'Would you work or claim benefit?' poll discussion

shaz22

Single and I'd take the job. You can always try to max your income (surveys, eBay etc) in the knowledge you are honestly contributing to society.

I had a period of ill-health where I basically saw the inside of a hospital ward following neurosurgery and was subjected to a Daytime TV schedule (mostly going on about homes I would never be able to afford at home or abroad or selling antiques I could never ever dream of owning in the first place) during recuperation. It was just soul destroying. Mentally, a job (though earning less than benefits) would put me (and has since getting one) in a better place and pave the way to possibly obtaining a better paid job with better prospects.

sluggy1967

This is happening to me right now - husband became very ill & had to give up work - I get carers allowance, we have a 6 year old son. Husband now on treatment that means he can be safely left for a few hours at a time, so I've taken a temporary teaching assistants job at my son's school - 10hrs a week, term-time only - take home pay £85 per week (which means I still get carers allowance) BUT - the hassle this has caused with Council Tax Benefit & Child Tax Credit you would NOT believe, I am literally working for nothing, and may actually be slightly worse off BUT it gives me a hell of a buzz to work, & it's very important that our son grows up in a work-ethic environment.

hullight

I like to think I'm contributing to our economy rather that leeching on it!

PasturesNew

I'm single. It would depend on the job, how much I was worse off and why.
As for people who have said that in the workplace you get training and to move up, my experience (over 30 years in work) is that employers have never paid for any training for me. I've always self-trained, or paid for my own courses (at full price, up to £2000)... but still I found I never really got on/got up because I was working in small companies... also, being promoted takes time - a lot of time. If the amount you are earning is less than the basic costs of life then how long can you juggle it all before it falls apart? So I'd probably opt to wait for something else, a bit nearer, or paying a bit more.

Once you're in the workplace, you tend to be surrounded by people with a lot more money than you have, which is not only isolating, but you also can't join in and socialise with any of them, so they find you stand offish and you end up isolated at work because you have nothing in common with them and can't afford to go out with them or join in any work-based activities like paying £1-2 for the charity dress down day or going to the Xmas meal. So, work isn't always a great place to improve your self confidence if you start off even worse off (bearing in mind a single person's JSA is the real raw basics, so any less than that is literally skipping meals to survive)

general_dogsbody

Speaking as somebody who has been through many application forms and interviews I would say take the job. As an employer there is nothing that concerns me more about potential employees than long periods of unemployment, my reasoning being that if they are prepared to be picky about which job they do, then perhaps that will manifest itself in their attitude within the work place.

On a more personal note, at 27 I have never been on benefits and would never be comfortable doing so, but that's easy to say when you have a job. But my experiences as an employer would convince me that being worse off in the short term would probably be better for me in the long term.

robpw2

having been unable to work id take the job - its experience and your still getting money and you could get overtime

mangadarkogirl

I've just left full time education due to long term depression. I'm in a couple and won't be entitled to anything.....been there, had up their own bums job center advisors trying to get me in any job to get rid of me. And not being able to claim job seekers, because in this government people's OH's can afford to just pay ALL the bills when the other is unemployed.

I'm trying to get into full time work asap, as it's better for my MH, and tbh I've been brought up to work, and always have. Even if it is a p/t job whilst in college/uni.

Benefits should be there for people who really need them. But the government have made it so easy, people are actually better off. It's the people who work their !!!!!! off for minimum wage rather than claim jobseekers who should be helped.

mobilejo

I lost my job not too long ago, and am currently going through the benefits system. Its a FT job intself.

I have always had a job since getting my qualifications and have always been quite well paid.

There is no point in me taking a job outside of my area of qualification (law) as its not going to hold any long term prospects for me. Would I take a low paid job within the legal profession? No, to be honest. If I'm better off on benefits I'll stay there until I find the right job for me.

We have a 2 year old and a new baby 2 weeks old, so if new employers wish to know why the gap in my work history, the answer is that I was looking after my kids.

I've done my "working my way up the chain" and the "getting qualified" bit, why should I do it again for less money when it won't take my level of experience or qualification any higher than it already is?

ajfy2k

I would always take the job (im single and working),

While the option of staying on benefits might offer short term extra funds it offers no future other then continuing poverty.

While the working option would give a short term financial loss it offers a future (pay rises promotion or at the very least minimising gaps on a CV).

Looking at the poll results I can understand why people with dependant children would feel different but I don't thing anyone else has an excuse.

ash

supermonkey

dealbunch wrote: »

Not for everyone, I know, but I'd start my own business!

This! I guess it's for everyone, but even just spending your day on ebay & surveys would be an improvement (and if low income wouldn't affect benefits).

If struggling, then maybe the job would be the way to go as in time salary could go up and you would no longer be struggling. Having said that, a job this badly paid is unlikely to improve (been there!). Someone mentioned how you could job search in your free time. This is fine when in an ok and done casually, but doing 8-5 in a job you hate with poor pay and then spending hours each evening job seeking is a receipe for severe depression.

However, if "comfortable" on benefits I can understand why someone would be reluctant to take a job and lose money especially if it's a job they didnt want to do anyway!
Having kids is a main factor - if I were single (or in couple with a partner working full time) I would be inclined to work. But with kids I'd want to take advantage of the extra time with them