We pay your benefits

[Kendhni]

Is anybody else watching this show? Saw it last week and thought it was quite interesting but think the candidates have been carefully chosen.

The one thing that struck me was that one of the people claimed that they applied for up to 15 jobs a week, and then later in the show talked about spending 2 hours each day during the week ... sitting in front of a computer ... 40 minutes looking and applying for a job is just not enough effort in this day and age. You have to be out there knocking on doors, talking to agencies, looking at professional magazines etc.

For one job, I spent well over 100 hours across a period of 3 weeks, while also doing a full time job and studying for and sitting exams for a professional qualification ... CV prep, interview prep, second interview prep, audition prep (bulk of time), final interview prep. Maybe that is why some are struggling to find jobs, they just do not put in the required effort. Gone are the 'geez a job' days.

[david63]

I found it all a bit "contrived" although there were a few interesting points that came out of it.

One was, and many on this and other forums, are guilty of is in assuming that those on benefits are buying "luxury" items when in actual fact these were bought before their time on benefits.

The university graduate that was, effectively, "sponging" off his granddad because he though that living off benefits was OK because he did voluntary work annoyed me as did the guy who admitted to doing four weeks work in 22 years.

[Kendhni]

What surprised me was that, if I heard it correctly, the family that claimed to rely on food parcels was actually getting the equivalent of £1800 per month (post tax).

[Kendhni]

I htink the second part is on tonight when they expect the ones on benefits to follow the workers around.

[david63]

And going off the attitude of some of them last week then I think that the operative word will be "folloW2 because I cannot see some of them actually "getting their hands dirty"

[Kendhni]

The second part of the show was very interesting. It definitely highlighted that the current level of benefits is a disincentive for people to try to obtain a job.

The bit that annoyed me most was the number of times it got raised that claimants would prefer to stay at home to look after the children and found it distressing that those that worked had children who missed their parents. The only reason they can stay at home is because others go out to work and pay the taxes that provide them with their (in the most) very generous benefits.

Also the lady with MS who had been confined to bed for 10 years is being deprived from a decent standard of living and the care she deserves because 'the pot' is being spread far too thinly. I have always said that there should not be an option (for most) to sit at home and be paid benefits ... to gain benefits everybody should contribute (if at all possible) to society, even if that is just sitting down and being a companion to someone who is genuinely unable to look after themselves.

It was however encouraging to hear that all the participants wanted to work and all had taken up some kind of job or training ... I hope they do a follow up in 3-6 months.

[david63]

One thing that came out in the programme last night that I was not aware of and seems totally wrong and ludicrous is that if you are on Jobseekers Allowance and undertake retraining then you still have to be actively looking for a job, which makes it almost impossible to do the training.

[Kendhni]

I agree David, seemed a bit silly to me as well. If someone is on a full time training course providing them with new skills then they should be allowed to complete that while still claiming JSA (but not indefinitely or across multiple courses). I would also like to see the government doing more to provide these courses and funding them while on JSA.

[Dancing Queen]

I didn't see the first episode but found last nights very interesting.

As you say Ken the current level of benefits is a disincentive for people to try and get jobs, I also agree ( and have thought this for a long time ) that to gain benefits there should be some sort of contribution to society.

[Not so ancient mariner]

A chap I know who used to live behind us was, when he was in his mid 50's, made redundant; - having until then worked all his adult life. With 4 children and living in a council house, he suddenly found he was significantly better off on benefits than he had been when working full time. You will not be surprised to hear that he never worked again - and is now 'retired'.