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.

& pages is too long to read and absorb all points.

Op - are you on benefits and fit for work?

If so, then I'm afraid I think you should earn them, in the same way the fraudster you linked to should work to pay them back.

Holly no, actually she's a Carer and shouldn't actually have to do mwp but hey ho.

We are getting in temps at the moment to fill 6 positions, we are using Brook Street temping agency who are good at sending us temps who will eventually become permanent wirh us. Have a look at guardian careers for advice

So losing your paid job and then being made to return to the same place to do it for JSA is ok.

Are you sane?

The OP makes an entirely reasonable point, that the unemployed are being treated as if they are criminals. It's horrible. There are more than 2.5m unemployed. Does anyone seriously think there are jobs available for all of them?

And it is also true that people on the work programme are less likely to get a job than those who are job hunting under their own scheme. This scheme is costing us money, cutting jobs and keeping people out of work, not helping them into it. The only reason it exists is to punish the unemployed - picking on the victims of this government's failed economic policies.

Why should big business get free labour at the expense of taxpayers and the unemployed? At the expense of job opportunities? Because while the OP and people like her are working in shops, the companies need fewer workers, not more.

Would everyone support it if only charities and jobs normally done by volunteers were allowed to use workfare?

On improving your c.v The open university has a free module site called open learn , you could complete a few of the skills unit to update your skills & c.v.

"I still think workfare is a good idea, they are not doing jobs for free, in my opinion, thy are gaining valuable experience, and to be that is worth a lot."

If you put someone on Workfare, it means the employer can avoid paying for those hours. So the government pays JSA in order for a paid job to not exist.

The experience people generally get on workfare will equip them for similar roles. Only those paid positions are much less common. Because an employer can get people on Workfare to do them for free.

Does it make any sense now?

If we are to make the unemployed work for their benefits, shall we work out how much tax we all pay and the services used and bill people for the deficit?

Otherwise they would be getting them for free and that wouldn't be fair now would it.

After all not many of us are net contributors.

Now who wants to go to tesco or pound land. Sorry you don't get to choose.

This resentment the fortunate feel when they perceive others getting something for nothing is sickening. Most of us do get out more than we put in and after all most of the welfare budget goes on pensioners. Shall we start on them next?

I think people pointing out that there are lots of jobs in their specific area or their specific field need to realise that there are some parts of the UK where there are quite a few job vacancies..........and some where there are hardly any.

Elementary, no?

OP - I know it seems unfair but you are getting work experience which long-term will help you to get a job.

I am currently studying for a degree as I could not get a job despite 12 years with the civil service in a really good job. Part of my course involves placements which means over 3 years 200 days full time work which equates to 1600 hours! not only for no pay but I have to pay £7500 per year for the privilege of working for free and that doe not include the huge childcare bill I have to pay so I can work.

It is a tough job market and I have days where I really have to swallow my pride and not think about the 30k a year job I had 10 years ago.

Good luck and I am sure you will find a paid job soon.

mymatemax I became a SAHM when my dd1 was born. She's now 10. She's Autistic, she's also Dyslexic, has the reading age of a 6 year old, still wets the bed at night. Her younger sister is already maturer and cleverer than her, she's 6. My DH has worked since he left school at the age of 16, he's now 38. He left with no GCSE's, did several YTS's, and then worked for £1 an hour to support his then girlfriend and new baby.

The first time he claimed unemployment benefit was 1st August 2012. On the 5th August 2012, we went to an interview at the jobcentre. We were told it would be in our best interests if I signed on because I had been out of the jobmarket for so long. That is why I am suddenly able to claim JSA aterbeing a SAHM for 10 years.

And to state that they are getting the experience that benefits them is often rubbish. Often it is counter productive, especially if they held management or professional position and are placed in a menial role.

What the fuck is the point of that other than to make the smug fortunates feel better?

hollyberry do you think she should earn those,benefits for 1/6 of the minimum wage?

Altinkum, they wouldn't take someone on, sack them, then retrain someone else every three months. They would take someone on permanently, like the old days, train them up and let them get on with their job. The only difference would be that they would get a wage at the end of the week!

There are less jobs because of workfare. Why would any of the hundreds of companies who use workfare bother to employ someone, when they can et 3 for free?

op-why not say all this in your first post? You were specifically saying that you felt it unfair that you had to work for free but really your benefits the same as the criminal?

Your. Restaurant. Job.
You effectively said you'd be happy to be made redundant from it, go on JSA and then be put on MWP doing that same job for your JSA.

Do you really not get that or are you being deliberately obtuse?
It actually happened to a poundland employee. Trying to find a link...

Benjamin, I am not doubting the OP's eligibilty or need to claim but if all SAHM suddenly decided to claim I'm sure the system would collapse.
I just honestly didnt realise it was permitted having not earned or payed recent NI contributions.

& although I am fortunate enough to work for a good employer now it ahs not always been the case & I have done some real shit jobs over the years & dh STILL does

My DH was told he would have to go on a Mandatory Work Scheme at his first appointment, total bollocks. He challenged it with the manager of the JC and they stopped it. The adviser was known to put people on MWA for tenuous reasons to massage her figures, but most people are not savvy enough to know the correct procedures. Within three weeks he had a job. If he had been put on MWA it would have hindered not helped him.

Poundland don't even till train their workfare placements. They just shelf stack.

Couthy - nobody can 'survive' on an apprentice wage though. I agree it's not the ideal for the OP however. My point was that this kind of job experience CAN help not hinder. Especially when she'd otherwise have zero current workplace experience.

It was on Panorama... Still looking for link