View Full Version : Signed on
Blue_SV650S
28-04-08, 08:40 PM
After going to school today, my next stop was the dole office ... sorry 'Job Centre' :D
Long story short, after being sent back away with noting but a phone number - a rather long phonecall later, I am now on the dole pending an interview at the job centre on Thursday!! Having paid in over £70,000 in income taxes over the past 10.5 years (my working life to date), I am looking forward to getting some back for a change 8)
I do hope to get another job, but after only ever having put in, I just want something back out of the system for a bit!! :smt093
I can tell you for nowt, however much it is I am eligible for, it isn't going to be anywhere near the £70k I have put in!!! :smt062
I don't NEED the money from the dole, but that isn't the point is it! ;)
I don't NEED the money from the dole, but that isn't the point is it! ;)
Yes.
HTH
You need to sign on for your NI contributions and to screw up Gordon's unemployment figures
Blue_SV650S
28-04-08, 08:55 PM
Yes.
HTH
I am not going to (and not able to) claim for any more than I am entitled to.
How is that 'wrong'? :scratch:
I am very bitter about having paid in all these years against my will, so even if it is only £5 I am allowed I ruddy well want it!! :rolleyes:
Although I may not NEED the cash, if I am entitled to it, I want it!! ... I mean if I said you could have a fiver, here you go ... would you not take it?!!?! ;)
To be fait I'm sure they look into all your assets and money you have stored away before deciding whether you can sign on or not.
My friends dad just lost his job after suffer from blackout, as he has plenty of money in the bank he cant claim ****.
Well, there's going to be sod all left in the pot for your state pension once you're entitled to it, so you may as well get something back NOW!
Blue_SV650S
28-04-08, 08:57 PM
You need to sign on for your NI contributions and to screw up Gordon's unemployment figures
Yep, even if they give me nothing, they pay my NI for the meanwhile ... which used to cost me ~£200/month so a real bonus to get that for nowt 8) even thought I don't directly get jack!! :(
yorkie_chris
28-04-08, 08:59 PM
To be fait I'm sure they look into all your assets and money you have stored away before deciding whether you can sign on or not.
My friends dad just lost his job after suffer from blackout, as he has plenty of money in the bank he cant claim ****.
Yup the best way to get the most government support seems to be to pi$$ as much up against the wall as possible and make no useful contribution at all...
Blue_SV650S
28-04-08, 08:59 PM
To be fait I'm sure they look into all your assets and money you have stored away before deciding whether you can sign on or not.
My friends dad just lost his job after suffer from blackout, as he has plenty of money in the bank he cant claim ****.
Even after means testing I can still get contribution based job seekers ... I don't know how much that is mind you ... but someone said it might be ~£60/week 8) £240/month for doing feck all ... game on!! :) .. I do have to go in every fortnight and pretend I have been looking for work tough which is a bit of a pain! :(
But as Lozzo said, at a minimum it is covering my NI payments in the interim 8)
Hmm. Topical.
I last went to the Job Centre when I was 16, after I finished A levels but before I started university. I was looking for something part time to fill in the time. I ended up at ASDA for 2 months. It was OK, but I found it off my own back.
I can honestly say that the efficiency of the staff, the general smell and the feeling of self-pity and lack of any commitment from the "wallers" (wollers?) in the JC was perhaps enough to make me never ever want to be unemployed / seeking work again.
For £60 a week I'd rather play the trombone in Eldon Square doorway on a Saturday morning in my pants.
That is all.
PS - I received my payslip for this month today. I am pleased I'm paving the way to your future somewhat. (no, you didn't pay your own way, you paid someone else's)
PPS - the Special Brew sir? that'll be on the top shelf. Got a thirst on this morning?
PPPS - I believe the "can work but choose not to" thread is elsewhere....
My friends dad just lost his job after suffer from blackout, as he has plenty of money in the bank he cant claim ****.
I've just spent the last 5 minutes wondering how you could possibly lose your job due to the lights going out.
No, really :smt009
So you're one of these 'dolescum'. Next you'll be wanting a council house:cool:
I did think that graemepaterson and YC were remarkably restrained
yorkie_chris
28-04-08, 10:38 PM
Sorry to dissappoint :-P
markmoto
28-04-08, 10:40 PM
Well, there's going to be sod all left in the pot for your state pension once you're entitled to it, so you may as well get something back NOW!
Great and very valid point lissa ;)
yorkie_chris
28-04-08, 10:40 PM
P.s
Morning jobseekers!
http://www.lunacynet.com/league/images/s1_pauline.jpg
So where do I fit in, not working, not claiming, not going to claim a state pension when I am old enough to? About a 18 months ago I stopped working because I had previously suffered a mini-stroke, and my job was holding me back from making a proper recovery. My assets prevented me from getting any JSA, but my contributions were paid. I tried going back to work but my blood pressure went through the roof so I stopped and haven't bothered to sign on again.
I'm sorted for the future, I own outright a nice flat in Malta and enough money being deposited in a Maltese bank account from rent on it to secure me a decent lifestyle when I finally go there to retire properly in 10 years. Til then I stay under the radar and don't claim, don't work and fend for myself living off savings and doing casual work.
Would it be wrong for me to sign on and have my NI paid if I declared all my assets and property, even though I have paid thousands into the system over the past 30 years, alot of it at the higher tax rate?
Would it be wrong for me to sign on and have my NI paid if I declared all my assets and property, even though I have paid thousands into the system over the past 30 years, alot of it at the higher tax rate?
Nope of course not.
Years ago maybe I'd have had a different view.
But years of being screwed for every last penny have made me realise that nobody fights for me, so I have to do it myself. Being self-employed makes it a bit easier, but not much.
So where do I fit in, not working, not claiming, not going to claim a state pension when I am old enough to? About a 18 months ago I stopped working because I had previously suffered a mini-stroke, and my job was holding me back from making a proper recovery. My assets prevented me from getting any JSA, but my contributions were paid. I tried going back to work but my blood pressure went through the roof so I stopped and haven't bothered to sign on again.
I'm sorted for the future, I own outright a nice flat in Malta and enough money being deposited in a Maltese bank account from rent on it to secure me a decent lifestyle when I finally go there to retire properly in 10 years. Til then I stay under the radar and don't claim, don't work and fend for myself living off savings and doing casual work.
Would it be wrong for me to sign on and have my NI paid if I declared all my assets and property, even though I have paid thousands into the system over the past 30 years, alot of it at the higher tax rate?
in my book apart from the health problems it sounds like you have been pretty lucky with money. I have worked since leaving school at 16 and still have no money. have my own property with 16 year mortgage but its on the market to enable me to start again - in rented property.
to be honest i think the whole job centre/skill seekers stuff is dreadful! my only experience of it was when my casual employer wanted to take me on full time. they approached the job centre as they could get gants to train me. but in order for them to get the grants the job centre said i had to be officially un-employed, then taken off the un-employment register (eg to make them look good, that they found some scum a job!) it was a complete joke, i had to go in to sign on one day, what a laugh that was, the girl didnt even ask if i was looking for a job, she just didnt care. infact i remember on one of the many forms i had to fill in it actually said 'are you seeking employment?' when i asked them what if i said no? they said well not much really!!
i say you've paid enough to the system why not try and get back some of what you can. i dont mean lie, but take what you are entitled too, if not someone who doesnt deserve it will!
timwilky
29-04-08, 07:41 AM
I was there yesterday as well
Lynne's SSP has stopped and she now need to claim Incapacity Benefit. Never having claimed anything in 32 years employment. It was an "experience"
Dicky Ticker
29-04-08, 07:47 AM
I had my own business,own house and my own heart attack which automatically meant no license,waited nearly 2 years for major heart surgery which I ended up paying for privately, and then a further 10 months recovery. In all this time all I got from this government was my NI contributions because I had worked hard and had a few bob in the bank. The system does penalize you for hard work and when I think of the years when I paid 25-30K tax for the no returns it makes me angry,so take every penny you can get and I hope you can find the employment you want.
As a consequence with a slight recurrence of the same problem I have taken early retirement but I would have to live to 112 to get my contributions back so I claim every thing I can and that is £1 deducted for every £500 of saving plus still paying income tax
----------You can never win if you are hard working and honest--------------
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, why should you be means tested in order to claim if you have been paying in to the systems since leaving school?
You are unemployed and therefore should be entitled to the same as anyone else, whether or not you have savings!
Why should you use the money you have worked hard for and been frugal with?
The whole system is set-up to help those who have never 'put-in' which comes back to the old question of why bother?
I am having to end this now as I am ruining my keyboard with my anger!!!
Get what you can mate.........
Mmm, interesting one this.
Blue, if it were me and I were entitled to it then I would take it, no question. Unless I could do without and it became a pain in the ass to get hold of in which case I prob wouldnt bother.
On the wider subject of contributions, I dont think the assumption is correct that you pay loads in and are then entitled to loads out (I know thats not exactly being claimed here, but not far off). Paying people benefits is essentially an overhead that our country has, and working people paying taxes are one of our incomes. Simple as that really.
Personally though I'ld rather work than not, keeps me sane.
Flymo - is that the issue though? Making it a pain in the arris makes people less inclined to claim so more stays in the coffers!
in my book apart from the health problems it sounds like you have been pretty lucky with money. I have worked since leaving school at 16 and still have no money. have my own property with 16 year mortgage but its on the market to enable me to start again - in rented property.
Not entirely lucky, I was once bankrupted after my marriage and business failed, but pulled myself back up again. Over the last few years I've been very lucky, worked bloody hard (part of the reason for the mini-stroke) and earned a hell of a lot of money, much of which has been wisely invested for me by my daughter. My flat in Malta was inherited and the total refurbisment of it was paid for by the tenants in lieu of 5 years rent (it's theirs on a 10 year lease). When that 10 years is up I'll let it on a 5 year lease to them or someone else before I retire there.
Flymo - is that the issue though? Making it a pain in the arris makes people less inclined to claim so more stays in the coffers!
Seems to be a pile of issues being discussed at the same :confused:
You're prob right too though. My point though is that there is no correlation (and maybe thats a good thing) between how much you pay in and how much you get when you need help.
gettin2dizzy
29-04-08, 08:15 AM
Your contributions go further than 'jobseekers' allowance. Every road, hospital, force, education and general waste of money on paper pushing civil servants, needs to be funded whether you're working or not.
Whilst you've probably contributed a huge amount, the state helped you get to that position by providing the resources, education and stable society to do so.
If everyone had this stance we'd be in a whole pile of $hit.
Something that has me annoyed at the moment. There have been periods of my life where I have not worked. During these periods (some of them for over a year) I have not claimed a penny from the government. But because I never paid NI during these periods I am now not entitled to a state pension. :confused: Where the F*** is the justice in that :?: I didn't sponge a penny from the state and get penalised for it. :smt013
Jo is the same. She left the RAF on medical grounds. She didn't work but also did not claim any benefits. Because she didn't claim she is not entitled to particular disability benefits and her pension is also effected. It's a friggin joke.
This is the reason I suggested everyone should sign on, as your NI contributions are all paid up for you regardless of whether you are entitled to JSA. I should go and sign on myself but I'd have to declare myself as looking for work, which I'm not, and I'm not lying about it to them, nor do I want to attend every two weeks and fill out the forms. I'd much rather be as I am and just retire on my own funds in another country.
Would it be wrong for me to sign on and have my NI paid if I declared all my assets and property, even though I have paid thousands into the system over the past 30 years, alot of it at the higher tax rate?
IMO, not signing on (even the PITA that it is) in your situation would be the wrong thing to do, but only under a certain circumstance.
Before you move to Malta, if you fall ill (or are seriously injured), you'll need either a doctor or a hospital. At the moment, NI contributions aren't paid, so that would be putting undue strain on a system that's already overloaded.
Signing on the dole would get NI contributions paid, admitedly that would be transferring the burden to a different system, but it's better to load the tax system than the health one.
Of course, if you rely solely on private medical care, then the above is a moot point. :)
Flamin_Squirrel
29-04-08, 08:44 AM
When I left uni (5 years ago, where the hell did that time go :shock:) I claimed job seekers allowance. The jobcentre really was/is a soul destroying place. Sullen figures moaping about the building, looking useless - and that was just the staff. Anyway, I was entitled to ?45 a week. While trying to find a job that would get me started on my career path, I decided to get some temp work. I got one job for 2 days a week for a few weeks (which I found I might add, not the jobcentre - they were useless).
After my first two days work I went back to the jobcentre to get my job seekers allowance, for which you're still entitled if you do less than 16 or so hours a week (which I was). 'cept because I earnt ?48 for the two days, I was told I wasn't entitled to any of the allowance.
I tried to explain to the knuckle dragger accross the desk that there's not much incentive to do part time temp work if you can get damn near the same money for sitting at home, but I don't think it registered. "So I asked what happens if I do more than the allotted 16 hours a week work?" I asked. Your job seekers gets cancelled all together. If you work less than 16 hours a week again, you can come back and claim the allowance again, but it'll take two weeks to process it.
I remember being very angry. Not because of the money I was or wasn't entitled to, but because the system is setup to almost actively discourage people to work. Certainly temp work anyway.
It seems to me that the jobcentres are so useless that the only people they successfully employ are the people that actually work there - people who would otherwise be unemployed just like those they're supposed to be helping. In fact, since they're non-economically productive public workers drawing their money from the tax payer, they may as well be unemployed anyway.
Dicky Ticker
29-04-08, 08:52 AM
If you feel that you don't want to "Sign on" you can still pay your unemployed contribution direct to the NI Office,this is the basic fig but it keeps your contributions up to date whereby your pension/allowance rights are not affected
I tried to explain to the knuckle dragger accross the desk that there's not much incentive to do part time temp work if you can get damn near the same money for sitting at home, but I don't think it registered.
To be fair to them, they dont make the rules and they've probably heard it all before thousands of times from those whingers that hang around there all day not wanting to work. I would rather put pins in my own eyes than do that job.
There's been a lot of bad things said about the JobCentre.
Personally, I've signed on a couple of times.
One of those times, I was pretty much made redundant (but without the pay off). I went to the JobCentre, dreading the thought of signing on. I got there, the proces was pretty painless, and I was told to come back every fortnight, but there was to be an initial interview in a couple of days (to gauge what work I could do, and wanted to do etc). This was knocking on for 4 years ago now.
In this initial interview, I talked about the stuff I'd done, and the stuff I wanted to do. The woman had a flick through the computer, hit print, and I applied for the job. It was a managerial position with Maplin Electronics. I didn't get it, but did get the tech sales job.
So the JobCentre did their job, and I never bothered persuing my claim (I claimed for a grand total of 3 days).
Following that job, I managed to build a decent client base, and went self employed for a while.
I moved house, and decided to fold the business before it took up too much money. So I went back to the JobCentre, not expecting to be entitled to anything. Turned out I was, so I put a claim in.
Again, a couple of days later, different JobCentre, different staff, I had another initial interview. Again, they printed job details, and I applied. Again, I got the job.
When I've been out of work & money has got tight, I love the JobCentre. Always seems they do the right thing by me. Never had a bad experience being in there.
Maybe it's just me...
Dicky Ticker
29-04-08, 09:22 AM
The thing I have noticed that since moving from London to a more rural location is that the people here are generally more helpful and take time to try and help.
If you feel that you don't want to "Sign on" you can still pay your unemployed contribution direct to the NI Office,this is the basic fig but it keeps your contributions up to date whereby your pension/allowance rights are not affected
I'll also add to that. If you find your are behind in your contributions, it is possible to make payments to top them back up again. I still feel hard done by though. During the times of my non working, I did not claim a single penny in benefits (thus in my eyes saving the government money as in not having to pay me and also not paying my NI on my behalf) but still get penalised anyway.
tigersaw
29-04-08, 10:08 AM
is it true that you only have to make 30 years NI contribution now in oder to qualify for the state pension?
Warthog
29-04-08, 10:29 AM
I had my own business,own house and my own heart attack which automatically meant no license,waited nearly 2 years for major heart surgery which I ended up paying for privately, and then a further 10 months recovery. In all this time all I got from this government was my NI contributions because I had worked hard and had a few bob in the bank. The system does penalize you for hard work and when I think of the years when I paid 25-30K tax for the no returns it makes me angry,so take every penny you can get and I hope you can find the employment you want.
As a consequence with a slight recurrence of the same problem I have taken early retirement but I would have to live to 112 to get my contributions back so I claim every thing I can and that is ?1 deducted for every ?500 of saving plus still paying income tax
----------You can never win if you are hard working and honest--------------
+10. Its an atrocious system. The harder you work, the more you get penalised and your money given to people that can't be arsed to work. 2 million benefit fraudsters or something it was at the last count!!
Blue_SV650S
29-04-08, 10:31 AM
In this initial interview, I talked about the stuff I'd done, and the stuff I wanted to do. The woman had a flick through the computer, hit print, and I applied for the job. ..
That is a thought, do they push you to any job you could do (however menial) or something that you would want to do/would utilise your skills to the max? :scratch:
Warthog
29-04-08, 10:33 AM
That is a thought, do they push you to any job you could do (however menial) or something that you would want to do/would utilise your skills to the max? :scratch:
No, for instance if you are straight out of uni they won't force you to clean toilets for at least a year or two whilst you search for an appropriate high level job (unless of course you did an arts degree :lol:).
That is a thought, do they push you to any job you could do (however menial) or something that you would want to do/would utilise your skills to the max? :scratch:
In my case, it was a sit down affair, lasting approx 45mins. They genuinely tried hard to find something that fitted both what I could do, and what I was interested in. Hence the Maplin Electronics job.
They also took into account what I had done in the past & didn't really want to repeat, as well as employers that I'd never consider working again no matter how much they paid.
The one caveat I'll add, is that they did make it pretty clear that if I didn't demonstrate that I was doing something to find work, then it'd be "harder to continue the JSA claim." Applying for the job they found counted for about a month of "doing something" apparently.
It may just be the area's I've lived in though. I do remember as a kid, knowing people that were old enough to sign on, the the JobCentre back then did seem to be a real s**thole. That's the main reason I really didn't want to sign on the first time.
Just think of the cost Blue. It's people like these who'll end up funding it!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/7372555.stm
Blue_SV650S
29-04-08, 01:29 PM
In my case, it was a sit down affair, lasting approx 45mins. They genuinely tried hard to find something that fitted both what I could do, and what I was interested in. Hence the Maplin Electronics job.
They also took into account what I had done in the past & didn't really want to repeat, as well as employers that I'd never consider working again no matter how much they paid.
The one caveat I'll add, is that they did make it pretty clear that if I didn't demonstrate that I was doing something to find work, then it'd be "harder to continue the JSA claim." Applying for the job they found counted for about a month of "doing something" apparently.
It may just be the area's I've lived in though. I do remember as a kid, knowing people that were old enough to sign on, the the JobCentre back then did seem to be a real s**thole. That's the main reason I really didn't want to sign on the first time.
As you say, that seems like a great 'system' ... I actually want to avoid doing work for a while, so I'll apply for their job (presuming I get match for me) and the mess the interview up on purpose!! :smt036
Just think of the cost Blue. It's people like these who'll end up funding it!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/7372555.stm
They are 82 and 90 years old. if i were either of them i'd refuse to pay. What can the govt do, send a 90 yr old or 82 yr old to prison...I think not.
Inheritance tax, another great government rip-off that doesn't encourage people to work hard and save.
Blue_SV650S
29-04-08, 02:35 PM
Just think of the cost Blue. It's people like these who'll end up funding it!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/7372555.stm
But they probably only paid a fiver for the place back in 1940 (or whatever) .. I'd say they have already made enough profit, greedy moos!! :D
They're being penalised for being careful with their money, not selling up and spunking the money away on holidays and drugs.
Personally, if I were them I think I'd sell up now, invest the money offshore and rent a small house here.
Actually, they should take up racing or trackdays, that'd soon reduce the bank balance
Blue_SV650S
29-04-08, 02:59 PM
They're being penalised for being careful with their money, not selling up and spunking the money away on holidays and drugs.
Personally, if I were them I think I'd sell up now, invest the money offshore and rent a small house here.
Sadly they'd probably still be hit with capital gains??! :(
Actually, they should take up racing or trackdays, that'd soon reduce the bank balance
Better to mortgage their existing house up to the ying-yang to release the equity, invest that off-shore and then declare bankruptcy as thy can't pay the mortgage, so the house gets taken off them by the mortgage company, and then go live abroad with their ill gotten gains!! 8)
Sadly they'd probably still be hit with capital gains??! :(
No, has been sole or main residence, so no CGT.
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