Too proud to sign on

bo_drinker

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00j5gxf/Jeremy_Vine_18_03_2009

Lots of people are losing their jobs and entitled to sign on but won't as they are too proud Their loss, over recent years the ones signing on have been labelled scroungers etc so these folk don't want that label. Are they right or stupid for not taking what is rightfully theirs after paying their taxes etc ??

1984ReturnsForReal_2

They should do it just for the NI stamps even if they are entitled to little money.

Its going to be a long one..

bo_drinker

That is what they say in the programme, the system goes against you if you don't play ball. Later in life you will lose out. Damned if you do damned if you dont.

lostinrates

I don't know if I'm 'entitled' to anything for my long period of ill health and no work. I don't need to apply and so I won't. Its not just a matter of pride, its a matter of doing what I feel is right. I have savings (presumably minimilising my entitlment) and I have a DH earning. I don't think its right for me to accept any amount that might be avaible when I don't actually need it, IMO.

PasturesNew

bo_drinker wrote: »

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00j5gxf/Jeremy_Vine_18_03_2009

Lots of people are losing their jobs and entitled to sign on but won't as they are too proud Their loss, over recent years the ones signing on have been labelled scroungers etc so these folk don't want that label. Are they right or stupid for not taking what is rightfully theirs after paying their taxes etc ??

They're daft. Sign on and there's other doors that open up for you.

I am looking for work, while still being self-employed ... and I wondered if I could sign on, just for the other doors.

I'd like to sign on as a name on a list as somebody looking for work ... and for those other doors to open (cheapo stuff, discounts, etc).

flaire

If you've paid your National Insurance then you're entitled. After all, if you've paid for building and content insurance and your house burned down, you'd be a bit daft not to claim.

Regards.

treliac

lostinrates wrote: »

I don't know if I'm 'entitled' to anything for my long period of ill health and no work. I don't need to apply and so I won't. Its not just a matter of pride, its a matter of doing what I feel is right. I have savings (presumably minimilising my entitlment) and I have a DH earning. I don't think its right for me to accept any amount that might be avaible when I don't actually need it, IMO.

Shouldn't you be paying into the NI system, lir, to provide for your pension one day?

Although, on the other hand, there might not be one by then.

Reaper

PasturesNew wrote: »

I am looking for work, while still being self-employed ... and I wondered if I could sign on

No, that's fraud.

As for those not signing on I can understand not wanting to do it. I've had periods of a couple of months between jobs when I didn't sign on, though if I thought it was likely to be a long time before I found another one then I would.

PasturesNew

My mat e's bf got laid off today, but he's self-employed, so no benefits. He was laid off 8 months ago and checked then. So this is his 2nd time. But he found some work within an hour that hopefully will lead to permanent.

But there are a whole raft of people who fall outside of the rules that mean you can get JSA, for many everyday reasons.

Not everybody in the trades was earning mega money, but they had to be self-employed to do the job, so it wasn't a choice, but a necessity. Then it ends and they find out they didn't pay the right sort of NI contributions.

NI is a mess really.

As for NI for a pension - I've already more than accumulated my minimum number of years for a pension. They reduced it to 30 years.

lostinrates

treliac wrote: »

Shouldn't you be paying into the NI system, lir, to provide for your pension one day?

Although, on the other hand, there might not be one by then.

We've debated this. DH will have a small shortfall too, but he's not going to make his up: its not really going to make much difference either way. Mine, again, its a gamble of whether we think there will be pensions then or not, and, bluntly, my life expectancy . again, with no bad luck we should have ok provision privately by then should we need it, but I think we will make up my NI contributions. If I don't get it the big British pot will benefit. I can live, or not, with that, rofl.

[Deleted User]

bo_drinker wrote: »

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00j5gxf/Jeremy_Vine_18_03_2009

Lots of people are losing their jobs and entitled to sign on but won't as they are too proud Their loss, over recent years the ones signing on have been labelled scroungers etc so these folk don't want that label. Are they right or stupid for not taking what is rightfully theirs after paying their taxes etc ??

The govt with the help of the right wing press has worked long and hard to make you all believe that anyone on benefits is a scrounger or the scum of the earth,a policy that will return to bite them on the bum in coming months.