Have you ever been on benefits?

[Sysman]

I did about twelve months on the dole 1985 - 1986. IIRC I got around £32 a week, plus Housing Benefit that covered the rent (which was inclusive of rates and water rates) on my crappy bedsit. There were loads of other people on the dole at that time, particularly young people, so it wasn't too bad. Used to have some good times, chilling out at somebody's flat all afternoon, having a whip-round for a bottle of Night Train Express (cheap American red wine), then home to what little food was left in the place

I did the last half of 1984 on the dole and frigging hated it. There was a job waiting for me but the buggers wouldn't pay for me to go to an interview because a) the job was abroad and b) it paid more than 23K. I sold the house to get out of that situation, and soon after got a three monther which set me up again.

The important thing was to buy enough food for two weeks as soon as you cashed your Giro, otherwise you risked a couple of days with nothing to eat at the end of the fortnight because you'd spent too long in the pub

During my time on the dole I would hit Leeds market after cashing the Giro. There was a whole row of butchers shops competing against each other and several of them did packs of assorted bacon, sausage, chops and a joint for 10, 15, or 20 quid. Then I'd hit the veg section and stock up. I definitely didn't go short of food, but I was lucky enough to have a decent set of clothes. There was no way I could have afforded an interview suit out of ninety odd quid a fortnight.