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AMA
Original poster

I'm on JSA- Ask me Anything?

32 replies

crunchymint · 15/07/2018 18:42

On JSA

OP posts:
Charm23 · 15/07/2018 18:51

How much money is JSA nowadays?
How long have you been job-seeking?
How do you feel when at the job centre?
What are the requirements and how do you feel about them?

RunMummyRun68 · 15/07/2018 18:51

How many jobs do they make you apply for?

Original poster
crunchymint · 15/07/2018 19:00

I am on contributions based JSA which you only get for 6 months. I have been on it for 5 months.
You are supposed to spend 30 hours a week job seeking. You used to have to list everything you had done and how many hours you have spent on it. But a lot of the job advisers are moving to work on signing on people on Universal Credit, so now a small number of people still have to do this - basically those they want to keep a closer eye on. The rest of us have to show on our phone or a computer at the job centre, proof that we have applied for jobs. There is no set number I have to apply for, although I know some people are given a target number. But that may be because I always apply for a decent number of jobs.
Job Centre is fine. Staff are generally good, security guards are friendly and helpful if you don't know where to go.
Only requirement I hated was having to attend a half day course on how to apply for a job. Everyone has to go on it. So it is of course fairly basic. Total waste of my time. I was bored the whole time.

OP posts:
NotMyCircusMonkeys · 15/07/2018 19:01

How did you end up on JSA?

Original poster
crunchymint · 15/07/2018 19:01

I get £73.10 a week. Lots to buy flat screen TVs.

OP posts:
RunMummyRun68 · 15/07/2018 19:01

Nothing in 5 months? How many interviews?

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 15/07/2018 19:02

Why do you think you haven’t got a job yet?

Original poster
crunchymint · 15/07/2018 19:03

Not interested in you judging why I haven't yet got a job. I am in my mid 50s. Ten years ago it would have been easy, not now.

OP posts:
Original poster
crunchymint · 15/07/2018 19:04

My line of work has shed lots of staff. There is lots of competition. I retrained in a side line but keep being told I interviewed well in the side line field, but someone with more experience has got it.

OP posts:
ThroughThickAndThin01 · 15/07/2018 19:05

You said AMA!

What happens when the 6 months are up?

Original poster
crunchymint · 15/07/2018 19:07

I get nothing as my partner is working. I am only entitled to contributions based JSA. I am mid 50s and have never been unemployed before. I am not a shirker. But women my age are amongst the groups of those who find it hardest to find work.

OP posts:
ThroughThickAndThin01 · 15/07/2018 19:09

Are you looking for a specific job, or would you do most jobs? If the former, do you think you might just give up looking?

FrogFairy · 15/07/2018 19:10

How on earth do you make ends meet? It must have been awful in the cold weather. £73 is not enough to live on Sad

FrogFairy · 15/07/2018 19:12

Sorry just read you have a partner

EggysMom · 15/07/2018 19:14

Do you ever feel patronised by the DWP staff? Classic example is having to attend the training on how to apply for a job - I had to do a half-day CV workshop - surely they can see from our CVs and number of job applications that some of us already know how to do this, that in fact we could probably do the Advisor's own job?

Original poster
crunchymint · 15/07/2018 19:16

Without a partner I would not have managed.
I had agreement with job centre that for first 3 months I could look only for jobs similar to what I was doing. Now I have to look for anything. But in reality employers want someone who wants to do that job. I would have to lie about previous work experience to et other jobs and I am not lying.

OP posts:
Original poster
crunchymint · 15/07/2018 19:18

EggysMom Yes I had to go on that course. The staff are fine. But they have no flexibility about the requirements.

OP posts:
PositivelyPERF · 15/07/2018 19:25

I take my hat off to you, OP, for having the courage to post on here. I’m 50 too and have been self employed for a while. Being unemployed is a constant fear when you get older, due to the age discrimination.

Do you find that people that know you, make comments about your current situation?

Original poster
crunchymint · 15/07/2018 19:52

I have only told good friends and parents. They are fine as they know me. I don't tell people I think will judge.

OP posts:
PositivelyPERF · 15/07/2018 20:26

I’m glad to read that, OP. I hope you find a job that makes you happy.

RunMummyRun68 · 15/07/2018 20:31

Surely you should look at jobs which are outside 'your field'

Original poster
crunchymint · 15/07/2018 20:36

If you read my answers you would see that I am. But being realistic no one is going to take on a mid 50s woman in a field she has never worked.

OP posts:
Carecomplet · 15/07/2018 21:45

Do you get any other benefits e.g. housing benefit or tax credits?

Why can't you get the other type of JSA wje the 6 months are up? Will you get nothing?

Original poster
crunchymint · 15/07/2018 22:12

I will get nothing after 6 months as I have a partner. We have a mortgage, so not entitled to housing benefit. And not entitled to tax credits as no dependent kids. All I get is £73.10. If I haven't got a job after 6 months will go for a zero hours contract job as we need the money.

OP posts:
HelgaVonPimplebottom · 15/07/2018 22:27

How would you say being unemployed/on jsa has affected you - in yourself?

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