To go on the dole, or not?

britboy4321 · 28 Jun 2010 at 23:57

I've been off for approximately 2.5 months but never bothered with the rock n'roll.

Just seems so ***** and demoralasing and patronising for such a small amount of dosh

Also I'm self employed, left the client voluntarily and have massive savings so I think I may not be due any anyway ..

ajf · 29 Jun 2010 at 04:50

I was made redundant at the end of May and have signed on. Didn't feel bad about it and the job centre is surprisingly modern and fresh!
If you are sensible they are unlikely to force you into a job you hate and the worst is you refuse and they stop the allowance and you are back to square one. In the meantime least you had some benefit out of it amd they might find you just the right job.

Van Hellseek · 29 Jun 2010 at 08:22

britboy4321 said:
I've been off for approximately 2.5 months but never bothered with the rock n'roll.

Just seems so ***** and demoralasing and patronising for such a small amount of dosh

Also I'm self employed, left the client voluntarily and have massive savings so I think I may not be due any anyway ..

n111ck · 29 Jun 2010 at 08:43

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Its stupid not to sign on if you are made redundant:

1 - you lose NI stamps which may not be a problem if you are only out of work for a few months but there are no guarantees

2 - the money is essentially just a refund of your NI contributions anyway - its YOUR money.

3 - the dole office is an amusing and eye opening place - everything is nailed down and there are loads of chavs being dragged in there by their mums

If you came from a professional / decent job they generally wont patronise you at least for the first few months.

Just treat it as a laugh for beer money.

taz488 · 29 Jun 2010 at 08:43

not endorsing nike, but just do it.

apatia77 · 29 Jun 2010 at 08:58

Go and claim any benefits you are entitled to, you have paid your taxes etc and you deserve benefits now in your difficult situation. How can you feel bad when you look for another job actively, this is what benefits are for?

lokiss · 29 Jun 2010 at 09:10

n111ck said:
the money is essentially just a refund of your NI contributions anyway - its YOUR money.

With our place looking rather grim atm, worked out the tax/ni to a very rough estimate over the last 10 years iv'e been there.

Something like 70-80 grand, and im not on mega money, just work long hours on ot to keep my head above water. During that time iv'e took little or nothing back from the nhs or anything such like, i fully intend on claiming should the axe fall.

What erk's me though, i remember the last time i got made laid off when the place i worked for went broke 14 years ago, i got sweet FA help from the job center, naff all money in the 3 weeks i was out of work, got actualy TOLD by the woman that spoke with me to 'lower my horizons'

Thank **** i found something the paper, i fear next time i probaly won't be so lucky.

But ill sign on for the small part of that 80 odd grand back i payed in.

cm1179 · 29 Jun 2010 at 13:10

ok ........ that was a waste of time, the bloke really couldn't be arsed but i have triggered the signing process. let's hope the bloke i saw today was not a true reflection of the rest of the staff and that the next advisor i see will atleast show more interest in finding me a job rather than asking me questions about irrelevant stuff

cm1179 · 29 Jun 2010 at 13:37

whilst i was sat waiting for the lady i saw initially (kind of an introduction - she filled out the first few forms) to photocopy my mortgage certificate (upstairs) i made a point of watching the job advisor in his mid to late 20's who really did not want to be there and was browsing the net, the phone then rang on his desk and he stared at it for about 10 seconds before clocking on he should answer it, then the lady who had been off photocopying my mortgage certificate came back, only to shoot back upstairs again as she had left the original in the photocopier. there were other moments of complete ineptness that really did beggar belief. i don't want to bash the place until i've had a fair experience of the place but as much as i wouldn't want to work there, i think a lot of people there are onto a fairly cushy number

peetee · 29 Jun 2010 at 14:41

Nick1881 said:
After claiming for nothing and working full time since I left school I don't feel too bad about it. Only problem is some of the people you have to mix with in the local job centre lol.

Not everyone at the job centre is a bum, mass unemployment means you'll be there with people like yourself, snobs, so you should fit right in.

You go in, talk to your adviser for 5mins or so, then leave.
Unless you're mega rich then you're a fool for not taking the money, you pay for it when you are earning, so why not take it when you can, rather make the most of the tax I pay than eat savings up instead.

HangTime · 29 Jun 2010 at 14:47

Bit of advice, if you are going on JSA I'd recommend paying off any debts you have from savings first. When I was on JSA I got shafted because I had savings meaning that I got a reduced allowance, despite the fact that my debts (Student Loan) outweighed my savings.

Obviously, make sure you leave yourself enough savings to live on if you need to top up your JSA (hopefully living at home this shouldn't be too bad).

Swifty55 · 29 Jun 2010 at 15:02

Just signed back on today, been getting a bit of temporary work, so it's just a matter of signing of then back on via rapid reclaim when work has ended.

Just wish I was still in full time work though, get's boring being at home all day!

Fuzzyheid · 29 Jun 2010 at 17:59

I remember signing on when you still got giro cheques through the post, the massive queue at the post office first thing on a monday morning was pretty funny, surprised that the P.O. staff never complained about the alcohol fumes from 90% of the people in that queue. Of course, in the east end of glasgow you don't really wanna be complaining to people waiting for their buckfast/special brew/thunderbird money

The thing that irked me the most tho was the sheer numbers of people turning up to the jobcentre in taxis?? I mean wtf!? I'm too lazy and hopeless to work so gimme free money for my taxi ride to the pub! Geez!

Jimbeam3678 · 29 Jun 2010 at 19:29

Fuzzyheid said:
I remember signing on when you still got giro cheques through the post, the massive queue at the post office first thing on a monday morning was pretty funny, surprised that the P.O. staff never complained about the alcohol fumes from 90% of the people in that queue. Of course, in the east end of glasgow you don't really wanna be complaining to people waiting for their buckfast/special brew/thunderbird money

The thing that irked me the most tho was the sheer numbers of people turning up to the jobcentre in taxis?? I mean wtf!? I'm too lazy and hopeless to work so gimme free money for my taxi ride to the pub! Geez!

having worked in your area that has given me a geninue lol

Rroff · 29 Jun 2010 at 19:34

As has been mentioned do it for the NI, out of pride I didn't and now regretting it.

Kilkus · 29 Jun 2010 at 19:39

Nowt wrong with going on the dole so long as your searching for a job in the meantime, every little helps.

Gackt · 29 Jun 2010 at 19:40

Ahh, I remember when I had to sign on. It is demoralising, yes - but it's not supposed to be a wonderful thing. It's supposed to be a bit of support until you find work and if you're on it for a long time (I was on it for over a year) then it can be rough.

But it's lunacy not to claim it - be thankful that you have that option available to you and take it. It's not a lot of money, but it'll take a bit of the weight off. It's there for you to use. So use it.

Bear · 29 Jun 2010 at 20:23

HangTime said:
Bit of advice, if you are going on JSA I'd recommend paying off any debts you have from savings first. When I was on JSA I got shafted because I had savings meaning that I got a reduced allowance, despite the fact that my debts (Student Loan) outweighed my savings.

Obviously, make sure you leave yourself enough savings to live on if you need to top up your JSA (hopefully living at home this shouldn't be too bad).

Thats only relevant if you are claiming income based JSA. If you are claiming contributions based JSA, it doesnt matter how much money you have.

drone · 29 Jun 2010 at 22:00

If you are claiming contributions based it only lasts 6 months and if you have over £16,000 in savings you are entitled to nothing any thing under then you go on jsa at a reduced rate if you have savings over £6000.

drone · 29 Jun 2010 at 22:01

I also didn't bother for a few months but in the end did I find that you get treated no matter how many years you have worked like the people that has never done a days work in your life.