Post by Bogatan on Mar 21, 2009 20:32:59 GMT
Now, I've been unemployed since June 21st 2008 and did not sign on until December 1st 2008 as I felt the responsible thing was to use my own finances/resources to look for work before taking money from the state. So I did not sign on until I was literally down to no money to my name, having been unsuccesful in a job search at that time.
Ironically, if I had been signing on for 6 months or more I could claim money for work clothing and 4 weeks travel but as I have been signed on for less I am not entitled to this. Bear in mind that at my first visit to the Job Centre Plus the advisor specifically told me I would recieve "no help whatsoever for the first six months" (exact quote). So, really, to get the best help the plan really is to sit on your arse for six months! If it was not for the charity of family and friends I would literally be unable to take up the new job as I would be unable to afford the travel costs and so would have no option but to stay on the dole taking JSA money! I'm still not sure how I'll manage it and am proceeding mostly on hope. In my opinion the responsible thing was to apply for any suitable job irregardless of location, to improve my chances.
Amusingly, I am now required to report weekly to the local brew. Every Tuesday I tell them I am waiting on a start date dependant on a Disclosure Scotland check. But I've never been asked for any details, ie employer name, job title. No record is made of this. No proof is required (every week I have my job offer letter, just in case). It would be very easy to lie, because no-one would check.
It's a ludicrous system. Thank fuck for the likes of 'STRIVE' and 'Make It Work'.
-Ralph
Twice I've come of JSA just before the six month mark, once after getting a job and once after going over to Incapacity benefit. Whats annoyed me was that when that happened I started back at zero weeks. Then I got taken off incapacity after 4 and a bit months just before I might have been eligible for some actual help and started back at zero again. Now Ive been back on JSA for another 3 months. In total Im one month and 2 days short of a full year since I last worked, but because of the switch to incapacity in the middle I've yet to be offered any kind of help.
On Monday I have to go to my 12/13 week interview, which is ridiculous as I've been appealing my being taken off incapacity that whole time and as such I didn't have to look for work. Not that I havent been looking but thats not the point. Next week is also the date of my appeal hearing, finally. No chance the decision will be changed, and honestly Im now well enough to look for work, but I figured if a doctor assessing me can write shows pain and has some difficulty removing his coat, but declare me fit to return to work stocking shelves in a supermarket then I would go through the full process just to waste there time.
Anyway the odds of me finding work in Hull are about zero right now. Theres something like 23 people for every job vacancy at the job centre in this area. As my only work experience that I can call on in the Hull area is retail and bar work were that figure is even higher and I'll have to let prospective employers know about my shoulder when I answer the question about any injurys or ailments that could prevent me doing certain task, I have no chance.
And Ralph you really should have gone straight on to JSA as soon as you were unemployed thats what its there for and why you pay taxes when you are working.
Andy
