To be scared of getting a job in case I'm worse off?

[BenefitScrounger]

NC and prepared for a flaming.

I've been claiming JSA for over two years now and am on the Work Programme. I have no qualifications and all I could get (I think) is a minimum wage job. I have been lying about my attempts to get work because I think I am better off out of work.

At the moment I get full housing benefit plus council tax, free dental care/prescriptions (if I need them) and £71 a week to live on. My bills aren't covered obviously, but they're not huge, and I have lots of free time to indulge hobbies etc.. I don't feel the need to buy stuff very often as I'm not into fashion/beauty and I eat cheaply. I can afford to eat out once a week with a TasteCard. The only thing I miss is holidays abroad but I'm not sure I would be able to afford them if I got a job anyway.

If I got a full time minimum wage job, would I be worse off? Just thinking of travel expenses, student loan repayment and time lost - not sure if I would still get any council tax benefit?

Has anyone had experience of this? By the way, I'm childless and live alone.

Just came across this thread and completely empathise with BenefitScrounger. Most of you have been kind in your comments, but the others, well let's just say I'm shocked at your intolerance lack of compassion. I know sitting on benefits is a hot topic, but if you suffer from a mental illness, there's not a lot the DWP do to help the transition back into work. And if you've been out the loop for a long time it's extremely worrying. Benefit, a lot of what you wrote here I could have wrote myself. Hope things are well with you.