Like almost anywhere, you get good and bad people at Job Centres. Like the time I was sanctioned for failing to apply for a job as a planner - I was a project planner, the job was electrical planning, or the commute they insisted was only 90 minutes (88 to be precise) but had failed to allow for the 10 minute walk at either end or the gap in timetables between changing from bus to train (or any contingency on a complex journey).
My "favorite" was the one who insisted I could only be reimbursed mileage rather than train because it was less money - to the Millennium Dome (as it was called then) and of course parking fees weren't reimbursable. She suggested that I should have applied for a travel warrant in advance, but refused to accept that I had been asked at 4:50 pm to attend an interview at 9 am the following morning so wouldn't have been able to get a travel warrant at that time. That decision WAS overturned when I complained.
On the other hand some at the same job centre were fabulous, very friendly and helpful. Some were a bit naive like the WC who genuinely believed that there was no bias by employers on looks so a plain overweight woman had just a good change at interview as a slim pretty one - while it's been proven by a number of studies that there's very much an unconscious bias on appearance when it comes to women.
But those saying how easy it is for anyone to get a job, they really don't understand. Firstly with e.g. caring jobs, I physically can't cope with vomit or faeces, I will just throw up at the smell. And though I am fine to do an office job, arthritis in my spine means little carrying or shifting heavy items (so no caring, warehouse, retail, delivery jobs etc). Secondly many places will rather go without staff than take on someone who doesn't "fit" with their culture or isn't exactly what they are looking for e.g. anyone over the age of around 40 (or younger in some cases) doesn't fit their thoughts on who the job suits, they just want really young people and/or "trendy" people.
Extremely hard to get a job a step or more down from what you used to do as well, I have been told at interviews or in feedback afterwards that they wouldn't be employing me as I was overqualified and would get bored and move on quickly (in their opinion).
And finally comments on not spending that fiver a week on other things, maybe those posters would like to suggest whether it's food, hot water, council tax (yes job seekers still have to pay a chunk) or their internet they do without to save that money from the massive benefits they get? Especially a home owner with a mortgage, who gets no help at all with accommodation & still has a mortgage to pay every month.