Working for unemployment benefit

[shaking]

With the state of the pavements in our towns and cities due to the snow, don't you think that all the unemployed should be put to work clearing them?

[dothawkes31]

sorry but when I was unemployed for 6 weeks this year after edundancy I didnlt have time to clean my own house let alone the streets!!! It's a full time job looking for work, anyone still unemployed after 6 months might have more time on theur hands as i assume they will have exhausted all options by then and be a bit bored.

[shaking]

I retired at 50 and my husband retired at 57, we live on our capital and investments. We have no intention of working again but would never sign on, although eligible. Pride has its price.

[sherrardk]

You can't feed your children on pride. Some people have no option but to sign on. I can't believe that many people would actually choose to be on benefits rather than working. With your capital and investments you would probably not be eligible for benefits anyway.

[FREDFOX]

LOL @ NOK

[Postdog]

Gawd how sanctimonious can one person be?

[dothawkes31]

if you donlt sign on you lose your NI contributions and you wonlt get a full pension.

[sherrardk]

Sorry NOK - trying to see the best in people! We were on benefits for a while and its hard to make ends meet - I was trying to show the point that you are not actually living in the lap of luxury when you are on benefits.

[dothawkes31]

what class 4? or class 2?

[DrFilth]

some people try very hard to find work

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gyOqUePKIU&feature=related

[craft1948]

I applied for voluntary redundancy when I was 57 and apart from a part-time job which I took for 6 months I lived off my redundancy payment and savings until I was 60 and the pension kicked in.....I've never claimed benefits even though apparently when my savings shrank below a certain level I could have.
When I told someone from the DWP that I'd never claimed I was told I should have even though I didn't want a job.

[tamborine]

Only if the unemployed are paid.

Our miserable council only seem to employ E.europeans - few who speak or understand english. Ofcourse, its because the council can dodge employment laws.

[brenda]

Shaking -- you were very fortunate and your husband ,also to be able to retire early as you did.You say you live on your capital and investments-- indeed again fortunate for you both.
For many people the acquisition of substantial capital is beyond their reach, and investments are things they can only read about.
There isn't much you can do if you are on the minimum wage or you are in receipt of Job seekers allowance because your job has folded .
I don't want to personalise your post ,but I think you should try to visualise being in another person's shoes,with the attendant financial difficulties they cope with, before making sweeping statements about what you think would be appropriate work for the unemployed.