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Original poster

Benefit Busters

206 replies

BertieBotts · 20/08/2009 20:59

I have a feeling this is going to be awful actually, they are focusing on lone parents

Just starting on C4 now.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 20/08/2009 22:09

I walk 4 miles a day with a 30lb baby on my back and pushing another 30-50 lbs. of child because we can only afford one car and DH needs it to get to and from work for early shift.

Yet I don't really compare my situation to that of a lone parent because I do have a DH.

sherby · 20/08/2009 22:10

My dh was out of work for 2 years due to sickness, and I swear on my kids lives I would beg, steal and borrow before I ever crossed that jobcentre threashold again. They made my life a f misery for 2 years, I have never felt so crap, worthless or looked down on in my life.

I will never forget sitting there in HB office with a screaming 2mth old and 2 year old trying to sort out HB claim for the 100th time that month whilst some snooty women asked me what was stopping me from going out to work

beanieb · 20/08/2009 22:10

no - shame about the non resident parent, bastards and how very dare they, but still, that aside, it's great that these women so clearly benefited from being part of the scheme. Not just employment wise but in themselves. They all became so much more confident and for me that was what much of the process was all about.

Strong confident women who did get off their arses and make a positive change for themselves and their children rather than relying on benefits and slipping further and further into debt.

LittleMissBliss · 20/08/2009 22:10

employment even

expatinscotland · 20/08/2009 22:10

I don't agree with privitising welfare/social services at all, Lil Miss. Because you inevitably get one multimillionnaire in a giant house telling people in poverty how to live and I think that's galling.

expatinscotland · 20/08/2009 22:11

Anyhow, Supernatural is on and I need to get the washing up done and the wee one packed for tomorrow morning so must dash!

lisad123wantsherquoteinDM · 20/08/2009 22:13

can I ask a question without being shouted at please?
Why go to job centre whe you can stay at home with newspapaers or borrow/use internet? Do you have to go? I honestly dont know (please dont shout)

LittleMissBliss · 20/08/2009 22:13

I think you are missing that this has had a positive effect on these womens life. I agree some fat cat in a big house has made a big wad of cash from it but still it is a positive thing.

LightningBolt · 20/08/2009 22:14

It is a difficult one.Of course most people would like to be in paid employment (I am sure there are some who would prfere to live off thestate but think this is the minority,most would want self worth and the fact of having some structure and something to get up for),but as others have said it is incredibly hard if you are a LP,if you have family support and so on and if you have been unemployed for years it must be really hard in self esteem terms..What about if you are "Working poor" though?I have 2 disabled members of family and work pt but luckily in a semi-prof job but as a family we are just slightly above the threshold for getting free px,dental and eye stuff etc.Sometimes I feel it would be "easier" to go on benefits but this isn't me.But at least I have a partner albeit disabled who can be there so I can work unsocial hours.Most of these women did not have that option.Very depressing all round.

LittleMissBliss · 20/08/2009 22:14

or is it affect-.. god i wish i could spell.

radiohelen · 20/08/2009 22:15

I don't accept that at all - and I never said the hedgefund manager was married - more than likely she's not cos she'll have been traded in for a younger model who had a labiaplasty and fake tits.
You can't work effectively from home with a couple of kids round your ankles. They have to be in childcare for you to get anything meaningful done. Poundland or JP Morgan - it's the same thing.

We are all just people facing the same challenges and doing what we can. Some people get out there and do stuff, others stay at home and do different stuff. If it's a conscious choice to stay at home and raise your family then brilliant - if you just drift into being jobless for nine years or whatever, then there's no excuse not to work. I saw a lot of drifting on that TV show.

LightningBolt · 20/08/2009 22:15

have NO family support i meant to say

LittleMissBliss · 20/08/2009 22:16

slightly off point.

Is it that you do something for effect.

But something can affect your life. ??

I really need to know because never use the right one.

5inthebed · 20/08/2009 22:17

Lisa, certain benefits require you to "sign on" at the job centre every two weeks to get your benefits. You also have to keep a diary of jobs applied for. I only know this as my sister had to do it last year when she lost her job. You've got to show you are actively seeking employment.

lisad123wantsherquoteinDM · 20/08/2009 22:20

5inthebed, thanks for that. I knew people had to sign on, just didnt know you had to go to jobcentre to do so.
I guess aslong as you can prove your looking though otherways, that you can aviod it for 2 week.

Doobydoo · 20/08/2009 22:21

Totally identify with sherby at the mommentThat is what we are going through at present.

radiohelen · 20/08/2009 22:22

The Job Centres have got real problems with this recession. Lots of very qualified people who are looking for jobs that just don't appear in the JC. I know positions in my line of work would never be in a job centre. There is no point in a lot of people going in - apart from if you are compelled to in order to get the benefits.

Doobydoo · 20/08/2009 22:23

Dp has to sign on weekly now.The computer system at jobcentre plus goes up to an HNC.dP HAS AN MSC...He is getting to know them quite well nowSome of the job centre people are looking for jobs too.

Doobydoo · 20/08/2009 22:23

Exactly radiohelen

NervousNutty · 20/08/2009 22:27

Xp signs on fortnightly. He writes down 3 jobs that he has enquired about, not applied for, and that is it. He is in there for 5 min max.

I get to go every 6mths, infact usually more often and sit for an hour whist they go over every inch of my life.

LightningBolt · 20/08/2009 22:30

Why so Nervous?Is your OH on IB?

NervousNutty · 20/08/2009 22:30

No, Jobseekers.

LightningBolt · 20/08/2009 22:32

i MEAN YOU,SORRY.dP IS ON ib,rightly so cos he has a horrid,devastating lt illness and he quakes everytime the letter comes,despite being under 4 diff consultants with his condition,having a blue badge and being on numerous meds.It is sickenining that those who are truly incapacitated have to go through this.

beanieb · 20/08/2009 22:33

All these women had been on benefits a long long time though, right? It wasn't a case of a sudden or recent change of circumstances, they were trapped in the benefit system and this woman/course was trying to work towards getting them out of the trap.

Very different to a situation where sickness is stopping you from working or your part heir job.

NervousNutty · 20/08/2009 22:34

Oh, I am on Income Support, as i'm a lone parent. Xp is on jobseekers because he wants to be.