Tpbiker said
more than happy to pass on a CV of anyone who is struggling and keen to get back to work.
My lad has recently left the army after 10 years working in I.T. and is having difficulties finding a job.
Any pointers sent to our email address would be appreciated and passed on to him.
steveandkim_d At hotmail DOT com
Did you tell them that you'd still be available for interviews during the course? And that you'd bin the course if a job came up?
Would it help if I did?
I won't be binning the course under any circumstances though. I've already paid for it.
I guess that would make you unavailable for work or unavailable to be Seeking a Job under their T&Cs.
Better to keep quiet on this type of thing as long as you're free on sign-on day, so I've been told.
Amazing that we have a society where higher tax payers get tax free savings (ISAs), tax relief on pensions and yet we seem to want to persecute the poor for the lack of jobs as if somehow it's their fault there is a recession.
If we had a maximum hour working week, with limited overtime,
one job for all, unless part time and within an approved limit as above,
oh and it shouldnt ever be seen as shameful or lazy to not have a job, its just the right job isnt there, when we had better employment in industry, jobs where available for all, and most people applied and got them,sadly now due to de-industrialisation a lot of those jobs and skills have gone, where son folowed father into industry and followed the work ethic of the family.
PeterPoddy - MemberI mentioned this at my first job seeker interview as the Job Centre. It seems I may have to sign off (i.e. no benefits) for those 2 weeks as I'll be in 'full time education'
My guy asked, conversationally, "So apart from looking for jobs, are you keeping busy? That can be really helpful" so I said "Yeah, I'm fairly busy, frinstance yesterday I was volunteering with a local charity, digging a bike trail for kids". He responded "But that means you were UNAVAILABLE FOR WORK!!1!onE. On this occasion I'll take no action, but don't do it again"
**** you big society!
If we had a maximum hour working week, with limited overtime,
We do. But it's possible to opt out of it.
one job for all, unless part time and within an approved limit as above,
That's communism. It doesn't encourage people to work hard.
My guy asked, conversationally, "So apart from looking for jobs, are you keeping busy? That can be really helpful" so I said "Yeah, I'm fairly busy, frinstance yesterday I was volunteering with a local charity, digging a bike trail for kids". He responded "But that means you were UNAVAILABLE FOR WORK!!1!onE. On this occasion I'll take no action, but don't do it again"
Really? Shit. I'm new to this, do they not realise, do they just assume you're a scrounger?
I WILL find a job and I have a plan that I'm sticking to, come what may......
do they just assume you're a scrounged?
Yes, don't forget it is their job to get you off JSA and not help you find a job.
Thing is, not being funny, but I'm in no rush really.....
Imagine if I got a job in 2 weeks, and told them I was taking 2 weeks off straight away to go and qualify for another job....
I used to manage a guy who earned about £18k gross pa but he had massive financial problems and didn't heat his flat. He would come in wearing two coats and not take them off for about an hour. In the winter he would stay in the office late every evening as I assume he had nothing to go home to.i can only imagine benefits / nmw is as hard as the op suggests.
steviedog, sent you a mail
i can only imagine benefits / nmw is as hard as the op suggests.
I think you'd be lucky to escape depression / mental health problems if you were on it for longer than a few months.
It's not that hard to play the system tbh and I'm not ashamed to say I did...
Some parts of the process are pretty miserable though. Frinstance, there was a "back to work session" which I had to do after, I think, 6 weeks. This was a little group session to spread misery. Old guys who didn't expect to ever work again, kids who could barely write their names, and everything inbetween. It's supposed to be helpful but actually it seemed to be "Look- everyone's *ed!". Then, throw in a sprinkling of Northwind-alikes who're frankly on holiday, and confident in finding work as soon as they can't be bothered. Who does that help?
The number of times they told me "Oh, it's hard, there's so few jobs, 45 applicants per position, oh it's hard, you might be out of work for ages"- as if trying to dispirit me. And not just offering entry-level jobs that I was overqualified for before I left highschool, but pushing them hard- just for extra demoralisation. (and if you do manage to bully me into that job, someone who actually wants it can't have it)
There were genuine people there who were trying to help, but mostly they were *, and even the good guys were stuck doing a bad job. It's a pretty sorry state of affairs.
Absolute highlight of the whole thing- getting a job, and being ordered to report to the job centre at my normal time to sign off. Er, I'll be at work- I'm not taking time off on my first day! No, you have to, we can't sign you off by phone. Well, no, not coming in, deal with it. Fine, in that case we'll... STOP YOUR BENEFITS! O noes!
If you're unlucky enough to come into contact with the joys of Job Centre Plus (plus what?) then you'll soon come to the conclusion that the entire system is completely and utterly unfit for purpose. It seems to be set up to meet the needs of the unemployed at some time in the mid 1970's.
For example: If you take any freelance, or agency work - maybe you've got an offer of a couple of days work, you have to sign off, and if you get no more work then they put it all through again as a new claim. Which takes 5 weeks to process. Therefore: who's going to take the chance on a punt of some temporary work? When if nothing comes of it, you've no money for 5 weeks?
They're worse than useless! They exist to keep you off the unemployment figures. Full stop!
That's communism. It doesn't encourage people to work hard.
this place is just so tragic
hope your mate finds something op.
I still remember being unemployed from about 15 yrs ago, horrible.
worst thing is the job centres, you can't volunteer, re train or do any thing as your "not available for work"
seriously if you want people to improve they should give you an extra payment if you do some volunteer work or similar, but that would be too sensible
this place is just so tragic
Why is it? All I'm saying is that you can't stop people who WANT to work more hours/jobs than others. Why is that so bad? I've spent 23-ish years working 55 hours, 5.5 days a week and I'll be stuffed if someone is going to tell me I'm only doing 40 hrs a week so someone else can have my 15 hours pay,
For example: If you take any freelance, or agency work - maybe you've got an offer of a couple of days work, you have to sign off, and if you get no more work then they put it all through again as a new claim. Which takes 5 weeks to process. Therefore: who's going to take the chance on a punt of some temporary work? When if nothing comes of it, you've no money for 5 weeks?
That maybe was the case in the past, but it not anymore (not for at least 2 years anyway, maybe more)
There is a fast track re application process using all the same details, that cuts out all the waiting. You would get your money on time.
Because youre depriving somebody of a job, a way of life and the esteem that comes with having a job, being able to socialise with workmates, to pay bills, to have money to go on holidays etc.
Working or just attending a place of work over the required hours also deprives your family and freinds of your company.
Right - here's my little bit of personal insight into 'life on benefits'. From as early as I can remember my parents spent life on the dole. Maybe they had brief spells where they had part time jobs , however....
....the majority of my formative years was spent with parents (well no father - stepfather) growing up on benefits and living in council properties. I never had the best toys, we never had the mod cons, we never went abroad. We ate simple wholefoods and rarely had extravagences. Life was a little different to my friends, maybe occassionally I was a little resentful, but never bitter - life was never 'hard'.
I've seen alcoholism from my stepfather smashing the house up (many years ago), to my mother being rescued from a police station (not arrested mind) in more recent years. Both are fine now btw and well rounded intelligent people. From a personal point, I've witnessed severe depression for a number of years, drug abuse and alcoholism (although controlled to a degree) in a much closer environment, yet it would have never come before putting food on the table - in fact I've got debts that would make some people cry (just happens it's manageable at the moment). Not looking for martydom, just pointing out that my view isn't entirely from an ivory tower, however strong/opinionated/skewed it might seem to some - and that I've seen a lot of situations overcome and dealt with.
This lad is obviously having a massively tough time, I am ashamed to be part of a society which does this to people. Benefits are simply insufficient - you shouldn't be on the poverty line because you can't find work - just as you shouldn't if you are in work.
Work is not always easy to find if you have the wrong skills, live in the wrong part of the country, possess the wrong experience, are too old, too young or simply your face doesn't fit at a hard to obtain interview.
Life doesn't need to be this tough for people - we make it this tough.
Life doesn't need to be this tough for people - we make it this tough.
Yep - it's pretty disgraceful, but nothing compared to the fact we have politicians who scapegoat the poor for their own failings and use them as a distraction to wider issues. E.g. pensions are the real problem with benefits, but as pensioners are numerous and vote, they are untouchable, so we just attack the unemployed.
Interesting stuff from many contributors. I've contributed to a soup kitchen type charity for years instead of spending the same amount on Christmas cards. I stopped this year when I watched a TV report showing the charity serving up meals and realised they are now serving fat people who are better dressed than me and have an Apple laptop under their arm. Perhaps I should join the queue? It seems people's idea of what is essential has evolved.
To see how tiny spending on the unemployed really is the grand scale of things:
Of the £695b total spend:
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8512/8361851095_818227afbb.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/8361851095/ ]Screen shot 2013-01-08 at 22.08.07[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/brf/ ]brf[/url], on Flickr
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2012/dec/04/government-spending-department-2011-12
Interesting stuff from many contributors. I've contributed to a soup kitchen type charity for years instead of spending the same amount on Christmas cards. I stopped this year when I watched a TV report showing the charity serving up meals and realised they are now serving fat people who are better dressed than me and have an Apple laptop under their arm. Perhaps I should join the queue? It seems people's idea of what is essential has evolved.
Really?
I've not read the whole thread, but much of it
To the OP I hope your mate gets on his feet. Thanks for reminding me that not everyone in here is worrying about the next carbon frame and latest. Thanks for reminding us not to stereo type people on benefit
Interesting stuff from many contributors. I've contributed to a soup kitchen type charity for years instead of spending the same amount on Christmas cards. I stopped this year when I watched a TV report showing the charity serving up meals and realised they are now serving fat people who are better dressed than me and have an Apple laptop under their arm. Perhaps I should join the queue? It seems people's idea of what is essential has evolved.
You might as well tie that to a hook and drop it in the river.
Tpbiker saidmore than happy to pass on a CV of anyone who is struggling and keen to get back to work.
email details here as well please. I know someone in a similar situation.
tazwadie@hotmail.com
some great contributions on here people, some 'interesting' views from others,some embarrassing ignorance from a few-- not many, dare say the subject matter is not in their comfort zone- tpbiker, cheers will pass it on tommorrow, thanks for the genuine concern/support-- it lifts the spirit !
The lies and deceit from the govt, their media lapdogs and also the meally mouthed millipeede party-- make no mistake, new labour are no different, they all prostitute themselves to capitalism-- the big machine must be kept turning no matter the human cost !
nealglover - MemberFor example: If you take any freelance, or agency work - maybe you've got an offer of a couple of days work, you have to sign off, and if you get no more work then they put it all through again as a new claim. Which takes 5 weeks to process. Therefore: who's going to take the chance on a punt of some temporary work? When if nothing comes of it, you've no money for 5 weeks?
That maybe was the case in the past, but it not anymore (not for at least 2 years anyway, maybe more)
There is a fast track re application process using all the same details, that cuts out all the waiting. You would get your money on time.
bullshit. i recently spent about 4 weeks with no money after doing 3 day agency work. that was November 2012.
Tpbiker saidmore than happy to pass on a CV of anyone who is struggling and keen to get back to work.
please please e-mail me i have looked in your prifile and cant seem to see your e-mail. mine is watson_tony@hotmail.co.uk
Thank you
when I was younger I battled with drug dependency, which ultimately led me to some very dark places through unemployment/ benefits system and eventually to being homeless for a while.
there are no easy answers, but from personal experience lack of a job and feeling that you have worth and are seen as scum by many can lead to depression, to escape via drugs into a viscous downward spiral.
If you are lucky you get a break (weirdly it took waking up next to a good friend who had OD'd whilst I was out of it, to make me realise that it was either die or do anything to get myself back) and if there is enough of "you" still in there you can grab the opportunity with both hands.
My worry is that with the way things are looking there will people who never get that opportunity or it will be too late and they will be "institutionalised". That feeling of worthlessness no matter how much you want to work or get back into "life" is grim and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.
Not everyone is a pikey scrounger.
lol at nealglover-- sounds like a govt computer, yep watsontony is right, you sign off and on its a nightmare with your jsa-- do not even think what happens to housing benefit- that is a real headwrecker-- it really is not worth the bother/risk -- good luck tony !
i recently spent about 4 weeks with no money after doing 3 day agency work. that was November 2012.
dont know what went wrong as [b]rapid reclaim[/b] saves them time and money as well
Scarily I have to say I agree with Miliband on the latest Government Welfare Bill:
Miliband said: "The truth is that this rancid bill is not about affordability. It reeks of the politics of dividing lines that the current government spent so much time denouncing when they were in opposition in the dog days of the Brown administration."It says a lot that within two years they have had to resort to that dividing-line politics. We know the style: you invent your own enemy, you spin your campaign to a friendly newspaper editor, you 'frame' the debate. But the enemy within in is not the unemployed; the enemy within is unemployment."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/jan/08/whitehall-assessment-controversial-welfare-bill
don't forget jy- its been centralised now, i sign in bangor,yet all decisions , paperwork etc goes to wrexham, so any problems wil be down the line,staff in local centre cannot deal with any part of your claim-- you have to go to the dreaded phone in the corner, and no lie here, they keep you on hold for a period of time, 5 -15 mins listening to looped music-- its a subtle kind of torture-- when you get through, they log your query/issue-- and are then told it will be looked into--beleive me the whole thing is designed to put you off !!!
Likewise - if anyone is looking for work in London, Bristol, Derbyshire or Sheffield, drop me a line and there's a possibility I'll be able to help (Sheffield being the most promising atm), but some sort of experience in the Construction Industry would be a minimum really and a CSCS card more than helpful.
yea its meant to. the benefit delivery center and jobcenter just blame each other for any problems.dont know what went wrong as rapid reclaim saves them time and money as well
The lies and deceit from the govt, their media lapdogs and also the meally mouthed millipeede party-- make no mistake, new labour are no different, they all prostitute themselves to capitalism-- the big machine must be kept turning no matter the human cost !
Too bloody true!
they keep you on hold for a period of time, 5 -15 mins listening to looped music-- its a subtle kind of torture
38 mins the other day when i was ringing up to ask why i had recived a letter 1 week after sending them a 1 month sick note saying it had expired.
I'd like to hope I'm more in touch with reality than some on here, I have friends and acquaintances from all backgrounds and with wildly varying incomes, some of whom I really don't know how they get by, but this thread is a salutory reminder that I have, and have always had, a pretty sheltered, comfortable existence.
Good luck to the OP's mate and anyone in a similar situation.
I sympathise with the OP's mate. Not wishing to trivialise his situation but as he's experienced working with dogs can he not do something a bit out of the box. Round where I live (admittedly a fairly affluent area) there seems to be a new dog walking service springing up every month and there are even dog sitters collecting and looking after the dogs of people out at work all day. The hourly rate seems to be about £10. Might not be a normal 9-5 type job but could see him earn a bit of cash and he'd be his own boss.
bullshit. i recently spent about 4 weeks with no money after doing 3 day agency work. that was November 2012.
Thanks for that.
I got signed back on straight away after doing 6 days work for an agency.
This was in December 2010.
Rapid Reclaim exists, it's not "Bullshit"
tyke-- nice thought but don't think people are going to drop their pooches off in n wales for a few hours do you--or are you suggesting he moves to some prosperous area , with a tent or something --need to be practical !
Artistknownasstr-- are you a 'pimp' in the construction industry ?--- i have thirty years experience in civils/house/shopfitting-- but as a trade union activist have some issues getting a start in many places...
