sometg seriously wrong with this

[lotsafun]

my daughter is due to start school full time soon and im dying to get back to work so thought id look in the job centre today. There was nothing there to suit my families needs so i asked to speak to a advisor to see what options are available to me. It wa then to my suprise that she said as im not recieving any benefits she is unable to assist me! Ive never heard anything so daft in all my life, ive been unemployed for nearly 2 years now and i actually WANT a job so why not???? I then asked if i would be entitled to recieve JSA as agterall im activly seeking work and i have paid contributions to society since the age of 16. The only time i have not worked is when ive had my kids. She said im not entitled as i have a partner supporting me. Surely this isnt very fair.

[gina32]

lol didnt take long did it, try bringing a child into the world with nowhere to live, through no fault of your own and then see a family from abroad be here 3 days and get a house,

[sara3]

I'm not sure what your complaint is.. that you can't get benefit? that the jobcentre staff didn't help you with your job search? that jobs aren't available that fit your needs?

there really aren't many employers, aside from schools, that want staff solely within school hours and term times. you might have to compromise like a lot of us have done.

[sara3]

Daily Mail, anyone?

[gina32]

redhelen, if they dont like it dont come here, simples

[sara3]

no one said "they" are complaining. maybe it's better to wait for benefits than live in a country where your (and your children's) lives are under threat, there is a good chance of physical risk, or starvation.

[factor-fiction]

Lotsafun- the job centres provide lists of jobs. You can access those lists and apply. There is little the Job Centre staff can add to the process. A better option for you could be to sign up with an agency. Or use all your contacts- many jobs are filled by infornmal means. or find where new jobs may arise- eg a new Tescos- and knock on doors. Yes it's hard.
And yes, ask about tax credits

[tweenyb]

there is a fab webiste called the gumtree where you can advertise for free what kind of job you want and days and hours req etc... most helpful if you want certain hours etc.
i have worked for many companies within recruitment and hr and it is a highly used website... good luck :0)

[joko]

you dont need help from an advisor to find a job...all they can do it look at the jobs listed on their system... which you can do yourself online and at the job points

[trt]

lotsafun,
Unfortunately you are not an illegal immigrant or from Europe, so if you are British, you have no chance of any help, sad but true,

[Mamyalynne]

Check your benefit entitlement online and make sure you are not missing out, as others have said if you are entitled then get it.

[lotsafun]

sad but very very true trt

[mike11111]

The problem is that the goalposts have been shifted drastically. When NI was first introduced it was a flat rate for all regardless of income and entitled the payer inter alia to unemployment and sickness benefit without means testing. Since the 70s it has become just another form of tax based on income, and benefits are means- tested. It would be more honest just to abolish it and merge it with income tax.