Signing on - the irony

[PaulSecteur]

I had to sign on today

Over the last few visits they have been introducing a new system where instead of signing a piece of paper that then has to be processed, we sign on to a small electronic pad and its all done automatically.

But this week we had to go back to signing on paper.

Me - "I thought we had gone to the new electronic system?" I asked

Jobcentre - "We dont have enough staff to use it" they replied.

 

[Racing roadkill]

Dependant on exactly how 'un busy' I'm about to make myself, I may be finding out what this feels like.

 

[PaulSecteur]

Dependant on exactly how 'un busy' I'm about to make myself, I may be finding out what this feels like.

I would STRONGLY suggest that you get yourself something to go to before going through the whole jobcentre trauma.

 

[Racing roadkill]

I would STRONGLY suggest that you get yourself something to go to before going through the whole jobcentre trauma.

Noted,I'll string it out for as long as possible, before I do the job centre thing.

 

[swee'pea99]

And then there's the irony at t'other end of the scale...

 

[potsy]

I didn't bother signing on when I got made redundant a couple of years ago, took the decision to have a few months off work and take whatever I could get after that.
As it happens I was only out of work 3 or 4 weeks when something decent turned up, I then left that good job to go work with @I like Skol

 

[coffeejo]

Noted,I'll string it outfit as long as possible, before I do the job centre thing.

Don't hang about for too long. A friend lost her job in August: she went to sign on last week only to discover that she's not eligible to receive any financial support until the end of October. I don't know the exact details of her current circumstances (nor yours, obviously) but if you don't have anything lined up, be careful how long you wait.

 

[PaulSecteur]

I then left that good job to go work with @I like Skol

...sometimes, the dole dont seem quite so bad....

 

[Racing roadkill]

Don't hang about for too long. A friend lost her job in August: she went to sign on last week only to discover that she's not eligible to receive any financial support until the end of October. I don't know the exact details of her current circumstances (nor yours, obviously) but if you don't have anything lined up, be careful how long you wait.

I've got something lined up, but because of complicated legal stuff, I can't start the new post for at least 12 weeks, after having vacated the current post.

 

[ChrisV]

I've got something lined up, but because of complicated legal stuff, I can't start the new post for at least 12 weeks, after having vacated the current post.

That sounds intriguing.

 

[steve50]

I signed on for a short while until one day when I went to the job centre and they said,
Them "what are you doing to find work?"
Me " I have signed up to various job search sites and agencies"
Them "do you have any proof?"
Me " no what do I need that for?"
Them "If you don't provide proof you could have your benefits stopped"
Me "What benefits?"
I then had to explain that my wife works part time and the government have decided that her paltry £500 per month was enough for us to survive on.
Them "you are on a very low income"
Me "No kidding?????"
Them "how long have you worked?
Me "Thirty plus years"
Them "Hang on one minute"
A few minutes later the lady came back and announced that due to the fact I have been in fuull time employment for over thirty years I qualify for state pension and I have no need to sign on if I do not wish to and I can sign off today.
Me "can I borrow your pen"
That was the last time I visited the job centre which would have been 2009.
Fate decided we would then foster and I became a full time carer as well, ain't life a funny old thing.

P.S. I do have a very healthy pension fund waiting in the wings for when I do fully retire.

 

[ColinJ]

I didn't bother signing on when I got made redundant a couple of years ago, took the decision to have a few months off work and take whatever I could get after that.
As it happens I was only out of work 3 or 4 weeks when something decent turned up, I then left that good job to go work with @I like Skol

And the rest (of the cycling!) is history ...

 

[simon.r]

I signed on for a short while until one day when I went to the job centre and they said,
Them "what are you doing to find work?"
Me " I have signed up to various job search sites and agencies"
Them "do you have any proof?"
Me " no what do I need that for?"
Them "If you don't provide proof you could have your benefits stopped"
Me "What benefits?"
I then had to explain that my wife works part time and the government have decided that her paltry £500 per month was enough for us to survive on.
Them "you are on a very low income"
Me "No kidding?????"
Them "how long have you worked?
Me "Thirty plus years"
Them "Hang on one minute"
A few minutes later the lady came back and announced that due to the fact I have been in fuull time employment for over thirty years I qualify for state pension and I have no need to sign on if I do not wish to and I can sign off today.
Me "can I borrow your pen"
That was the last time I visited the job centre which would have been 2009.
Fate decided we would then foster and I became a full time carer as well, ain't life a funny old thing.

P.S. I do have a very healthy pension fund waiting in the wings for when I do fully retire.

I thought JSA wasn't means tested? I signed on for a few months about 4 years ago and got, from memory, about £70 / week. Which was the best hourly rate I've ever had, at 15 minutes once every 2 weeks

It was an interesting experience. One particularly memorable moment was, on the way in, having to step over a drunk who had just been carried outside and laid on the pavement by 2 security guards!

 

[steve50]

I thought JSA wasn't means tested? I signed on for a few months about 4 years ago and got, from memory, about £70 / week. Which was the best hourly rate I've ever had, at 15 minutes once every 2 weeks

It was an interesting experience. One particularly memorable moment was, on the way in, having to step over a drunk who had just been carried outside and laid on the pavement by 2 security guards!

I had my six months jsa but continued to sign on thinking that was what was required of me,it's the same old story with the DWP they don't tell anyone anything unless it works in their favour.

 

[keithmac]

I would have no hesitation in signing on if I were made redundant, paid in for long enough!.

Then again with the wife working part time they'd probably wait till we lost our house (sobering thought..).