When I was forced onto JSA after my Carers Allowance was stopped during Dad's final illness just over two years ago I was less than impressed by the "help" I received from the local JobCentre - an example being when they told me that no particular consideration was given to former carers, who were treated no differently from any other long-term unemployed. So, I didn't turn up there with any high hopes for my appointment today, but quite honestly, what I heard astonished even me!
I have not been in paid employment since 30 June, but I have not been signing on, mainly because I do not feel it worth the hassle to jump through the JobCentre's hoops and claim Contributions-based JSA for what is in effect £52 per week after tax. (I should explain that I am very fortunate in that the mortgage is paid off, I have contributed fthe ull number of NI years to my state pension and I have a bit of capital to fall back on). And anyway, I have really wanted to work part-time and combine that with voluntary work and training, something that would have made me ineligible for JSA. I have done some really worthwhile training to be a gateway assessor with the local Citizens Advice Bureau and am also doing a "First Steps to Counselling" course at the local college and have participated in the local Carers’ Forum. But I have been unable to find any part-time work and on Tuesday was provisionally offered a short-term, full-time hours contract starting 18 October and running for about 10 weeks which I have, given no real alternative, accepted. However, according to the agency offering me the job, many organisations (including the one they were putting me forward to ) these days take a dim view of people who, when they are unemployed, do not sign on, particularly if they are out of work for 3 months or more. So, I duly rang up the JobCentre on Tuesday and put in a claim. When I went in to the JC for interview this morning and explained that I didn't really want to claim JSA, just register as unemployed, I was promptly told that not signing on for three months meant that I would be assumed to have been held at Her Majesty's Pleasure for the period I was neither signed on nor employed!!!! Honestly, I have never in my whole life been so........ well, words fail me, and that doesn't happen very often! My arguments that I have been trying to be responsible in relying on my own resources, and not laying myself open to accusations of scrounging or playing the system seemed to fall on deaf ears. Anyway the upshot is that I am signed on, not claiming JSA but claiming NI credits for the next week and a bit until my contract starts.
Am I being cynical here, or do you think there is some truth in my suspicion that they cannot bear anyone disappearing "off the radar", even for a short period of time, and that we all have to be accountable to "Big Brother" 24/7? I do understand that companies and government departments have security procedures and quite honestly, I don’t mind how many security/CRB checks they subject me to, I just really object to the implication that because I have been out of the “systemâ€
I have not been in paid employment since 30 June, but I have not been signing on, mainly because I do not feel it worth the hassle to jump through the JobCentre's hoops and claim Contributions-based JSA for what is in effect £52 per week after tax. (I should explain that I am very fortunate in that the mortgage is paid off, I have contributed fthe ull number of NI years to my state pension and I have a bit of capital to fall back on). And anyway, I have really wanted to work part-time and combine that with voluntary work and training, something that would have made me ineligible for JSA. I have done some really worthwhile training to be a gateway assessor with the local Citizens Advice Bureau and am also doing a "First Steps to Counselling" course at the local college and have participated in the local Carers’ Forum. But I have been unable to find any part-time work and on Tuesday was provisionally offered a short-term, full-time hours contract starting 18 October and running for about 10 weeks which I have, given no real alternative, accepted. However, according to the agency offering me the job, many organisations (including the one they were putting me forward to ) these days take a dim view of people who, when they are unemployed, do not sign on, particularly if they are out of work for 3 months or more. So, I duly rang up the JobCentre on Tuesday and put in a claim. When I went in to the JC for interview this morning and explained that I didn't really want to claim JSA, just register as unemployed, I was promptly told that not signing on for three months meant that I would be assumed to have been held at Her Majesty's Pleasure for the period I was neither signed on nor employed!!!! Honestly, I have never in my whole life been so........ well, words fail me, and that doesn't happen very often! My arguments that I have been trying to be responsible in relying on my own resources, and not laying myself open to accusations of scrounging or playing the system seemed to fall on deaf ears. Anyway the upshot is that I am signed on, not claiming JSA but claiming NI credits for the next week and a bit until my contract starts.
Am I being cynical here, or do you think there is some truth in my suspicion that they cannot bear anyone disappearing "off the radar", even for a short period of time, and that we all have to be accountable to "Big Brother" 24/7? I do understand that companies and government departments have security procedures and quite honestly, I don’t mind how many security/CRB checks they subject me to, I just really object to the implication that because I have been out of the “systemâ€