Jobseekers Allowance

[Craig]

Claiming JSA was a major contributor to the worst period of my life. Acted as a motivation to sort myself out, and it seems to have worked.

Don't envy anyone who is forced into it.

[J.Lisemore]

Was on it for around 6 months when I was 18.

Depressing is the best word to sum that place up.

Also, take what they say with a pinch of salt...I was told I'd be going nowhere with a warehouse job, nearly £12 an hour probably proves them wrong.

[I am Rod Hull]

The last Labour government(s) created an estimated 1,800,000 jobs and around 70% of those jobs went to Immigrants

I just love our multicultural Britain, its sooo vibrant

[Guest MattP]

The last Labour government(s) created an estimated 1,800,000 jobs and around 70% of those jobs went to Immigrants

I just love our multicultural Britain, its sooo vibrant

At least they have apologised for it now. Won't happen again I'm sure.

'Welcome, come in, vote Labour'

[Adster]

I have no problems with people claiming Job Seekers for the right reasons. But when someone who can't be bothered to look for work who quite happily will drain on our countries resources annoys me insanely. Whilst I don't pay tax currently at my job (student), when I do, it'd sicken me knowing that some of my hard earned money will probably go to low life scum who sits around dole dossing because they can't be arsed to work for a living like everyone else.

[Carl the Llama]

I have no problems with people claiming Job Seekers for the right reasons. But when someone who can't be bothered to look for work who quite happily will drain on our countries resources annoys me insanely. Whilst I don't pay tax currently at my job (student), when I do, it'd sicken me knowing that some of my hard earned money will probably go to low life scum who sits around dole dossing because they can't be arsed to work for a living like everyone else.

"Student" is not a job.

I'm a student too and it sure as hell isn't a career. A means to one, yes; a job, no.

[Adster]

"Student" is not a job.

I'm a student too and it sure as hell isn't a career. A means to one, yes; a job, no.

I don't think you understood my point, or I said it wrong (most likely). I think you can let me off, it is late after all.

I have a job, and I'm a student. And my part time job doesn't earn enough to warrant paying tax.

[Carl the Llama]

I don't think you understood my point, or I said it wrong (most likely). I think you can let me off, it is late after all.

I have a job, and I'm a student. And my part time job doesn't earn enough to warrant paying tax.

Fair enough. Congrats on getting work instead of relying on your student loan in that case.

[Ozwin]

Claiming JSA was a major contributor to the worst period of my life. Acted as a motivation to sort myself out, and it seems to have worked.

Don't envy anyone who is forced into it.

This is true for me too. I don't know if I was depressed but looking back I must have been pretty close. I was on it for less than a year as well but the way you're made to feel almost like a second rate citizen is what did me most. Not to mention not being able to do small things like go football with your friends or gatherings when everyone else can. I remember missing out on so many nights out and alienating myself from then group purely because I had no other option. Thinking about it is actually making me quite sad, it actually tells you who your real friends are though I guess but yeah, depressing or what?

If I'm ever down I only have to think back to these days and how I was and could still be.

[Cruss5]

I'm in a similar situation. I have just been made redundant after working for a company for some time. Mortgage and kids so every little bit of income helps.

I've almost qualified as a Basketball coach and when i told them thats what i want to do they gave a snigger but never encouraged me to do anything to help myself.

They made me feel like i'm just a lay about who doesn't want to go out and get work. Not looking forward to going again.

[pSinatra]

I'm in a similar situation. I have just been made redundant after working for a company for some time. Mortgage and kids so every little bit of income helps.

I've almost qualified as a Basketball coach and when i told them thats what i want to do they gave a snigger but never encouraged me to do anything to help myself.

They made me feel like i'm just a lay about who doesn't want to go out and get work. Not looking forward to going again.

It's a case of playing the game. I despise the way the unemployed are portrayed by the media, the government & a large section of the public. I'm sure nobody expects unemployment to be easy.......but you have paid your taxes, done your bit & you're now asking for a bare minimum in return. The government insist it's a time for austerity......but how about not pissing money away on all kinds of other bullshit? They would rather come down on someone already struggling?

They're not interested in you........they are only interested in getting you off their records - save the government some money & one less statistic showing up on the unemployment figures (which they fiddle anyway).

http://www.guardian....yed-uk-how-many

Good luck with the coaching

[MikeyT]

I have unfortunately had to claim JSA since October and it's the most soul destroying, depressing thing ever. I am applying for literally hundreds of jobs as I do NOT want to be on this or live this way. In the time I have been on JSA, I have been offered only 2 interviews, neither of which I have been offered. I have applied for Customer Service work as well of which i have vast experience in and still no luck. I am struggling just to buy food each week for myself.

I find some people can be very mocking of people on JSA and are like "oh get a f*****g job, it's easy"...oh really? Do people honestly believe I want to be on this? I want to be able to afford to go out, put food on the table, buy clothes, go on holiday etc.

I have sympathy for any legitimate people on JSA who are working their butts off trying to get a job and better themselves, because if they are finding it as tough as I am at the moment, then I feel for you, I really do.

[Finnegan]

Claimed for six months before getting work, I'd just moved back from London and was unemployed with mostly retail on my cv (I'd been a student.) The recession, or credit crunch as we were calling it then, had just kicked in and there wasn't work anywhere.

Not only was it the most horrific time of my life for self esteem I'd agree with you that the "help" provided is non-existent. What you need to remember is that JCP must have had huge cuts too and they were always massively understaffed. They just wanted to hurry me through as quickly as possible.

After six months out of work I was pretty much unemployable but fortunately that's when I moved on to the next "stage." I had to sign on in a different part of the building at a different time and was actually assigned a proper advisor. Lo and behold I had a job after my second session with him.

I was in that job for a year before applying for another on twice the money and the confidence I'd gotten from being in work plus the fact that consistent recent employment is the best thing for your cv got me the gig.

That was about two years ago.

I hope the system hasn't gotten much worse and I wish you the best of luck. One thing I would say, though, is to broaden your horizons. Apply for and accept almost anything except 100% commission sales (unless you've done it before) because a tidy job on record goes.miles, even if you don't stay long.

Don't be picky. I leapt at the first job I could and found myself painting fences and gardening public gardens, haha. Not exactly my forte but it all worked out.

[FoxesAreBlue]

Been on it twice - the first time I was lucky and stumbled across a job myself after about 3 months.

Second time they sent me to the Job Centre in Hinckley (rather than New Walk) like before and I just couldn't get there as the busses from my village only run every 2 hours and I couldn't face going in to listen to their shitty 'advice' all of the time from people less qualified than myself.

Ido feel for all of the genuine people on JSA. It's soul destroying and I wish you luck in getting a job.

[kyleolly]

Was on it for around 6 months this year wasn't too bad, careers advisor I had was useless though there was always an obstacle in the way to why I couldn't do something I had a lot more trouble with the council absolute nightmare.

[Mack]

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

[Rincewind]

Been on it 18 month. Almost given up looking for work. I am in the wrong age group for long term employment now. I doubt many places would be hesitant to take somebody on, train them only to see them retire after 2-3 years. I feel for the younger ones. I have managed to learn to budget. I do not go football or go out at night. I drink as many pints in a week that I used to drink in a night. If I have a pint at a lunch time I worry that I have overspent.

I was sanctioned once for not applying for a job they suggested. I did not apply because I was 100% certain that my application would be binned. Although the job was in the sector I had worked in I did not have experience for the role. My age and physical strength was against me. But I was told that not being suitable for a job was not a good enough excuse for not applying. It was defeatist.

So now I play the JSA game. Do what is required put three or more applications on the sheet per week regardless of my suitability and then they cannot say I'm doing anything wrong. As long as the ad does not say must be able to drive or mentions gender I apply. It is then up to the recruiter to say am unsuitable.

Funny thing is next July I can claim pension credits. The money is nearly twice as much as JSA and I can still claim other benefits but I am not required to seek work yet I am considered a scrounger for drawing £71 PW..

I am hoping to have a part time job soon. The pay will only be about the JSA amount but at least I won't be hassled as much. I'm not keen on doing full time work now but if something came up I may take it for a few months. I do not like being out of work but I have managed to adjust and in some areas things have been better. I have met people and done things to keep me busy which is the key thing. I would be a lot more worried if I was younger and being turned down for jobs.

[theboxman1986]

been on it for 2 and a half years, Not through choice as I can't stand it. I send out on average 60-70 cv's and applications off a month and 9/10 do not even get a reply. My wife and I both claim and we can barely get by sometimes we have to go 2-3 days without eating or if we do it is very little like toast etc. Thankfully our neighbour lets us use her internet so we can go for jobs online and my dad brought me a season ticket for a birthday present so I am lucky in some respects. But being on JSA is soul destroying and they don't help you at all at the job centre. To them you're just a statistic and they treat you as such.

[Rincewind]

I'm lucky in a way. I do not have a family to support and never been one to rush out and buy the latest gadget. I have always bought a lot of stuff like clothes in charity shops and not gone for the most expensive. But I have had yo cut down on home enterainment, reduce my TV/internet package and cancel some things. Only had them because I was working. Had to stop trips out of town visiting places Not been out today although I need to get dinner bread and some other stuff. Always wary cuz I may spend too much. Could get a take-away which would be £2-£4 from a place near me.

Did the CAMRA pub crawl yesterday. Withdraw £20. Not checked how much I spent Got a £10 note left and change plus some of what I already had. Not checked yet. It was a one off though. After Xmas I will tighten up again. No idea what I'm doing at Xmas. May get an invite off my brother if he's not at his inlaws for xmas day but the other days it won't be any different. I have birthday/xmas money in another account for emergancy and a gift card for Asda but the nearest one is Fosse Park..

It is worse for the ones who have always been used to spending cash freely then finding they do not have enough to get through the week living as they did. Someone that is used to a roast every day will find it hard to adjust and that is when debt happens, mortgage arrears etc These will be the ones previously telling those on JSA that they should cut down on spending and do not deserve anything. No longer two car family, no ST, no b nightly bottle of wine/six pack no family holiday to Duysney World no latest Play station for kids and parents, no Sky Sports and that is just a start.

Spent about £16 on the pub tour yesterday. Not sure how.

[acooling08]

Was on it for about 6 months before I got my current job back in May.

It's not nice, but not as bad as people make out, sure the help is worthless and you feel like a scumbag going in there, but usually the advisors just told me to sign here and go. You can write whatever shit you want on your 'looking for work' form and they never check or verify it.

I don't mind people on JSA, it's the people living in council houses on multiple types of benefits sitting in all day watching Sky. That's what really irritates me.

[Rincewind]

I had to go back in the other day because the sig on my form wasn't my usual one. Took proof of ID in yet it still took them 30 min before they accepted it. When I was santioned I don't know how they knew I never applied for a job. I may have let it slip. They said they checked with the employer but I cannot see that. How long would it take to check every email and Tel number that is on the sheets of everyone? They may do random ones but if the card is full and no obvious repeats I don't think they'll bother Last couple of months I have put looked on DirectGov job site applied for XXX job ref xxx on some. Looked in mercury for two and volunteere work for the rest. Have to do 12 searches for the next one after xmas.. I usually fill it up anyway.

[Itsthejoeker]

Filled in a form wrong the other week so she threatened to take my benefit off me, absolute jobsworth.

[jonthefox]

Does anyone know much about this universal credit?. Surely those on jsa would be better off.

[Zingari]

been on it for 2 and a half years, Not through choice as I can't stand it. I send out on average 60-70 cv's and applications off a month and 9/10 do not even get a reply. My wife and I both claim and we can barely get by sometimes we have to go 2-3 days without eating or if we do it is very little like toast etc. Thankfully our neighbour lets us use her internet so we can go for jobs online and my dad brought me a season ticket for a birthday present so I am lucky in some respects. But being on JSA is soul destroying and they don't help you at all at the job centre. To them you're just a statistic and they treat you as such.

very sad , hope you have some better luck soon

nice to hear you've got good family and neighbours

[Rincewind]

Does anyone know much about this universal credit?. Surely those on jsa would be better off.

From what I gather they are lumping all the benefits together meaning housing and council tax will be paid into a bank account and it will put the onus on the receiver to pay rent and CT. This is a good idea on paper but for those with poor money managing skills and those that put feeding the family first, this could mean more hardship. Some familes, if they see they have extra money will spend it without budgeting for other things.

There are situations where it may be better If a person's circumstances change the Jobcentre informs the council who imediately suspend payments without asking if circumstances have gone up or down. It has happened more than once to me. Happened in reverse too. This means going in with proof of income before benefits are reinstated... The new method may cut out this. Anyway this is what I was told when I called up last time and asked why communication was not better between departments.

I had a letter to say from April I will have to pay some council tax but will be able to claim on something else which they are still working out. They are trying anything to make the figures look better so don't expect those claiming to be any better off.