make people feel unvalued then that isn't exactly going to inspire them to go out and make an effort. Benefits are going down too which will make things even tougher, makes it even more important for individuals to get a job for themselves.

[ScouseFox]

Jesus man, how do you afford to go to football games and stuff? No way does JSA cover a game a week.

After paying for everything that needs to be paid for (keep, travel, phone etc) I usually have about a fiver left. Sometimes a tenner on a good week. No idea how anyone can actually survive on it.

[Lamby]

Jesus man, how do you afford to go to football games and stuff? No way does JSA cover a game a week.

£112 every 2 weeks, £30 on rent leaves me with £82, split that so £40 a week, use around a week £10 for travel. Season ticket covers home games and I buy train tickets in advance to make cheaper and generally try and save some money per week for away match tickets.

[Harry - LCFC]

After paying for everything that needs to be paid for (keep, travel, phone etc) I usually have about a fiver left. Sometimes a tenner on a good week. No idea how anyone can actually survive on it.

If you're paying everything that needs to be paid then you are surviving on it, obviously it's not comfortable living but you're getting by I suppose.

[ScouseFox]

If you're paying everything that needs to be paid then you are surviving on it, obviously it's not comfortable living but you're getting by I suppose.

I am at the moment, but that's because I live at home so I pay to my ma a week to cover housing, food, heat, electric, tv etc, it'd be more expensive if I lived away from home. And if it was more expensive I almost definitely wouldn't have enough to cover everything.

Hopefully after the placement I'm on finished (next weekend) they'll offer me a permanent position which if I work the 16 hours I've been doing the last two weeks will basically double my money. And get me away from the bloody job centre.

[pSinatra]

It's gone to a review board, which seem to be taking their time about it, but I'm 100% sure I'm eligible.

I tried to sign on a few years ago. I was going from employed to self-employed & was in a similar situation to yourself.......that even if it was a few quid, it's better than nothing. They didn't want to give me anything & it just felt like they were trying to trip me up the whole time. The paperwork is not the easiest to understand, they try their hardest to avoid answering the questions & refuse to explain properly what you're actually entitled to.

I appealed against their decision & it took them 2 weeks to even acknowledge receipt of my appeal form. About a month later I received another letter saying that it was still being looked into & said that I could take the case to tribunal if I didn't agree with their decision. I awaited their decision......but it never came. They seem to want to scare you off with the prospect of taking it to tribunal. The whole system is a shambles & seems to be based on people getting so pissed off with the whole thing that they eventually don't bother........that the effort is not worth the shit money.

It isn't helped by the media & a general opinion that all people claiming JSA are work-shy & are only interested in scrounging. There are people who do take the piss, but the large majority are actively seeking employment & doing what they can. One minor slip-up & they stop your money. If they spent as much time actually helping you to find work than they do looking to catch you out........it would be a whole lot more beneficial.

I would suggest getting someone to kick you in the bollocks a couple of times a day.........it's less painful, less humiliating & a lot less demoralising.

I wish everyone seeking employment the best of luck!!

[Ozwin]

£112 every 2 weeks, £30 on rent leaves me with £82, split that so £40 a week, use around a week £10 for travel. Season ticket covers home games and I buy train tickets in advance to make cheaper and generally try and save some money per week for away match tickets.

That sounds horrible. Just get a job in Asda or something.

[Lamby]

That sounds horrible. Just get a job in Asda or something.

Once you fail an online application with them you can't apply again for 6 months

[Carl the Llama]

£112 every 2 weeks, £30 on rent leaves me with £82, split that so £40 a week, use around a week £10 for travel. Season ticket covers home games and I buy train tickets in advance to make cheaper and generally try and save some money per week for away match tickets.

HOW THE FOOK IS YOUR RENT SO CHEAP IN LONDON?!?!?!?!

[Lamby]

HOW THE FOOK IS YOUR RENT SO CHEAP IN LONDON?!?!?!?!

Cos I live with parents

[Jimothy]

£112 every 2 weeks, £30 on rent leaves me with £82, split that so £40 a week, use around a week £10 for travel. Season ticket covers home games and I buy train tickets in advance to make cheaper and generally try and save some money per week for away match tickets.

I'm guessing when you say rent you mean board and you live with your parents and maybe your Dad buys your season ticket? Because looking that, you can't afford to eat or heat the house, or even pay for the internet connection to post on here.

[pSinatra]

I await the patronising comments from people with comfortable lifestyles, in a job not under threat of redundancy & a total lack of understanding of what it is actually like to have to find employment in the current climate. People who wouldn't think twice about spending £70 on a night out........but think anyone living on £70 a week is a piss-taker & have chosen that lifestyle.

They wouldn't work 40 hours at Tesco for £70 a week........but don't understand why anyone else can't. If it's a real job (even if only short-term).....pay real money!!! At least the minimum wage!!!

[Guest MattP]

I await the patronising comments from people with comfortable lifestyles, in a job not under threat of redundancy & a total lack of understanding of what it is actually like to have to find employment in the current climate. People who wouldn't think twice about spending £70 on a night out........but think anyone living on £70 a week is a piss-taker & have chosen that lifestyle.

£70, you won't get far on that these days.

I signed on once when I was about 22, went into the job centre for my induction interview and after sitting in there for 10 minutes ripped the papers up and never returned. Awful place, no idea how people can do it for years on end. If I ever did end up on it for a serious amount of time I don't think I'd bother carrying on.

Really feel for people who are really trying but can't get off it. I'd shovel shit for £35 a day rather than sit in there.

[Lamby]

I'm guessing when you say rent you mean board and you live with your parents and maybe your Dad buys your season ticket? Because looking that, you can't afford to eat or heat the house, or even pay for the internet connection to post on here.

All correct yes

[pSinatra]

£70, you won't get far on that these days.

I signed on once when I was about 22, went into the job centre for my induction interview and after sitting in there for 10 minutes ripped the papers up and never returned. Awful place, no idea how people can do it for years on end. If I ever did end up on it for a serious amount of time I don't think I'd bother carrying on.

Really feel for people who are really trying but can't get off it. I'd shovel shit for £35 a day rather than sit in there.

I know too many people who were entitled to something, but never bothered........with pretty much the same reason you have given. I think it's a genuine ploy by the government to reduce the unemployment figures.

I would be interested to know of any statistics relating to people working cash-in-hand & I can only think it's on the rise..........good luck to them!!