Job Fears: I am about to become part of the working poor?

princessdon

It's tatties oop norf here

But that is defo way Off Topic now!

coin_operated_girl

I've just done a quick calculation and I earn around the same amount each month as I was recieving in benefits- I live in London so rent and travel is stupidly high plus I have to pay for my prescriptions etc Vs incapacity benefit, housing benefit, free prescriptions etc. But do you know what? I don't care. I love my job. I have self respect. I am able to support myself. All of that is worth so much more to me than the fact that I could sit on my !!!! all day for the same amount of money.

You need to look at the bigger picture. Taking this job could provide new opportunities and it would be the first step in progressing up the career ladder. As of yesterday, my manager has increased my hours from 35/week to 39/week (increasing my salary by £2,000) because I asked him to and he was happy to do so as it gave him an excuse to raise my wage as he knows I don't earn much. My colleagues all earn more than me even though we do the exact same job as I joined the team after cuts were made. As soon as one of my colleagues leave (2 are likely to leave v soon) my manager said he will bump me up to their salary, which will give me a £4,000 pay rise. So I'm looking at a £6,000 difference to my starting salary. Not bad considering I've only been working there for 8 months and prior to this job I was unemployed for 3 years due to ill health. The point I am making is that if you work hard, you don't know what could happen.

Benefits aren't there as a life style choice, they are there as an absolute last resort. Anyone who choses to stay on benefits (which is what you would be doing if you don't go for this job) are a waste of space and are an insult to those who have no choice but to be on benefits.

dktreesea

OP, if you have the chance of getting a job that you think you would enjoy doing, I would advise you to take it. It's much easier to get another job if you already have one than if you are unemployed, so you may be able to get a better paid job as a result of being in this one currently on offer.

I understand your point, that you may only be £30 a week better off, if that once you take your transportation costs into account. But what you would get by working is the freedom of choice over all your money, without government interference.

I can understand the attraction of benefits. Your time is your own. There is no link between the money and having to make any personal effort to get it. You get to choose how you spend your time. But benefits aren't the free money you might think. They have loads of strings attached and can be stopped or reduced at any time. At least when you work, your money is your own. Sure, the business could go bust, so it is possible you won't be paid for the labour you do, but consider this. Universal Credit is coming in. The government says most of us won't notice the difference, but to me it's a way of getting people to make co-payments for things like rent, to a much greater extent than they do already, via the back door. Currently, for example, you may get all your rent paid and council tax, plus an extra £70 or so a week to spend. Just say the value of all of that is £200 a week. What will you do if UC comes in at £170 a week? Move out of your flat and rent a caravan somewhere? At least if you take the job you will be assured of having all of your rent paid, and not have to rob the food pocket to meet the shortfall in your rent pocket once UC comes in.

Plus, given you are long term unemployed, wouldn't you be getting a £40 a week payment for a year to help you get over precisely the kinds of challenges you would face in the transition stages, like, e.g. buying a monthly bus ticket?

Linda_D_2

McKneff wrote: »

Could you say who you are replying to.
If me, I have said in my posts, I have paid for my kids schooling through my taxes,I have never claimed benefits in money ever from the government, can you say the same. I have worked 47 years to do so. I have supported my kids. If I havent where do you think my money has gone then. A taker indeed, you have no idea what you are talking about.

I have never, ever looked down on anyone in my life mister and I bloody well resent you saying so. If I told you some of the crap jobs I have done, and had people look down on me for gutting turkeys, and tatie picking in my younger days, I worked to feed my kids, No one has the right to look down on any one,
including you.

You've never had child benefit?

jayII

dandelionclock30 wrote: »

You have claimed off the state, not only because your kids have been schooled but through their medical appointments,dental care,free prescriptions,immunizations, schoool nurse visits etc.
You havent paid for all that yourself you know.
You should be on your bended knee thanking tax payers yourself for all the money you have taken off them because they have supported your kids. Its not just about child allowance you know.

How can you really look down on an unemployed person? when you have been a taker for years yourself.?

I haven't, I've paid for private schooling and all the nurse etc appointments. I've also paid for a fair amount of private healthcare for me and mine, amongst other things.

You don't know how much anonymous forumites earn. You therefore don't know how much they pay in direct and indirect taxes, NI and so on.

Yet you're able to judge/know if a poster has cost society more than they have paid in? Would you care to explain how that is possible?

bankhater_1965

jayII wrote: »

I haven't, I've paid for private schooling and all the nurse etc appointments. I've also paid for a fair amount of private healthcare for me and mine, amongst other things.

You don't know how much anonymous forumites earn. You therefore don't know how much they pay in direct and indirect taxes, NI and so on.

Yet you're able to judge/know if a poster has cost society more than they have paid in? Would you care to explain how that is possible?

you have or still do have child benefit which cleary was not needed, also maybe child tax credits beofre it was scaled down, im interested to know why you have douts regards to the state education and also the NHS , have you had a bad experiance in the past ?

jayII

bankhater_1965 wrote: »

you have or still do have child benefit which cleary was not needed, also maybe child tax credits beofre it was scaled down, im interested to know why you have douts regards to the state education and also the NHS , have you had a bad experiance in the past ?

Really? Another one who knows the finances of people on the internet.

Exercising my right to choose does not mean that I have doubts about anything. I simply made a "different" choice for reasons of my own. I've had varying experiences in my life, some good, some bad and many indifferent.

bankhater_1965

jayII wrote: »

Really? Another one who knows the finances of people on the internet.

Exercising my right to choose does not mean that I have doubts about anything. I simply made a "different" choice for reasons of my own. I've had varying experiences in my life, some good, some bad and many indifferent.

you remind me of an mp , sidestepping with embarasment

jayII

bankhater_1965 wrote: »

you remind me of an mp , sidestepping with embarasment

I've been promoted?

Thanks... :rotfl:

morganedge

I always find this topic very interesting, mainly because it is close to my heart.

I am someone who generally hates working.
I've had about 15 jobs in my life so far (late 20's)
I've pretty much hated them all.
I don't have any great qualifications/skills, so all the jobs are basically warehouse roles, or office based/admin stuff.

Worked from the age of 18 to 24, various full time jobs.
Just spent my time wishing the week away, waiting for the weekend.

Then the company I worked for folded, and, for the first time, I signed on. I was on the dole for the best part of a year.
It was kind of depressing, but ONLY when, for example, family members would visit me and ask about my job hunting, or the process of signing on and going to the ridiculous 'courses' the jobcentre send you on. However, I LOVED getting up when I wanted, and I adored all the free time I had.

Then, a year ago, I got another job which I am still at.
I rather dislike this job, too. I spend every waking second, just waiting for the weekend to begin, so that I don't have to work and can relax and enjoy myself.

I really don't blame people who don't want to work and would rather just claim free money from the government. Blame the system - not the people who have different priorities/values.