Unemployment Making Me Utterly MISERABLE!

toasterman

On the subject of housing benefit, on one of the forms you fill out, you have to exclusively allow them to speak to a landlord.
If you don't sign/tick the boxes, then you have to provide a tenancy agreement to prove it's you living there and how much you're paying in rent.
They're not allowed to go behind your back and ask the landlord anything without this written/signed approval. My landlord has no idea I'm currently claiming any benefits.
I was worried about this too, thinking the landlord would want me out if he knew I was claiming benefits - (I might look more of a liability or something? Despite how many years I've been living here).

They will pay it directly to your bank account, but there is a serious delay (certainly where I am) at the moment of over a month, for changes to existing claims as well as new claims. Must be some serious backlog.

KILL_BILL

andygb wrote: »

Hi Toasterman, I should have explained a bit more fully.
Two years ago, when I was working, and had an income, one of my mates asked me to shoot his wedding, because he knew that I had done a few before. I wasn't that happy, because it is a big responsibility, and my camera (Minolta Dynax) was getting a bit past it, and the meter was giving unpredictable exposures. The other reason, is that he didn't want to pay anyone, and had already assumed that I would do it for free.
So, I did the shoot, used 4 rolls of film (£20, plus £28 for processing, DVD and contact print), plus batteries for the flash and camera. The whole lot came to around £55. At the reception he handed me a camcorder, and asked if I could video it as well :rolleyes: A nice surprise, which I wasn't expecting.
He seemed OK, if a little unimpressed about the photos, and to this day has not paid me anything, and seems to regard it as a reward for being invited to his wedding :mad:
Anyway, it was this "mate" who recommended me to this couple, who I do not know. He knows that I am unemployed at the moment, but has already mentioned to them, that I may do the job for free, and will only charge them for any reprints which get done.
That is why I am feeling a bit down about it all.

DITCH YOUR MATE!!!

that clearly is not real friend as they have just taken then p1ss

at the end of the day they should have thanked and paid for your costs for the film etc irrespectivly and if not paid you should have given you card and present.

you dont need scum like that in your life

rosered1963

toasterman wrote: »

On the subject of housing benefit, on one of the forms you fill out, you have to exclusively allow them to speak to a landlord.
If you don't sign/tick the boxes, then you have to provide a tenancy agreement to prove it's you living there and how much you're paying in rent.
They're not allowed to go behind your back and ask the landlord anything without this written/signed approval. My landlord has no idea I'm currently claiming any benefits.
I was worried about this too, thinking the landlord would want me out if he knew I was claiming benefits - (I might look more of a liability or something? Despite how many years I've been living here).

They will pay it directly to your bank account, but there is a serious delay (certainly where I am) at the moment of over a month, for changes to existing claims as well as new claims. Must be some serious backlog.

Thanks Toasterman - those are exactly the concerns that I have, so it's really useful to know that

scrooge2008

rosered1963 wrote: »

HI everyone - just dropping in to say hi

Scrooge - you're so right - I am still at the shell-shocked stage and the JSA is about to end (all it pays is less than half our rent).

I think this thread will be great as no-one is judgemental and I will pop in after planting my vegetables to check you all later. (Out with the Armani suit - in with the growing my own veg). Further to toasterman's and Andy's comments, I am becoming convinced that small scale self-employment is the only way to go to earn some money and have some control over your own destiny. Bye for now - catch you all later, I hope RR X

I agree with you rosered. Two of my friends were in similar predicaments to myself, at around the same time. One has set up as a registered childminder and the other has started her own house cleaning and ironing business. Both are doing OK. The one with the cleaning business, has six members of staff now. I found that paying for child care was no real concern when I was earning good money, but a real factor on the kind of wages that seem to be out there now.

We also have started growing our own vegetables ......

rosered1963

Hi Scrooge - that's great to know your friends are doing well. I live in a rural but wealthy (apart from me!) area and hoping that domestic repairs/cleaning/handyman might go down well because a lot of my friends who are much older than me (in their 60s and over) are always looking for people to do these things - money isn't the option - they just can't find anyone who will turn up to domestic jobs. I would hate to work for the minimum wage as an employee - I would find that really hard and would rather slog my guts out working for myself than work for a corporate entity for minimum wage, even if they would have me, which they won't, as they tell me I am "overqualified".

scrooge2008

Go for it rosered. You don't need money to start up a business, or even to know what business you want to do. If you have elderly, wealthy neighbours, you could have a wee look around the neighbourhood and see who needs their grass cutting. Knock on the door and see if they need any help with their garden etc, offer them a very competitive price and use their gardening equipment. Turn up when you say you are going to, do a first rate job, have a cup of coffee with them and tell them of your predicament and skills and before you know it you are in business !!

Honest, hardworking, reliable, reasonable workmen are a very valuable resource and the elderly appreciate persons with these attributes and word will quickly get about. Once the money starts to come in you can start investing some money in the business.

Good luck.

rosered1963

Thanks so much for your encouragement Scrooge - I'm so glad you believe it to be possible too - and that I don't need start-up money - just my own labour. I have nothing to lose and so I'm going to do it. If a great job happened to come along, I can do both. Thank you

mrcow

rosered1963 wrote: »

Thanks so much for your encouragement Scrooge - I'm so glad you believe it to be possible too - and that I don't need start-up money - just my own labour. I have nothing to lose and so I'm going to do it. If a great job happened to come along, I can do both. Thank you

Have a little look:

http://www.500ways.co.uk/html/500_ways.html

http://www.500ways.co.uk/html/home_services.html

rosered1963

mrcow wrote: »

Have a little look:

http://www.500ways.co.uk/html/500_ways.html

http://www.500ways.co.uk/html/home_services.html

ooo great mrcow - just what I needed- I have subscribed to the newsletter and am going to look through all the advice on the sites now - thanks so much for this

Truegho

Yes, I HAVE tried for the retail jobs. Sadly, they are just as difficult to get as the office posts are.

I am getting more and more disheartened and dejected every day. Those Internet jobsites who NEVER acknowledge your application are especially infuriating!

Are there NO jobs in this country anymore????

McKneff wrote: »

Have you actually tried to get a job in a supermarket, try B&Q, garden centres, garage chains, they seem to prefer to employ more mature staff.