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 :(

£700pcm sounds steep rent for a couple under 25. If you moved out would you not get the deposit back on your current place to put towards somewhere cheaper.

There are 1 bed flats on Rightmove in the centre of Cardiff for £500pcm. Presumably there would be more jobs there.

I suspect you might live in the same town as me. It is indeed dire jobs-wise. I currently commute to Bristol.

OP isn't wrong about the babysitting, we recently put out an ad looking for a babysitter on a well known childcare site, within the hour we had multiple replies from people all with childcare or teaching qualifications. So someone without qualifications would struggle on those sites, unless you can do it word of mouth OP and sit for friends of friends.

Dog walking sounds good, perhaps when walking the dogs you do have - advertise yourself! Order a cheap printed hoodie on ebay saying "AFHM dog walking - 07111111111" and carry cheap fliers, and other people out walking their dogs may approach you

£700pcm sounds steep rent for a couple under 25. If you moved out would you not get the deposit back on your current place to put towards somewhere cheaper. The process of moving is in itself expensive, not something I'ld want to take on while between jobs

£700 for a one bed would be cheap where I live (nowhere near London)

OP would you consider working away from home for a few weeks at a time? There's more live in work in Summer than in winter - holiday caravan parks, hotels etc

If you could have got to Cardiff I could have given you a job. only temporary but something!

Can you make anything OP? A friend of mine is a low earner despite being an incredibly hard worker.
We sat a while back and figured out what she is good at. She can crochet, knit and sew and she loves kids. She now sells crocheted teddies, clothes and bespoke items through a couple of local craft shops and on Etsy and eBay. After fees and materials, she can make about £35-50 a week profit - for about 1.5 hours work a night. More money (and hours) near Christmas and Halloween.
She has started teaching knitting and crochet classes at a local school and a college - another £40 a week.
She has also been catering and doing the entertainment for kids' parties - she's only done 3 so far and it's very low key stuff like crafts, art parties, gardening and planting parties at peoples' homes so not much outlay. She did it by word of mouth so no flyers or business cards. She does have a car but could manage with lifts from a friend or the odd taxi.
Also, have you tried proof reading? I did some after I had a big operation and couldn't get out of the house. I used to make £13 p hour and I did on average 12 hours per week. Not bad money considering all I really needed was a laptop and phone.
Good luck to you. I know it's not easy but try to see the best in yourself and then you will hopefully be able to turn that into something you can earn from. People are more prepared to invest in a positive person. Believe me, I have learned that over years of disability which made me negative - I had to find the good in me to get anything back from anyone else.

I can't move.I can't raise the moving costs/deposit.
£700pcm isn't for rent alone,its for a few things included too (as stated earlier) sorry if that wasn't clear. Where we live is actually pretty cheap for what it includes (CT, water, gas,electric) paid in one go to the LL,but we can ask him to switch suppliers when needed. we did so and shaved off a bit,but thats as low as I can get it really. that leaves us with approx 500. dh work travel 200. Phone contracts can't be reduced,tried. failed. I managed to reduce DH's by £5 but mine can't be reduced until I've passed a certain time in my contract (not long to go mind). we get by, just. But that means if I have more than 2 interviews a month, something doesn't get paid. MY phone is essential (DH's isn't but no way around it anyway) would cost me almost £5 a month extra to go to the library once a week. whereas atm I can apply for jobs 24hrs a day and maintain a small social life.
I'd love to be able to move but, and I'm sorry if this seems aggressive but I really want to make this point clear (very very sick of the suggestion)
MOVING COSTS MONEY THAT I DO NOT HAVE
my current home is a death trap, to the point where enviromental health are involved. I don't want to go into it in depth but yes i'd fucking love to move,In fact I'd sell my soul for a studio flat that wasn't a death trap.

Can you look up community events and festivals happening over the summer? - they always need stewards.

I have a friend who makes a nice bit of money from shabby chic-ing furniture she picks up for free or next to nothing and then egg shelling

Ironing

Oh and cash in your TV licence and only watch catch-up

Will look at festivals,thank you. I tried my luck last year and got nothing so heres hoping! I've got to nip out so will BBL tomorrow/later to check for responses. thanks to those who responded (regardless of how) :)

What are you qualified to do? You say you don't have references but surely your previous employers can give you character references even if you are applying for different lines of work? And ditto experience: your previous jobs must have given you experience in things like teamwork, dealing with customers... (Don't know what you do so hard to generalise but you get my drift!)

You can get all day bar jobs in Cardiff for events eg rugby, shows, concerts. I regularly see adverts for these types of jobs and they offer training. £80 a day+, more do supervisors.

Will look at festivals,thank you. I tried my luck last year and got nothing so heres hoping

the cooler music festivals are a bit rubbish for work, often they "pay" stewards in free camping and tickets for the other day

But things like larger country fairs, vintage car shows, community events that sort of thing are good for paid work

Also if there's a caravan park near you where people own their own caravans, people often like to hire their own cleaners rather than use the ones the sites hire. Check out the Owners facebook pages

If your home is a death trap, is there someway you can do a deal with the LL where you pay less rent and you do the work if LL pays for materials? I don't know what needs doing but maybe there would be things you could do.

You don't say what your skills are but if you could get some training, maybe you could do book-keeping at home or find a small business who wants you to do their payroll. I am sure if you gave us a list of some of the jobs you have done MNers could give you ideas of things you could do from home.

Make sure you get some real help with your CV. You may not have the experience for a particular job but I bet you've got quite a few transferable skills. Don't rely on your CV for every job. Read the requirements carefully and work your CV/Application around it putting examples of your skills.

I completely understand your angst with the system. My DD became ill after the birth of her DD and her company went into liquidation. Although she had paid mega pounds in NI contributions, she had real problems getting any benefits initially even though her husband was in a low paid job and no help for housing costs because they weren't renting. They couldn't move to cheaper accommodation because they didn't have a decent income. DWP lost claim forms, gave out wrong information and basically were rubbish. They were completely stuffed and we were looking into them coming to live with us. Eventually we went to CAB and they helped sort things what she should claim and, several lost claim forms later, we got our MP involved. Strangely enough, they sorted it out!

what was your job that you lost op?

Can you get on the housing list? You'll get priority if your flat is so bad.

Have a look at sensee. It is call centre work from home. Dh does it. It pays over nmw. Minimum of 20hrs per week. It is a proper employed job. Dh is just on incoming calls.

covers up to 100 percent of your bill

Yes it does because you live in WALES and the Welsh Government decided that nobody would be worse off under the Council Tax Support scheme than they were under the Council Tax Benefit scheme.

In ENGLAND unless you fall into one of the "vulnerable groups" you only receive a maximum of 91.5% of your council tax bill as Council Tax Support, leaving you to pay the other 8.5%.

Sorry for the mistake that I made there.

I think the OP has a right to be a bit pissed at society when its damn obvious that age discrimination is coming into play here.

Post referendum there was a thread started by an MNer who said over 65s shouldnt have had the right to vote and there was outrage!

Dacre it depends whether or not the OP is already living in social housing.

Some of them are as bad as private rentals.

Oh and watch it with Reed OP They were running a New Deal workfare scheme years ago. I dont know whether they are still involved in that.

Whether they are still involved in the current schemes i meant.

Apparently due to Brexit and the pound being so low loads an dloads of farmers in places like Kent have no one from abroad prepared to come over this year for harvest. I believe they put you up in caravans so the accommodation issue would be sorted out. It might be worth it for some short term extra money,

Also have you considered work with accommodation thrown in? My daughter did some holiday camp stuff abroad. People get work on cruise ships etc

I have 0 references for any of that stuff, wouldn't want to do babysitting as I feel I'm too old to be doing it with 0 qualifications 0 references 0 insurance etc.

Well, sorry to say it but somewhere in life you checked out....

Time to get real. Never too late. I cleaned bogs for a living too. Never considered myself "too precious" for anything....

61 by the way.

Arent there Ofstead rulings on childminding and babysitting or does it depend on the number of kids you are looking after.