How exactly does the jobcentre 'better off' calculation work??

mrcow

You turned down a job offer because you'd only be £8 "better off"?

Working 20 hours a week with the potential to double it.

worrieddan_2

because it's impossible to do.
I would end up spending the £8 on lunch/drinks and all the other costs of working etc.

mrcow

What costs of working? You'd have to eat lunch and drink fluid whether you were working or not!

Impossible to do? Getting some work experience? Plus you'd bee free the rest of the week to look for further work if you weren't 100% happy.

loulou123

I applied for a job on minimum wage that made me £2.00 a week better off then being on incapacity benefit, and when i found out i had it i was over the moon. (admittidly i also now get WTC due to being ill, but at the time of applying i didnt even realise i qualified for this.)

I love my job, it has prospects, (maybe not in my present company, but elsewhere) and i now have self respect back. I'm planning to take on a 2nd different job with the same company, after xmas to increase my wages.

I'd always pick a job over being on benefits, although i appreciate that it may be hard if moneys very tight and you have alot to pay out for, but usually in those situations there are benefits you can claim to top up your income-such as tax credits, help with health costs if on low income etc.

dmg24

worrieddan wrote: »

It's all very well people saying start off at the bottom and work your way up etc but people have bills to pay and it's sometimes IMPOSSIBLE to live on such a low wage.Yesterday I went for a job as a Kicthen Porter I was offered 20 hours per week on the min wage for under 21's £4.83.This works out at around £8 more than jobseekers allowance after tax/travel etc...the job was terrible aswell.I am just not willing to do it.It sounds bad but i'm not willing to go and work in a horrible enviroment for a few quid more than on Jobseekers...ok they said it's a foot in the door etc but 6 months on 8 quid more than JSA working in a vile enviroment.no thanks.

Your calculations are wrong. For someone of your age that wage would be nearly twice what you would get on JSA. If your bus fares are really that much ... get a bike!

mrcow

loulou123 wrote: »

I applied for a job on minimum wage that made me £2.00 a week better off then being on incapacity benefit, and when i found out i had it i was over the moon. (admittidly i also now get WTC due to being ill, but at the time of applying i didnt even realise i qualified for this.)

I love my job, it has prospects, (maybe not in my present company, but elsewhere) and i now have self respect back. I'm planning to take on a 2nd different job with the same company, after xmas to increase my wages.

I'd always pick a job over being on benefits, although i appreciate that it may be hard if moneys very tight and you have alot to pay out for, but usually in those situations there are benefits you can claim to top up your income-such as tax credits, help with health costs if on low income etc.

Thank you for some sanity on this thread!

I still can't work out if the other two posters are just on the wind up or not.......if they are - then it's worked!

donnajunkie

alyth wrote: »

it's meant as a cushion to help you whilst you gain another job,

this used to be the case but not any longer. as all unemployed people are going to have to work for their benefit. so jsa is a wage.

donnajunkie

Angel89 wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

A life on benefits??

Ive only been on benefits for 3weeks!! :rotfl::rotfl:


And i dont even understand exactly what your question is directed at exactly from what i wrote...

If its that im ''small-minded'' cos id never do a min wage job,
then yep i wont ever,
but its not cos im small minded or think im too good for it... lol

I simply have set my min salary level at the level i put it in the agreement (which is still very very low),
because theres no point in me getting a crap paying job that on its salary i wouldnt be able to do,
even if i got it, as i simply couldnt afford the train fares to get there! :rolleyes:

the rules are getting stricter. soon you will find you are expected to do any kind of work for any kind of money and any hours.

donnajunkie

loisa wrote: »

To answer your original question. I'm under 25 and I have been given the better off calculation (I certainly didn't ask for it!) From what I remember it was fairly basic and didn't take into account any travel costs.

when they tell you what working tax credit you will get they neglect to mention that it is only until april. after that it will be reduced.

donnajunkie

worrieddan wrote: »

It's all very well people saying start off at the bottom and work your way up etc but people have bills to pay and it's sometimes IMPOSSIBLE to live on such a low wage.Yesterday I went for a job as a Kicthen Porter I was offered 20 hours per week on the min wage for under 21's £4.83.This works out at around £8 more than jobseekers allowance after tax/travel etc...the job was terrible aswell.I am just not willing to do it.It sounds bad but i'm not willing to go and work in a horrible enviroment for a few quid more than on Jobseekers...ok they said it's a foot in the door etc but 6 months on 8 quid more than JSA working in a vile enviroment.no thanks.

of course with new deal you will have to do jobs like this for your jsa.