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Claiming job seekers allowance with depression and anxiety
Comments
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When you are at your advisor meeting take the letter with you and ask him or her to refer you then. If he refuses you write to the manager of the job center.
My adviser wasn't very nice, and doesn't seem like she would do that. I wont see her for another whole week and she would have expected me to look for all these jobs, I've been applying but it's that it won't be enough0 -
What pressure are you concerned about? Claiming JSA does not need to be difficult, you are given a list of tasks that you must do each week and as long as you complete them, you will not have a problem. It is that simple.
What kind of job do you not want to do?
Them making me do full time job, which I know I couldn't do. It would be too much for me. They are expecting me to spend most of the day looking for jobs, but I can barely do anything for more than 10 minutes without needing a break or getting distracted, I definitely can't apply for loads of jobs. I have trouble sleeping, so I'm always exhaused at night and during the day.
I don't want to do admin jobs,but my advisor was like what the point in having the qualification if you don't want to do that job. I hate admin I did the course and realised that I didn't like it and wouldn't want to work as that. I didn't apply for any admin jobs but she was like I need to apply for them.
Admin includes answering phones which I really can't, I get anxiety when I have to answer/call someone. Even calling my mum makes me anxious it's that bad. And sales jobs because I would be put in situations that make me anxious having to speak to strangers. I have to apply for theses jobs that I can't do.0 -
My adviser wasn't very nice, and doesn't seem like she would do that. I wont see her for another whole week and she would have expected me to look for all these jobs, I've been applying but it's that it won't be enough
Your advisor doesn't have much of a choice if you have a letter from your doctor specifying that you have depression.
If she refuses, you write to the manager of your job centre and your MP.
Yes, you will have to look and apply for jobs in the meantime or you will be sanctioned.
Why tell your jobcentre advisor you have qualifications in an area where you don't want to apply for jobs? That's a really odd decision. Of course the jobcentre advisor is going to want you to apply to work in that area.“The ideas of debtor and creditor as to what constitutes a good time never coincide.”
― P.G. Wodehouse, Love Among the Chickens0 -
They don't really make you do anything you don't want to do.Them making me do full time job, which I know I couldn't do. It would be too much for me. They are expecting me to spend most of the day looking for jobs, but I can barely do anything for more than 10 minutes without needing a break or getting distracted, I definitely can't apply for loads of jobs. I have trouble sleeping, so I'm always exhaused at night and during the day.
I don't want to do admin jobs,but my advisor was like what the point in having the qualification if you don't want to do that job. I hate admin I did the course and realised that I didn't like it and wouldn't want to work as that. I didn't apply for any admin jobs but she was like I need to apply for them.
Admin includes answering phones which I really can't, I get anxiety when I have to answer/call someone. Even calling my mum makes me anxious it's that bad. And sales jobs because I would be put in situations that make me anxious having to speak to strangers. I have to apply for theses jobs that I can't do.
What exactly is on your job search agreement?
When I was on JSA I had to apply for 3 jobs a week....that's it any 3 jobs it didn't matter what jobs as long as I applied for 3 jobs. They could have been part time jobs. I had to look for work every day on the internet. I only ever really spent 3-4 hours every day including being distracted constantly 7 days a week looking through papers and browsing internet websites. I also had to refine my CV every now and again. I never once applied for a full time employed job. I always only ever applied for short term contracts which is only work I am willing to do. I was never forced ever to apply for a full time job.
I can drive but I did not tell them that. I also have qualifications but I did not tell them that either as they can use that against you to apply for jobs which require a car and a job in which you need a qualification. If they then do put you forward for an unskilled job you can then present your unrefined generic CV to the employer which lists all your qualifications and you get turned down for the job without even going for interview.
So next time you become unemployed just tell them you have no skills or experience and look for work on your own terms.
When you go into the jobcentre if they say you have not been looking enough then take the papers listing the jobs and print out every job you found on the internet to prove you've been looking and give reasons why you didn't apply for each one. Overwhelm them with rubbish and they'll also leave you alone to search by yourself.:footie:
Regular savers earn 6% interest (HSBC, First Direct, M&S) Loans cost 2.9% per year (Nationwide) = FREE money. 0 -
Your advisor doesn't have much of a choice if you have a letter from your doctor specifying that you have depression.
If she refuses, you write to the manager of your job centre and your MP.
Yes, you will have to look and apply for jobs in the meantime or you will be sanctioned.
Why tell your jobcentre advisor you have qualifications in an area where you don't want to apply for jobs? That's a really odd decision. Of course the jobcentre advisor is going to want you to apply to work in that area.
So she can't just say no to it, people overlook mental illness like it's nothing and would just say that I just don't want to work and it's an excuse. My adviser seemed like that kind of person. But I'm going to go get the letter from the doctor and try.
I am looking for jobs, it's just the amount that makes it difficult for me to do. I've taken a break at least two times while writing this message, I can't get a lot done in the day even if I have nothing to do.
It was on my CV which I uploaded onto the job center website, I didn't know I'd be made to look for jobs in that area, which is why I didn't take it out. I thought I'd have more of a choice of the types of jobs I apply for.0 -
They don't really make you do anything you don't want to do.
What exactly is on your job search agreement?
When I was on JSA I had to apply for 3 jobs a week....that's it any 3 jobs it didn't matter what jobs as long as I applied for 3 jobs. They could have been part time jobs. I had to look for work every day on the internet. I only ever really spent 3-4 hours every day including being distracted constantly 7 days a week looking through papers and browsing internet websites. I also had to refine my CV every now and again. I never once applied for a full time employed job. I always only ever applied for short term contracts which is only work I am willing to do. I was never forced ever to apply for a full time job.
I can drive but I did not tell them that. I also have qualifications but I did not tell them that either as they can use that against you to apply for jobs which require a car and a job in which you need a qualification. If they then do put you forward for an unskilled job you can then present your unrefined generic CV to the employer which lists all your qualifications and you get turned down for the job without even going for interview.
So next time you become unemployed just tell them you have no skills or experience and look for work on your own terms.
When you go into the jobcentre if they say you have not been looking enough then take the papers listing the jobs and print out every job you found on the internet to prove you've been looking and give reasons why you didn't apply for each one. Overwhelm them with rubbish and they'll also leave you alone to search by yourself.
It was that I have to look for like 30/40 jobs a day, basically spend most of the day looking for jobs, and had to be full time minimum of 40 hours.
Yeah see i didn't know they would do that, I didn't think my qualification would be enough to get a job in that area, I thought I'd be under qualified and able to chose the jobs I want to apply for.
Last time when they said I hadn't looked for enough I made out I didn't know how to use the job center website, I forgot to write down the jobs I applied for and didn't know I had to put it on the website0 -
You need to realise that you are currently taking on two tasks, doing what the job centre expects you to do so you can claim JSA and looking for a job you can cope with that will pay enough to come off JSA. Do the first to tick the boxes, do the second to get on with your life. The quicker you sort out the second, the quicker you can get away from the stress of the JC demands.0
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The jobcentre's aim is to get as many people off benefit as possible.
16+ hours removes you from the benefit system so the Jobcentre will not tell you that you must look for jobs 40+ hours.
If you feel you will be able to work a minimum of 16 hours (and get off benefits) then apply for those jobs. If you don't feel you can manage that, then you should consider applying for ESA (assuming, of course, your GP will provide a fit note).
Whatever route you take, you really should seek help with your anxiety.0 -
16+ hours removes you from the benefit system so the Jobcentre will not tell you that you must look for jobs 40+ hours.
I don't think this is correct. The JC CAN make you look for full-time positions to be able to get JSA, however, if you get a part-time job that means you can come off JSA and support yourself, then it's none of their business any longer.0 -
You need to realise that you are currently taking on two tasks, doing what the job centre expects you to do so you can claim JSA and looking for a job you can cope with that will pay enough to come off JSA. Do the first to tick the boxes, do the second to get on with your life. The quicker you sort out the second, the quicker you can get away from the stress of the JC demands.
It's just that they are expecting too much, I can't cope with it because of my depression, I was stressed, depressed and had an anxiety before I started signing on, they've just made it worse by adding on stress. It's hard enough finding a job but with them pressuring me it's just too much. Which is why it's hard for me, I understand the concept of getting jsa, and that I'm supposed tob get a job0
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