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 :(

Why did you lose your job op? What do you do?

Can you volunteer to be something like,a brownie helper? This would be perfect for babysitting, reference contacts, experience

Also ask at your GP about voluntary work with the,elderly, just visiting for a chat, cup of tea. Then you have some experience for a care job and a reference.

Can't your previous employers provide you with references re reliability, honesty helpfulness, etc?

This is crazy. Sorry op, no advice but how shit that you're expected to live like this

Does gumtree cover your area? Lots of jobs advertised there instead of other job sites

I didn't mean that you should learn how to drive right now - of course that's out of the question. I just meant that driving can be a lifesaver sometimes, and learning is an investment. I believe that in Britain you are allowed to be given driving lessons by friends and family - I live in a country where it's forbidden and you have to pay through your nose to a driving school. And still people see it as something absolutely basic.

Also, learning how to drive doesn't necessarily mean buying a car. It does mean that you can use someone's car when necessary.

But it is a mid-term investment, yes. Pps have given some very good advice for the short term, I think. I hope things get better.

Interesting that on the other thread we were urging OFHM to hand out fewer CVs and focus more on the applications she was making

Learning a skill is always, always worth doing. Suppose OFHM sees a job that comes with a car?

No you don't have to pay for driving lessons - IMO it is still perfectly possible to get taught by other drivers and pass, though much harder work. OFHM might be able to scratch together the £23 for the theory test and £38 for the provisional and get given the Highway Code or borrow it from the library. People who might not be able to afford to pay her to babysit or dog walk might be able to 'pay' her in driving practice.

Of course I agree that it's not the first priority when you're down to scraping up the bits of pasta at the bottom of the cupboard to make dinner, but it's worth thinking medium to long term at the same time as doing the short term stuff. Even just reading the Highway Code would be a step towards a goal that sounds like it's worth having.

Is peopleperhour any good? Or can you type - I got a reasonable review for Sterling Transcription though at the moment they're only looking for medical transcribers I think?

xpost...

Care work kept me going all through my late teens/ early twenties. Community elderly care is great, but you need a car. Nursing home work is also good, I worked a number of different jobs, the hardest but highest paying being night shifts. It can be really rewarding. Good luck!

I see you do some dog walking. Have you considered pet sitting? Summer is coming and we pay quite a lot for agency care (Petsitters UK) to avoid kennels. You may be able to do it in your own home or combine it with house-sitting.

What are you qualified to do OP?

I find it interesting that you are blaming society for your lack of prospects?

I'm so sorry about your job, it stinks.
Just a thought but can you not move closer to where your dh works so travel is less, £200 a month is a lot to get to work.
Could he apply for jobs closer to home?
Is there any temporary work going that will at least keep you going for a while. I know that service sector industries usually take on people to cover the summer season. bars, waitressing, security, etc.

Can you relocate? Is there anything tying you to the area? I would certainly see if you can move nearer to your DPs work if it might improve things.

There are lots of care jobs in my part of South Wales. Also bar work and catering. As you don't have children I expect you can do shifts, evenings and weekends. You would be an ideal candidate. You could even ask in your local pubs.

This is crazy. Sorry op, no advice but how shit that you're expected to live like this

If the OP and her partner were both unemployed and on JSA they would receive £114.85 a week between them. Their rent for a 1 bedroom SC property in the Cardiff area would be covered up to a maximum of £103.56 a week.

So,
£114.85 * 52 = £5,972.20
£103.56 * 52 = £5,385.12

Adding those together gives a grand total of £11,357.32.

So in the eyes of the job centre they are actually financially not that badly off if they have an income of £16,000.

Can you rent out a spare room?

Could you move to a house share?

Can you move to a bigger city with more jobs?

These are all things I had to do in my 20s to be able to survive financially. Just some thoughts. Good luck.

I'm not blaming society for my lack of prospects, thanks. I actually specifically said I HADN'T started this thread for advice (although thank you hugely to those who gave it, Its appreciated)
I'm just not sure how the job centre expects me to survive, With 0 income to my name.
because I have no income of my own now and 2 people surviving on 15k a year is tight as a gnats ass. I live in south wales which is cheaper than most of the UK. how the fuck would a londoner do it? Or even most English towns/cities where you could easily pay £800-900 a month for rent on a 1 bed place (and I mean rent alone not CT or anything thrown in!)? It was more a general discussion using my situation is an example really, however I realize it may be taken either way and of course people can focus and discuss what they wish...
Example above (re how much we'd get on JSA) on the flipside.
We also wouldn't be paying 2.5k per year for DH's work travel,
Nor would we pay council tax (1.3kPA).
Nor would we need to pay for DH's work clothes cleaning (which to be fair we do get tax rebate on) at 240PA. even if I'm forgetting a saving we'd make somewhere, so we're no better off for him being in work....
There is no opportunity for progression if you're on JSA, and while you're unemployed each year you downgrade your earning potential (as your next employer has to re train you/keep you up to date on regs etc you've missed changing). But I do see how it would seem a better alternative to some I guess..
Thanks for illustrating an interesting point.
We can't move to a cheaper house (Where are we going to even get a deposit let alone the rest thats required?) nor do we have space or the ability to rent a room out. DH is looking for a job that doesn't require quite so much travel, both for finances and the fact we do not like him being out of the house for 80-100 hrs a week (incl travel time). moving closer to work is not a possibility either (again, where does one think I'll get the deposit let alone the rest?)...

I don't know anyone willing to drive who's been driving long enough to legally give lessons but again, good suggestion.
Doubt I'll be able to get a job good enough to come with a car but again, good suggestion in general. still reading posts. thanks again all.

I posted on your last thread, and I'm going to say exactly the same here.

I'm in South Wales. I know of a company in the care sector, who have hospitals/homes all over South Wales. No experience is necessary (I had none, and I got offered the job) but they give very thorough paid training before you start.

It's entirely possible to get a job in the care sector even if you can't drive and have no experience- I'm in the same position on both counts. If you're interested, please pm me and I will give you some details.

Nor would we pay council tax (1.3kPA)

I don't know if this makes it any better but you would still be expected to make a contribution towards your council tax of at least £110.50 a year.
(8.5% of £1,300 annually)

Missed your last comment obviously wild.
Will give you a PM soon to see how much you're likely to have in my area,thank you.
Council tax support(I think I have the name right!) covers up to 100 percent of your bill. I assumed this would be the case for JSA claimants. could be wrong of course.

Is moving in with parents an option? I, and all my siblings, spent bits of our twenties living back at home to save up

I also did care work for a time when between "career" jobs. I did house to house calls. I had a little car but could have walked in between the calls easily. I just lived away from the village that all the calls were in.
I loved it. I helped elderly ladies with their morning and evening routines, did some cleaning, etc.
It was through an agency. I paid to do a weeks training course with them but once I'd done that and had the crb back they gave me at least 30 hours per week on their rota. Some trainees on my course didn't get much work but they were difficult characters tbh and had stated there were things they wouldn't do (convenes, bags etc).
It might be worth calling a few local agencies.

Also, in a very objective way, your plight is interesting and pertinent to the current economy. Your posts are also interesting and by their nature you seem to find it cathartic to write down your rants. Perhaps starting a blog about your predicament could be a way to make some cash?

I'm another one who thinks care work is a good option. I started caring in people's homes with no experience. Many service users needed 2 carers at a time so one would drive and one wouldn't as they would do the round together. I'm now in a care home and have been there less than a year and havr already been promoted so plenty of opportunity for progression.
To be a good carer you need to want to do it. And just be a nice, caring person. Please don't become a carer if your heart isn't in it though. It honestly has changed me and it's the only job I've ever been passionate about. I feel very privileged.

Read that back and it sounds odd; by "career" in quotes I mean my career, such as it is. Not that the healthcare sector isn't a career.

I hadn't really thought of blogging, TBH. Do people actually make money from it?I always saw it as more of a hobby, I'm not the best writer so not sure I'd be very good of it.
Thank you though,
Have PM'd you wild.
Will definitely look a bit harder into care work too

It was the same 20yrs ago when dh was made redundant. I was earning minimum wage and we were expected to survive on my salary. Blaming society because you've lost your job isn't going to pay the bills.

Speak to your mobile phone providers to cancel the contracts or reduce them. You don't need mobile phones, they aren't essential and not charging them means less electric use.
Wear clothes at least twice before wearing
only heat water you need when you need it.
Strip wash in the bath with a bowl of water instead of a shower.
No straightening/drying hair unless it's essential for job interviews.
Turn lights out unless needed for stairs.
All of this will save running costs.

Two people can feed themselves with £50 for a month, value range pasta with an egg, couple of sluces of value ham and a handful of cheese may not be the healthiest meal ever but it is cheap and filling.

If you rent you can look for somewhere cheaper.
When you don't have a job life is shit, you are better off than many on benefits you have to learn very quickly to live within your means.