Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

601 replies

BenefitScrounger · 21/09/2012 11:50

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.

OP posts:
EasilyBored · 21/09/2012 13:13

Meant to say, times 52, not times five then 52.

UnChartered · 21/09/2012 13:13

a man asked to see my tits in ASDA once

but it was DH so i didn't report him

BlackberryIce · 21/09/2012 13:13

I am in a similiar position but have kids

Half a degree ( have you looked at ou)?

No quals but have childcare to factor in

I'm bloody excited about the search for work. Have appointment at jobcentre on tuesday and looking forward to it all. I've already been looking round.

Original poster
BenefitScrounger · 21/09/2012 13:13

I did tell the management and they were. Didn't help much after the event. I am scared of going out.

My outgoings are 900pcm plus 30 on bills and 45 on internet/phone.

OP posts:
Groovee · 21/09/2012 13:14

Seriously? My husband had to show his form every 2 weeks and show how many jobs he'd applied for. We got nothing for 8 weeks yet you've been getting paid to do your "hobbies" while not looking for a job and living in a £900 a month 1 bedroomed flat and are worried about having to pay back a student loan. You need to get your head in the real world. If benefits give you a comfortable life then you are the sort of person the government should be tackling. Not the genuinely disabled who will probably be dead within a year from being forced into work and those who genuinely try hard to find a job and turn up to interviews on a regular basis.

Original poster
BenefitScrounger · 21/09/2012 13:15

So Erik, I would only be better off with no travel expenses? So I need to look very locally. Thank you x

OP posts:
Original poster
BenefitScrounger · 21/09/2012 13:16

Oh, and am doing a credit transfer with OU as we speak!

OP posts:
MrSunshine · 21/09/2012 13:17

I don't think you have much hope of getting a degree if you can't manage a couple of very basic sums for yourself.

SaskiaRembrandtWasFramed · 21/09/2012 13:18

This doesn't ring true. So far you've repeatedly asked the same questions, ignoring people who have answered them, claimed you don't have any qualifications when you do, and now you're claiming you're too scared to go out because a man in a pub was rude to you. I can not believe such a delicate but obtuse person could possibly have survived to adulthood.

If you're not a Daily Mail journalist then I'm the Duchess of Argyle.

ErikNorseman · 21/09/2012 13:19

OP do you have some anxiety issues that you haven't mentioned? This thread is quite strange otherwise.
Yes, as long as you work for more than 16 hours you will be better off. You will lose your JSA, some of your LHA and most/all of the CT benefit but you should still have around £40 more in your pocket in theory. If you are over 30 and work over 24 hours you may get working tax credit on top, although that will reduce your LHA and CTB.
Travel can be very expensive so yes you really need to keep it to walking distance. I advise you to go to all supermarkets and shops and drop a cv in.

UnChartered · 21/09/2012 13:19

oh aye, we've got aristocracy on thread Grin

LilRedWG · 21/09/2012 13:19

You are scared of going out but eat out once a week? Hmm Get your story straight!

You chose not to work therefore should claim no benefits! I don't work - my choice so I don't claim.

Original poster
BenefitScrounger · 21/09/2012 13:20

To who asked why I didn't finish my degree:

I was made homeless (living with ex partner), I lost my part-time job due to redundancy and I had alcohol problems (kudos to poster who recognised that one!).

OP posts:
Original poster
BenefitScrounger · 21/09/2012 13:23

Yes I do have anxiety issues but they're not constant. I can socialise and go out, and then suddenly I can't. That's why I've never finished a degree or kept a job.

Erik, your posts are really helping, thank you x

OP posts:
SaskiaRembrandtWasFramed · 21/09/2012 13:24

UnChartered Grin

LilRedWG · 21/09/2012 13:24

In that case go to your GP, get treatment, claim incapacity/disability but don't claim JSA - you have no intention of Job Seeking!

Viviennemary · 21/09/2012 13:25

Few things. If you had a minimum wage job you wouldn't be earning enough to pay back a student loan. Also as has been pointed out how come you have a student loan and no qualifications. But benefits should be sorted out once and for all so nobody is worse off if they get a job.

Original poster
BenefitScrounger · 21/09/2012 13:25

Maybe I could be a Daily Mail Journalist!

But think I will most likely work in a shop :)

OP posts:
NameChangeGalore · 21/09/2012 13:27

I am incredulous at your lack of common sense and intellect.

You are single, healthy, have no dependents, do not care for anyone. Why do you think you will be worse off working?

Get a fucking job. (Although I think you already do. I'd love to be a journalist).

Original poster
BenefitScrounger · 21/09/2012 13:27

That's the thing - I DID do the calculations and thought I'd be worse off. A bit better (but not much) financially, but lots worse time/travel wise. And mental health wise.

I have seen GPs about anxiety and I have claimed DLA in the distant past. It doesn't seem likely now though.

OP posts:
BlackberryIce · 21/09/2012 13:27

What was your previous job?

SaskiaRembrandtWasFramed · 21/09/2012 13:29

Yes, if you suffer from anxiety get help from your GP and claim a disability benefit, you shouldn't be on JSA if you're sick.

ErikNorseman · 21/09/2012 13:30

If you are really too unwell to work then you can apply for ESA but I really think you would be better off working if you can. Being workless isn't a great way to be, human beings aren't designed for a life of leisure! People are generally happiest when they have a good balance of work, family and leisure. Of course you can have too much of one and be unbalanced (usually work and family!) but having little structure to your day and nobody to 'answer to' isn't a great or healthy way to live. i'm fairly sure your confidence would improve if you had some positive activity to structure your week around, even if it's fairly dull work, just getting out there, doing a full day's work and coming home tired, feeling like you earned the money going into your account, these things are all good for your mental health. There is nothing wrong with starting off part time if necessary, although I think you should be aiming for a 30-40 hour week when you can.
Good luck.

BlackberryIce · 21/09/2012 13:31

Thing is though, even if a bit worse off, it still benefits you doesn't it?

Maybe you would get a promotion/payrise etc ? It can always lead to something better once in the workplace

I haven't worked for 12 years so I will be lucky to get interviews! But a brand new centerparcs is being built locally to open in 2014 so lots and lots of jobs for the future!

I want to work there snd play spot the MNer ! Grin

BlackberryIce · 21/09/2012 13:32

Lots if places recruiting extra staff right now for Xmas period.... It's temporary, but a foot in the door and something to put on the cv