job seekers allowance ...

**BrowneIssue** · 11 March 2009, 17:17

Originally posted by ziggy View Post

what was the "job centre plus" experience like?

In South Wales I found them helpful and friendly. The offices were spacious, light and completely open plan. The staff gave you plenty of advice, were quite knowledgeable and would put themselves out if they thought it would help you get back into work. When I got a job through them I took in a card and a box of chocolates; apparently this was not unusual. The chap who had been seeing me fortnightly was genuinely happy for me.

In North Wales I found them a little cautious (why is this Englishman here looking for jobs?) but still polite and helpful. Their offices were open plan, a bit cramped and not recently decorated. Parking was easy and although they had fewer facilities than the South Wales offices, I do not recall queueing for more than a few minutes for anything.

In North London, I found the Job Centre staff to be rude, ignorant, intentionally unhelpful and downright unpleasant. The offices were cramped, dark and dirty. There were insufficient terminals for people wanting to do job searches. Most staff worked behind a wall and security door; there were a few desks out the front but you were not allowed to approach them until summoned. The queue at reception was typically 45 minutes. Everything had to be queued for separately. The staff did not know the rules and had no desire to find out. They would lie if it meant they did not have to do any work. I would have no compunction in locking the door with the staff inside and torching the building. These people were so embittered and unmotivated that I cannot see how they worked for the same organisation as the ones in Wales. No matter how hard I tried to be polite, they intentionally were rude and provoked an aggressive reaction. They refused to do anything that would help me find work; they just assume you are there to fiddle the system for money and that their role is to prevent you. They deserve all the assaults they get; I would blame no-one for hanging around outside to beat them up after work. As far as I could make out on the half dozen visits I made there, the staff were the cause of the atmosphere, not the attendees.

**ziggy** · 12 March 2009, 09:30

So I guess it is just down to luck i.e. where you live and what the local job centre is like there.

Still can't decide what to do ... I think there's an element of denial going on in my head i.e. am I unemployed or just in-between contracts ...

**DocP** · 12 March 2009, 10:18

Go for it

Apply for it now. You can even get a % of your mortgage interest payments covered. Make sure that your savings appear as low as possible.

I finished my contract yesterday. I've paid my taxes - so I have no issue in applying to get a portion of my money back. I'll apply for JSA today.

**Foxy Moron** · 12 March 2009, 10:19

"Appear" as low as possible, sounds like fraud to me. I wouldn't lower myself to claim JSA unless I was really in dire straits

**dinker** · 12 March 2009, 10:19

Do you live in a ghetto?

**Foxy Moron** · 12 March 2009, 10:24

Firstly you would have to sack yourself from your Ltd company, well shady if you still have any money in the company

**Ruprect** · 12 March 2009, 10:24

Are you a pikey?

**EternalOptimist** · 12 March 2009, 10:27

Originally posted by Foxy Moron View Post

"Appear" as low as possible, sounds like fraud to me. I wouldn't lower myself to claim JSA unless I was really in dire straits

Let's just hope you never have to claim then. We wouldn't want you to have to 'lower yourself' , would we ?

**DimPrawn** · 12 March 2009, 10:27

A very permie thing to do, throw yourselves onto state handouts.

A real contractor just redoubles his efforts to get that next contract.

job seekers allowance ...