I haven't committed any crime like this woman has, so why do I have to do 120 hours of unpaid work?

[DeadWomanWalking]

Woman sentenced to 215 hours of unpaid work for committing benefit fraud. I'm currently having to do 120 hours of unpaid work (30 hours a week for 4 weeks) or I'll lose my benefits. So what's my crime? Being unemployed? Being poor? Completely baffled by this governments policies.

Is this the first work placement you've had to do OP? If so, maybe look at as 120 hours over the 8 months you've been unemployed.

£71 a week for 30 hours work is terrible, but if you've been receiving £71 a week over the last 8 months that's £2272 in benefits (rounding down to a 4 week month). If you divide that by the 120 hours you're working it actually works out as £18.93 per hour. Reasonable by anyones standard.

I agree with you that companies shouldn't be benefiting from free workers, but I think it's a good idea to have work placements in charity shops and the like that are normally staffed by volunteers.

Oh that's nice OP. Thanks a lot. You didn't appreciate my pointing out that your placement may have a positive effect on your situation then?

You have NOT applied for 100 jobs a week for 8 months. You just haven't. I would have had a lot more sympathy for you without that absurdity.

if she was working 30 hours a week it wouldn't be £71 a week though would it??

Yes it is,what else do you call working 30 hours and getting paid £71 for it?

YoniornotYoniyou're right I would be better off just applying for around 10 hours a week and putting loads of effort into it. Unfortunately the jobcentre expect me to show that I've taken over 56 steps a week to apply for jobs, I have to do this on top of MWA.

I can't believe some people on here. How can anyone possibly believe that forcing people to do unpaid work, therefore allowing companies to fill job spaces for free, be a good thing? Who would pay for a piece of cake when the stall next door is giving it away for free? This fucked up idea of shitness is cutting the amount of available jobs. Fucking stupid bastard notion.

Wanna If you ever lose your job I take it you'll be happy to work for £1.50 an hour? And I take it you'll do it with a smile on your face and a spring in your step?

yep, I'll also whistle :)

no I obv won't, like I've said in not trying to be horrible to you- I am very sorry that your in this position.

but it doesn't change that it's not unpaid work.

both you ad your DH must be applying for 200 jobs a day by your statement previously. And neither of you have had even a sniff of paid
work?? If I was in your position I would accept any job just so I was earning my own money again. Even a job that I may now think I wouldn't dream of doing- needs must. is this what you are doing or are happy to receive benefits untill your dream Job comes along??

Wanna I never said a day, I said a week.

200 a week then, is this what you are both applying for??

what about my other points?? Or are they correct so you are not going to pick up on them?

Yes Wanna that is what we're doing, from 6 hours a week cleaning jobs to factory jobs, admin jobs, retail jobs, civil service jobs, DH applying for driving jobs, I would but I can't drive, chugger jobs, street cleaning jobs, (they're actually quite well paid), night work, shift work, day work, etc etc etc.

Perhaps she's choosing to ignore them because they are ignorant

Can i just add that when you do the work program you do not get any extra money.

You get standard jsa which is 71 pound a week.

No one would work for a company For 30 hours a week and only getting paid 1.50 an hour and be happy about it.

Also childcare jobs, binmen jobs, hospital porter jobs, ward cleaner jobs, warehouse jobs, bar jobs, waitressing jobs, kitchen staff jobs...

Can those 56 steps include 'saw job advert', 'requested details', 'tailored cv', 'wrote covering letter', 'got covering letter proof read', 'sent application', 'followed up application', etc? (so 8 stages per job before you're invited for interview?) [Clueless emoticon]

Op look at the top of your screen next to your sign out button.

If this is the only placement in 8 months, it doesn't really work out at £71 a week does it? There were all the other weeks with no work. Average it out over the time spent unemployed and it seems much more reasonable.

NorthernLurker I apologise. I just saw the apparently in your post and saw red.

not ignorant-just enquiring about how op and her husband are applying for a huge amount of jobs a week and yet neither of them can get one?? I find it odd

There are jobs if you are willing to do anything, work shit hours, split shifts, crappy work etc.
Unfortunately there is a difference between being able to find a job that you want to do and being able to find any job at all.
If this scheme makes people take a job that they would otherwise refuse then its worthwhile.
Local hotels struggle to find, pot wash people, chambermaids
The supermarket struggles to find people willing to work some shifts
A local industrial site has been advertising for ages for the contract cleaning company.
There are jobs, may not be ideal but its work & it pays money.

What are you having to do for your job now?

Sock thanks I'll have a read.

I was on a training scheme, i worked 30 hours a week for £30 a week so £1 an hour.

I admit it was approx ten years ago and j had no dependants or rent to pay but I'm Just showing that people do do it

ENTITLEMENT!!!!!

I've already done a MWA, 7 months on JSA no interviews, cant sign into my Universal jobmatch account, and had a missed called from the Jobcentre, now im on edge about what its about.

mymatemax I've applied for tonnes of those jobs. I applied for my local Asda, did the online tests, didn't get through and now I can't apply with them for next 6 months according to their website.