Job Seekers.

[Vanessa1234]

I have lived in a houseshare for 6 months to save up. There is another woman here in her late 20s who has worked for the past decade for a charity that has now had funding cut off, so she's unemployed. She has an unusual history; I think she's only lived with family before, has no qualifications, no ID or bank account, one job ever. She's very away-with-the-fairies and spends most of her time hanging out in parks, cooking elaborate meals or online.

Anyway, yesterday she went to the job centre because she has no money. She's already on housing benefit and hasn't worked a day since moving in 4 months ago. Apparently they have encouraged her to look for voluntary work in a music shop or recording studio (she likes music though can't play an instrument nor has performance history) rather than a paying job??? It's not like she wants to get into a specialist field like nursing and I just can't believe this is true. Surely they should be helping her onto courses or y'know, find a job? She says they told her that she'd be more likely to stay in a voluntary job so this works better for them. Can this be true?

Maybe she only heard selective parts of the conversation ! But voluntary work can be valuable , especially if you want to change direction but have few relevant qualifications or connections. very unlikely she has no bank a/c or id if she has been employed. As long as she pays her way , why does it matter to you

Well yes what lizs said plus Beak Out.

You joined MN just to post that?

OK.

Maybe they feel that work experience will get her into paid employment more quickly. They are probably right. Courses cost money and she is far better off working.

Good point, PF.

She's habitually late with bills and uses my toiletries. She has a post office account for benefits but can't pay bills from it (don't know how true this is?). She also has big groups of friends round almost every night, and spends a lot of time smoking pot indoors.

I know it shouldn't matter but I'd really rather live with people in a similar situation... When we talk about our days all she's done is sit in the sunshine or have a picnic and I admit i find it annoying...

No Parsing I NCd as I fear it's controversial .

Sounds like you are jealous you should move out

Sounds like housesharing doesn't suit you . Keep your toiletries in your room perhaps? Could it be she senses your judgemental side and is spinning you a yarn ?

Maybe your lucky break will come soon so you will lose your job and be able to spend days in sun and have no cash too.

It doesn't suit me much but I'm saving up, as I said in the OP. Rental prices are really expensive here and this house is unusually cheap, so I don't want to move out. The other two people work and are also annoyed by her socialising and lateness with bills. She's actually really lovely but I don't think choosing not to find paid work should be an option for a young, able woman?

Well you must admit it sounds unlikely.

If she was made redundant 4 months ago after working for 10 years, why didn't she claim JobSeekers then? She would have been fully entitled to it - that's what it's for. In fact she hasn't just missed out on 4 months' worth, but possibly also the right to higher, contributions-based JSA (complicated rules).

If she lived with family for the 10 years she was working, why move out now when she has less income?

And why are you judgy of her for not having claimed JSA she'd have been entitled to?

All ver' odd.

I agree it's odd. She said she had no ID because she had been mugged recently, then said the other day the mugging was years ago. She has changed names at least once. I think her previous job was as and when required rather than contract, and she said she was working there when she moved in, but it's tailed off. She didn't get redundancy.

I agree I am jealous but it's hard not to be when someone's drunk in the kitchen and wants to compare tan lines every day when you get in from a stressful 10hr day...

She's a really nice, trusting person and I've tried to encourage her to do GCSEs. I'm just surprised she's not been pushed to paid work, but maybe she misunderstood.

She doesn't sound the world's most reliable source of info...

If you genuinely want to know what the requirements are for someone on JobSeeker's Allowance, why not call the DWP helpline yourself?

You're probably right there PF

So this voluntary work instead of work placement thing, is it indefinite? Or would it be for three months and then she has to look for something paid? Otherwise, surely there are lots of people volunteering in shops (like she wants to) which means those shops don't need to actually employ people like her?

Sorry if I'm coming across judgy - I have actually encouraged her to get JSA, just didn't expect her to come home grinning saying they'd told her she didn't have to get one. I've encouraged her to look up courses, free dental work etc too.

Hi Vanessa, firstly she cannot claim JSA unless she is actually seeking work and she will have to give them some kind of proof about this as well. In the meantime it is absolutely fine for her to continue in a voluntary role until paid work comes along..in fact this would be a good thing as it will add to her CV.

She has misunderstood if she thinks voluntary work absolves her from job hunting ...especially if she is claiming job seekers allowance.

Hi Jake, thank you, that makes sense! She must have misunderstood.

Hang on, this "voluntary work" has been suggested for an ordinary, commercial shop? Not a charity?

Sounds like workfare, in one of it's many incarnations.

Jobseeker works full time but only receives JSA, paid by taxpayer, shop gets free labour and doesn't need to actually employ someone.

It's all the rage at the moment.

But IIUC at participating stores only, so flatmate may discover she's actually "volunteered" for a night shift at Tesco. But at least she'll still be able to sunbathe.

Her situation sounds very odd...

Voluntary work is great for the cv, gaining skills, showing commitment and not having a big gap between jobs.

I work full time but recently had an interview where I was told one of the reasons I got called for an interview (alongside my amazing work skills obviously) was all the stuff I've done outside work (a hobby I participate in and also involved with other aspects of it, girl guiding, charity collections).

Does anyone know how many hours a week she'd have to volunteer to avoid workfare? I think she's under the impression it'd only be a day or two per week, she'd get JSA, and wouldn't have to look for paid work at all.

Oh and Parsing, couldn't she volunteer by doing a month or so of work experience? The places she mentioned are small local companies rather than nationals, and not charities. I don't know if that's legal once you're past school age though? I suppose it must be; she could be an intern?

Unless she's been signing on for ages I doubt it is workfare. Voluntary work can be as little as an hour or two a week. After 6 months she'd be put on a Back to Work training scheme. But seriously how do you have the energy and time to be that interested ?

How do you have the time and energy to reply, if it's so boring, Lisz?

I am genuinely interested, I didn't have a clue it was possible to volunteer for a couple of hours in exchange for JSA; I thought she'd be put straight onto some kind of scheme and they'd push her to get paid work, anywhere.

I suspect the volunteering may be entirely separate to the JSA claim, to give her a feel for a field in which she has expressed an interest. When you go to see an adviser they will help you scan for any suitable vacancies and make suggestions. Just think, unless something changes for her she will be required to house share indefinitely whereas hopefully soon you may have more of a choice.