The jobcentre has got much worse of late.
Since being made redundant from full time work in october 2007, I lived off my redundancy for 5 months (whilst looking for the right job). When that ran out I signed on for a little while then had several months of work from an agency up until the end of september '08. At the beginning of december '08 I signed on again after using up all of my savings, and trying to find a job doing CAD when there's practically nothing doing.
The jobcentre sent me a letter claiming that I had used up too much JSA time earlier last year, so they would only pay me for 2.5 weeks and then only pay my NI stamp thereafter. This was up to the 22nd december - cheers
how does that help anything?
Apparently there's a set number of days per year (based upon the last 2 years tax and NI payments) that you can claim JSA for; this period rolls round (similar to the tax year etc) in the first week of january.
However when I enquired if this roll-over would apply to me, they said I would have to sign off for 12 weeks or else it would only count as a continuation of an existing claim and not a fresh claim, therefore I'd still not be entitled to any JSA payment. A week later I was told that this is now 6 months until it's considered a fresh claim "because of the current economic climate." what?!
So basically I'm flat broke. There are no jobs in what I'm qualified in, near me. Other staff at the jobcentre have told me that there are no jobs for
anyone and that they've seen a huge increase in people in a similar situation to me. But when questioned further on how they can help me look for work, they say there's nothing they can do. The rules say I'm not entitled to any more JSA (either contribution or income based). Somewhat apathetically, staff just shrug their shoulders at me and tell me there's nothing they can do.
Meanwhile Gordon waxes lyrical about creating new jobs and incentives for both employers and employees, whilst many people like me are being turned away from the pittance that is unemployment benefit when we most need assistance, when the country is experiencing the worst financial and employment environment since... well, since the last time Labour were in government if I'm honest about it.
It is my sincere belief, based upon my own experience and that of others with whom I have spoken on this issue, that for the most part, the role of the jobcentre is deeply flawed. The emphasis is all geared to get you to sign off as fast as possible and by any means possible (within what's considered reasonable measures). Much of what is offered by way of training is moot; since when asked if training will be paid for or subsidised, the answer is a flat "No." How then are you to retrain if there's no money to pay for it?
Were it not for my better half still having a job (despite 3 months sick leave recently with ongoing mental health issues) everything would really be up the creek. Having said that, we cannot afford for one of us to be out of work beyond the end of january... so who knows? We never had an extravagant lifestyle before and we didn't really have a christmas or new year.
I find the whole business terribly frustrating, seeing as the people who should be there to help out in the short term, refuse point blank to do anything useful whatsoever.
Individually most JC staff are ok for the majority. As an organisation on the other hand, they leave a very great deal
indeed to be desired.
Given what our countries top financial bods decided to do with an enormous sum of taxpayers money recently, namely bailing out banks who squandered money that was not theirs or
real and tangible money, as a result of these same top financial bods supposed business acumen in advising the banks behaviour and financial practise in the first place... I find being refused help when I most need it, following a year of fiscal uncertainty and lack of job security after enjoying employment
and taxation in the same job for almost 5 years before that, to be a slap in the face.
If you can avoid having anything to do with the jobcentre, then I advise you to do so. If you cannot, then I reserve for you the same listless response that will inevitably be yours from the staff at your local jesus-christ:
...meh...
