28 Years Working - Now On JSA

seven-day-weekend

Good luck.

I remember my son having to live on JSA. If anyone thinks this particular benefit is a lifestyle choice they must actually WANT a lifestyle hwere you can either eat or have a haircut.

Oldernotwiser

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Good luck.

I remember my son having to live on JSA. If anyone thinks this particular benefit is a lifestyle choice they must actually WANT a lifestyle hwere you can either eat or have a haircut.

Unfortunately it is a choice that many people make and if people get HB and CTB it can be more than a full time minimum wage job.

seven-day-weekend

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Unfortunately it is a choice that many people make and if people get HB and CTB it can be more than a full time minimum wage job.

It may be lucrative if you have a partner and children, but not otherwise.

Oldernotwiser

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

It may be lucrative if you have a partner and children, but not otherwise.

It may not be lucrative but neither is living on minimum wage! As alexjohnson says, JSA is supposed to be a survival income, not a comfortable one. Put it any higher and there'd be even more people sitting at home watching daytime tv!

seven-day-weekend

My son now has a job on minimum wage.

I'm not saying JSA should be lucrative. I'm just saying I don't think many single childless people would chose it as a lifestyle choice.

Others, with children, may well do, I couldn't say.

Oldernotwiser

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

My son now has a job on minimum wage.

I'm not saying JSA should be lucrative. I'm just saying I don't think many single childless people would chose it as a lifestyle choice.

Others, with children, may well do, I couldn't say.

I seem to remember that your son lives rent free/cheaply in your UK house. (Sorry if I'm wrong about that.) If he were paying an economic rent plus council tax he'd find himself very little better off by working for minimum wage. Probably worst off if travelling costs/lunches/working clothes are added into the equation. I don't agree with people choosing not to work but it's obvious that many people do choose to live on JSA(you've only got to read the posts on here).

lic

Just read your post and wanted to wish you luck Billyjojimbob.
I hope you can find employment soon.
I think the amount of money given to those like you who have worked (in your case for 28 years) and contributed to the welfare state by paying Tax and NI, is far too low.
HMG should look at this and award benefit similar to what people's take home pay was for a fixed period eg 6 months, and then be gradually reduced so that people like you have a chance to get through the difficult period. By doing this it would greatly reduce your stress, and give you time to find the job you want.
Good luck.

seven-day-weekend

[quote=Oldernotwiser;10565683]I seem to remember that your son lives rent free/cheaply in your UK house. (Sorry if I'm wrong about that.) If he were paying an economic rent plus council tax he'd find himself very little better off by working for minimum wage. Probably worst off if travelling costs/lunches/working clothes are added into the equation. I don't agree with people choosing not to work but it's obvious that many people do choose to live on JSA(you've only got to read the posts on here).[/quote]

Yes, all this is correct. One of the reasons we dion't charge him an economic rent is that he can't afford it.

Having said that, if he lived anywhere else but in my house he would be eligible for Housing Benefit and not have to pay it anyway.

Sorry billyjojimbob for going off-topic, I'll shut up now.

Oldernotwiser

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Yes, all this is correct. One of the reasons we dion't charge him an economic rent is that he can't afford it.

Having said that, if he lived anywhere else but in my house he would be eligible for Housing Benefit and not have to pay it anyway.

Sorry billyjojimbob for going off-topic, I'll shut up now.

Glad I got it right!

Me too biilyetc.!

starlight68

billyjojimbob wrote: »

2 interviews tomorrow.

6 more applications in the pipeline.

Let's see what happens .....................

Hope all goes well with the interviews

OH is unemployed for the first time in his life, been working for around 23 years. As he left his job (he had lots of reasons which we won't go into) we thought they'd not give him JSA but so far they've paid us three weeks while they look into his case.

It is a very small amount to live on, I suppose its made worse by our lifestyle and being used to affording more than we need. Our gas/elec is £110 a month, water £85 (paying off an amount owed to them too) council tax £175 and the list goes on..... oh and the mortgage is £310.

We have four kids so luckily the tax credits we get has increased a lot.

This is our first time (and I really do hope the very last) of being on benefits. OH is totally fed up now after 4 weeks of job searching. He sent off 3 more cv's today, has an interview next week, so we've got everything crossed.

Luckily we still have a small amount of savings to use at the moment, but it won't last for ever.

The one good thing is, i've been using things up in the cupboards and fridge instead of just disposing of them and buying more. Maybe this is a lesson learnt for when we have a better income and we might cut our costs down a bit.