The recession, benefits, the safety net, and the learning curve

Bogof_Babe

harryhound wrote: »

Get a "hire car" or "white van" job, as an alternative to JSA still works in this depression.

My OH has been looking around for a part time job since being laid off from his last one, which was as a white van driver & car showroom valeter. There was one that sounded perfect in the local free paper last Wednesday, filler-in driver for as and when required, suitable for retired person.

He phoned first thing on Thursday for an application form, only to be told the job had already been filled. He's gone for no end of cleaning jobs too, in schools and leisure centres, had a couple of interviews, but never got offered anything.

There literally is nothing out there if you are over a certain age. Luckily we have savings and he gets a small works pension, but it is still demoralising when he is desperate to get back out there.

Max I wish you luck mate. I fear you are going to need it.

mardatha

BoB, does your husband know about pension credit ?

Bogof_Babe

mardatha wrote: »

BoB, does your husband know about pension credit ?

Yes, thanks. He's not 65 yet so not on his state pension, and anyway we have too much in savings (praise be!). He's after a job because of the rubbish interest rates eating away at our capital, and also because he likes being out at work and doing something! He's like a bear with a sore head when the weather is bad and he can't be outside doing the garden or tinkering with his cars.

mardatha

Good. Mine is 62 and on it, he isnt well enouhg to work any more. He gets fidgety too but I ignore him.

ceridwen

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I wouldn't advocate this either but in a less welfare conscious society like the States that's exactly what you'd have to do. Many benefits aren't available to people there unless they've sold house and spent the equity.

Postscript to this comment - I retailed this comment on a U.S. blog - and promptly got told by various posters that this isnt the case. Their comments indicate that the situation is the same as in Britain in that respect - the only way someone would lose their home if put on benefits is if they still had a mortgage on it and couldnt keep up the payments. They do have the same system as us regarding old people being made to sell their homes to cover the cost of care if they have to go into an old peoples home - but otherwise U.S. commenters strenuously deny that people are made to sell their house to get benefits.:cool:

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On a different tack - how are things going Max?

dopester

mardatha wrote: »

Re the talk in here about homes - If you're out of work and can't afford to eat, what the h*ll does it matter how much houses are selling for ? And even if you did decide to sell it and move into a cheaper place then they would take any profit off your benefits anyway ! The benefit system is all wrong & that's what he's talking about in here !

Durrrghhh. Left to some people on this forum, you'd have people with millions of pounds in the bank, claiming JSA.

Yes. If you have a certain amount of money, you are not eligible for JSA.

!!!!!! is wrong with that? Don't bother. I already know. You all think the government has a duty to keep you funded with money so you can enjoy the lifestyle you were used to. Despite owning a house or whatever else of value.

ceridwen

Oh my giddy aunt dopester....reading your post - my instant thought was "Hes just asking for trouble - as in losing his job and having a lot of benefit problems as a result - and then he will find out what we are on about and perhaps sympathise a bit more".

Havent you ever heard of karma dopestar? - or put in laypersons language "What goes around comes around". You've virtually sent out a letter first class mail ASKING to be put in that situation yourself......:rolleyes:

dopester

ceridwen wrote: »

Oh my giddy aunt dopester....reading your post - my instant thought was "Hes just asking for trouble - as in losing his job and having a lot of benefit problems as a result - and then he will find out what we are on about and perhaps sympathise a bit more".

Havent you ever heard of karma dopestar? - or put in laypersons language "What goes around comes around". You've virtually sent out a letter first class mail ASKING to be put in that situation yourself......:rolleyes:

Haha. Like I haven't suffered enough? Mysticism is for the weak.

Added to which I have no guilt in what I've suggested may be the best course for the OP.

As it stands, I see it as the I could just about buy Max's house for cash with my house saving fund that I've built up. Not mortgage required. Not trying to brag or anything. However I'd have very little left over.

Already I'm drawing a low income, which doesn't beat JSA by much, and also have tapped in to my fund towards rent. Any negative trading conditions ahead could, in theory, see me on JSA - if I had no savings, but would qualify for JSA if I'd spent up on buying a house. Forget that though. I'd rather have no house and my savings - than be in Max's position. So in effect I am exactly in the situation I outlined as a possibility for Max.

Therefore my position on the matter is as pure as it could get.

Max_Headroom_3

dopester wrote: »

Durrrghhh. Left to some people on this forum, you'd have people with millions of pounds in the bank, claiming JSA.

No. No one has suggested that.

Yes. If you have a certain amount of money, you are not eligible for JSA.

correct, no one has suggested otherwise.

!!!!!! is wrong with that? Don't bother. I already know. You all think the government has a duty to keep you funded with money so you can enjoy the lifestyle you were used to. Despite owning a house or whatever else of value.

No, no one has suggested that.

Not going to continue the discussion with you, you seem unable to see past that big chip on your shoulder...

dopester

Max_Headroom wrote: »

Not going to continue the discussion with you, you seem unable to see past that big chip on your shoulder...

Whatever Max. The implication was there, with reform of JSA for long term claimants, now you are a claimant yourself. Free-up lots of extra money for the middle-classes who've paid in.

Why didn't it bother you in the past? Why were you not calling for benefit reform during all the HPI booming years?

My conscience is clear. You think it is a gamble - where I am taking that exact gamble by not buying - then risking a position where I'd be reliant on benefits JSA, because I believe values have a long way to fall. Good luck with it though.