Back to work

[NomDePlume]

After five years of continued disappointment I finally managed to get into full time paid employment, quite an achievement for a 55 year old.

The government in their rabid kneejerk response have cut all return to work provisions, There was up till April a "job grant" and a run on with the dole payments to tide you over until your 1st pay-packet.

My question that nobody at the jobcentre or work program has an answer for is.... between the last benefit payday and work payday is a six week gap in income "how the hell do i live on f@ck all

[DJKillaQueen]

They expect you to have savings of course, and rich family and friends that can loan you money (because the banks sure as hell won't).....after all it's not like the unemployed have ever worked or paid taxes is it, so why should the system do anything to help them back into work? ;D

[Jah Lush]

That's bloody harsh DJKQ and unwarranted. It is extremely hard to find work once you're over 50. I spent 18 months on the dole until quite recently after being made redundant two years ago and I found it nigh on impossible to pay for most of things I took for granted. If it wasn't for good friends and family I'd have fecking starved.

Most employers just don't want to know about anyone over 40 these days let alone over 50 I just hope you don't find yourself in in a similar situation. No, forget that. I do. Because you're obviously a bit of a cunt

Best of luck NomdePlume and congratulations on eventually finding full-time employment.

[El Pibe]

Steady on. I think she's having a go go at 'they' not NdP.

Is it over forty? Bugger, just about to start job hunting, pass me the Grecian 2000 and some tippex for my cv.

[Jah Lush]

Hmm... I think you maybe right El Pibe. Reading it again I think I may have had a temporary irony bypass.

[ontheedge]

Absolutely Djkqs response was totally tongue in cheek, irony bypass there, but obviously sensitive subject.

Massive congrats to both for getting work.

[Jah Lush]

I'm still out of work Ontheedge. Gave up looking when my financial circumstances slightly improved. And to be honest the thought of ever going back to work fills me absolute horror and a morbid dread. Anyway, apologies to DJKQ for my temporal absence of irony.

[Sue]

NomDePlume Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> After five years of continued disappointment I

> finally managed to get into full time paid

> employment, quite an achievement for a 55 year

> old.

> The government in their rabid kneejerk response

> have cut all return to work provisions, There was

> up till April a "job grant" and a run on with the

> dole payments to tide you over until your 1st

> pay-packet.

> My question that nobody at the jobcentre or work

> program has an answer for is.... between the last

> benefit payday and work payday is a six week gap

> in income "how the hell do i live on f@ck all

xxxxxx

Congratulations ono your new job, NomDePlume.

This income gap has always been an issue when you are paid at the end of the month.

Would your new employer give you a loan on your first day of work to cover the gap, to be paid off over maybe your first few months?

I remember when I first started work (many many moons ago as I'm now retired!) companies used to do this, precisely because they realised that you would have no money for a month.

The upside of course is that if you leave a job, you have your month's pay on your last day but so far as I know you are still entitled to claim Jobseekers' Allowance (or whatever) from your first day of unemployment.

That at least used to be the case. Though that pay would presumably count towards your savings, if that was an issue because you weren't eligible for contribution-based JSA, or whatever it's called.

So the system actually balances out.

[*Bob*]

Brings back happy memories of my very first (freelaaaarnce) job.

I dutifully notified the DHSS, whereupon everything stopped, immediately. The money from the job was about six weeks worth of money, only it took over three months to get paid, leaving the red-tape nightmare of trying to explain why I should be eligible to sign on again when I was expecting money. Then, some months later, they lost the details of when I'd originally told them about the work - and they tried to take me to court for benefit fraud.

Lesson learned - keep schtum.

[RosieH]

Yeah, it's an absolute bitch - had a very similar issue to the *bobulator* (sorry, I don't know why). I got by with the help of ebay and family, but it does feel like the system deliberately sets out to make you defraud it if the only alternative is starve / lose the roof over your head.

Do they still do crisis loans?

Edited for idiot fingers.

[DJKillaQueen]

No worries Jah. It was totally tongue in cheek...anyone following my posts over the years would know that I have consistently spoken up for the difficulties of the unemployed and the lack of constructive help offered by successive governments.

I agree with Sue that it might be possible for your new employer to give you an advance NDP. Or maybe your bank could give you an overdraft. Not ideal I know after years of low income but an option maybe.

They abolished crisis loans Rosie. Now you have to apply to the Local Authority for emergency money but what you are give is a lower percentage than what the crisis loan offered. I don't know all the details though.

Yes bob..the DWP are completely imcompetant, especially with the gray area of freelancers. Under the rules, claimants are allowed to do up to 16 hours paid work per week and their benefits are adjusted accordingly. But it only works if the hours are the same from week to week. The moment those hours vary from week to week it seems the DWP are incapable of doing any maths and then mess everything up. Losing correspondance is another favourite of theirs.

This coalition government are hell bent on making the plight of the unemployed as difficult as possible, whilst doing nothing to improve the employment propects for those affected, whom as we know are esp the under 25s and the over 40's. Their deregulated free market has only led to job insecurity, and a lack of properly paid decent jobs for the number of people that need them.

[NomDePlume]

Thanks for all your well wishes!! There is an so called initiative to remove the barriers from returning to work.

What this consists of is vague at best and I suspect only exists as hyperbole!

As for claimants allowed to work up to 16hrs a week.... here's the rub....All earnings are taken from your benefits for the whole week, effectively allowing you to work for nothing!! In Ireland they have a rather more fairer approach that only stops the money on the day(s) worked.

After five years I am already in debt, overdrafted and gaining substance from the foodbank, The only assistance this nasty party has in place is travel expenses paid for the 1st two weeks and then it's limited to buses only.

I guess I should not complain too loudly or they'll see another pittance to remove and it'll shanksies pony for me

[DJKillaQueen]

I really feel for you NDP and I think most people can only know how hard being long term unemployed really is if they themselves go through it. Lack of any kind of empathy is the main reason behind the disgraceful media backed campaign to demonise the poorest. Government are only part of the problem. Too many people just don't care about those less fortunate, lapping up every new coalition welfare cut with glee it seems, yet saying little about the tax avoidance at the top.

Hopefully the end to your situation is now a reality and the job goes well and is permanent. I wish you all the best.

[JohnL]

And we wonder why Payday Loan companies make a packet.

What do credit unions do - quick google - same but much cheaper. ?

[uncleglen]

I agree with Sue - I would ask the employer for an advance.

[aquarius moon]

This is always going to be a problem if paid monthly, going from paid weekly,

Or paid monthly going from unemployed.

I am now paid weekly, but am looking for work.

If I find a new job that is paid monthly, I'll be in the same boat & and totally f****d.

And this government (who I didn't vote in, by the way) don't give a s**t.

[aquarius moon]

P.S.

NomDePlume, Congratulations on getting the job. So pleased for you.

[DJKillaQueen]

Nobody voted this government in AQ.....the party that came third took advantage to put themselves in power, and both parties are ruling as though they'd won a majority and have the mandate of the people. They don't. As much I despise the Tories right now, I despise the Libdems even more, and hope they completely collapse as a credible party at the next elections. They deserve nothing less.

Credit Unions are very good John L. They offer low interest small loans to their members - loans that other banks wouldn't even consider giving to someone who is unemployed. And there are no ridiculous fees for overdrafts etc. In many ways they operate as building societies did when they were first formed.