I need advice, Job Centre has just stuffed me...

Hello again mate,

I'm sorry to hear things are getting difficult for you again, and I wish I could offer you help with regards to JSA etc, but I don't know much about it.

I'm so happy to hear that you will probably get the kids, though!! Definite depression killer IMO. Maybe you'll find that once they're with you, lighting up your life again, the clouds might clear a bit and perhaps everything else will start moving in that direction :)
 
Its all well and good wanting an education but who and why do you think this should be provided for you? I must admit that I agree with a previous post who questions how someone with suicidal thoughts and the inability to try and hold a job expects to be given custody of any dependents. I think you focus on one thing expecting that to be the answer. You would be better off on the sick and in therapy/counselling. As said an appeal would be a good idea.

Also for the people knocking job centre staff etc you will find that they are doing a poorly paid job, one that many would refuse to do (including a number of those signing on). If you want to vent your anger then at least aim it at the successive governments who have introduced such a hopeless leviathan of a system.
 
Don't blame the staff at the job center - they have to treat you that way and meet thier targets or else they'll be on the dole too. Direct your ire at the senior civil service (i.e. policy depts) and at the successive governments that have created this culture of fear and oppression.

Good luck to you and I hope you find something that helps your mental health - and never stop not giving up - don't let the ******** win!
 
mrbell1984 said:
Job centre stuffing a lot of people lately, I know a few people that has had their money sanctioned because of this and that. Government doing this on purpose to save giving more out.
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Yes, plus people who have had their JSA benefits sanctioned are not included in the claimant count.
Got to love the Government and their "falling unemployment numbers" ..huh ;)

Anyway good luck to the OP but if you are not right then I would appeal. Go to your doctor and see if you can get his/her backing. If it gets overturned then great but ultimately it should buy you some much needed time.
 
Vidar said:
You mean I could learn something like pottery or teach myself something like Joomla or Dreamweaver...
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Yes, anything. The information is out there for free whether it be in books from the library, enthusiast forums like this, or youtube vids. A lot of satisfaction to be had in independent learning.
that's all very well and good but does nothing about improving my situation which is directly linked to my mental health issues. I need to do achieve something in life like getting a qualification I can really be proud of.
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Why do you need a formal qualification to feel proud? Don't let your job or education define you.
 
Welcome to job seekers op,

where they slam people further into the abyss and call it "helping you find work".

I've been on both sides of the fence, worked for ages, claimed jsa a while back into work and JSA is just disgraceful tbh. The money is ok and it is a vital lifeline for someone who falls out of work and I was thankful for that but the whole atmosphere? nah....

People who haven't claimed have no real idea what it is like and the treatment you get.

All I saw whilst attending was a bunch of broken human beings thrown on the scrapheap of life and being treated with contempt wasn't helping anyone.... seriously I just shook my head at most of things going on at the job centre. No wonder the system is broken and the tory government aren't fixing jack despite making bold claims they are.

Good luck op.

mrbell1984 said:
Job centre stuffing a lot of people lately, I know a few people that has had their money sanctioned because of this and that. Government doing this on purpose to save giving more out.
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Yep and word on the street sanction targets exist from various sources. Despicable....

Whole system needs a rework and needs to actually give people useful skills and to put them into work. But there just isn't anything on offer, tbh they don't really care... I know of course it takes funding but what else do you do with people? just leave them to rot on job seekers? nope.
 
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CREATIVE!11 said:
Welcome to job seekers op,

where they slam people further into the abyss and call it "helping you find work".

I've been on both sides of the fence, worked for ages, claimed jsa a while back into work and JSA is just disgraceful tbh. The money is ok and it is a vital lifeline for someone who falls out of work and I was thankful for that but the whole atmosphere? nah....

People who haven't claimed have no real idea what it is like and the treatment you get.

All I saw whilst attending was a bunch of broken human beings thrown on the scrapheap of life and being treated with contempt wasn't helping anyone.... seriously I just shook my head at most of things going on at the job centre. No wonder the system is broken and the tory government aren't fixing jack despite making bold claims they are.

Good luck op.



Yep and word on the street sanction targets exist from various sources. Despicable....

Whole system needs a rework and needs to actually give people useful skills and to put them into work. But there just isn't anything on offer, tbh they don't really care... I know of course it takes funding but what else do you do with people? just leave them to rot on job seekers? nope.
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+1 to this, i'm currently on JSA as i am really struggling to get any work. My main issue is that i don't drive and i live in the middle of nowhere so have to rely on the bus. Nobody will hire me because of that. :(

The job centre staff treat you like cattle, in and out. I got threatened with a sanction the other week because i was 5 minutes late due to an accident along my bus route, even though they are NEVER running on time :rolleyes:. They really don't care about you. Pretty much all the JCP staff are just pen pushers.

I am usually in the JC for no longer than 2 minutes when i sign on, they are supposed to help you but they really don't! I walk in, they check UJM, "Three job applications, very good", tick the box, sign the sheet and leave. It's a joke. I can't stand it, i really want to get into work but just feel like i'm getting nowhere! I was working part-time but they kept on screwing up my benefits and docking my pay permanently to what i was paid for one week at work, they seem to forget that Zero-hour contracts exist and that means my hours can vary from 0 hour to ~8 hours per week. :rolleyes:
 
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That is sort of the problem I had a few years back - after being made redundant the area I was living in just wasn't working for me job wise (for a number of reasons) through no fault of my own - fortunately I had the option of moving elsewhere and walked into a job days later :S
 
thebennyboy said:
+1 to this, i'm currently on JSA as i am really struggling to get any work. My main issue is that i don't drive and i live in the middle of nowhere so have to rely on the bus. Nobody will hire me because of that. :(

The job centre staff treat you like cattle, in and out. I got threatened with a sanction the other week because i was 5 minutes late due to an accident along my bus route, even though they are NEVER running on time :rolleyes:. They really don't care about you. Pretty much all the JCP staff are just pen pushers.

I am usually in the JC for no longer than 2 minutes when i sign on, they are supposed to help you but they really don't! I walk in, they check UJM, "Three job applications, very good", tick the box, sign the sheet and leave. It's a joke. I can't stand it, i really want to get into work but just feel like i'm getting nowhere! I was working part-time but they kept on screwing up my benefits and docking my pay permanently to what i was paid for one week at work, they seem to forget that Zero-hour contracts exist and that means my hours can vary from 0 hour to ~8 hours per week. :rolleyes:
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Sell your very nice PC and get driving lessons and a crap car/motorbike.
Lots of excuses.
Help yourself. No one else will.
You sound like me ten years ago.
Its hard to get motivated, i know but no excuses.
 
Not sure what the issue is, according to this forum being on the dole is a life of luxury with you managing to have 50" plasma TVs, XBones, PS4s, fags and booze on tap and 3 holidays a year...

Oh, you mean it's not actually like that and is in fact very hard and soul sapping?

Sorry to hear of your hard times Vidar, and from someone who has suffered from depression bouts my whole life as well, to the degree I spent years not working and existing hand to mouth, to now where I'm successfully self employed earning very well, I can say honestly to you that there is hope mate.

I can't give you the answer, it unfortunately has to come from within, but there just came a time I was sick of the way depression was controlling me and through sheer force of will I forced myself up and out and slowly each day it becomes easier. I have seen in other threads about your weight loss, all good positive steps. Excercise releases endorphins, another good positive boost for your mental health. But in reality, working, having that routine (yes, it might be 'mundane' - life generally is routine) but in that routine comes stability and security, again helping with the confidence and drive to do other things with your life.

I do live with the knowledge (fear?) that another bout could come upon me and wreck everything I have built up, but I am much more aware of the early signs and will take steps to ward it off rather than try and ignore it like I have before.
 
I agree with efour. you could sell your very very nice PC and pay to better yourself.

I have suffered from depression and anxiety and been as low as you, I didn't actually leave the house for two years. the only person that helped me get out of it was myself.

like you I thought college was the answer, two years later and a few thousand pounds worse off due to bring a foreigner and having to pay and I was still unwell.

I got myself out and now work for a mental health charity helping people like yourself get into work. if I was you I would find a local one to you and see what they can do, costs you nothing and they will understand you better than the job centre do.

ultimately it's only you that can better yourself, sell that PC and get a qualification if you really need to, join the gym, start a sport or as above get your driving licence.

it's so easy to say its bad luck but the college sounds like your fault for not appealing like you were told to do.
 
I can't help with the job centre issue, although the advice to appeal seems sensible.

But with regards your feelings of self worth, depression and general well being I would suggest getting fit and learning something new. What you seem to have is time. So take up running or callanetics. This will make you feel better about yourself as you feel fitter and see your body changing. Also learn something such as programming or web design, etc, as suggested. Again it should help your self worth and when you get good at it then it just may be your "in" to a job. Don't fixate on qualifications. I left school with very few and my brother was the same. We have both forged good careers. In fact when I interview people I specifically look for the "get up and go" in someone who has tried to turn their life around.

Good luck.
 
hmmm...

Sell your PC to pay for driving lessons? That's really short sighted.
1 - online is how most job searches / applications are conducted now. The JC own website is set up to make this happen.

2 - average £24 ? 10+ lessons. total cost ~ a grand? (dsa recommend 47 hrs tuition :eek: ouch! let's see you pay for that by selling your cray 2 supercomputer to a far eastern dictator for his ballistic missile program)

3 - if you're skint on the dole and have sold your means of communication in the digital marketplace, how are you going to be able to pay for a car / insurance / tax / fuel etc to attend the JC/interviews?

I can't help but think that some of you have not thought any of this through properly when giving out 'advice' to those who are struggling.

Sure you have to help yourself, but having a firesale to pay for something that will only lead to even more expense when you have no money is really, really poor advice.

Maybe you think you're being motivating when you say things like that, but there's a whiff of contempt about it.



For those struggling on the dole looking for work in a system that is designed to get you off the books as fast as possible, with no regard to you finding long term stable employment that will benefit both you and the jobcenter in the longer term future - Ignore some of these people on here who reckon you should sell the shirt off your back to not be a state burden; they and their ilk are part of the reason some of the most vulnerable people in the UK are treated like scrounging ***** scum by the government and social departments.

Do what you think is right for you. Be motivated. Look to yourself to find your way out of the benefits system. None of the ****ers who work there will help you do that.
 
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jumpy said:
Ignore some of these people on here who reckon you should sell the shirt off your back to not be a state burden; they and their ilk are part of the reason some of the most vulnerable people in the UK are treated like scrounging ***** scum by the government and social departments.
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Sums up GD

You offer some great insight jumpy - I doff my cap to you sir
 
Efour said:
Sell your very nice PC and get driving lessons and a crap car/motorbike.
Lots of excuses.
Help yourself. No one else will.
You sound like me ten years ago.
Its hard to get motivated, i know but no excuses.
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Dude I had to get rid of my car the period I was on JSA.

I never realised how much a car literally bleeds you dry with all insurance costs / road tax etc etc. Didn't give it too much thought when working but when you're living in 70 quid a week it's too much.

It really is not that simple. I agree yes no excuses get motivated but jsa is a bit like a sticky tar pit. If you get caught in that cycle and have no savings which I didn't have at the time, we don't all earn enough to save.

Throw in a house move in between that period of my life and at one point I thought jeeze... how does anyone escape this. Left and right you are battered. Luckily I had qualifications so it wasn't too long till I was back in work... handful of months but any longer and it is very tough to escape. I'm not really sure how people do.
 
thebennyboy said:
+1 to this, i'm currently on JSA as i am really struggling to get any work. My main issue is that i don't drive and i live in the middle of nowhere so have to rely on the bus. Nobody will hire me because of that. :(

The job centre staff treat you like cattle, in and out. I got threatened with a sanction the other week because i was 5 minutes late due to an accident along my bus route, even though they are NEVER running on time :rolleyes:. They really don't care about you. Pretty much all the JCP staff are just pen pushers.

I am usually in the JC for no longer than 2 minutes when i sign on, they are supposed to help you but they really don't! I walk in, they check UJM, "Three job applications, very good", tick the box, sign the sheet and leave. It's a joke. I can't stand it, i really want to get into work but just feel like i'm getting nowhere! I was working part-time but they kept on screwing up my benefits and docking my pay permanently to what i was paid for one week at work, they seem to forget that Zero-hour contracts exist and that means my hours can vary from 0 hour to ~8 hours per week. :rolleyes:
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It is almost impossible to get a job of you live in a village without a car

Do you have any way to get in a house share in town? (I suppose you usually need a job for these)
That's a tough situation :-\
 
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