'supporting each other through really tough times'

7_week_wonder

Morning all,
Just popping in to give a big hug to Softstuff: you are not being a wuss you are doing exactly the right thing and getting your knee looked at before it gets even worse.

And welcome to OMO - I second the suggestion that you ask for an (urgent) appointment with a dietician.

Unix - any idea when they will let you know about the job?

Some tough things going on at the moment for everyone, so have a group hug.

And thanks for the reminder about the mincemeat biscotti, I just happen to have an unused jar of mincemeat lurking in the cupboard:D

Stay warm everyone.

maryb

Tudor Rose, I'm afraid I don't know about JSA. I know if you sign on as soon as you lose a job you get credited because people being made redundant at work were being advised to do that. I don't know what the position is if you can't claim contributions based JSA. If you are brave enough to venture onto the benefits board there are a lot of knowledgeable people there

[Deleted User]

Hello TUDORROSE nice to have you with us, glad you have decided to post and not just read, always lovely having new friends to chat with, Cheers Lyn x.

Popperwell

TudorRose wrote: »

If not I am heading for a poverty stricken old age as my savings will be long gone before 2021.
I want/need a job but think my chances of finding one are slim.
I do not qualify for JSA. Does anybody know if I went & signed up at the Jobcentre if I would get NI credits even though I don't qualify for JSA?

Sorry about length of post but helps to share views with others.

When I come into savings even being very careful mine will be used up within 1-2 years(Mum's savings-probate)So it will not benefit me for long. And then asking for help again may be more difficult because of the changes coming not just the proposed pension plan.

I can understand your pessimism but if they are making people work longer and the talk is that(as we already know)they increased the official retirement age to 67 and there is talk it will be increased to 68. Then there is talk that the new State pension will not paid unless you are 70 so they are really saying you "Will" work until you are 70.

Many pensioners cannot survive on the pension they have now so are working past the age they expected that they would be. More jobs will have to be made/found for those older in society. Or they will if people have health problems pay ESA or DLA(To become PIP)and other benefits for longer as the older you become you are more likely to suffer ill health and jobs will have to be easier to take that into account. It is no good increasing how long you are expected to work if other help is taken away.

JSA isn't much but no doubt even though the hoops you have to jump through are difficult any money is welcome...when Universal Benefit starts in October it is being scrapped, well in bname it is...can you get credits towards a pension without claiming it, I bet the answer to that is no but others will have a more informed answer. Now this again is where it seems a little unfair that by saving and probably working all your life to have money in later life, it stops you being helped. In four ways...

1)You are not entitled to help whilst trying to obtain work.
2)Until Your savings drop below a certain level, you cannot get help so your NI credits stop.
3)Not getting the NI Credits therefore affects your pension upon
retirement because their gaps in your contribution record not necessirly caused by yourself.
4)As you suggest your savings(which are probably modest)will be used up
so you will probably more dependent on the State later and the cushion you had is no longer there.

Unless as happened to my Dad he worked from the age of 14
for 45 years and never drew his state or works pension. So the biggest favour of all is to work all your life and pass away before claiming anything back.

Unfortunately, though it helps to share and get support and that is in abundance here, sadly many of us will be hurting and struggling.

kidcat

Tudor Rose - hi It used to be that even if you were not eligible for JSA that if you signed on you received your NI contributions, my friends husband earns alot (top tax bracket) but when she was out of work she still signed on to get her contributions for her pension.

I have DS14 off today, he did his time in his unit followed by his hour at school yesterday, all he would say is that it was "fine" but then slept for two hours yesterday afternoon. Today he wouldnt get up and insisted he hadnt slept - now I know he slept, but obviously his sleep was poor quality, or he just didnt want to go back.

I have tried to discuss with him that its ok not to go back but so far am not getting anywhere, which means I have no time out again today.

I took one of the pills the doctor gave me yesterday for my back (she said she thinks its two issues, the underlying issue which is always painful and I have to be careful with and a secondary issue that makes it agony to move, walk, stand sit etc which is a spasm) and I lost three hours of the evening, I took it and literally can remember nothing for three hours!! Thank goodness it was before OH went to bed or I would never have been any use to the kids, will not be taking those again thank you.

Ald! have a grill machine and halogen oven in this week but for our store its Thurs until they are in, so if anyone is considering buying them please check before travelling,

Its incredibly icy today and we had some flakes of snow which was exciting. Its stopped now though, DD18 is hoping it stays stopped as she has an exam tomorrow and she s terrified she wont get there for it.

My friend has fixed DS14 laptop this week for him, I hadnt realised how much he missed it until he got it back - even without switching it on he sat just sort of hugging it Bad mummy for not realising.

Uniscots97

Popperwell wrote: »

unixgirluk Like you all available space here is filled with food and I don't care too much about dates(My latest cereal choice is 6 months over the date and is perfectly fine...)I've had worse and I think it cost £1.29 a box Wheataflakes similar to cornflakes. I can always add some fruit etc...I always buy when on offer or own brand these days...The other day I ate porridge oats well past the date(To be honest I couldn't see a date, again it was fine...as I had managed to get Mum to eat porridge which she had never done when she was ill it could be well passed the date.

It shows how long food lasts and is usually safe and how much is thrown away un-necessarily...

Good luck on the job front BTW...

I was annoyed I'd missed the cereal offer but its not worth driving to the next village to get it. I don't mind about dates tbh.

Had a call this morning from one job asking when my last background check was (which was last year for my last job). So i don't know if that's a good sign?

Tired today, OH is back on the nightshift so I didn't really sleep properly. SS can start picking OH up in the morning from tomorrow as he's back to work tonight. I think he's staying out of my way. As I gave him short-shrift (sp?) about pulling his weight.

Tea tonight? Fish, chips, peas (well fish fingers for me, as I only have 2 pieces of fish..... means I can have fish finger sandwiches....yum ). Breakfast was porridge and bacon sarnies (OH goes into munch mode when he's on nightshift).

Popperwell

That would be brilliant what you say about getting NI credits Kidcat I hope that it is so...

Anyone who gets annoyed about or says a bad back is nothing has no idea and the problems finding decent medication makes. So many when they talk about scroungers and claim(I have no idea if you do and I don't want to)but they have no idea unless they have had it themselves.

People are so judgemental and assume such a lot these days.

I get cramps(could be spasms)in the lower back. I have had what could be sciatica etc...all are horrible.

JKJ

kidcat under no cicumstances could you be called a bad mummy! Hope your back gets better soon.

Lovely and sunny here today but brrrrrr cold and very icy. Can't remember the last time my cat ventured outdoors (she has a litter tray as I won't let her out overnight) and right now she is sitting in a patch of sunlight by the front door. Last time she went to sleep there the postman thrust an avalanche of envelopes through the letterbox straight on top of her head. She was not amused.

Poor DH went to work yesrerday at 6.30am, got home 10.45pm, back out this morning
at 6.00am and he says not likely to be home before midnight as must have current project ready for first thing tomorrow morning. Shame he doesn't get paid overtime eh? Ah well at least he has a job which is more thana lot of people do.

softstuff sorry about your knee, hope doctor can help.

Popperwell

Unix, I have to laugh...I haven't purchased any cereal for months(same with porridge)but I have approx 30 boxes in the pantry:rotfl::p:eek:
Many varieties from plain to fancy, own brand to branded mostly purchased on offer...

Kidcat,
I can't get answer from the local Aldi on town but it looks as though the £2.99 thermal T-shirts that should have come in last Thursday...didn't!:(:mad: i wanted them because for a change these could be worn over clothes rather than under like the ones I wear now. I usually go in on the day of an offer but in my branch there are still items from weeks ago. One assistant said that possibly they sold out very quickly and I missed them. I don't think that is the case.

I'll just have to see if they come in late or they come around again...

Uniscots97

Popperwell wrote: »

The other night I was watching the old sit com from the 70's Man About The House(Many of you are too young to remember that)frightening when I realise how much time has passed and how old the actors are and me too:eek:(if they are still alive):(

It doesn't sound that long when you say the 70's even for me the 60's but that's 40-50 years!

Have you noticed though that more of the 60's/70's and 80's shows are being repeated and that we are getting more period dramas (Downtown, Mr Selfridge, Ripper St, Blandings etc), they seem to be becomming very popular! Is it because the majority of adults want to see a return to a time where there was morals, make the most of what you have (not spend what you don't have) and grow your own? I'm a 70's child and OH (who is older) and I saw Jeremy Kyle yesterday and were positively shocked about what people see as normal these days. I wouldn't say that even a decent upbringing will guarantee a child will grow up balanced/sensible etc. SS was fine when he was younger but now he doesn't consider others/doesn't care about others property only his own (i.e. SIL's mattress or my dressing table mirror and tv) and will happily waste food. I wish I had a magic wand to show young people what hardship really is and take the 'spending money they are entitled to' (this was what SS said about the £650 a month after paying bills and he said it was peanuts...... oh silly youth), and turn it into heat and light for pensioners and a delivered box of fruit, veg, eggs, bread and milk each week so we knew they were eating properly. I worry about my Gran (Mum's side) and my Papa (Dad's side) and my Great Aunt and Uncle. My Great Uncle is 89 and is still working! He says it keeps him fit but i know its extra pennies for heat/light and food.