To hope the current economic situation will educate some people

[Hingeandbracket]

I keep seeing social media posts from people who have never been out of work before. Quite often they express surprise that they have applied for a few jobs and either heard nothing back or been rejected.
Some people similarly are amazed at the actual (low) level of benefits and how difficult and demeaning the process of claiming can be.

AIBU to hope that at least some of these people will now have som sympathy for others in the same situation, now and in future?

[Hingeandbracket]

@Fairyliz

Tbh op I don’t think you sound very nice. Are you really pleased that people have lost their jobs and gone onto benefits? That’s what it sounds like.

TBH you don't sound so great either. That is neither what I said, not what I meant.

When I was previously out of work it took me 3 months to get a job. I found out later that I nearly didn't get that job as despite appearing to have all the required qualities, the boss thought there must be something wrong with me if I couldn't get a job for 3 months. Thankfully a colleague persuaded him, I got the job and stayed for 6 years and 3 promotions. That boss had never been out of work so he had no idea what it can be like.

I keep hearing how easy it is to get a job "if you really try" - usually spouted by people who haven't had to try.

My only point was that perhaps this current situation will have an educational effect for some of those people.

[JaniceWebster]

you don't need to wait... just look at the attitude of people currently on furlough.

Some stayed home to look after their children because they had no choice or alternative.
Some found all the available work they could find within the conditions of their furlough.
Some took it as a paid holiday.

Guess who will be in a better position when the redundancy letter turns up.

[ivykaty44]

What happens though is confusion

The recently unemployed can’t believe that “ they’ve worked all their lives, paid their taxes, and have never asked for a penny before” now can’t understand why they have so little money in benefit

They then decide in their heads that scroungers have taken their share
Immigrants have stolen their portion
There must be a two tier system where scroungers get £££££ and they themselves get £

[BeforeIPutOnMyMakeup]

@ivykaty44 exactly

They don't realise those on benefits long term live differently to them.

[FirTree31]

I hope so OP, not necessarily through losing jobs, but because more people are talking about it. As PP very rightly pointed out, most people claiming 'benefits' are in work, In some ways you could view this as government assistance to the organisation, they bulster employee income because salary is low and not enough to live on. As a side note, there's also systemic failings in areas such as CMS not enforcing appropriate payments from absent parents. Due to low or completely missing payments, many parents although working are topped up by DWP for prolonged periods.

[SeonaSeona]

I agree with you OP.

Another thing - during COVID the government actually swiftly increased benefit amounts, paused the debt deductions that can be up to 30%, and scrapped the cap on how much renters can be given for rent (cap often lower than even the lowest of rents in some areas).

Call me cynical, but I think this was less about support and more about trying to convince all those new to UC that it's absolutely 'fine' and enough..

To think new claimants are still shocked about the new levels of support, well..

Like you I hope views will be changed.

[ZeroSumTrap]

It sounds like you are happy at their misfortune, OP. I can't approve of that.

[Hingeandbracket]

@ZeroSumTrap

It sounds like you are happy at their misfortune, OP. I can't approve of that.

Incorrect - I am absolutely not saying that at all.

[MereDintofPandiculation]

YABU. You know they won't be more sympathetic, there'll always be a reason why they're more deserving and the rest of the people on UC are scroungers who should be forcibly marched into the fields to pick fruit.

[ZeroSumTrap]

No evidence that these folk (the high earners you know via social media) lack sympathy for ppl who usually have harder time in the job market.

You said you want them "educated". It isn't a kind way to describe how you want them to be changed. That sounds like you have a "just deserts" attitude towards them.

My SM contacts aren't high earners or people from privileged background. So maybe I just can't understand what OP encounters.