2 Part Question: JSA & IT training

Robtyketto

Greetings,

In Sep 2006 I took a brave decision to leave my job (software testing) due to the distance, boredom due to lack of work available (workload was very all or nothing) and didn't find the role challenging as previously had more hands-on techinical roles (dba and app support).

Anyway, I left owing them money :rotfl:due to me purchasing a pc from my works place but over the years had accumlated savings of over 30K.

I left specifically to start university (At work I would often supervise students doing summer work/gap year, which influenced my decision) which I graduated with a first class honours degree in a general IT based degree last year (I was able to take the degree in TWO years :j).

Then applied for jobs, had good feedback but no job. So decided as enjoyed programming on university course that I would pursue this and did FIVE city & guilds level 2 courses software testing, c++, java, vb.net and web design with xhtml/css and a MCP (microsoft certified professional) in vb.net (which Im still doing now).

I am now doing free work for a chairty building them an application and feel let down I can't claim JSA (savings over 16K) even though I worked damned hard for my money and have spent money since educating myself.

Previously my GCSE results were apart from D's, E's & F's (Computer Studies - C) now I have First class honours Degree, HNC, NVQ levels II & III, City guilds level 2 (5), ISEB Software testing, CCNA networking fundamentals and 3/4 through my MCP course.

So to FINALLY getting to the point, is there any work around for me to claim some money?

I did naughlty think of using another almost empty bank account and not declare the others

Feel let down by the system for my hard work.

Also if anyone has some other quick IT courses they recomend for Microsoft products/software development which are FREE then please share.

Thanks
Rob

mizzbiz

But why do you need £64.30pw when you have £30k in savings?
When I first lost my job I had £3k in savings and I didn't claim (my fault) until it ran out. If I had your money I wouldn't dream of it.

I feel let down by the system as my boyfriend has to 'support' me despite us not being married and previously financially independent. So he is solely responsible for all bills, despite us not being together that long just because we live together. There is something very wrong with this.

Robtyketto

mizzbiz wrote: »

But why do you need £64.30pw when you have £30k in savings?
When I first lost my job I had £3k in savings and I didn't claim (my fault) until it ran out. If I had your money I wouldn't dream of it.

I feel let down by the system as my boyfriend has to 'support' me despite us not being married and previously financially independent. So he is solely responsible for all bills, despite us not being together that long just because we live together. There is something very wrong with this.

I feel Im being punished for saving though (I lived with parents and don't drive (Currently learning) which allowed me to save wages on a very average income since I was first employment on next to nothing as unqualified).

I never went without though, purchased many of the things I wanted and had a great social life.

If I had purchased very expensive things, fluttered money away and therefore had no savings I could claim though.

Hmm maybe I should count myself lucky to have the savings but I did EARN them.

ferien_uk

Robtyketto wrote: »

I feel Im being punished for saving though (I lived with parents and don't drive (Currently learning) which allowed me to save wages on a very average income since I was first employment on next to nothing as unqualified).

I never went without though, purchased many of the things I wanted and had a great social life.

If I had purchased very expensive things, fluttered money away and therefore had no savings I could claim though.

Hmm maybe I should count myself lucky to have the savings but I did EARN them.

I know how you feel. Even though I understand why they are less inclined to give money to people who have savings and can therefore support themselves, it does feel like they are punishing people who were sensible and saved money and rewarding those who didn't.

I have had my savings account all my life and a lot of the money in there is from birthday and Christmas money that I received as a child and some from when my Nan died. Therefore I am reluctant to spend it on day-to-day living and would rather wait for something important like buying a house.

Robtyketto

As an example of my work check out this game I co-wrote and created the website for
http://banditsat3oclock.hostoi.com/index.php

Welcome all opinions, good and bad ...

I wrote this with about 18 wks experience using Flash and about the same in photoshop (I did 99% of the graphics!).

I really enjoyed the creativity involved when doing my IT degree and this game, so much more satisfying than software testing.