Redundancy and Job Seekers Allowance

[littlegreenfairy]

Oh I just *love* the job centre.

Staffed by the finest in Britain.

Her: Why aint you applied for that job(tapping screen)
Me: Its based in Surrey
Her: Its only a 20 minute drive, you could get the bus
Me: Do you know where Surrey is love?

I live in Sheffield....

Mind you, Surrey seems like a nice option now.

[10 Pence Short]

JagLover said:

10 Pence Short said:

If someone can afford to exist and meet their obligations for essentials without state benefits, why should the tax payer fund their luxuries?

Because it is technically national 'insurance' you are paying. It was set up as a nationwide insurance scheme where you pay in while you are working and get money out when sick/redundant/retired.

Does that mean you are happy for the state to pay to upkeep people's lifestyle, as opposed to just providing the essentials?

[JagLover]

10 Pence Short said:

JagLover said:

10 Pence Short said:

If someone can afford to exist and meet their obligations for essentials without state benefits, why should the tax payer fund their luxuries?

Because it is technically national 'insurance' you are paying. It was set up as a nationwide insurance scheme where you pay in while you are working and get money out when sick/redundant/retired.

Does that mean you are happy for the state to pay to upkeep people's lifestyle, as opposed to just providing the essentials?

If you are paying for a insurance scheme then you are entitled to receive adequate income from that scheme if your contributions are sufficient. Given that someone on average earnings is paying thousands in NI (including employer contributions) more than adequate contributions are being made by many people.

[King Herald]

littlegreenfairy said:

Oh I just *love* the job centre.

Staffed by the finest in Britain.

Her: Why aint you applied for that job(tapping screen)
Me: Its based in Surrey
Her: Its only a 20 minute drive, you could get the bus
Me: Do you know where Surrey is love?

I live in Sheffield....

Mind you, Surrey seems like a nice option now.

Ahaa, someone else who has partaken of the facilities not supplied by their local Slob Centre. Utterly useless cocktards the lot of them.

Many years ago the job centres actually arranged interviews, contacted employers, actually DID something to help you find work, but now they just give you a phone number.

Must be that 4 £billion they just spent on 'Job Centres Plus' that did the trick.

[hoathenfold]

King Herald said:

What we have here is another scrounger, with thousands in the bank, and STILL wanting to grab a few quid from the government!

Edited by King Herald on Sunday 19th October 13:22

A bit harsh.
All I wanted to know was if I was entitled to the Contribution Based Job Seekers Allowance? And if not why not?
I wasn't looking for sympathy, nor having my mortgage paid, or free dental/prescriptions etc, or thousand in dole money. Just the minimum basic allowance. No more.
I most certainly arent looking to have the rest of my life paid for by DSS payments!!

I've contributed all my life, have a redundancy package that will be gone in less than 8 months once my mortgage, bills, council tax etc have been taken, and the line of work that I do is one of the ones that has currently been hit the hardest. Im looking for work and will happily take a job.
A reduancy package isnt savings, or a lottery win - its compensation for the hard work you have put in over the years and then having the rug pulled out from under your feet, and payment to allow you to keep things going while you find a new job.

I chose to work since I was 16, have put some money aside in savings etc, dont smoke, only drink in moderation, only go out occasionally and can do without loads of gadgets, new phones etc. Yes, I've got a half decent motor and I worked bloody long hours and bloody hard to pay for it (and am still paying for it now!) If things dont get sorted in the next 4 months it will obviously have to go.

Anyhows, for all of you who think Im out of order, I was told to sign on, and I dont get anything so whats the issue?

And a big thanks for the support and good luck messages from everyone else - I really appreciate it!

Edited by hoathenfold on Monday 20th October 13:10

Edited by hoathenfold on Monday 20th October 13:12

[littlegreenfairy]

King Herald said:

littlegreenfairy said:

Oh I just *love* the job centre.

Staffed by the finest in Britain.

Her: Why aint you applied for that job(tapping screen)
Me: Its based in Surrey
Her: Its only a 20 minute drive, you could get the bus
Me: Do you know where Surrey is love?

I live in Sheffield....

Mind you, Surrey seems like a nice option now.

Ahaa, someone else who has partaken of the facilities not supplied by their local Slob Centre. Utterly useless cocktards the lot of them.

Many years ago the job centres actually arranged interviews, contacted employers, actually DID something to help you find work, but now they just give you a phone number.

Must be that 4 £billion they just spent on 'Job Centres Plus' that did the trick.

My dad told me to use them as they are a service provided to help find employment after all - and when he left the forces they were exceptionally helpful (considering he'd never had a job in civvy street and had no idea where to begin)

The Job Club he attended was great (so I was told) as they helped to write CV's (actually got people in from industry and recruiters to help) and did a grand job.

The job centre said my CV was rubbish, yet their corrections made me look like a moron - ¨I done ... in my job) Hmmm great.

And their job descriptions - my my, they are grrrrrrrrrreat. I remember one (for a call centre, but it wasn't until you got to the bottom it said call centre¨ that stated the candidate should have a high level of litracy and good grammer (sic).

Ah and the ¨What degree is BEng - is it like English?¨

Edited by littlegreenfairy on Monday 20th October 13:08

[King Herald]

hoathenfold said:

King Herald said:

What we have here is another scrounger, with thousands in the bank, and STILL wanting to grab a few quid from the government!

Edited by King Herald on Sunday 19th October 13:22

A bit harsh.
All I wanted to know was if I was entitled to the Contribution Based Job Seekers Allowance? And if not why not?..

I thought I'd apologised for my misunderstanding already? Maybe not, our net connection is up and down like a wes draws.

So, terribly sorry, but I originally thought you were referring to the fact that you could get nothing at all, as in no freebies, rather than nothing for JSA. Especially when you had a large redundancy payment to hand.

My very own sister deliberately spunked £15,000 divorce settlement up the wall, just so she could get below the social services minimum savings and start getting her free handouts and rent and all. THAT is something I find particularly sickening.

[hoathenfold]

King Herald said:

hoathenfold said:

King Herald said:

What we have here is another scrounger, with thousands in the bank, and STILL wanting to grab a few quid from the government!

Edited by King Herald on Sunday 19th October 13:22

A bit harsh.
All I wanted to know was if I was entitled to the Contribution Based Job Seekers Allowance? And if not why not?..

I thought I'd apologised for my misunderstanding already? Maybe not, our net connection is up and down like a wes draws.

So, terribly sorry, but I originally thought you were referring to the fact that you could get nothing at all, as in no freebies, rather than nothing for JSA. Especially when you had a large redundancy payment to hand.

My very own sister deliberately spunked £15,000 divorce settlement up the wall, just so she could get below the social services minimum savings and start getting her free handouts and rent and all. THAT is something I find particularly sickening.

Apology accepted - maybe I missed it - cheers!

[plasticpig]

10 Pence Short said:

Someone earlier in the thread mentioned prison. I didn't choose to go to prison, the state insisted. Some may well feel differently, but I feel I didn't choose to burden the state by costing money to house and feed.

Also worth noting is that, despite getting down to the last £100 of my overdraft limit, having no savings and earning no money for months, I didn't take a penny in state handouts.

Do you think the people being made redundant chose to lose their job? You burdend the state by your actions. Are you suggesting you didnt deserve to be punished for whst you did? The vast majority of people who are losing their jobs at the moment couldnt influence the position thay have been put in. They have made the NI contributions and should expect to be able to call on the insurance policy they have paid for. You could have easily influenced your position.

[smilerbaker]

10 Pence Short said:

Someone earlier in the thread mentioned prison. I didn't choose to go to prison, the state insisted. Some may well feel differently, but I feel I didn't choose to burden the state by costing money to house and feed.

Also worth noting is that, despite getting down to the last £100 of my overdraft limit, having no savings and earning no money for months, I didn't take a penny in state handouts.

Just like the OP didn't choose to be made redundant, I have been in the op's position, made redundant, off to the job centre, only to be told I am entitled to nothing as I got a few k's payoff, made worse as I gave up my flat and moved in with my parents, so by there reconing I had no outgoings.

Roll on a few years and they MAKE ME take 'tax credits' otherwise they will fine me!?!?! WTF is that all about?? the system is completly screwed.

Oh and as for not taking a penny in state handouts! Prison's don't cost anything nowadays eh??

Good luck with the job hunting.

[mr_spock]

hoathenfold said:

Thanks all for your input.
Im not sure what all this outrage is about mind?
I was told to go and sign on for my stamp.
I wasnt 'expecting' anything.
I did and was told I would get JSA based on my contributions.
They then told me that I wouldnt.
So I asked for peoples opinions on this.
Maybe my comment re paying back some of the cash owed by me was a bit unsavoury, but there is a world of difference re this and going out to the pub everynight to get hammered.
It seems we have a real split of opinions on here on this so some good discussion!
I'm now actively looking for a new role and hopefully will be in one real soon so fingers crosssed.
Anyone looking for an ITIL Incindent/Problem/Service Desk Manager in London?
Cheers!

PM me your CV, might know of something.

[Rags]

What if your savings are in an account hwere you have to keep it in the account of a fixed time period meaning no withdrawala sllowed?

[oyster]

10 Pence Short said:

hoathenfold said:

Do you think the woman in the paper last week with the 7 kids needed the £2m pound house to live in at our expense? and the additonal £3000 a month in benefits?
She hadnt contributed anything, the 7 kids were a lifestyle choice, and the home furnishings in the newspaper picture were a lot nicer than most peoples.
I simply wondered what others thought of this, and I respect your opinion.
What I guess most of us would like is the entire system to looked at.

I think the whole benefits system stinks and encourages lazy people to sit on their arses waiting for their next SKY subscription to be paid by tax payers like ourselves.

That doesn't mean I live by the 'if I can't beat 'em, join 'em' mentality, though.

I don't 100% agree, but I certainly can see where you're coming from.

[bodhi]

I had "the meeting" about 4 weeks ago now. I'd been in the job 7 months working in Sales for a local computer company. I wasn't exactly smashing me targets but I was never anywhere near bottom of the GP report, was always making a good profit on the deals I did and was working with the company directors on a Virtualisation package which would help move the company into new, far more profitable markets. My technical knowledge was second to none in the department - in fact on my final week I was working on an 80k deal that everyone else had run away from as it "sounded too technical". Then the Friday lunchtime I was called into the meeting room and told that despite all the fantastic work I was doing they were going to have to let me go. At that point my world imploded - I'd been told by numerous people that the then Sales Director had earmarked me for something more technical than I was doing - I recieved a months pay (minus the full whack for this laptop which I was buying of the company on credit) and a thanks very much. Although the company in question told me to come back in 12 months time they'd have a job for me, this didn't realy help.

Cut a long story short the Monday after I was in Stafford Slob Centre, trying to sign on, only to be told I had to ring an 0845 number or 40 minutes to complete my application. This was about 4 weeks ago. My JSA has started coming in (all 60 quid a week of it), but they still seem incapable of sorting out my Housing Benefit. I've moved back in with me folks now, however my ex-landlord is now threatening to take me to court for the last month's rent, which funnily enough I haven't paid.
I've been to sign on twice now, both times I get

"Housing Benefit is nothing to do with us"

"Here's a list of jobsites on the internet"

"We can't find a job for you you need to use that freephone over there"

Every time I've been surrounded by the scummiest parts of Staffordian society (and believe me that's pretty bad) who were clearly in just to safeguard their plasma TV payments, whereas I've gone in for help in finding a job in an industry where there don't seem to be many about (Technical IT Sales) and they give the impression they couldn't give a fk. Tis great using a jobcentre for the purpose they're there for (i.e find a job) only to find you aren't one of their priorities.

This country is fked.

[Plotloss]

Went through it in 2005.

The Job Centre is a mindbending place.

It contains two types of people.

Those who turn up on time, dress smartly, can show demonstrable evidence of seeking work and those who turn up pretty much when they like, in the latest designer tracksuits who know exactly what to claim and when to claim it.

Somewhat unbelieveably the former group seem to just get processed, with the bare minimum of interest, sign here, piss off.

Whereas the latter seem to be proactively helped into finding other benefits which they can claim, presumably because they're running low on continentally imported Stella and Lamberts.

I hated every single second of it and those people who find themselves between jobs have must utmost sympathy.

[esselte]

bodhi said:

whereas I've gone in for help in finding a job in an industry where there don't seem to be many about (Technical IT Sales)

here you go...maybe.

[bodhi]

esselte said:

bodhi said:

whereas I've gone in for help in finding a job in an industry where there don't seem to be many about (Technical IT Sales)

here you go...maybe.

Good work nipper! I have a funny feeling a lot of those jobs are somewhat above my station (6 months experience in the industry, background selling mobile phones before that), but hey, nothing ventured nothing gained. It should at least shut up the Rec Consultant I'm talking to who says there are no IT Sales jobs out there so I should take his job with Phones 4 U instead.......


(I'd rather stay on the dole than go to that meat market. Is that wrong?)

[King Herald]

bodhi said:

I had "the meeting" about 4 weeks ago now. ......Cut a long story short the Monday after I was in Stafford Slob Centre, trying to sign on, only to be told I had to ring an 0845 number or 40 minutes to complete my application. This was about 4 weeks ago. My JSA has started coming in (all 60 quid a week of it), but they still seem incapable of sorting out my Housing Benefit. I've moved back in with me folks now, however my ex-landlord is now threatening to take me to court for the last month's rent, which funnily enough I haven't paid.
I've been to sign on twice now, both times I get

"Housing Benefit is nothing to do with us"

"Here's a list of jobsites on the internet"

"We can't find a job for you you need to use that freephone over there"

...... Tis great using a jobcentre for the purpose they're there for (i.e find a job) only to find you aren't one of their priorities.

This country is fked.

Ahh, someone else who has realised what a shed the Stafford Slob Centre is. The people who RUN it are the scum bags in this case, with zero interest in helping anybody.

They told my wife she had to apply for JSA over the phone, so she had the 40 minute telephone application, which told her she was qualified for JSA.

She was then told she had to report to the Slob Centre, for another interview, even though they told her she was accepted. This interview was like some Dickensian interrogation, with several smart comments about how she really should be getting a job, not asking for handouts etc. But, they did tell her she was accepted for JSA, again.

They gave her some sort of 'diary' to keep records of jobs she was applying for, though she could fill it in herself, with no need to get details or 'proof' from any interviews she had been to. She'd have to attend the Slob Centre every fortnight.

They also pointed out she had to look for her own jobs, that they wouldn't be helping her any more. WTF??!?!?!?!?!

Two weeks later she got the letter telling her she was NOT eligible, due to insufficient NI payments.

What a bunch of cocktards they have running that place!!!!

[Emeye]

Interestingly I was told that I can claim for travel expenses if I have to go to interviews for jobs that are outside a certain local area. I've not bothered, as you have to contact them before the interview and there seems to be a lot of messing about involved, but for anyone struggling it may be worth it.

Good luck to anyone else who finds themselves in the same situation as I am currently in. It's not much fun, and after a while it starts to wear you down, but I'm sure we'll get sorted eventually. For me it's not about the money as much as it is about not being bored out of my tits every day.

[littlegreenfairy]

Emeye said:

Interestingly I was told that I can claim for travel expenses if I have to go to interviews for jobs that are outside a certain local area. I've not bothered, as you have to contact them before the interview and there seems to be a lot of messing about involved, but for anyone struggling it may be worth it.

Good luck to anyone else who finds themselves in the same situation as I am currently in. It's not much fun, and after a while it starts to wear you down, but I'm sure we'll get sorted eventually. For me it's not about the money as much as it is about not being bored out of my tits every day.

It has to be over £3 to get there, and you have to go the cheapest way possible.

AND, if you have an interview at the other end of the country, if it is cheaper - they will pay for you to fly, and if necessary, put you up in a hotel.

Apparently you can also ask for a clothing allowance if you don't have anything smart enough.

Sounds great eh (I went every other week for 10 weeks - only to be told at that point that I don't qualify for help. But I did get the expertise of the job centre workers...thanks... Anyhow, I've got an interview this week )