Grant for clothes for an interview

jakejenson

Hope someone can help me. I had a phone call last night inviting me for a job interview on Monday at 11am.

However I haven't got anything to wear!!! As I am a stay at home mum my clothes consist of jeans/t.shirts/trainers etc.

Someone told me about a back to work interview grant for new clothes, which I may be entitled to as I am on JSA.

The job centre is now closed so can't find out if I will be entitled to it or how to go about it until it re-opens Monday at 9am.

I have been on contributions based JSA for 14 weeks.

Oldernotwiser

I hope you can get some help but what have you done with the work clothes that you were wearing 14 weeks ago?

GotToChange

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I hope you can get some help but what have you done with the work clothes that you were wearing 14 weeks ago?

"Work clothes" don't necessarily = "interview clothes", do they?

(Why are you [always] so cynical?)

Oldernotwiser

GotToChange wrote: »

(Why are you [always] so cynical?)

Years of experience and practice!

Seriously, I thought that it was worth making the point as the OP wasn't someone who'd been home with children for many years but had just been out of work for 14 weeks. I think that JCP might take this into consideration as well.

GotToChange

OP - if you are still around (and I'm sure ONW could have posted this); there is an "Advisor Discretionary Fund" through which you may - if eligible [not 100% sure if there is a qualifying period] for vouchers (for Arcadia stores) to purchase up to a suit, shoes, blouse or formal top. In some cases, the decision/budget for this has been "farmed out" to one of the New Deal providers so has to go through them - this is not a universal policy though.

It will be a struggle to complete everything in time for your 11:00am Monday interview so I hope that you are out at the moment as Primark, Asda or similar low-cost store to buy what you need.

GotToChange

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Years of experience and practice!

Seriously, I thought that it was worth making the point as the OP wasn't someone who'd been home with children for many years but had just been out of work for 14 weeks. I think that JCP might take this into consideration as well.

But you don't know that for sure - just that she has been claiming for that period of time... there could be other reasons. Anyway, I have pointed out the provisos that may be in place for the ADF grant re. clothes, I'm not sure myself if there is a qualifying period in place anyway and then no-one has to sit in judgement of her for not having appropriate interview clothes do they.


(Please don't get me started today...)

Oldernotwiser

GotToChange wrote: »

But you don't know that for sure - just that she has been claiming for that period of time... there could be other reasons. Anyway, I have pointed out the provisos that may be in place for the ADF grant re. clothes, I'm not sure myself if there is a qualifying period on place anyway and then no-one has to sit in judgement of her for not having appropriate interview clothes do they.


(Please don't get me started today...)

If you think that's me sitting in judgement, you must be very new to MSE!

I took the OP's post at face value - very few people sit around for months on end before deciding to claim JSA, but you may be right. I also don't think that trying to get a grant for clothes with an hour's notice is very feasible and I don't like to give people false hope.

GotToChange

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

If you think that's me sitting in judgement, you must be very new to MSE!

I took the OP's post at face value - very few people sit around for months on end before deciding to claim JSA, but you may be right. I also don't think that trying to get a grant for clothes with an hour's notice is very feasible and I don't like to give people false hope.

*sigh*

I didn't mean you sitting in judgement of her. I have seen plenty of your posts so know that "this" is nothing. I also didn't see you do anything to either give hope or dicourage - just a bit of a [STRIKE]smart***[/STRIKE]wry remark which was pretty useless. IMO.

I am not new to MSE - see my signature.

You may remember that I asked via PM for your esteemed advice a couple of weeks ago.

potnoodleprincess

I was made redundant just under 6 months ago and my weight has changed dramatically since I lost my job - in fact losing my job has made me feel very unwell indeed and this has affected my weight.

I would like to think that if I get an interview I could maybe get some help to get some new interview clothes that actually fit as I genuinely dont have a suit or any trousers/skirt that would be suitable for interview.

Also, how do you know the OP is not a cleaner/refuse operative/zookeeper or simply had a work uniform from their last role and as such hadnt had been for an interview for many years, if at all.

Oldernotwiser

GotToChange wrote: »

*sigh*

I didn't mean you sitting in judgement of her. I have seen plenty of your posts so know that "this" is nothing. I also didn't see you do anything to either give hope or dicourage - just a bit of a [STRIKE]smart***[/STRIKE]wry remark which was pretty useless. IMO.

I am not new to MSE - see my signature.

You may remember that I asked via PM for your esteemed advice a couple of weeks ago.

You might also remember that I spent quite some time trying to help you when you PMed me, so I don't know why you're having a go at me now as if I never help someone. My first comment to the OP was the hope that she get some help and that stands.

Your sig says you joined a couple of months ago, so yes, a new member.

jakejenson

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I hope you can get some help but what have you done with the work clothes that you were wearing 14 weeks ago?

I have been on maternity leave since December 2007. My maternity leave ended December 2008 and as stated in my orginal post have been a stay at home mum since. I only started claiming JSA 14 weeks ago due my husbands hours being cut. Previous to my maternity leave my job involved me wearing an uniform. Therefore I have had no need for smart clothes for the last 10 years.

GotToChange: Thank you for your comments. .

I rang the jobcentre helpline who were open today but they couldnt help as didnt deal with the grant side but said it might be worth picking clothes out today and getting the store to hold them until monday, and hopefully if I am entitled to the grant the jobcentre may give me cash to purchase the items.