Does anyone else think this is wrong?

Yes it's completely wrong for him to be claiming. The system might permit it but it is still immoral. The benefit is called "Job seeker's allowance" for a reason. If he isn't going to be looking for a job then he shouldn't be claiming for it.

The loan you get for university more than covers for the costs you might have while living there and you don't have to pay it back until you are earning more than 24k now! So while it might cost him more personally in the long run not to take the allowance to top up his degree savings it is the right thing to do.

People like this are screwing themselves over in the long term by harbouring an entitlement culture which will only cost themselves in the future.
 
I'm assuming he can claim because he's now technically between education as he's finished one course and due to start another (Uni). Therefore it's not fraudulent as he will have told the job centre of his plans, he's also employable for 4 months.

I claimed JSA when I finished Uni as it was 3months of summer and I already had a Graduate scheme lined up to start in September. The way I saw it was that I'd be paying enough tax in the future and for the rest of my life so why not? I answered the questions truthfully and if a job had come up in the criteria I'd mentioned, I'd have taken it. The chances of that were slim but so what? As people have said, it's the system in place that's at fault.

I don't have a problem with what the lad is doing. Tbh though, the cash he'll get is minimal so he'd be better off getting a job, but it's his choice.
 
pingwing said:
Well if he's not payed national insurance in the last 2 (I think) years he won't get cash for 6 months so it's a bit of a waste of time.

Anyway it's not all that cool really but if he wants to then theres not a lot stopping him.
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Hikari Kisugi said:
This was my understanding, as far as I recall they changed the rules several years ago which would remove his ability to claim such monies.
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If he is over 18 then he can claim income-based JSA, rather than contribution-based JSA.......he must declare he is looking for work however.
 
Malc said:
it's the system in place that's at fault.
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It's this mentality of "I'm not responsible" that grins my gears. Are you one of those people that thinks all those douchebags that borrowed far more money than they couldrealistically afford are totally free from blame too?
 
Zefan said:
It's this mentality of "I'm not responsible" that grins my gears. Are you one of those people that thinks all those douchebags that borrowed far more money than they couldrealistically afford are totally free from blame too?
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Are you one of those douchebags that don't realise just because you are numerate and understand these things, not everyone else is and they rely on and believe the advice given to them from the people doing the lending? ;)
 
estebanrey said:
This is what's wrong with our benefits culture. It's one built on entitlement rather than need.

When I went to Uni, it didn't even cross my mind to claim JSA in the holiday between. I got off my behind and went down town and walked into every retail store asking if they had jobs. Got an interview that day and was working there within the same week.

IMO, people should always look for work first before claiming benefits, the attitude today seems to be sort out your benefits first and sort the job malarky later.

Of course for a small number of people this isn't possible but I'd bet the vast majority of 18 year olds have parents that can give them money to tide them over for at least a few weeks whilst they looked for work.
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Right and if he doesnt live at home and none of the shops offer him work then what, does he do without money just so he can feel smug and superior while starving?
 
He shouldn't be doing but hell why not when so many others are getting something for nothing. There should be rules in place to stop him claiming.
 
simulatorman said:
He shouldn't be doing but hell why not when so many others are getting something for nothing. There should be rules in place to stop him claiming.
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Why not?

That's the whole reason the system is there, its not like hes going to be out of work for the rest of his life, he takes out of the system now and pays it back in when he gets a job, if he is genuinely looking for work to fill the gap then fair enough, if hes claiming just to fill the gap with no intention of working then no.

Getting sick of this holier than thou attitude towards benefits, I hope you never have to go on them because you would probably kill yourself with guilt and grief.
 
Hikari Kisugi said:
This was my understanding, as far as I recall they changed the rules several years ago which would remove his ability to claim such monies.
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It was still around at the end of 2011. I left uni in september and was persuaded to go on JSA for a few weeks before starting my job mid October and had not paid in any NI.

I don't particularly agree with it either, even in the situation I was in (wasn't looking for a job because I had been offered one but had a 6 week gap) but it's a fairly standard thing to do. Lots of people would sign up over the summer between years at university.
 
Freakbro said:
Are you one of those douchebags that don't realise just because you are numerate and understand these things, not everyone else is and they rely on and believe the advice given to them from the people doing the lending? ;)
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So basically replace "duchebags" with "idiots" then?
 
Haven't read the thread, but I'm sure you can't get JSA during the time you finish college/start Uni. Couple of my mates tried it.
 
Freakbro said:
What, so someone is an idiot if they don't understand something and rely on the advice of the person who is supposed to know and be there to help them?
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No, people are idiots if they decided to get into debt without realising how to control it.

If you can't drive you wouldn't drive a car on the road, if you did most people would call you an idiot...
 
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