My mum, in one of her helpful and entirely unsolicited efforts to sort out my life, sent me a link to information about Jobseeker’s Allowance on the Internet. I can’t even begin to work out how you are supposed to read this page without falling into a coma. The tiny ickle image on the right is the whole page – clicky on it to see the bigger version, or just go and see the site yourself. I was under the impression that information for jobseekers, from government departments in general, was designed to be legible to the lowest common denominator – i.e. even a complete numpty head should be able to understand it. What is on that page may be written in words of one syllable, but I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a duller, longer page in my life.
I’ve reacted to the suggestion of going on the dole with some contempt. I own my own business, I’ve just travelled the world, I’m now a rounded individual with broadened horizons who is as comfortable shopping for shoes in Ipswich as they are darting through the crowds of La Paz or Saigon. It’s just a shame that none of the aforementioned is paying me a bloody penny. Going on the dole is injurious to my pride, but so is having no money, so it’s maybe time to be pragmatic.
So, the choice is the most boring page in the universe, but reading it may get me some extra cash – or a breast-jiggling simulator, which while not making me any money is quite hypnotic. Tricky.
I seem to remember it took 32 pages to say what could have been said in 3, and in meant lots of time waiting in queues to see someone to discover that there are no suitable jobs. I think I got one dole payment before I gave up and got a job. Claiming dole full time is an exercise in itself…working is easier.
Trust me, I’d rather have a job.
Mr Beveridge set up quite a good system. It’s been buggered about a bit, but it’s still better than nothing. Why not take advantage of it? Good grief, anyone would think I’d suggested getting up at 4 am every day to mine treacle. (I did that, and it did me no harm. That was when I lived in a shoe box…)Have pity on the poor civil servants who have to administer the welfare system. Successive bloody governments keep changing the rules, their computer systems can’t keep up, and their clients are often rude, sometimes violent. Who’d want their job?
Maybe that’s why unemployment has been so low for so long – because most people would rather work than go through the hassle of claiming dole.
You’ve paid the National insurance take the benefits you are entitled to – and listen to your mother!
Seriously it is years since I had to do that, and probably infinitely easier to claim – but it is there and you are entitled to it., it isn’t charity.