Getting your priorities right...living on Job seekers allowance

Getting your priorities right...living on Job seekers allowance

 

Yet again, the blog has missed that target of every blogger...regular new fresh content and has been quiet. Most job hunters the world over, especially those under the rules of a government job seekers programme such as Job Seekers Allowance in the UK, and I believe similar state programmes in the USA., know that it is indeed true, when you are unemployed, your job is getting a job, it is a full time job in itself...If a job seeker fails to meet the criteria for their benefit, i.e. having applied for enough jobs as decided by an adviser when they go to sign on for benefit,in my case every two weeks, then certainly in the UK there is a very real chance of sanctions, losing your benefit for a number of weeks as punishment. Job centre offices are actually set targets to sanction so many people per week at their offices and if staff are felt to be too soft on claimants and do not make the required number of sanctions they may well find themselves on the other side of the desk and claiming benefits themselves. It is far from unusual to end up begging

Add this to trying to stay on top of the financial and legal issues which so easily occur as part of living on a much reduced income on benefits rather than your salary and being a job seeker is a very busy time indeed, and yet of course the government opinion of the unemployed, helped by the media is that of the lazy work-shy scrounger, lazing in bed or on the sofa all day, watching TV while to use a favourite British Government phrase ...'hard working families', who it is said they do want to help, even though many of them have suffered worse through the benefit cuts , close their doors every morning and head off to the bus stop or train station to go to work.

The truth, and I can speak from experience ,is that most job seekers are very busy indeed, not only trying to get jobs but to manage their household's rising costs on the pittance that is job seekers allowance..

I have written previously about how living costs are higher for those already in poverty. Once one has money management problems and starts on the downward spiral of damaging their credit history, the cost of living soars further at a time when they can least afford to manage it. Examples of this are the increased running costs of pre pay meters for utilities such as gas and electricity. Once a customer is in arrears companies will frequently insist on pre pay meters being fitted, rather than allowing the customer to pay back the arrears by other means, and the cost of gas and electricity through pre pay meters is higher than the deals available to direct debit customers. Also, customers become if not disconnected, at best stuck with the company they are with and unable to swap to better perhaps bundled deals . I pay more for my BT phone and broadband than most pay for this bundled with cable or satellite television sports and movie packages, because I would not pass the required credit check for a new contract.

Job Seekers allowance does NOT cover living costs. It is not ideal to be without a phone while looking for a job, however, a phone is not considered to be a vital expense. This is of particular significance now that many claimants of JSA are sick and disabled people who need access to a telephone. Also , unemployed people will be frequently needing a phone to sort out benefit and other financial and legal issues. Many best deals for utilities and other goods that can be essential such as replacing a washing machine are online deals, therefore it could be said that there are advantages for those in poverty to be online, and this cannot be disputed when it comes to making job searches and applications. Indeed some now claim that internet access is a utility rather than a luxury and an essential ,even a human right.. However, the Department of Work and Pensions paying benefits would not agree , even though claimants are now being forced to make their claims online.

It would be very easy to think that one can easily manage without a mobile phone when you are

unemployed. Indeed, it is not budgeted for in job seekers allowance and is certainly not thought of as an essential. There is no doubt that the cheapest way to finance a mobile is on a contract, b ut should you lose your contract because you cannot pay , it will be difficult to get another, and difficult to get a contract for anything once you have a damaged credit record.. Again, the same debate arises, Is a mobile phone a luxury or a necessity . Well, job hunting is certainly easier with a mobile, and especially perhaps a smart-phone, for which there are an increasing number of 'apps ' available to help a job search and to help you to stay in touch and make quick responses to a job opportunity. Not surprisingly many employers are just going to assume that you do have a mobile and will choose to call you on a mobile rather than a land line. It's better to have a mobile than not but it will not be covered in your Job seekers allowance and it is a god idea if you cannot get a contract to look for the best pre pay deals that you can find.

Much time while you are unemployed may well be spent trying to keep on top of your much reduced budget and deal with any problems which might arise. Many expenses will be necessary expenditure, and certainly beneficial if you are job hunting, but are not priority bills. to be paid first.

Valerie