My first dole packet went on £20 to my mum for "rent" and there was enough left over for gammon steaks and potatoes. And a beer.

Then Mrs Dave got a job and its been LPs, Wiis and guitar strings all the way, baby.

Rick Reuben wrote:Wow... asking for free money over the phone from your sofa.... extruciating (sic)!

Yup, that's all you do - phone 1-800 DOLE SCUM and the money comes pouring in.

Actually, what happens is something more akin to an intense screening process, involving lengthy interviews, many, many, many forms, the submission of your bank details, scrutiny of your recent spending (and any future spending as long as you are receiving benefits), standing in queues for a very long time, making regular weekly appointments without fail, providing documentary evidence of your attempts to find work, and so on and so on.

I'm not saying this shouldn't be the case - actually, I think this rigour is a good thing, by and large. But getting on the dole is very far from an easy thing to do.

And believe me, waiting outside the dole office at 8:30am with a bunch of other miserable poor people is not exactly a morale-building experience.

I worked full-time for four years when I left school. So I paid my all-important dues right? Then I was unemployed for six months. I honestly felt like the whole process of signing on for benefits was designed to let me know at every stage that I was a nobody without a job, an unwelcome scrounging wastrel. It was the opposite of encouraging. My personal experience was that I wanted to find a job as quickly as I damn well could just to get out of that environment, not deal with those forms, those people looking down on you, the collective misery... ugh.

But yeah sorry Rick, you're right. Benefits are just a phone call away. International dialling code for the UK is 00 44. Help yourself.

Rick Reuben wrote:

simmo wrote:And believe me, waiting outside the dole office at 8:30am with a bunch of other miserable poor people is not exactly a morale-building experience.

They don't provide a limo and tea service?

I bet a good number of those miserable poor people are miserable because they've got pounding hangovers. I bet there's lots of smoking in those lines, too. Another good lifestyle choice by the poor and miserable.

You utter, utter, utter cunt.

Rick Reuben wrote:

honeyisfunny wrote:The workfare programme isn't the problem because it basically reiterates the system as it is at present.

No, it doesn't. At present, people are not kicked off after two years if they refuse workfare.

Workfare doesn't exist at the moment Rick. So they can't refuse it. It doesn't exist.

Several other programs do though and you do get kicked off for refusing them. As you do for being late. Or not filling out your JobSearch Diary (you got to see one of those). Or failing to attend an interview. Or failing to apply for a job that comes up that fits your criteria. Or for failing to declare any funds you might receive (and that can technically include Xmas presents). Or for leaving the country - even if it's for work.
In fact, it's very, very hard to stay on the dole for more than 6 months without good reason. It might even become easier to do so with this proposal as the people trying to get you off the dole may become less interested in doing so if an automated letter can do their job for them after 24 months on and off.

Also have to say the most accurate information ever offered to me was from the Job Centre and almost everything advised by private agencies (aside from interview technique, which they're obviously clued up about) was absolute bullshit.

I had a good session where my career prospects were outlined by someone from a WAG sponsered agency talked me through what be the most enjoyable and profitable casual work for someone who intended to keep studying, and she was 100% dead on and gave good advice about the economic situation of the area; unlike privately run agencies who have to, as a matter of survival, constantly mislead people as to the job market and career prospects.

The welfare interviews however, included such questions as:

-was i getting gifts of entertainment, rather than useful gifts such as smart clothes (it was around christmas time)

-was i being too picky about fraternizing with people who didn't have degrees or share my interests

-have i played up my poor financial situation to distant family members in order to see if they could get me a job someplace.

-having just got back from france, did i consider getting the fuck back there?

-after being refused work after an interview, did i go back and explain that i was very poor and needed to work

-was i playing up my desire for a career, which may put off employers looking for long term menial workers

As the man said, it is good that so many questions are asked and it definitely puts a rod in the spine of loan'n'grants kiddies like my good self, but it definitely isn't a pleasant thing and it is more demanding than actual office work. The telephone interview was 45 minutes long before I even set foot in the office.

Rick Reuben wrote:

honeyisfunny wrote:You utter, utter, utter cunt.

Wah wah wah... everyone who doesn't cut out alcohol and cigarettes when they are unemployed is not taking their unemployment seriously. They are both luxuries.

If someone hasn't got a job then for the love of God let them have a fucking fag.

honeyisfunny wrote:If someone hasn't got a job then for the love of God let them have a fucking fag.

I didn't know unemployment led to homosexuality.























like no one saw that joke coming or anything...I'm about as predictable as a Drew Barrymore flick.

Rick Reuben wrote:

honeyisfunny wrote:Workfare doesn't exist at the moment Rick.

Dear Fruit Loops,

We are discussing a change in welfare policy that would demand work from people receiving benefits. Get that? We are discussing a change in policy.

Maybe you need to go back to the first post on the first page and start over?

God, I give in. I am speechless.
I'll just go over that again:

Rick Reuben wrote:At present, people are not kicked off after two years if they refuse workfare.

That's because at the moment we don't have the scheme outlined on Page 1 and put together by David Cameron. So no one can refuse it.

However, there are already measures in place designed to force people into work if the Job Centre feel the claimant isn't actively seeking work.

Does anyone else ever feel they're just going in circles?

honeyisfunny wrote:That's because at the moment we don't have the scheme outlined on Page 1 and put together by David Cameron.

Yes, that's right, meathead. We are discussing the merits of a proposed change in policy.


Your Fruit Loops must be soggy.