Working vs Benefits

Praxis99

Its a shame you feel that way Bayblue, how easily we forget once we are back on track what it was like on the other side of the fence. Remember not long ago you were a claimant too and there will be many more just as keen as you obviously were to get into work still signing on. Some of them might be just the people you need who you may miss by closing off this avenue of recruitment.

I've worked for a few training providers in my time in both adviser, management and health and safety roles who took referrals from the Employment Service and I've also been unemployed and had to sign on. The reality is that most people even with no intervention get back into work within six months and only as it becomes apparent that someone is 'struggling' does further help become available. This may seem paradoxical since many would argue that if the help was there from the get go you be back in work even sooner (but I am sure finances has a lot to do with it!).

In you case as someone whose position was made redundant you should have had automatic access to job search services that others would normally have to wait for. The problem been is that the days of the old 'executive' jobclubs are long gone - this is a shame in my view since they did good work with a particularly type of job seeker- and your adviser may have struggled to think of somewhere suitable to refer you too for further job-search advice and guidance. Its also likely that they surmised - correctly it would seem - that you had the ability to find work yourself without much in the way of intervention from them.

maxmycardagain

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

Non EU nationals can't just arrive and claim benefit.

non-eu's are being housed, fed and paid, a cruise liner had to bring some back when gibralta wouldnt accept them after they were lifted off a boat last week, guess whose paying their keep

Praxis99

Max

I know you like to throw a little 'fuel on the fire' every now and then, however take a look at this article on the refugee Council website which gives a somewhat different view on some of the points thrown up on this thread:

http://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/practice/basics/truth.htm

In a previous job of mine in a college we used to have refugees and asylum seekers on ESOL courses - I'd been tasked with looking into some of the issues arising re 'student support' for the same. Many had so little money they walked 4 or more miles to the college and because the center they were staying in would not provide a packed lunch had little or nothing to eat during the day when at college and more often than not they were moved on again before they had time to finish the course.

Not trying to be a bleedin' heart - I'm far too cynical for that - just trying to point out the reality is rarely what it might seem on the surface.

qwertyuiopasdfg

I can't understand how anyone would choose not to work if they were able to. There is nothing more depressing than sitting at home all day while the world passes you by.

Personally I don't find benefits to be particularly generous. I receive around £8500 a year, which doesn't seem that much to make up for the fact that I am in my 20's terminally ill and will probably never be able to work.

Maybe this seems like a lot of money to some people, but an awful lot of it goes on disability expenses - such as medications, sterile bandages, taxis to the hospital, food supplements (eg. enlive) etc. etc.

I would personally do anything to be well again and be able to go out to work. Who wants to swap?

neverdespairgirl

maxmycardagain wrote: »

non-eu's are being housed, fed and paid, a cruise liner had to bring some back when gibralta wouldnt accept them after they were lifted off a boat last week, guess whose paying their keep

That just isn't true. Those still seeking asylum get some benefits, but less than income support, some of it in vouchers, not cash, and they are moved round the country to available accommodation, most of it cramped and nasty.

Most of those refused asylum get no benefits, and no accommodation.

Illegals get nothing either.

Bayblue

Praxis99 wrote: »

Its a shame you feel that way Bayblue, how easily we forget once we are back on track what it was like on the other side of the fence.

Yes, you're right it IS a shame that I feel that way, but you're wrong in thinking that it's because I don't sympathise with anyone looking for work. In my case it's got nothing to do with 'forgetting what it was like on the other side of the fence', my memories are very fresh of that difficult time and besides I hardly live an extravagant life even now that I have a job. I just know through experience that the Job centre has little interest in promoting vacancies to claimants (for whatever reason) so I won't be advertising any vacancies with them because it would not get a result, that's all.

It's got nothing to do with not sympathising /empathising with those people looking for work (because I do), and everything to do with the benefits system, and Job centres in particular, policies on helping and encouraging people back to work .