To think people on benefits can’t win

[Flamingosareflummoxed]

I’ve heard so many people this week, in real life, moaning about people on benefits. I get it that we are all struggling. The cost of living is crippling.
But every week there are posts on here from women who were in 70K per year HR positions who are finding it difficult to get interviews for MW jobs.
There are no jobs.
The few jobs that there are will be flooded with applications, why would recruiters chose someone who has been unemployed for years?
Plus all those with long term disabilities who need reasonable adjustments.
Its like people want to bash people knowing there is no real alternative.

There are jobs.

Just people are too fussy a lot of times.

Also sometimes you're better off in benefits. My sister wants to work, but what's the point, because now she has hugely reduced rent, council tax, gets free dentist etc the kind of work she could realistically do, means she'd be earning around minimum wage.

Like my friend, he got fired from his job, has no money and absolutely refuses to even consider retail, hospitality, factory work or any "menial" roles.

Where as my nephew who is 21 finished his temp contract, applied for everything and was in a job within 2 weeks, working at Nero, whilst he finds a "proper" job.

Yesterday I snapped at screamed at my daughter in frustration.
Because of her needs she can't cope without a 1:1 in school. So she can't do before or after school clubs. So I have to be there. She can't cope on her own. She wakes at night.
So I'm limited in the jobs I can do and I'm on benefits. And I don't want to be. And I'm really frightened of Reform getting in and losing that money because I don't know how I'll cope. And all I want to do is have a ft proper job. And I lost it with her cos I'm stressed.
So yanbu.

There are jobs. Loads of them.

YANBU. In many countries, out of work benefits are linked to your previous salary to give people time to find a suitable role and not panic and go for something de-skilling. Skills hard won over time shouldn't be lost to the economy. Equally childcare is much cheaper/free and local in other places, because gov knows this eases the transition in and out of maternity leave and causes least disruption to families and the tax take. We still operate a punitive WASP model in the UK and it servies no one but the print newspapers ultimately.

There are jobs if you look. I had a quick look online. Maybe not the one that the HR person aspires to but ones that would keep the wolf from the door. The jobcentre can help some disabled people into work.

Some peoples life choices have left them in a position where noone wants to employ them and that's a culture that needs to change.

For those who are in a position where they genuinely can't work I agree, the bashing culture needs to change.

Where?
Because my 19 yesr old is desperate for one and applying for everything at the moment .

I mean yes there are jobs trouble is loads of applicants are applying for them.

The benefit system has unwittingly trapped a lot of people who would be worse off if they got a paid job. I’ve no idea what the answer is but it’s a very grim situation.

@PicaKplease don’t be hard on yourself for snapping, we all have our breaking points. You are doing your best and parenting is hard.

As for a Reform Government, well it’s at least 3 years away but more importantly, any draconian welfare system amendments would need to pass the Lords and it won’t happen. I don’t believe we will ever see a Reform government but if we do, Farage et al will discover that shouting populist sound bites from the sidelines is far easier than actually governing.

I think people don’t realise that the longer you’re unemployed, the less employable you become. As you say, no one chooses someone who’s been unemployed for years. The longer you’re unemployed the more self confidence you lose, people often become depressed and that can show through in interview, if you even get that far. I’ve seen it with a couple of family members.

They have really tried and the constant rejection has ground them down to become even less employable. It doesn’t help that they live rurally with even less work around. So they should move people would say, but that in itself takes a level of motivation, confidence and courage that they don’t have any more. It’s also not cheap and so many just can’t afford to.

I moved away to London from that area at a young age, I was in my teens. So it was a great adventure at the time. But not everyone can move to a big city. Because I’ve almost always been employed (other than some time off for DC) I haven’t struggled to find work. But I also understand how people can easily get trapped in unemployment or at best stuck in minimum wage jobs with very little security.

my old job is going to contract nationally the workforce is being reduced by 1000’s
Practically everyone I know who wanted a job has got one

Where?

I completely understand it.
I have two kids who have additional needs and need someone there constantly (no after school clubs etc) and then also my partner had to stop work due to health issues, but also couldn't care for kids. So we ended up with neither of us working. They are now able to work part time, but struggling to find a job.
I am also trying to find a job for just school hours, but they are in high demand.

Agree.

There are jobs without loads of applicants. My work is recruiting. People don’t turn up for interviews. Less than 50% have responded to an interview request and of that, 50% of those don’t turn up

In what way better off not working? I claimed benefits for a short period of time, working part time. I was much better off having a salary coming in even with the 55p/£1 reclaim. Yes it would have been easier to not work, but financially I was better off.

I’m sure there’s a point when you’re no longer entitled to benefits when working full time but if you’re paying rent and have childcare costs, you can earn quite a bit and still receive financial support.

Ill ask again where are all these jobs posters seem to think there is an abundance of?
My son isnt fussy at all hes willing to work shifts, unsocial hours
Hes willing to take any job .

You’re comparing apples and oranges.
Your presumably child free, young, physically able, confident, MC (?) nephew got a job? What about the people I support, people with diagnosed MH conditions, caring responsibilities, mild learning disabilities, trauma, confidence issues, people who have addiction histories or who grew up with no one working in their family? How easy is it for them?

It’s nuanced… yes I completely understand the benefit trap where the extras (free school meals, council tax etc) mean that you’re not better off working…

But my DC, a recent grad, has been job hunting for months. He had a medical condition which meant he couldn’t drive and we live semi rurally. He’s had surgery to fix it, and is now learning… but the earliest test date he could book is mid September. He’s still applying to multiple jobs a day that he can get to via bus routes. He’s still applying to multiple jobs per day. But each one gets hundreds of applications. He’s got to interview stages a few times… but no further.

He worked throughout 6th form and uni. He got a Christmas job (just in a supermarket) , which he hoped would continue after January- they said they were understaffed and hoped head office would let them retain some Christmas hires… but sadly they didn’t.

He’s been doing some volunteering, taken free online courses to try and bolster his cv and counter the fact that he’s now been out of work since January… but thus far, no joy.

It’s completely different to when I was young and decided I wanted a job around school/uni and just walked into both retail and hospitality jobs till I found something better.

I'm particularly fond of the "you must work from when your child is three years old" diktat vs "there are no childminders in this area any more, then when they get older ASC finishes at 5.15 while most jobs finish at 5.30 up to an hour's drive away and anyway there are numerous school events you must attend at 2.15 or be seen as a BAD UNCARING PARENT" bind.

Even better when the "School isn't childcare" smuggoes turn up. Oh isn't it. Best tell the DWP that then 🙄

In the UK working parents get 30 hours of free childcare.

It was only 15 hrs when I needed it. Also, there’s free breakfast clubs at school, again for working parents.

Using cost of childcare as an excuse not to work is redundant.

I agree if it so hard for people to get work now. However, having said that, I know people who are on benefits who shouldn’t be. Medical that don’t exist etc. this is what I object to. Genuine cases deserve help but

DP was made redundant last September. Since then he has applied for so many jobs but has yet to get one. It's not surprising really, after all who is going to employ a 54 year old epileptic when they can give the job to a 30 year old with no health issues.

@Itsnotfunbeingobtusethats 30 hours term time only, plus doesn’t include commuting time. There is also not enough of it.
I had to pay £15 per day for consumables when mine got free hours.

A 21 year old is obviously going to find it much easier to get an entry level job than an older person. He is cheaper, will often be percieved as an easier manage/trainable and if he isn't paying housing costs or raising a family can cast his net wider to include variable hours.