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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wish we were still "benefits scroungers"

91 replies

iliketosleep · 12/10/2010 10:44

Well not really but we would be alot better off than we are now!

DH was laid off from his last job around 2 years ago, so we were forced to claim JSA as there just weren't any jobs. He finally finds one and started 6 weeks ago. We are absolutly no better off money wise infact we are 100% worse off.

From the day he was signed off it was our responsibility to pay full rent and full council tax. We just didn't have nearly £600 lying around so had to borrow it. Now by the time that is paid back it will be time to pay it again so we are going to be constantly living in debt. I phoned my local jobcenter and explained the situation and asked if there is ANY help available and he said "No!" So my reply (getting a little bit pissed off now) was "So you just throw people in at the deep end then" and he said "pretty much yes!". The went on to tell me about someone who hadn't worked for 6 months, was not entitled to any benefits because he left his job and was borderline homeless, He sounded quite smug about it too Hmm

At the least they should give you one extra month of HB and CTB so you can get your feet on the ground before you see your bank account balance turn to £-600 in the blink of an eye.

It's beginning to really get my back up when people call those on benefits scroungers/dole dossers etc. If there was more incentive to start work and there is a chance you would have a better life maybe people would do it!!

Not everyone can go and jump into a £44k a year job and most have to work their way up, living in poverty all the way.

I've seen about 4 facebook statuses today along the lines of "Go and get a fucking job you fucking scroungers" and its really beginning to piss me off.

Felt the need to vent, sorry Blush

:(

OP posts:
NoMoreChocBiscuits · 12/10/2010 13:11

Our CTB and HB comes from our council, not the JobCentre, so it might be worth your while to check with your local council.

And for WIW We maybe on (partial) benefits, but we certainly ARE NOT scroungers. We just need a bit of help in a tough time and evidently so do you Grin

DeborahDeborah · 12/10/2010 13:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DeborahDeborah · 12/10/2010 13:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NoMoreChocBiscuits · 12/10/2010 13:17

PS deborah. we have a (cheap) TV with TV licence. Our only 'holidays' are to the in laws a couple of times a year and we don't pay a baby sitter, so don't go out, well ever. so my TV and internet connection (mobile cause can't afford a home phone line) are very important to me as I'd go mad other wise. How many cars do you have in your family? 2, 3?

Every case needs to be assessed individually before you go shooting your mouth off.

MaMoTTaT · 12/10/2010 13:18

yes - but I'm asking about returning to work if it makes you WORSE off and ends you up in debt.

I'm from a poor background - but that was 20yrs ago (30yrs since I was born) - and this is now.

And don't forget "debt" isn't just buying stuff you can't afford - it's running up arrears on your gas, or electric, or rent.

NoMoreChocBiscuits · 12/10/2010 13:20

Sorry Deborah crossed posted, get your point now. Still you need to be careful how you write soemthing.

MaMoTTaT · 12/10/2010 13:21

my TV package comes free with my internet, - it's very useful for job hunting, and doing stuff for church which keeps me an active part of the community, not to mention saving money on my bills by paying online/getting paperless bills, and being able to shop around for the cheapest deals for items that I need, oh and ebay,and especially freecycle. Plus my OU degree is mainly being done online.

Maybe they need a car for work? Public transport isn't great everywhere you know. and in many places extremely expensive.

EdgarAllInPink · 12/10/2010 13:22

YAB-slightly_U.

it is very hard when you are first re-employed.

I crunched the numbers to work out how much more well/badly off we would be if DH got a very well-paid job -

we would have to repay a large amount of CTC/WTC (unless his new job dovetailed nicely with the new tax year)

we might lose our CHB (if he was just in the higher bracket)

we would have to pay travel costs and wait a month for the first wage packet.

In short - we would be very badly off for the first month, then slightly worse off until next April

But from then on we would be Much Much Much better off.

so , yes, it is hard especially if you walk into a low paid job and have to wait for assessment for a whole new set of benefits, but my guess on that is that you will be much better off when it comes through (hard to say though, system is as clear as mud).

Certinly we are better off as a low-wage household than we would be as one with no earned income at all.

So, much though i love scrounging benefits, we are not actualy btter off doing so in the long run.

Original poster
iliketosleep · 12/10/2010 13:23

I think your missing MY point - bare in mind that we are no longer on benefits but now DH has started working we are in roughly around £900 worth of debt as we have little money to pay the bills,rent,council tax and thats in 6 weeks. I'm not implying that people should stay on benefits as they wont earn any extra, I'm saying if they had a little helping hand around the time of them starting work then it doesn't have to be like that. As it is as soon as you start work everything stops dead and you are left to fend for yourself.

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 12/10/2010 13:27

why not have a tv Deborah?? in this dy and age i mean,not your mothers!!

my internet is under a tenner a month.....tv's are £25 in heart foundation charity shop....we have moved on since your mothers day

MaMoTTaT · 12/10/2010 13:32

problem is though Edgar - is that if ou have got a low paid job, and then have to get into debt while waiting for reassessment for benefits you can end up in a spiral of debt very very quickly.

Chances are you may not an overdraft available to use and you'll end up with expensive credit just to mee the bare essentials.

And DD - fwiw it's worth - I've lived in a country where shelter and food was all that many had - it's not a life I would wish on even my worst enemy.

MaMoTTaT · 12/10/2010 13:35

I do think the 26 rule is slightly bonkers. It makes the assumption that someone who has only been on benefits a very short time is going to have a pot of money sat somewhere to help with the initial costs of getting back to work and receiving less benefits from the DWP and the council (obviously they'll get more from the HMRC)

Original poster
iliketosleep · 12/10/2010 13:43

It is bizarre and also how strick they are with it! When the claim was cancelled we had been claiming for 18 months prior to that but because there was a break of a few days we weren't entitled to it. Hmm

OP posts:
Original poster
iliketosleep · 12/10/2010 13:44

Strict*

OP posts:
EvilEyeButterPie · 12/10/2010 13:58

MP! You can appeal.

EdgarAllInPink · 12/10/2010 14:04

i would have thought you'd get an assessment for CTC/WTC through sooner than 6 weeks....and that can be v. generous. They can be a bugger to get through to, but it is worth much persistence.

ActuallyMyNamesMarina · 12/10/2010 14:05

Think of it like insurance - there are conditions that have to be met before they pay out - same here.

It can be hard if you don't meet the conditions, but life is hard (and at times can seem unfair).

How long since your DH's claim closed? It is still worth writing to the jobcentre and asking for an explanation.

MaMoTTaT · 12/10/2010 14:10

it's hardly an incentive to try and find work asap should you suddenly find yourself on benefits though is it. Knowing that if you waited 6 months you'd get extended help getting back on your feet again.

And when I took out my contents insurance I expect to be able to claim on it from the start - not have to wait 6 months!

Original poster
iliketosleep · 12/10/2010 14:13

His claim was closed 6 weeks ago, its unlikely writing tot hem will achieve aything to be honest, if those are their rules then thats that its just a pain in the bum.

HMR&C said they had to close my claim for CTC and I had to fill in forms to apply for CTC and WTC, it took over a week for the forms to come, I filled them in and sent them back and am still waiting. Although I have just rang them and they have said they have the claim and its waiting to go up to the assesment department so I should have a decision soon (within a week i'm hoping)

OP posts:
huddspur · 12/10/2010 14:39

Your case shows one of the many failings in the welfare system. The transition from unemployment to work is not well organised or administered sadly.

spikeycow · 12/10/2010 14:47

What huddspur said. Ridiculous that people are penalised for finding a job.

ActuallyMyNamesMarina · 12/10/2010 14:50

The 26 week rule is the rule, a break of one day will scupper your run on. What yoiu do need to query is the action they took when he reported he was ill - there is a process to follow which means claims shouldn't get closed.

I can't comment too much as I don't know the details of your case, but you can apeal against the decision to close (or I'm guesing they sanctioned him for a week)if you think the office have not dome what they should.

www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/gl24dwp.pdf

MaMoTTaT · 12/10/2010 14:56

yes I know it's the rule - it doesn't mean I can't think it's a stupid rule Grin

fwiw - I'm "fine" - I should get the run on (though no doubt as per past experience the council will shut my claim straight away and then I'll have to wait for them to re-open it, oh and then wait again while they reassess me) when I start work.

Original poster
iliketosleep · 12/10/2010 15:41

When he was ill was many months ago, i'm not going to bother with it now as I have enough to contend with without adding more to it :( Thanks for your advice though :) maybe someone else will benefit from it in the future!

I'm getting a headache and my DC aren't home from school yet :(

OP posts:
SparkleRat · 12/10/2010 15:46

I work in Benefits and you can get a run on of Housign and Council Tax Benefit if you have claimed JSA/I.S./et.c. continuously for 26 weeks or more without a break in the claim, if that's any help?