AIBU to think 'cheers for leaving me up shit creek, society'?

[ahfuckHelpme]

I've lost my job and used this username to ask for extreme budgeting advice (which I got, nothing but love for MN for that :D )
I have no kids, was TTC (hence using this site) of course this has now stopped.
Myself and DH are under 25.
I have had job breaks in the last 2yrs, where I lost my job and had to find a new one. In total I've spent a few months unemployed in the last few years. I always do my best to find a job quickly but its not always easy.
Anyhow.
I tried to claim JSA, My initial claim was refused (for income based JSA) with no reason given. So I tried to claim the other type (Think its called contributions based) And was told I hadn't worked enough, fair enough. so I demanded an answer to why I couldn't claim JSA (income based) was told its because my partner earns over 16k a year, barely mind, but does. He's on 15.6k (Per year) after taxes and NI. he's paid 4 weekly and gets 1.2k per pay. however before deductions is on about 17k.
AIBU to think this is fucking shit? Our finances are so badly at breaking point we've had to apply for a debt relief order (referred to as mini bankruptcy) work is hard to come by. as of today there are 4 jobs within a 10 mile radius I can apply for and some of those have over 100 applicants(of course I've still applied but I'm prepared to be unemployed for a few months minimum) yet we can't even claim JSA for me.
PS. I'm also annoyed I was told to apply for income support, which I am not eligible for (not a carer/disabled/in education/no kids) but I applied for it anyway and today was told I'm not eligible for that either!
can't get housing benefit, still waiting to find out about council tax reduction but unlikely, can't get JSA, can't get income support. I'm sorting this the best I can (Advice isn't what I'm looking for as such but is definitely welcome!) I'm just ranting really.
In what world is it ok to leave people this badly up shit creek? I campaigned against lots of welfare 'reforms' (read: cuts) and will contnue to do so but even I didn't realize it would be this bad :(

Yes in south wales.
We're not eligible for WTC because we're under 25 like our fucking bills are any less based on that
Reading through other comments.

I know this is not what you want to hear but you have to claim benefits as a couple and with your partner earning £16K a year you are well over the limit for claiming JSA.

However have you thought about claiming Tax Credits? Here is a link to some information about them:
www.gov.uk/working-tax-credit

I am not sure why you have been told outright that you are not entitled to anything housing benefit at all but I do know that people are often told they are not entitled as even people at the council don't fully understand how it works. First of all take a look at the link below and then unless you definitely think that you don't qualify I would put a claim in with your local council:
www.gov.uk/housing-benefit

You may also find this benefit calculator helpful as well:
www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator/startcalc.aspx?e2dwp=y

Obviously without knowing all of your details I can't tell you what you are entitled to exactly but I think that you need further advice and the Citizens Advice Bureau can help you with that:
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

Good luck

The infantilisation of and discrimination towards under-25 is a revolting bit of policy.

I hope someone will have the balls to make a manifesto pledge to revoke it.

Tbh, the no income-based JSA if your partner earns just about anything rule isn't a recent austerity cut. It's been in place for a long time.

DH couldn't get JSA when he finished his PhD because I had a job, which made him dependent on me. I'm not sure it's a great idea to have a benefits system that makes people entirely financially dependent on a partner tbh. What if I were a financially abusive arsehole?

we can't claim any tax credits at all- no kids and under 25.
We can't claim HB because DH earns too much apparently (I haven't put a claim in, but have put in a claim for CT reduction and waiting to hear back as we have a good chance we're eligible for a small amount and anything is better than nowt) .
I've looked into most things and am going to see welfare rights (they are in neath, not sure if there are others in the UK) and have a meeting with CAB.
But I'm not hopeful.

I know that rule has been around a while btw, I was just stating I didn't realize, even though i'd petitioned against the many cuts (From the housing benefit cuts for under 35s a few years back onwards) quite how sorry a state we were in overall with our welfare state, thats all (Sorry I know that isn't clear)
Yes I was told we're not eligible for housing benefit but that was by job centre themselves so I'd assume it to have come from a reasonable source had they not been the ones to tell me I should apply for IS that I'm not entitled to Very good point above (sorry can't scroll up) re financial abuse. I am very open to that right now, how awful a situation would I be in if Dh was financially abusive? he's not, btw.

I can only second the look at other ways to make a bit of money and re babysitting you are def not too old in my view you are just right - far rather leave with you than a 16yr old even if paying a wee bit more. Esp if more than one child. What about doggy day care - many people working full time would rather dog with someone - a walk and company - could you do a bit of that??

Other than that look around for what you can sell that you own to tide you over - am an expert at this - lol

I would definitely go to the council and apply for Housing Benefit (HB)

Lots of Job Centres tell people that they are not entitled when they are as "advisors" in the Job Centre assume that it is and "all or nothing" benefit. HB is calculated on a sliding scale, you may be entitled to some after all.

Also you have mentioned the shared accommodation rate for under 35s which applies to most single people under 35 renting from a private landlord. However it does not apply to you as it doesn't apply if you live in self-contained accommodation and you live with a partner as a couple.

My advice to you is DO NOT take the advice regarding HB from the Job Centre as gospel, although there are many great advisors out there unfortunately there are many who do not understand HB as the Job Centre don't administer the scheme your local council does.

Good luck with the CAB.

Also noticed that you commented about how lucky you are that DH is not financially abusive. Yes that is good but would you really want to be with someone like that after you are married and the whole point of being so is to share everything, the rough with the smooth.

Again good luck

Well no I wouldn't want to be with someone financially abusive but lots of women do marry/'share' finances with men that are abusive... Non starter for me but a critically important point in general.
again reading through comments, Apologies if I have missed you.
Will ask about HB when I go to welfare rights (that appointment is first) Thank you... You'd like to think the 'advisors' would know how to advise correctly, wouldn't you ;S never mind.
I'm not worried about the under 35s HB rate as we're a couple which means we wouldn't be covered under that but I was pointing out thats the point roughly where I became reasonably involved in petitioning against cuts where possible (and still didn't know quite how bad it was).

I can get to Cardiff, sometimes, but not reliably enough (due to cost, distance and transport times) to hunt for work there.
Thank you to all ideas thrown out some i've looked into and aren't very useful to me (no offence intended, it may well be use to someone in a similar situation who's reading this thread) but some are good. thank you. aaaand this is why I love MN lol

PMed you OP.

Have you looked on indeed jobs? I get an email every day from them with jobs in the area. I'm in South Wales too and don't think the job situation here is that grim.

Get letters out , asking for job openings - cashier/whatever to all/any local supermarkets/petrol stations/pubs etc.

Write and print 20 copies and distributes them this weekend

Just a thought, when you say there are only 4 jobs within 10 miles, are you going on those actively advertising? I have a couple of part time jobs that I got by popping in to local businesses, CV in hand, and asking if there was anything available... it's always worth visiting places that have regular staff turnover or shift work (pubs, cafes etc. for example) as they may have some shifts available (especially this time of year when they could need holiday cover or part time members of staff who have been working whilst at college are moving on in September). Obviously this only applies to these kinds of places (definitely wouldn't recommend appearing in person to apply for most jobs).

Hope things improve for you soon, OP

Please disregard this if you have a discapacity that makes it impossible. But otherwise, you do need to learn to drive. It makes such a difference.

Discapacity? Disability!!!

Learn to drive? On that kind of income? Not a bloody chance.

What about care work? There is a huge demand for care staff and not all employers are the nightmare you read about. You can use a level 3 care qualification as a way in to nursing or social work later on.

I'd love to learn how to drive,
However I'm struggling to afford to get to interviews let alone anything else, If you fancy paying the £10(minimum) per lesson, plus the cost of test, license itself (ain't got a provisional). and the cost of a car, minimum 300 for a second hand banger, and 1k minimum for first years insurance...
yeahh not gonna happen it was out of reach when I WAS in work lol. but cheers for the suggestion.
The 4 jobs in 10 miles is accurate I'm afraid.
Or at least was, when I posted, Now 5.
This is based on reed (the website) other websites never have more than 1-2 more and thats pretty uncommon although I do frequently check (check reed and gumtree daily, everywhere else every 2nd day), Reed seems to be the best for my area
I do occasionally jobhunt on foot but to get to my nearest town centre is pretty expensive, plus the cost of printing,for 0 return so far, So I don't do that so much anymore. The job market can be pretty dire here I'm afraid.

I've actually got an interview coming up for care work, but they prefer experience (of which I have 0) fingers crossed I can swing it, but I'm unsure really. maybe (I managed to with my first job, of course).The problem with support worker/care worker/health care assistant jobs is most of them either require upfront experience, references etc relevant to the role (of which I do not have) OR a driving license (as is the case for most home support roles, fair enough).
But, Fingers crossed I get this one.
Care work can be difficult to come by when you live where I do with 0 driving license/car, But not impossible so I am trying.

I second the comment of actually going in places and asking. My son applied for lots online nothing. Then made a CV. He didn't have any experience or qualifications except GCSE. He was open about this and in his personal statement said he was willing to do any work. Then he went into town and handed out his CV/asked in lots of types of business. Within 1.5hrs he had an interview the following day. He was then offered the job on a proper salaried permanent contract above minimum wage for his age. Service industry.

Afternoon, everyone - we just wanted to hop on to say that although we really are amazed by the utterly wonderful support our members give each other through life's trickier twists and turns (and we are by no means suggesting anything untoward is happening here) - we do often post to caution Mumsnetters never to give more of themselves to another poster, emotionally or financially, than they can afford to spare. A small two-penneth - as you all were.

Thanks pootles you saved me some typing. Suppose the OP learns to drive. She then has to buy, tax, insure and fuel a car. How exactly??

The person who said how come two people can't live on £15600. Have you ever tried it? The OPs fixed expenses are £900 a month from an income of £1200. Add phone contracts (taken out on the basis of two wages coming in) and the OP is probably looking at less than £50 to feed and clothe them as well as unexpected expenses which come up.

Not being able get JSA is definitely not a new thing. I was told 20 years ago that I couldn't claim it as "my husband should be supporting me". Yeah right. His job was so badly paid it barely kept a roof over our heads.

ahFuck apply for every benefit, even if you have been told you won't get it. As long as you tell the truth on the forms, you are not doing anything wrong by applying. Go back to the job centre and ask them what help there is to get a job. Explain you know you aren't entitled to JSA, but you would like any other help they can give you. My husband got money towards a training course to improve his employment prospects after he lost his job, and he had only been on JSA for a few weeks, so he wasn't long term unemployed.

Apply for every job that you even think you can do. The last two jobs I got were by applying for a particular job in a company, neither of which I was very suitable for, but someone else in the organisation saw my CV and offered me a different job.

Have a look at mystery shopping. I don't know if I can mention the specific company, but one I signed up with I could literally make about £10 a day from phone calls and emails. I know it's not amazing, but it's as much as JSA.

You say you live in a university town; are any jobs available there? Or even a job-counseling office that might throw you some advice even if you aren't a student?

As to working in distant cities; if you got a job could you find someone to ride share with? You pay the fuel costs and they drive their car, or similar arrangement? It sounds as though you are going to have to be creative and resourceful to get some career momentum going.