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Original poster

JSA people should get bus passes and winter fuel allowances

191 replies

fecklessswonder · 15/01/2015 10:43

just had to lend bil money for heating and travel as he's on JSA after loosing his job due to mental health issues and his savings have dried up after almost a year.

He thinks that many weeks he spends more on travel than JSA pay! Thank god he has a family who can help him, I feel very sorry for people that don't have someone to help out.

OP posts:
homealone42 · 15/01/2015 19:18

Of course I wouldn't want a chilld to starve but it doesn't cost as much to feed a child as an adult. A family can buy 4 pints of milk for a £1.00. A single person pays 50p for a pint. Bread is always on multibuy. Great for a family but no good for a single person with a teeny fridge with an ice making compartment that a bag of peas fills. Bt line rental is the same whoever lives there. Same tv licence. utilities would obviously be more but they don't double per person.
Obviously not saying families on benefits are overpaid. Just a single person is underpaid. Although I accept clothes and shoes are more expensive for dc.

homealone42 · 15/01/2015 19:23

o and her retirement age has just risen again. now over 65 years 3 months. Had she been born 2 years early she would have retired at 61 years 10 months.

Dawndonnaagain · 15/01/2015 19:24

A single person can snuggle under the covers, you can't do that with a three year old and a five year old. A single person doesn't require nappies. A single person does not for reasons of practicality need to do as much washing, doesn't need as many clothes, as much bedding. All of these things make a difference. And whilst milk and bread may be marginally more expensive, you are not going to feed a family of three on thirty quid a week, which it is possible to do for a single person.
I do agree however that single people on benefits should have more than the pittance currently assigned to them.

ilovesooty · 15/01/2015 19:26

myfallingstar I doubt you'd enjoy life much as a single person on jsa.

And pps are right. People don't get told about the concessionary bus pass. In our area some claimants have to attend the JC 9-5 five days a week. A day bus pass is £4.

homealone42 · 15/01/2015 19:28

O and warm front only applies if you have young children or dla etc.

formerbabe · 15/01/2015 19:28

The thing is as a single person it is easier, generally speaking, to get a job than if you have children...less worries about working hours, travel times, childcare etc..you are able to be much more flexible.

I think subsidised travel is a good idea but not the fuel allowance idea. I don't mean to sound callous but if you are a healthy adult then it is quite possible to manage fine without having the heating on often...I wouldn't bother putting my heating on if it wasn't for my children...if I am home alone then i never put it on. I'm probably going to get flamed for that...I'm not saying the poor deserve to be cold, just that unless you are a child, elderly or have health issues then heating is not so much of an issue that it would warrant extra government help.

HelenaDove · 15/01/2015 19:29

Agree with Dawndonna.

JLcoffeetableIKEAshelves · 15/01/2015 19:39

I don't disagree with OP re. travel allowance - I think it is rather difficult to factor in travel costs with JSA. In my area, a return to get to JCP is £7.50 and rises every year. BUT...I do know people who go to their Work Programme appointments, have travel reimbursed and then go straight home without using the ticket to job search further (drop in CVs to local employers, use it to go to the library for extra IT time etc) and then moan when JCP ask them to take their CVs into town and blame it on the expensive bus fares!!

Dawndonnaagain · 15/01/2015 20:06

when JCP ask them to take their CVs into town and blame it on the expensive bus fares!!
In many cases JCP will have asked them to do extra anyway and will sanction if they don't. Apart from which, if the interview is last thing, or they may have other committments, then the ticket can't be used for anything other than immediate travel home. You're not privy to the circumstances of all.

JLcoffeetableIKEAshelves · 15/01/2015 20:20

Of course I'm not privy to every circumstance and neither are you. I am referring to some people that I know who are not sensible about making use of the support around them - it can be frustrating. I agree with OP that travel is very expensive and JSA does not always cover the requirements of their claimant commitment or JCP direction (mandatory activity).

Suzannewithaplan · 15/01/2015 20:22

there arent enough jobs to go around, and those that do exist are often zero hours and dont pay enough for a basic standard of living.

This is unlikely to improve, more and more work that was done by humans is being done by computers and robots.
We will need to find alternative ways of sharing out resources and keeping people occupied

YesIDidMeanToBeSoRudeActually · 15/01/2015 20:24

Myfallingstar, I actually feel sorry for you, imagine feeling jealous of people in receipt of benefits. A huge number of these people, by the way, are in paid employment, but have to be "topped up" to a basic standard of living as sadly in 2015, wages do not provide this.

But if you think it's so fucking cushy, give up your job and go and claim? Although I'm surprised you're in employment tbh as you sound a teeny bit thick. What do you do? Daily mail "journalist"? Job centre staff? Chancellor of the Exchequer?

alltoomuchrightnow · 15/01/2015 20:31

i've always worked, since was 15 (and now 43) I can assure Falling that life on JSA is shite. I didn't chose to lose my job... I am trying my utmost to look for a job.. I've been volunteering for months... I had to leave my job because I had to run away from Domestic violence. I have always paid into the system. I don't have a sense of entitlement but I know how lucky we are in the UK to get support when we genuinely need it. I get very angry about anyone trying to milk the system. If i didnt get the benefits I'd literally starve. I can't job hunt in that position! I have replied for the crappiest of jobs out of desperation despite having a professional background.. it really isn't easy out there...
I'd love to receive child support.. as that would mean i was lucky enough to have a child instead of being infertile... I've never had time off for maternity leave etc... I worked non stop..I covered everyone else's maternity leave and child rearing years, so getting my measly £142 a fortnight.. well I've paid and worked hard enough to receive that... not like Im wanting to stay on it...

alltoomuchrightnow · 15/01/2015 20:32

and it's not like it's going on treats! as i said.. i can't afford heating...

alltoomuchrightnow · 15/01/2015 20:32

(which would hardly be a treat anyway)

kilmuir · 15/01/2015 20:37

3 miles not far to walk to a job centre. if claiming JSA then they will have the time to do it.
Why should lone parents get more help, go and ask the man who fathered the child to help, not the tax payer

formerbabe · 15/01/2015 20:41

Why should lone parents get more help

You honestly can't think of any reasons? Confused

kali110 · 15/01/2015 20:45

Fallingstar you're wellcome to swap with me!!
I'm on esa because of spinal problems, chronic pain, walking and breathing difficulties. I take 10 or more tablets a day and am on two painkillers so i can move!
I recieve £280 a month. This pays my bills for things that i had when i had a job and leaves me with a tiny bit left every month. I don't have money for food or anything like that.
I pay £55 a month for travel pass so i can get to appointments.
If you think i have it easy then i'd gladly swap.

Lardylassnomore · 15/01/2015 20:47

You used to get a bus pass where you'd get travel for half price. Travel expenses can be so prohibitive to finding work that I do believe people should get help.

kali110 · 15/01/2015 20:47

And when i was on jsa for the bit of time before i was signed off walking or cycling to the jobcenter to sign on was definetley not an option for me!
I had to spend a large chunk of jsa on a pass.

meglet · 15/01/2015 20:56

why should lone parents get more help? If you were a parent you'd understand.

SnowWhiteAteTheApple · 15/01/2015 20:58

Rather then pay them universally to pensioners or those on benefits the money would be better spent reducing public transport cost and energy bills for all.

SayraT · 15/01/2015 20:59

I've just started claiming JSA but I seem to be quite lucky, I live 19 miles away from mt nearest JC and I don't need to go in to sign on.

I have to go to my local library and fax my information instead.

syne · 15/01/2015 21:00

Is it just me or does the bickering on this thread not highlight the fact that so many people are being royally screwed over.
You've got fallingstar and dawndonna arguing about who's got it worse, you both appear to be in a shit position. Your both right (and wrong) btw.
It sounds exactly like those who believed that the political class want to make the poor blame the unemployed for the country's ills were right.
Just need some immigrant bashing and all bases covered.

Regarding op & travel costs, it depends; location, distance, time of year, ability and frequency of travel will all make for different circumstances but means testing is a massive waste in it's own right.
We already subsidise travel for a lot of companies and people why not just do it for all? Peoples income anyone?

ilovesooty · 15/01/2015 21:02

There are some horrible replies on this thread.