A Budget Against the Unemployed.
Okay I’m writing in the morning and I don’t yet know the details of the Budget.
But David Cameron has called the unemployed “Welfare scroungers” in the last few days. Or rather “There is no way of dealing with an 11% budget deficit just by hitting either the rich or the welfare scrounger.”(here)
This kind of vulgar language, is a bit rich one might say coming from someone as rich as Cameron and his chums in the Bullingdon Club at Oxford. They have never done an honest days work in their lives. They have richness beyond the dreams of avarice.
This is a sign that people on the Dole, Disability Living Allowance and Invalidity Benefit, should watch out. We are fair-game.
We can be sure he’s not going to treat us kindly.
Opinion has been softened up for weeks now.
Last night on Channel Four News we have one young unemployed woman who said she’d be worse off in a job. I don’t know about everyone but I’d be a hell of a lot better off in work than on JSA. Maybe she rented from one of those Housing Associations that charge a fortune. Well, their rents certainly aren’t going to go down after the Budget shaves more money off them. Anyway, what was the report suggesting? That she should get less money than the existing JSA pittance to force her into employment?
I predict a benefits freeze.
I predict a “crack-down” on Benefit “fraud”.
The Daily Record (Scotland) suggests that
The Government (may) decide to link payment levels to the Consumer Price Index rather than the Retail Price Index. The CPI, which does not include house prices, is about one per cent lower than the RPI and the move could shave more than £1billion from the £105billion welfare budget.
Some may consider that Cameron and Clegg have got hold of the wrong end of the stick.
We can be sure that with public sector cuts there’s going to be plenty more people joining us on the Dole queue.
Perhaps we’ll end up ‘volunteering’ to take their former jobs.
On Benefits that is.
Ipswich Unemployed Action. 
I think Cameron did rather well with his words up until that point. It was only going to be for a little while for “Dave” to successfully keep his “Mr Nice Guy” routine up… perhaps the weather will melt his body suit with MT appearing up from underneath it?
Sadly, I am not all too intelligent: what is a benefit freeze? That means the rate wont be reviewed and increase in the next few years, right? Well, when I was claiming Jobseekers… when it did go up it was a very insulting increase (compared to the cost of living increases)! IF the cost of living stays about the same all will be well.
About not being better off for work. I know of someone (an ex-jobseeker) who hits in the category of the lower NMW rate, works in an out-of-town retail company in Ipswich, who is only part time (but gets overtime when available) but works the hours spread out over 4-6 days a week and only gets paid once a month (as is common these days).
They wont employ him more hours in a day as if he works over 4 hours I think it is, they would have to give him a 10 or 15 minute break (thus they prefer to people working alternative shifts to cover the job role)… this means a bigger chunk of wages is directly spent on bus fares just to get to work. Obviously, he had to sign off when he began the job and thus was left without any money for a month.
Whats more, the contract is a month rolling contract on a lengthy probation period (thus has no job security or any real employee rights; cannot take any holiday neither until around 6 months into the job – thus half year gone) and is only allocated one shirt for uniform in an entire year.
He had already been required to buy two additional items of uniform, one because its a better idea then having to wash the same shirt daily and because they are so cheaply made they get wore down quickly. Yes, he is required to buy it from his own money, clearly branded with the company logo, one item had to be purchased prior to first pay packet… and each item of clothing (although cheaply made) cost him approx 2 hours money!! That is probably 15-20p short of 2 hours wages.
So in the 4 hour shift, half of that was just to afford the shirt on his chest to promote the company (he could have worn an plain shirt or tshirt of similar colour and use the name badge as always required, if it was allowed) and to take the biscuit, he is tasked to go behond his job role of general assistant (or similar name) and undertake a sales role… no commission, sometimes netting the company a few grand in sales… for under £20 (or around under £10 when paying for uniform). Oh, and if he doesn’t comply, although he has been there for a few months, he will be sacked on the spot or alternatively they will fail to renew his contract the next month.
Is it good for a part time job? These retail businesses have so many going, and rarely employ anyone fulltime. Although its better then on the dole, it hardly nets any more money than on the dole, and there are so many deductions… in fact, he is probably worse off with the bus fares.
So it depends on the job… ok my example was someone with the lower rate NMW… but even so has much far less outgoings than say an middle-aged person.
My points I am trying to make are:
1) fulltime sustainable jobs are very hard to come by (2 x p/t workers are cheaper to employ than 1 f/t)
2) there is always the gap before first pay packet which can be as much as a month away.
3) most employers expect the employee to pay for uniform, H&S equipment etc. and you have to comply or be dismissed – and you have no chance as you couldnt go to a tribunal
4) housing places including hostels are normally cheap when unemployed, but if you get a job you soon get your money drained. The employed people subsidise the others. Its all wrong really. Rather hard to move on with your life, most people probably lose their job and stay at the hostel.
I would still consider myself personally better off if in work than if unemployed and on the dole – however, always depends on the job. Even @ NMW will be fine but would need to be Mon-Fri and not a few mornings and afternoons, as travel would be fixed cost, it would also have to be rather close and not travelling outside the town.
Flexible New Deal
June 22, 2010 at 9:41 am
Spot on Flexi,
Theese employers know every trick in the book, I’ve yet to encounter one that didn’t pull the one branded shirt con (which identical but unbranded could otherwise have been picked up on market stalls or QD etc for pocket money prices).
Theese jobs at present are well worth avoiding as if they cut your hours to below 16 you still can’t jack them in despite the required financial outlay as the jobcentre will class you as volunterilly leaving employment and refuse you JSA.
Also they never seem to pay you for bankhollidays etc when they are closed, so you end up back at the jobcentre trying to claim for those lost days or lose another days wages.
Theese employers also love to periodicly show you who’s boss by every now and then calling you in so you fork out the fixed bus fares regardless, but ounce you arrive they then send you home after an hour due to lack of work and just pay you for an hour which rarely covers the bus fare)This is a paticular favourite trick if you work nights so you have in effect slept all day to go to work that night for nothing.
On top of things if you are on a few prescriptions eg. inhailers for asma, medication for allergies etc you have to pay for your prescriptions which makes another dent in your wages,
Lowestoft's Finest
June 24, 2010 at 12:17 pm
had a job like that once, they’d call us all in for 6am for nowt.
reggie
June 24, 2010 at 2:28 pm
We crack the whip
And you skip –
You skip, you skip, you skip 🙂
Bullingdon Club
June 22, 2010 at 11:23 am
I don’t think it’s possible to cut JSA any more than has been done already. We are already being hit by it not keeping up with inflation. On top of this the ever treacherous Urber middle class warriors Neo-Labour stealthy eliminated every related additional payment such as the £15 additional expenses on New Deal, Advisers discretionary grants, etc. the whole lot was covertly axed.
I think that the people who are really going to feel the pressure are going to be the disabled, as they have already been targeted and villanised by the previous government, I think Cameron will go after them as the easiest target, with the Labour “giving them back their dignity through work” crap, and thanks to years of a relentlessly negative PR onslaught every sighting of a disabled person doing state penitence in a sub-mac job will be gleefully observed by Daily Mail readers as the Torries have got Britain Working again.
Forget high visibility jackets for workfare the disabled are going to be wearing hair shirts.
Lowestoft's Finest
June 22, 2010 at 11:34 am
I’m inclined to agree with Lowerstoft’s Finest. I think single people on JSA with suffer least from today’s budget!
Funny A4e Photos
June 22, 2010 at 4:21 pm
Just heard on the Radio 4 6 O’Clock news that anyone who has been on JSA for more than year will see their Housing Benefit drop by 10%?!
Gideon Osborne
June 22, 2010 at 5:18 pm
On the BBC News site too:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/politics/10374475.stm
“Unemployed people will see their Housing Benefit cut by 10%, after 12 months of claiming Jobseekers Allowance from April 2013.”
Neil Sleat
June 22, 2010 at 5:27 pm
It’s no different here in the US. Our Senators failed to pass a bill to extend unemployment benefits beyond 99 weeks even though we have a 9.7% unemployment rate nationwide.
Some legislators are repeating the same type of language. Rand Paul (R-KY) candidate said the unemployed “don’t really want to work” and that they need “tough love.”
We are NOT lazy welfare scroungers. I’ve worked full time since I was 14 and paid in LOADS of taxes at a rate of 30% of my income. Now, I’ve been unemployed since Nov. 08 when the meltdown happened and NO JOBs. I have a college degree and great computer skills, but NO JOBS.
Sorry to hear it is bad there as well and we are all not alone in this.
missdisplaced
June 22, 2010 at 2:19 pm
Since no one else has bothered. Let me say welcome to the visitor from across the pond: MissDisplaced.
I’m curios to know what you think of Dennis Kucinich?
Funny A4e Photos
June 22, 2010 at 4:13 pm
I think it is more the case of no one commenting on the site rather than anti-US minded people.
Flexible New Deal
June 22, 2010 at 8:58 pm
Budget June 2010
Housing Benefit Reforms:
Local Housing Allowance set at 30 percentile of local rents from 2010-2011
Deductions for non-dependents: reverse previous freezes on uprating and
maintaining link with prices from 2011-12
Social sector: limit working age entitlements to reflect size of family from 20
Switch to CPI indexation for Local Housing Allowance from 2013-14
Reduce awards to 90% after 12 months for claimants of Jobseekers Allowance
Additional bedroom for carers from 2011-12
Local Housing Allowance: caps on maximum rates for each property size, with 4-bed limit from 2011-12
Additional Discretionary Housing Payments from 2011-12
Effectively a cut in JSA after a year, sneakily implemented though because we all know what happens if we don’t pay the rent!
Neil Sleat
June 22, 2010 at 5:44 pm
“Switch to CPI indexation for Local Housing Allowance from 2013-14” ?!
Why not just uprate it in line with the rent as at present? Is this the plan to chip away at Housing Benefit (Allowance) until JSA/Workfare barely covers the rent?! There is more than one way to skin a cat!
Neil Sleat
June 22, 2010 at 5:51 pm
I don’t know much about Dennis Kucinich as he is not a Representative from my state other than he was the guy denouncing Israel for the raid on the Turkish ship.
To be honest I haven’t followed that story too closely (my bad) being consumed with foreclosure, bank bailout, and unemployment issues.
Just curious, but how long do unemployed people get benefits for there?
In the US, right now most states have 78 or 99 weeks (due to high jobless rate) but typically it used to be only 26 weeks (average 400-500 USD/wk). When it runs out though, it runs out. That’s it. You get nothing and they don’t care what happens to you. The GOP (Republican) party would like to cut these, and most, social programs even more.
missdisplaced
June 22, 2010 at 6:03 pm
@ missdisplaced $400-500 a weeks equates to £250-312.5 a week ($1.6=£1). Does that include Housing Allowance? Food stamps. In the UK we a single person receives £65.45 ($104.72) a week, rent paid and no food stamps. At least it doesn’t time out although I suspect that certain quarters would like it to. Also curious, a FunnyA4e photos says, what do people do when they are left penniless? What don’t we know about, what goes unreported? PS Nice to to hear from the USA 🙂
Neil Sleat
June 22, 2010 at 6:30 pm
No housing allowance. Usually no food stamps either unless you have children. I did apply for food stamps, but did not get them because my unemployment was too high! I do not have kids.
missdisplaced
June 22, 2010 at 7:32 pm
I know it’s not an ideal solution, but can you not just get yourself pregnant.
Bogbrush
June 22, 2010 at 8:20 pm
(assuming you are young enough). Fuck Uncle Sam!
Bogbrush
June 22, 2010 at 8:25 pm
missdisplaced can’t you discover a European ancestor eg. Irish, German, Italian grandfarther etc(full Eurozone member country needed Ukrainian etc no good here)Then get joint nationality then you can come to Europe and live in any Eurozone country you want.
Lowestoft's Finest
June 22, 2010 at 8:35 pm
missdisplaced, how come you got a fancy icon?
barney
June 22, 2010 at 7:38 pm
Ha, you guys are funny! The ship has sailed for me on the preggers thing! And here I always thought of myself as a career girl! Darn!
Actually, I am of German descent. The only problem is that my ancestors came to America in 1729! I don’t think that qualifies for joint nationality anymore!
So, in the UK, the unemployment doesn’t run out or expire after a certain time? If that’s the case, what to they do to encourage people to go back to work? Is there retraining, college money, or other programs? Do they give companies incentives to hire the unemployed first? I’m so curious because it sound like the system takes better care of people. Oh, and do the unemployed still have healthcare? I have none–lost with the job.
missdisplaced
June 22, 2010 at 11:26 pm
Us guys can’t help being funny :-), it’s in our genes 🙂
The UK has lots of ways to “encourage” the unemployed into work – mind-numbing “New Deal” “courses”, and at the moment in the process of introducing Workfare (Work for Your Benefits).
The unemployed still get healthcare. What happens if you take ill?
Pity the preggers ship has sailed :-), I am sure that you one of our contributors would have helped you out 🙂
Tom Joad
June 22, 2010 at 11:37 pm
Just thinking 🙂 if you are old enough for the preggers ship to have sailed and have been paying taxes at 30% of your income since you were 14 that’s one bum deal you’ve been given.
Tom Joad
June 22, 2010 at 11:40 pm
If you read through this and the linked sites it will give you a good idea of how the unemployed in the UK are “encouraged” back into work. It could we worse, we could be in the USA.
Tom Joad
June 22, 2010 at 11:57 pm
I wouldn’t give up on the German idea, The Volga Germans got German Citizenship despite none of them going any where near Germany since 1763, most of them can’t speak German and many now look Turco-Mongolian.
But Germany still let them in (mainly to do all it’s sh*t Jobs. but a sh*t Job in Germany is still in a different league to a shit job in Kazakstan or kirghizistan.
Lowestoft's Finest
June 23, 2010 at 4:19 pm
missdisplaced: So what do folk in U.S. do when their benefits run out? Shoplift, etc.?
Curious
June 22, 2010 at 6:19 pm
I don’t know honestly. When it runs out they no longer count you in the system. You can try to qualify for welfare or disability, but unless you have children or can prove that you are physically unable to work, you won’t get anything.
My unemployment just ran out at 78 weeks. I don’t know what will happen if I don’t get a job soon. When that happens I will no longer be “counted” as unemployed. No one cares. I guess they expect you to live with family or be homeless.
missdisplaced
June 22, 2010 at 7:36 pm
The USA sounds like one crap hole of a country. Land of the Free where you can be what you want to be, yeah right! Only if you’ve got a few billion dollars behind you.
Being homeless and without an income is a very difficult situation for a person to dig themselves out of, just a downward spiral.
And you’re right about no-one caring, when the chips are down no-one gives a stuff, that is what all that right-wing “small state”, “stand on your own two feet”, “Big Society” bullshit is all about.
Anyway, its a bad situation that you are being driven into, MissDisplaced, you not thought of getting out of that dump, emigrating to some place like the UK – the land of milk and honey, where the streets are paved with gold. 🙂
Tom Joad
June 22, 2010 at 8:04 pm
Some good words Tom Joad… they pretty much have had a recession every decade for the last 3 centuries.
Flexible New Deal
June 22, 2010 at 9:13 pm
Tom Joad: Yes it can be bad. I don’t hate my country, but right now so many have lost sight of putting your citizens first INSTEAD of bailing out big business.
Mostly this comes from conservative (Christian) right wing. I know–SUCH caring people. They scream “socialist” about everything that helps poor people.
This recession happened (in my book) due to deregulation of the financial sector. This was lobbied for by Big Business and the Big Banks of course.
missdisplaced
June 22, 2010 at 11:39 pm
Is that the same right-wing nuts that always equate “socialism” with Stalinism lol What kind of insurance system have you been paying into all these years?
Tom Joad
June 22, 2010 at 11:44 pm
Where are these God-fearing “Christians” in your time of need? Do they help you out or do they leave that to the Good Lord? 🙂
Tom Joad
June 22, 2010 at 11:52 pm
They are some sick puppies. Preaching “family values” but then not wanting to help the poor or people going through hard times.
Yes, NO healthcare. Our gov. does not have any national healthcare for those under 65 (old people get Medicare) and it has been a BIG fight between liberal and conservative. If Sarah Palin wins the next election, can I come there? Health insurance is a private sector, usually your company pays for part as a benefit and you pay the other part. It varies widely + you still have a yearly deductible and co-pays. Sometimes it is not worth it unless you are really needing it, but it can be risky to do that because what if you are injured? Many go bankrupt over medical bills, even if they DO have insurance because the private insurance carriers will drop or decide to NOT cover certain illnesses (like cancer).
BTW—I love Brit. guys. And don’t even get me started about Doctor Who…. I still miss Tennant!
missdisplaced
June 23, 2010 at 1:50 am
Sarah Palin, is that the chick that kills moose with her bear hands, her God-fearing Christian daughter got preggers at 14? Practice what you preach, eh 🙂
That’s enlightening what you say about USA-style Healthcare, so what was the deal with “Obamacare” that the right-wing Christian media were railing against, was that a move in the right direction?
The Healthcare system that you describe in the USA is what the UK is slowly being nudged towards, “privatisation by the back door”, the takeover of healthcare and welfare by insurance companies is already being touted. Interesting to note what you say about refusal of cancer treatment, the UK is in the process of transferring doctor’s records onto vast computer systems ostensibly for the benefit of the general public, but as a side effect if would make access easier to insurance companies and the like.
So what happens if you get cancer, are you just left to roll around in acute pain until you die?
BTW Don’t get me started on USA chicks 🙂
Tom Joad (David Tennant lookalike 🙂 )
Tom Joad
June 23, 2010 at 8:12 am
Just thinking 🙂 , but it sounds like one big scam that you have going on in the USA re healthcare and welfare. They exploit your fears to milk you for all you are worth when you are fit and healthy and the moment that you need any actual help they drop you like the proverbial hot potato. Insurance companies are infamous for using any “get-out” clause to avoid paying-out, they have no business being involved in these areas.
Tom Joad
June 23, 2010 at 8:24 am
I find it all kinda ironic how the US preached hate on our health service (NHS).
That is a good concept (the NHS), but although Obama is black (50% or something) and thus is on a mission to free everyone from the ghetto (of all nationalities and all people in america even the rich) has came into a problem… because a US version of the NHS would bankrupt yourselves besides the problem Obama faces is although your Government (federal) is very heavy handed its still capitalism that rules, so insurance companies wont let them introduce such a system as it will lose them billions of dollars.
I realise the above might sound racist – perhaps it is (not intended to be) – but it was also racist to think a person who is darker than others is going to bring “change”… (although it has been debated that there were previous presidents with the same ratio of black ethnicity) over in the UK I cant see him being any different to Bush, although I must say, Obama (even before he came president) likes talking as if he was God. (Ironically he thought to be a decent US president he should do a speech in Germany before beign elected… whats wrong with going to some run down area of America?)
Possibly just an election con because he is corrupt as f**k, it sounded great that Obama was to stick up for the small poorer people but this agenda soon went out of the window.
Enough on Obama, I could list a thousand times more things wrong with Bush etc.
Flexible New Deal
June 23, 2010 at 8:48 am
Tom Joad (David Tennant lookalike 🙂
Mmmmm…. David Tennant lookalikes work too! Are you tall and can you pull off a pinstripe suit? Sticky-uppy hair is a plus too!
Here is a good article about what is going on with our Jobless bill legislation.
http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/104599-republican-leaders-walk-fine-line-on-unemployment
Re: Obama. I think people gravitated toward him because he seemed an outsider. He didn’t come from MONEY and had a normal middle-class upbringing, student loans and all. I have to say, he IS a very smart man. The sad thing is, there is still such a shocking amount of racism in our country, and it gets even worse in tough economic times. Many Americans are very stupid and ignorant and as a result are easily brainwashed and manipulated by the GOP, religion, etc. into voting a certain way. I’m just not sure Mr. Obama can overcome such prejudice and resistance no matter what he tries to do.
missdisplaced
June 23, 2010 at 3:41 pm
How much per week is the limit for housing benefit for a single person over 25 on a one bedroom flat in Ipswich?
As there’s only a certain amount of a hit a person already dependant on JSA for a year can take. If somebody then has to find an extra £10 out of their JSA for rent each week they just won’t be able to do it. So if this is the case the government has sneakily effectivly ended JSA after a year as nobody is going to be able to survive on it after forking out the difference for rent?
Lowestoft's Finest
June 22, 2010 at 6:26 pm
The (new) limit for a one bedroom flat is £250 a week, but that will be for Central London. You don’t know what the plan of attack is though, reduce it by a further 10% for subsequent years up to x years. Its cruel to dangle the threat of homelessness over people who are already on the breadline line. A lot of people are going to end up homeless over this (but it will be their own fault – didn’t pay the rent!)
I don’t know what the indexing to CPI is about, you’d assume that they are expecting rent increases to exceed CPI, further chipping into JSA.
Neil Sleat
June 22, 2010 at 6:40 pm
It’s realy going to hit unemplyed people in areas with high housing costs (normaly becouse that’s where the jobs are)!!!
(so does the government now want the unemployed to stop rioting and get back on their bikes to relocate where the jobs arn’t)?
IF you are long term unemployed person in say Cambridge which thanks to its large Student population, housing shortages and commutability to London has sky high rents this 10% housing benefit cut is going to cause huge worries.
Lord Tebbit's Farther
June 22, 2010 at 6:58 pm
You are unlikely to be paying less than 65.45 a week rent, so after a year its AT LEAST a 10% cut to JSA. The Budget is a huge document (not just what Gideon says in the Commons), you never know what is buried deep in it. Then we’ve got IBS to contend with.
Neil Sleat
June 22, 2010 at 6:48 pm
So if you’re rent was £100 a week that would be a 15% cut and if you were unfortunate enough to be paying £250 a week (a one-bedroomed flat in Hackney, London will be at least this) it would be 38% cut.
Neil Sleat
June 22, 2010 at 6:57 pm
Lowerstoft’s Finest: Unless it’s changed there’s a thing called a Local Reference Rent (LRR), based on the type of property (flat/house), and the number of bedrooms in a postcode area. Where I live for a one bedroom flat the LRR is GBP 495 a month – which is how much housing benefit I get
Your local council should be able to tell you.
Funny A4e Photos
June 22, 2010 at 8:29 pm
Blimmey so after a years unemplyment where you live you would then need to find over £12 a week out of your JSA just to keep a roof over your head?
I couldn’t keep that up for long before I soon ended up on the street.
Lowestoft's Finest
June 22, 2010 at 8:53 pm
Lowerstoft’s Finest: No, my rent is GBP 450 a month, and I keep the difference. It’s not that unusal. My landlord’s agent said another tenant on benefit pays GBP 900 a month in rent but get GBP 1000 a month housing benefit.
In the worst case scenario they could reduce my housing benefit to to GBP 450 a month. but I don’t believe it would be less than the rent I pay.
I worked for the Rent Registration Service for 5 years, it was part of the Scottish Executive (governemnt department). At that time housing benefit payment for private sector tenants was the same as the actual rent being claimed providing it was not higher than the LRR. So you could have 2 claimants in identical 1 bedroom properties in the same postocode area, paying different rent – one might be paying GBP 500, and the other pays GBP 450 a month. But providng the GBP 500 a month rent property did not exceed the LRR the council might still pay the full rent if the Rent Officer determined it was worth it in relation to the quality of the property and furnishings.
But it was so expensive administering that system, having rent officers plus the cost of vehicles for visits as well the associated office costs like that they changed it to a LRR. An closed the Rent Registration Office to save money
So now a prospective tenant who would be claiming housing benefit for a private sector poperty would know exactly how much housing benefit they will get for a property based on it’s postcode location and number of bedrooms – regardless of differnce in size and quality of the property
So in my case my rent is less than the LRR, hence I get to keep the difference.
In the late 1990s the Scottish Executive carried out a study of how housing benefit could be reformed to save money. The study became so complicated they gave up before it was completed. I spoke to two of the civil servants who were involved in the study, so I know.
I’m not saying money can’t be saved on housing benefit, but it so incredibly complicated that whilst you think you can save money in actual housing benefit payments you lose those savings in the cost of adminsitrating a more complicated system.
Funny A4e Photos
June 22, 2010 at 11:13 pm
@funny a4e photos. what about council/housing association tenants? from what you say it seems like it’s only them are definitely going to get screwed over by this. they aint got any room for “manoeuvre”
barney
June 22, 2010 at 11:30 pm
For Housing Allowance (LHA) in Ipswich for a Single 25+ yo is entitled to a one bedroom place (under 25 is shared facilities) for next month is £418.86 (rates change per month) – has to be self-contained otherwise counts as the shared rate.
Flexible New Deal
June 22, 2010 at 9:06 pm
Barney: Because rents for council properties are lower than the private rented sector and housing associations, I doubt council tenants on housing benefit will be affected by any changes.
I don’t know enough about housing association rents, but have heard that some of them can be very high.
It’s difficult to know in detail what this government plans to do after todays budget. But I believe they will target those private sector housing benefit ciamants living in high rent areas in cities and big town. I can see them reducing their rent to encourage them to move into cheaper rented accomodation.
I think if you are paying a reasonable rent reagardless of whether your a council, private or housing association tenant I think you will be okay.
Funny A4e Photos
June 23, 2010 at 12:01 am
but even someone paying £50 a rent is going to see £5 a week shaved off their income. small change to the likes of osborne, cameron and clegg but the difference between heating or eating to someone on out of work benefits.
barney
June 23, 2010 at 12:06 am
might be something along the lines of what barnet, hammersmith or some tory borough in London were up to, where they were trying to decant council tenants out of the better areas into the ghettos.
barney
June 23, 2010 at 12:11 am
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23717484-plot-to-rid-council-estates-of-poor.do
barney
June 23, 2010 at 12:16 am
Spare a thought for the under 25’s they get even less benefit than the over 25’s so there’s no way they could sustain any form of housing benefit hit.
Lowestoft's Finest
June 22, 2010 at 7:19 pm
those on disability living allowance are to face medical’s.this will hit those with mental health problems’ as did the atos fiasco.
according to figures 80/90% of those with mental illness are unemployed and are the highest group of any disability out of work.yet governments have hit these the hardest.it is a form discrimination,these people who are in greatest need receive the least help.
ken
June 22, 2010 at 7:45 pm
Good point Ken,
Somebody on DLA is going to first take a hit when they get booted off DLA on to the lower JSA. Then as they in reality then face less chance of finding employment on JSA then an able bodied person they are then going to take another hit after 12 months when they’re housing benefit goes down 10% and they have to pay the difference from their JSA.
It’s time for disability rights campaigners to stop kissing government arse and make a stand on this.
Lowestoft's Finest
June 22, 2010 at 8:17 pm
barney
I think you’ve nailed it, we didn’t bargain for so many potential punters to end up unemployed in the meantime.
I now pronounce my potential job prospects to be well and truly B*lloxed
Lowestoft's Finest
June 22, 2010 at 9:50 pm
My niece is a benefit scrounger. To get more benefits she went to uni for 18 months and after pocketing around £18,000 in uni grants she decided to drop out because they started to reduce her money. She has a child who is 8 years old but because she might have been made to find a job she got herself pregnant. She lived in a council house but it wasnt upmarket enough for her so she moved into a privately owned 2 bed apartment at double the cost of her council house rent which was paid for her. She is now looking for a 3 bed privately owned house to move into and which us suckers who pay tax will be paying for her. I believe us workers are the suckers, we should give up work on go onto benefits because budget will not touch her benefits.
Fed up taxpayer
June 22, 2010 at 8:07 pm
£18,000 in uni grants for 18 months?!, what are you talking about.
For your information: we are ALL taxpayers, every time that money is spent in the economy tax is generated, so don’t come on here spouting your self righteous claptrap.
Bogbrush
June 22, 2010 at 8:12 pm
For your information she has never paid tax but she can afford Xbox and Wii. The money put into her pocket on benefits day is the taxpayers money so the money isnt coming out of her pocket but ours. She has never earned any money so cant pay tax she is spending our money.
Fed up taxpayer
June 22, 2010 at 8:20 pm
She pays VAT.
Curious
June 22, 2010 at 8:22 pm
Get real, Fed Up Taxpayer, you aren’t intelligent enough to be posting on here. Piss off!
Bogbrush
June 22, 2010 at 8:27 pm
Fed Up Taxpayer, you really need to get out more. You’ve been spending too much time absorbing right-wing propaganda.
Bogbrush
June 22, 2010 at 8:29 pm
Curious: dont remind me of the VAT increase! :O 20% ouch
Flexible New Deal
June 22, 2010 at 9:08 pm
Flexi.
This now means VAT has now gone up 5% in the past year if we count back up from 15%.
I have been waiting to hear from a company if I have got a job but it’s dependant on their sales picking up. U
nfortunatly their sales are at present the lowest they’ve been for years and more worryingly despite the public not exactly needing to be Mystic Meg to tell the VAT was going to go up to at least 20% in this budget, the imminent 2.5% VAT rise made absolutely no difference to sales as nobody rushed in to beat a 2.5 % VAT rise. Which makes it look more and more like Gordon just p*ssed away more tax payers money when he idioyticly dropped VAT 2.5 % in the first place.
Ever seen a sign saying 2.5% reductions while stocks last?
Lowestoft's Finest
June 22, 2010 at 9:25 pm
as if the unemployed/disabled will all be rushing out to buy massive flat screen tvs before the VAT rise comes in lol get ’em while you can lol
barney
June 22, 2010 at 9:31 pm
By the sound of things your niece should consider becoming an MP.
Ex Speaker Michael Martin
June 22, 2010 at 9:35 pm
Presumably, many will turn to petty crime, e.g. shoplifting, rather than starve – so it will cost the haves in the end anyway.
Curious
June 22, 2010 at 8:10 pm
God has just informed me that a double-dip recession is imminent.
Archbishop of Canterbury
June 22, 2010 at 8:42 pm
Lowestoft still hasn’t climbed out of the recession yet….and I’m talking about the 1980’s recession.
Lowestoft's Finest
June 22, 2010 at 9:07 pm
1980’s? I thought it was the 1919 recession… I am impressed lol
Flexible New Deal
June 22, 2010 at 9:10 pm
I assume bogbrush doesnt work. If not get a job and stop blood sucking the taxpayers you moran.
Fed up taxpayer
June 22, 2010 at 9:00 pm
Did you go to school, Fed Up Taxpayer? Who payed for that? Have you ever been used the National Health Service? Who pays for that? Well, stop sucking up my hard-earned money!
You are really are so myopic, so obsessed and grudging of trivialities such as your niece and her Wii, that you can’t see the wood for the trees. Wake up and see the bigger picture!
And, You can assume all you like, Fed Up Taxpayer, but assumptions can be wrong. I reckon it’s fair to assume though that you, Fed Up Taxpayer, are a first class imbecile.
Bogbrush
June 22, 2010 at 9:17 pm
Men walkin’ ‘long the railroad tracks
Goin’ someplace there’s no goin’ back
Highway patrol choppers comin’ up over the ridge
Hot soup on a campfire under the bridge
Shelter line stretchin’ round the corner
Welcome to the new world order
Families sleepin’ in their cars in the southwest
No home no job no peace no rest
The highway is alive tonight
But nobody’s kiddin’ nobody about where it goes
I’m sittin’ down here in the campfire light
Searchin’ for the ghost of Tom Joad
He pulls prayer book out of his sleeping bag
Preacher lights up a butt and takes a drag
Waitin’ for when the last shall be first and the first shall be last
In a cardboard box ‘neath the underpass
Got a one-way ticket to the promised land
You got a hole in your belly and gun in your hand
Sleeping on a pillow of solid rock
Bathin’ in the city aqueduct
The highway is alive tonight
But where it’s headed everybody knows
I’m sittin’ down here in the campfire light
Waitin’ on the ghost of Tom Joad
Now Tom said “Mom, wherever there’s a cop beatin’ a guy
Wherever a hungry newborn baby cries
Where there’s a fight ‘gainst the blood and hatred in the air
Look for me Mom I’ll be there
Wherever there’s somebody fightin’ for a place to stand
Or decent job or a helpin’ hand
Wherever somebody’s strugglin’ to be free
Look in their eyes Mom you’ll see me.”
The highway is alive tonight
But nobody’s kiddin’ nobody about where it goes
I’m sittin’ downhere in the campfire light
With the ghost of old Tom Joad
Bruce Sprinsteen
June 22, 2010 at 9:21 pm
I come from down in the valley
where mister when you’re young
They bring you up to do like your daddy done
Me and Mary we met in high school
when she was just seventeen
We’d ride out of that valley down to where the fields were green
We’d go down to the river
And into the river we’d dive
Oh down to the river we’d ride
Then I got Mary pregnant
and man that was all she wrote
And for my nineteenth birthday I got a union card and a wedding coat
We went down to the courthouse
and the judge put it all to rest
No wedding day smiles no walk down the aisle
No flowers no wedding dress
That night we went down to the river
And into the river we’d dive
Oh down to the river we did ride
I got a job working construction for the Johnstown Company
But lately there ain’t been much work on account of the economy
Now all them things that seemed so important
Well mister they vanished right into the air
Now I just act like I don’t remember
Mary acts like she don’t care
But I remember us riding in my brother’s car
Her body tan and wet down at the reservoir
At night on them banks I’d lie awake
And pull her close just to feel each breath she’d take
Now those memories come back to haunt me
they haunt me like a curse
Is a dream a lie if it don’t come true
Or is it something worse
that sends me down to the river
though I know the river is dry
That sends me down to the river tonight
Down to the river
my baby and I
Oh down to the river we ride
Bruce Springsteen
June 22, 2010 at 9:25 pm
And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England’s mountains green:
And was the holy Lamb of God,
On England’s pleasant pastures seen!
And did the Countenance Divine,
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here,
Among these dark Satanic Mills?
Bring me my Bow of burning gold;
Bring me my Arrows of desire:
Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold!
Bring me my Chariot of fire!
I will not cease from Mental Fight,
Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand:
Till we have built Jerusalem,
In Englands green & pleasant Land.
Archbishop of Canterbury
June 23, 2010 at 8:07 am
And there was me thinking Israel was already busy building a New Jerusalem on the Occupied Territories.
Lowestoft's Finest
June 23, 2010 at 8:52 am
Thought that was the ‘Sainted Emma’ and A4E
Moses
June 23, 2010 at 11:07 am
No she subcontracted out to RIP to build a new Guantanamo Bay in our green and pleasant land.
Lowestoft's Finest
June 23, 2010 at 11:25 am
Let my people go !!!!
End the New Deal slavery immediatly.
And Benedict Gummer of Ipswich, stop using this board to abuse the presently unemployed wise man of the extreme East.
GOD
June 23, 2010 at 11:47 am
Maybe Emma will give up on Israel if she sees no ‘Prophet’ there
Moses.
June 23, 2010 at 12:16 pm
Fairness and reform at the heart of Budget settlement
22 June 2010
In keeping with the commitment to fairness and reform, the Department today confirmed the details of its emergency budget settlement based around the key principles of:
protecting the most vulnerable
ensuring the best value for the taxpayer
reforming the welfare and benefits system
creating real incentives to make work pay
At its heart, is the commitment to help and support the poorest and most vulnerable in society, whilst making almost £5 billion worth of savings for the taxpayer by 2014-15.
This settlement marks the beginning of a programme of radical and fundamental reform that will see the welfare state return to its core principles of providing a safety net for those who need it and value for those who support it.
The Chancellor confirmed that from April 2011 all DWP administered benefits will be uprated in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI). This is a better indication of inflation and is the target that the Bank of England works towards, so it makes sense for the Department to uprate benefits using this measure.
Pensioners
The Government’s support for pensioners remains absolute. The Budget affirms the commitment to a triple guarantee for pensions, meaning the basic State Pension will be uprated by the highest of the price index, earnings or 2.5%. We will ensure that the basic State Pension will go up in line with RPI for next year if that is higher than all of the three other elements.
We have secured vital support for the 2.5 million poorest pensioners. We will ensure that low income pensioners on the Pension Credit Guarantee Credit receive the same cash increase as provided for through the triple guarantee for the basic State Pension in April 2011.
Housing Benefit
This budget also sees the Government address some of the unfairness that has become inherent in the Housing Benefit (HB) system and in many cases a barrier to helping people into work. The reforms will save nearly £2 billion in the financial year 2014-15, whilst making the benefit more fair and better targeted. It also marks the first plank of the reform of the benefits system. A reform which will in the long term make the system simpler and fairer, and help reduce the fraud and error bill which today stands at £5 billion across benefits and tax credits.
Local Housing Allowance (LHA) will now be restricted to a maximum of four bedrooms for new and existing claimants. Alongside this, weekly LHA rates will be capped at £250 for a one bedroom property, £290 for two, £340 for three and £400 for a four bedroom property.
LHA rates will now also be based on the thirtieth percentile of rents of the local area. This reform means hard working individuals and families will no longer have to subsidise people living in properties they themselves could not afford. From April 2013 LHA will be uprated by CPI.
There will be staged increases in the rates of non-dependant deductions in the income-related benefits from April 2011. By April 2014, these increases will bring the rates to the level they would have been had they been fully uprated since 2001 to reflect growth in rents and council tax. This measure, phased over three years, will strike a fairer balance.
To help make work pay from April 2013, people who have been on Jobseeker’s Allowance for 12 months or more, will have a 10% reduction in their Housing Benefit.
We will also work with local authorities to ensure that the housing stock is more sensibly utilised and that entitlement to social housing reflects a family size. Working age HB claimants who are living in a property that is too large for their household size will have their benefit capped. To help the most vulnerable people who could be affected by this change, the Additional Discretionary Housing Payments budget will be tripled to £60 million a year from 2013-14.
Carers
We recognise the important work done by carers up and down the country and so we will provide an extra £60 million by 2014 to help fund an additional room for carers.
Mortgage interest support
The current system of mortgage interest support means that 92% of customers get more help than they actually need. To ensure that Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) is better targeted we will reduce the rate from 1 October 2010 from 6.08% to the Bank of England average (currently 3.67%).
Disability Living Allowance
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) was originally designed to give those with severe disabilities extra help so they could live with dignity and independence in their own homes. While we are absolutely committed to supporting vulnerable disabled people, over the last decade the system has become open to abuse and the numbers claiming has steadily increased. In just eight years the numbers claiming DLA have risen by more than half a million.
DLA awards can be decided on the basis of self-reporting of need and, although medical assessments are sought for certain awards, these are not mandatory. We believe support must be offered on the basis of genuine need.
That’s why we’re taking the decision to reassess everyone of working age on DLA, and ensure everyone in the future goes through a proper gateway to claim the benefit.
Lone parents
There are still almost 700,000 lone parents claiming some form of Income Support without any obligation to look for work. Currently lone parents are expected to start seeking work when their youngest child is seven years old – we will lower this to when their youngest child is five years old. Our Jobcentre Plus advisers will work closely with the parents using their current discretionary powers to ensure that these obligations take into account the school hours of their children.
Sure Start Maternity Grant
As part of making the system fair to all families, the Sure Start Maternity Grant of £500 will now be made payable to the first child only. The grant was designed to help with the costs of having a baby – such as buying a pram or cot – yet it was payable for every child and cost the country £73 million a year. Working families will often make use of a pram or cot for a second or third child and we would expect families on benefits to do the same.
Flexible New Deal
June 23, 2010 at 8:53 am
Well let’s hope the governments fiscal calculations are’nt based on the 700,000 lone parents getting a job. As there’s not 700,000 additional jobs for them out there especialy ones that they can fit round being a single parent.
Before they target another disadvantaged group to dump on a practiculy non existant jobs market, they first need to tell us where are the jobs for the disabled booted off incapacity and dumped on JSA by the last government?
Lowestoft's Finest
June 23, 2010 at 9:22 am
On Missdisplaced I think there’s something on Channel Four this Friday about what happens in the USA when you have no job and no Dole.
I think it’s a programme of “you’ve got yourself into that mess: you should “fuck off and die”.
Anyway, I got the thing about the switch to the Consumer Price Index rather than the Retail Price Index right.
Though the freeze is only on Child Benefits, and the crack-down (so far) only on the Disabled (haven’t they just had one?).
Anyway with the Cider Tax break and no rise in Duty we’ll all be able to get pissed up on White Lightening (9%), spit at a few Rozzers, and thump Fed Up Tax Payer until he hands over all his dosh for a mass session of real Ale at all three Ipswich Wetherspoons.
Andrew Coates
June 23, 2010 at 12:10 pm
We’ve had a minor tent city in the woods right on the extreme northern outskirts of Lowestoft since before Christmas.
It’s a bit off a p*ss take as Lowestoft hasn’t got that much of a housing problem and its also got the Fife Centre for the Homeless. Though this crowd look like long term druggies so maybe the homeless Centre won’t take them in.
Says something about Britain and the care in the comunity sceme when people with mental problems end up having to live in tents in woods especialy in Lowestoft in February when if you take into consideration the windchill it can go down to minus 18.
Lowestoft's Finest
June 23, 2010 at 4:02 pm
Hi Andrew,
Yes the programme is on this Friday at 7:30pm. TV Times says that some are now living in TENT CITIES or in THEIR CARS. It’s only on 4 half an hour though
philip brown
June 23, 2010 at 2:30 pm
Been mentioned on Radio 4’s Moneybox Live that this wont be the end of the benefit cuts. 😦
Soothsayer
June 23, 2010 at 3:07 pm
“I’d rather have my ass kicked by a roomful of DWP goons than go on to this workfare… Fortunately, no one in this room could do it.”
Gen Stanley McChrystal
June 23, 2010 at 7:03 pm
Re Gen Stanley McChrystal.
Do you know if our ‘beloved’ Emma Harrison at A4e has an American Passport. She ‘could’ run for the White House. So much for Full Spectral Domminance. I wonder if she thinks if she can walk on water
Moses
June 24, 2010 at 8:24 am
Lowestoft, we had a tent-city behind St Margaret’s Church last year. There’s a lot of rough sleepers who beg in Ipswich.
Thanks Philipe – one to watch.
Re: Wetherspoon’s.
Having posted that comment I mentioned this to a friend as I was walking down Northgate Street.
He reminded me forcefully that the increase in VAT meant that the pub price of beer would be going up regardless.
Andrew Coates
June 24, 2010 at 9:24 am
Yes (to my best understanding) this was a crafty element of the budget rather deceptive in nature.
Alcohol has duty tax on it however still has the standard rate (17.5% soon to be 20%) of VAT
Also, to add, this doesn’t mean such a simple increase in the price of drinks… some pubs are likely to increase their markup slightly – because most pub-goers do not carry a calculator around with them – and also could mean a push on effect with the distributors. Instead of paying 20p in the pound VAT it could be 25p – you are unlikely to know unless you know the pre-VAT unit price as its not as simple as adding 2.5% (to the previous price with VAT) unless I am mistaken not exactly good at maths haha.
Flexible New Deal
June 24, 2010 at 9:39 am
I think the elephant in the room that nobody dares mantion on the economy recovery front is what happens this winter to fuel prices.
As I at least am of the oppinion that the current mess has its roots as much in the round of never ending fuel price rises that hit the world as much as it had to do with bad bank debts.
BP are now trying it on big time by trying to cover their neglegence by saying their working practices are down to them having to keep their prices down, and more regulation would drive prices up, and Belarus has just kicked off a Ukrainian style dispute over their Gas price with Russia’s Gasprom and are making threats over their section of the pipeline from Russia to Europe.
I think if the Fuel rise spirral kicks off this winter then all the budgets to pay off national debt and save banks will have been for nothing.
Lowestoft's Finest
June 24, 2010 at 11:35 am
Just Wondering. If The Government Are Going Now To Scrap In All But Name The Retirement Age. Will Now Dencora House Have A Gereatric Detention Room And Parking For The Mobility Scooters. Plus Will The Pay Mileage Expenses For Those That Use Them To Get To Their ‘Placements’.
Moses
June 25, 2010 at 8:36 am
Word on the street is Dencora House is now going to add a “Lifer’s Unit”.
Seems the Neets arn’t so stupid after all, as taking early retirement at their age is the only way anyone in their social demographic can live long enough to see it.
Huggy Bear
June 25, 2010 at 8:52 am
According to IBS we are all living much healthier and longer lives and that someone retiring today at 65 can expect to live to 90! Hence the need to take the axe to the social security budget. ..
Raw Deal
June 25, 2010 at 10:22 am
So if I give up the wine, women and song now and take up step aerobics I can get an additional 15 years of life at the end strapped into a chair in a maximum security rest home, slobbering and using my own trousers as a toilet?
Lowestoft's Finest
June 25, 2010 at 11:02 am
Just promises, promises… best to take anything IBS says with a large pack of Imodium.
Raw Deal
June 25, 2010 at 11:18 am
In Lowestoft where people start franticly repopulating the planet when their six theres a good possibilty that quite a few people are going to now end up on the New Deal in class together in with umpteen generations of their family.
Q. Timeteam: “Mr Lowestoft’s Finest do you know what your great great grandfarther did for a living”?
A. Lowestoft’s Finest : “Thats easy Nothing same as me, that’s why he’s here same as me on the New Deal, if you don’t believe me go over and ask him thats him sat over their in the corner asleep, the one sat between my dad and my grandad”.
Lowestoft's Finest
June 25, 2010 at 9:17 am
To Mr Lowestoft’s Finest
Here is a point to ponder but alas it’s just a dream. One Day Soon We {Will} Have A Job. All Of Us. Then Where Do The PA’s Who Are Out Of Work Go. {Well Some Of Us MIGHT Become PA’s} Revenge Is Sweet ?????
moses
June 25, 2010 at 11:59 am
Though it breaks our hearts to admit it the truth is we just have to pull ourselves together and face the prospect that things look grim for our beloved PA’s in those circumstances.
After a lifetime in the industry the majority of PA’s have just become so institutionalised that no Animal Rescue Centre will take them as there is little prospect of any animal lover wanting to rehouse them with their lack of house training and aggresion problems.
The best thing for them is for their gratefull ex clients to club together to pay for them to be sent off with dignity to Switzerland to a Euthanasia Centre to be put down humainly.
Lowestoft's Finest
June 25, 2010 at 12:47 pm
a few years ago when I was still in my 20’s I was bullied yes by older women and older men who just did’nt like me because I had a mental illness and the duspected I was on benefit I could’nt afford comfortable proper fitting clothes so my clothes were eith to big or to small for me I was called names by older people in sutton highstreet one elederly bulling man said I don;t know how she can get away with claiming benefits and there push in front of me at bus stops and in shops knowing that I was the first and the run over me with there shopping trolley single mother too twice I had my foot run over in sutton highstreet by pushchairs how about them bulling me. and how can they afford nice clothes and I can’t not fair.
Debs
June 25, 2010 at 1:07 pm
A budget against the unemployed! Really? What an outlandish and indeed cretinous statement to make. It must take a most twisted and peculiar turn of logic to concoct such a bizarre thought.
On the contrary, it was a budget FOR the unemployed. George’s impressive, outstanding and impeccable inaugural Budget delivered a raft of measures to help and encourage the unemployed back into the workplace, such as the changes to Housing Benefit which will ensure that work does indeed pay. Overall, it was a Budget borne out of a sense of fairness, responsibility and most of all decency.
On a personal note, one was only disappointed that somehow the Chancellor managed to restrain himself from going all the way in one fell swoop. The Axe of Taking Responsibility for One’s Own Life bearing down upon the parasites that feed upon the very fabric of our society is nothing less than they deserve; there are far too many welfare scroungers in this country who have absolutely no intention of working whatsoever leeching off the efforts of hard-working tax-payers. Society as a whole can no longer afford to carry the burdensome weight of this sponging class of work-shy scum, the flotsam and jetsam who have no place amongst decent, hard-working members of our communities.
Only the feckless, work-shy and lazy have anything to fear from this Budget and indeed this Government.
Kind Regards
Rt Hon Benedict Gummer MP
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA
Rt Hon Benedict Gummer MP
June 25, 2010 at 2:02 pm
And what about the influx of East European workers who have displaced British workers from the jobs market?
The Anglo Saxon ecomomic model reins supreme!
Funny A4e Photos
June 25, 2010 at 2:08 pm
A most predicable response from one of the feckless posters on this interminable website – blame someone else. Why don’t you take responsibility for your own life instead ferreting around trying to absolve yourself of your own bone-idleness by blaming hard-working members of our community for a situation of your making.
Kind Regards
Rt Hon Benedict Gummer MP
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA
Rt Hon Benedict Gummer MP
June 25, 2010 at 2:18 pm
Really Benedict!
You know your should not use the computer without an adult present. Just wait till you mother and father find out. It will eary to bed and no more gt for a month for you my lad
Mary Poppins
June 25, 2010 at 4:28 pm
Was with a provider in Ipswich until THURSDAY 17 JUNE. Received a job seekers direction to apply for a job in telesales with a company in CHALFONT SQUARE Ipswich.
Went for interview and started on Monday 21 June. Arranged sign off etc and housing benefit run on. Working tax credits etc. Tuesday 22 June company dropped job as no leads for the reps were made in 24 hours by any of the staff. Back to job centre etc. Lucky though they just reinstated everything for me within 24 hours. Others too have had this problem with this company in CHALFONT SQUARE. If you want to know CHALFONT SQUARE is in Old Foundry Road. There is a Telecoms company there at Unit 1. Still as I was on stage 4 FND at the time I expect the summons for my return within a couple of weeks. I hope my advisor is not there anymore. I understand that he too used to work for this telecoms company before going into a provider at crown house.
Really Pissed Off
June 26, 2010 at 2:49 pm
Really Pissed off.
I pass by there nearly every day.
It look to me one of those places where companies just come and go.
Someone told me that they had a ‘Job Club’ there at one point.
Andrew Coates
June 27, 2010 at 9:55 am
Yes Thats The Impression I get too.
Really Pissed Off
June 27, 2010 at 11:49 am
Yes thats what I thought when I saw it too. [By the way I live in the block of flats next door] I pass it everyday too. Oh yes it has a job club feel about it too.
Really Pissed Off
June 27, 2010 at 11:54 am
Sounds like you just got handed a “poison chalice” job wise, baring in mind that you started the day before the budget that the public were then waiting to hear about and sh*tting themselves with worry over, its not supprising that they didn’t want to buy anything that day.
Have you looked into unfair dismisal? as it doesn’t seem fare that under the circumstances meantioned earlier the company can turn round and lay you off after one day as by the sound of things you tried your best on your first day, it would be different if you had rolled in at dinnertime, refused to do anything and got lippy etc.
On top of things the more experianced staff didn’t make any sales either so I don’t think you were given any chance.
Lowestoft's Finest
June 27, 2010 at 10:47 am
Hi Mr Lowestoft’s Finest.
The DWP / IBC are doing this on my behalf. They seem to think that there is a problem as others too have had this happen to them with UNICOM
really pissed off
June 27, 2010 at 11:57 am
UNICOM
http://www.switchingon.com
Telecom Telemarketing
Salary: £12k basic + commission + bonus (OTE £17,000 – £23,000)
Job Type: Permanent
Industry: Telecom Sales
Location: Offices throughout the UK, please see “How to Apply” for contact details
The Role:
Unicom, a Sunday Times Fast Track 100 Company, is the UK’s largest and fastest growing independent business to business telecommunications service provider and wishes to continue to expand its already successful sales operations in the UK. Unicom wishes to appoint several enthusiastic, ambitious and hardworking people to ensure that it continues to meet and exceed the targets achieved to date.
As a Unicom Telecom Telemarketer you will become the first point of contact between Unicom and potential new customers. During your initial telephone call you would be expected to obtain qualifying information such as the customer’s current provider and current expenditure, and then to create interest in the Unicom product. You will explain our services and the potential savings available, as well as answer any questions customers may have. Your objective is to make appointments for fieldsales representatives to visit.
Requirements:
We require enthusiastic, hard working, individuals. No experience is required as full training will be provided. Those individuals with a warm, empathetic and outgoing personality would be well suited to this opportunity.
Benefits:
£12k basic salary.
Competitive commission + bonus package.
Successful candidates can expect to earn in the region of £17k – £23k pa.
Excellent promotional prospects exist for individuals who demonstrate a target driven attitude and strong leadership skills.
How to Apply:
We require Telecom Telemarketers throughout the country. Please check the list below to identify an office nearest to you. You should then apply either by telephone or by sending a covering email + your recent CV to the email address which corresponds to the office nearest to you.
UNIVERSAL UTILITIES PLC Registered in England & Wales No: 3667643 Vat Registration No. 945 7954 67
Registered Office: Universal House, Longley Lane, Manchester M22 4SY
Vacancy Alert!!
June 26, 2010 at 3:55 pm
The reply to really pissed off just goes to show what has been said in the past is true. This site is being watched by DWP/TNG/YMCA/RIP etc. Some of the posts could come from them ?
Moses
June 27, 2010 at 9:16 am
All these websites are internet accessible without restrictions… anyone in the world can view them and within reason comment on them.
We have great purpose, ensuring new A4e branded cups get ordered in regularly after being dropped by some of their staff. I hope they sort out the tea and coffee stains though!
A4e came forward and commented – before retreating with their tail inbetween their legs.
Flexible New Deal
June 27, 2010 at 9:35 am
Cheers Flexi
After all these years and series of Little Britain, untill I read your comment I wasn’t aware that more than the one episode of little Britain was ever made.
Spot The Difference
June 28, 2010 at 9:46 am
Tails ? Between their legs ? I was RIGHT Emma Harrison ?. Devil In Disguise. I BET SHE DOES WEAR PRADA TOO
Moses
June 28, 2010 at 10:11 am
Maybe its the same episode! lol
Not exactly worth remembering 😎
Flexible New Deal
June 28, 2010 at 12:59 pm
Me and me mate Hugh Dennis also read it. We knick your jokes – thanks lads and laddies. As Miss Displaced above say – you guys are funny! You lot would be making a mint writing for the BBC Comedy Unit if you had been born into the right stuff (c) and been Eton/Oxbridge educated. Once again, thanks 🙂 Steve & Hugh
Steve Punt
June 27, 2010 at 10:30 pm
Steve wasn’t your dad also Bishop of Ipswich?
Lowestoft's Finest
June 27, 2010 at 11:07 pm
Who the fuck is Steve Punt? Obviously some stupid cunt!
I must add I found your comment funny. BBC + Comedy? British Comedy is pretty much a thing of the past, apart from a few shows like Mock the Week.. all we are left with is crap like Little Britain (who I think most people are too thick to realise its taken the piss out of the excuse of a society we are left with i.e. disability benefit thiefs. Some good material for a sketch show, however, after 3-4 scenarios variations of the same comedy concept, it requires new material)
Flexible New Deal
June 28, 2010 at 7:08 am
I’m glad that someone else noticed the Punt and Dennis similarities to material that had previously appeared on this site.
As though I don’t normaly listen to it. I caught an episode towards the end of the last series of Punt and Dennis’s “The Now Show” on Radio 4 that featured some material unquestionably lifted from material that had already appeared on this site a week or two earlier.
Steve Punt deffinatly has Ipswich connections so I even wonderd if he might be contributing under an alias, likewise some hillarious poisionous rants about the Great and the Good of Ipswich did make me wonder if the all round bad egg Victor Lewis Smith wasn’t up to his tricks again.
Lowestoft's Finest
June 28, 2010 at 11:26 am
Fancy that Lowestoft’s Finest, Old Man Dennis did indeedydoda dress in a funny hat and pretty frock and so became Steve’s obsession with all thinks Ipswich-flavoured. If anyone thinks British comedy is pants you obviously haven’t listened to THE NOW SHOW – PLAYING ON BBC RADIO 4 AT 6:PM ON FRIDAY, a biting satirical review of the week’s news, or half an hour of tedious shit if you want to split hairs, techies who can’t wait can always listen on that new-fangled iplayer thingy. Oh, yeah, us real cool & groovy (c) guys are still in dire need of some material lol for Friday, kind of hard to fill 15 minutes with on yer bike jokes 🙂 so puh-lease keep ’em coming folks. Steve Punt is a stupid cunt… hmmm better write that down. Gotta get back to the wa… rehearsals 🙂 catch you all later. Love Steve (the cunt) & Hugh xxxx 🙂
Hugh Dennis
June 28, 2010 at 11:27 am
6:30PM ON FRIDAY, who’s a stupid cunt now, don’t want anyone tuning in the 6 O’clock read by some posh eton/oxbridge educated tosser 🙂
Hugh Dennis
June 28, 2010 at 11:30 am
Well Punt and Dennis could never steel any of my posts as I take special anti-commedy piracey measures which involves a special high tech encription program that replaces everything I type with a catalogue of typing errors, spelling mistakes, grammatical mistakes and generaly pointless,unfunny and highly offensive comments.
This all helps go to make anything I type both totaly unintelligable (even to someone with a stolen Enigma Machine)and of new value to commedy thieves.
Lowestoft's Finest
June 28, 2010 at 10:07 pm
Typing error:
“of new value to commedy thieves”.
meant to read: “of no value to commedy thieves”.
Lowestoft's Finest
June 28, 2010 at 10:12 pm
Absolutely loved that LF! haha
Flexible New Deal
June 29, 2010 at 11:26 am
Flexi
Maybe I should stop using the program for Job Applications?
Lowestoft's Finest
June 29, 2010 at 12:54 pm
Had a thought.
As now it looks as though they are going too try and make the unemployed move to other areas of the country. I wonder if Emma Harrison has any spare rooms at her mansion.
Moses
June 27, 2010 at 11:30 am
I doubt she has any spare rooms. Besides her family, 20 of her friends share the mansion. Looks like a job for a News Of The World undercover reporter. We don’t want another Waco on our hands!
Funny A4e Photos
June 27, 2010 at 9:59 pm
Now you mention it, that Emma does come across a bit wacky, almost evangelical, sharing a mansion with her “mates”, what’s that all about? She been drinking the Kool-Aid?
David Koresh
June 27, 2010 at 10:11 pm
“sharing a mansion with her “mates””
What like Comrade Coates and Co. living together in their purpose built Bouncey Castle that is Dencora House?
Lowestoft's Finest
June 28, 2010 at 11:51 am
Well what ever she needs all that room for one things for sure the space isn’t being taken up by her “integrity “.
Harry Stotle of Athens
June 27, 2010 at 12:27 pm
Hi.
Harry Stotle of Athens. Maybe not her ‘integrity’ could be her ego though. But on second thoughts would not all that room need too be twice the size though.
Socrates
June 27, 2010 at 3:16 pm
UNEMPLOYED TOLD TO CLIMB DOWN RABBIT HOLE TO MAGICAL LAND OF JOBS!
I live in a city so it will have to be a urban fox hole for me
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2856&Itemid=81
Funny A4e Photos
June 28, 2010 at 12:20 pm
now there is this.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/10431024.stm
what can you say,the conservatives are back to the old ways’ this time its the disabled,while stopping short of hitler’s mercy killings’ this is totally beyond words.
ken
June 28, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Ken,
Yes they are [the conservatives] back to their old ways. As IDS has said the unemployed will be ‘encouraged’ to move into other areas where there are jobs. I hope this does not mean ‘reception centres’ to help with the relocations. Unemployed Encouraged To Move! I think history relates to this somewhere in the mists of time. Please feel free to let me know if I am wrong. But Germany of the 1930’s springs to mind and China during Mao’s time.
Moses
June 28, 2010 at 4:40 pm
Got in in one, Moses.
Oracle
June 28, 2010 at 5:03 pm
If the Lib/Con Aliance carry on in this Twattish vain they look like they are going to pull off the impossible by not only out crapping Neo-Labour but also getting Neo-Labour elected back again and thats even if Neo-Labour Vote Garry Glitter in as their next leader.
From shit out multi millionaire England Footballers to shit heap multi millionaire polititions just how desperate are those at the top of this country to get to the very bottom?
Lowestoft's Finest
June 28, 2010 at 5:24 pm
These camps were presented as corrective institutions in which political renegades, habitual criminals and wayward Jews, among others, were given a taste of firm discipline and hard work out of doors, in the hope that they would come around and serve as useful members of society. Whether they were political rebels, the chronically disabled, social misfits, or minorities perceived as racially inferior, these outsiders often suffered gruesome fates. Political opponents were, by and large, dealt with in the early years of the Third Reich, after which ‘asocials’ and the ‘workshy’ replaced them in the concentration camps. On the whole people looked the other way as the authorities did their worst. However, the operation of the Third Reich’s slave labour empire could not be quarantined so easily from Germans’ everyday experiences. Major companies did, indeed, establish new centres of production near the notorious major camps, but as often as not the prisoners had to be brought to the work, rather than the work going to them. Of the millions of prisoners of war and foreign forced labourers’ many were quartered outside concentration camps proper, in satellite camps which might constitute a warehouse or similar building in the centre of an industrial city. The German public saw bedraggled columns of slave workers shuffle through the streets on their way to and from work. Those who collapsed from exhaustion could be shot on the spot; those who transcended the Third Reich’s race laws – and the most innocent of social intercourse with Germans could suffice – might be hanged in public… the operation of the system of oppression and exploitation, and the involvement in, or attitudes of the German public to this same oppression… the role of Germans in the workplace, where skilled blue-collar workers organised and watched over slave labourers on the spot.
That said it is plain enough, given the intimate links between the slave labour empire and German civil society, that most Germans could hardly have failed to be aware of these nightmarish developments. Foreign labourers were, after all, quartered on farms and in villages as well as in industrial centres. And in more general terms, it seems that the public continued to denounce fellow citizens to the Gestapo, even though the consequences of such denunciations became ever more deadly as the war went from bad to worse. Their initial motives often remained ‘apolitical’, but they must have been perfectly aware,, that these same denunciations served to reinforce the moral and social norms of the Third Reich and also to allow Nazi domestic policy to function effectively.
Sheepdog
June 28, 2010 at 5:46 pm
Everybody should pluck up the courage to watch this film ounce.
And all politicians should be forced to watch it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Come_and_See
Lowestoft's Finest
June 28, 2010 at 6:43 pm
“But where work was available some 10 or 15 miles away from where someone lived”
taken from here.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/10426714.stm
they have sent me for jobs’ further then that before at the job centre and i couldn’t even get there,when i pointed out the irregular hours the reply was “we didnt see that” and “perhaps they will be flexible on that” like hell,another case of inept job centre staff.
drunken smith as usual is putting reckless statements into the public domain this could potently cause ghost towns’/ghettos and no go areas’,the word “encouraged” is to be treated with great caution
this is totally unacceptable treatment of people on benefits’ they are treating the disabled with contempt not worthy of life unable to defend themselves’ to cut money is little more then mugging someone in a wheel chair totally beyond belief and words’.
those who are disabled and the highest group mental health face constant discrimination on applying for vacancies’,sending these into the job centre not only increases stress as well as having to listen to what could be termed an eejit talking down to you not having a clue what he’s talking about with only a abusive tone because you are claiming money is again beyond words’.
ken
June 28, 2010 at 8:34 pm
Ken
I have a mate with depression who was booted off DLA onto JSA same time as everybody else. He is being “helped ” back to work by having to see some middle class worthy woman at the jobcentre who gets him in to patronise him on a regular basis.
The first time he met her he thought she talked such cobblers that he asked her if she had ever had depression? she said no but she has been on a “jobcentre cause”. To which he repplied: “Well that’s Me Cured Then”!!!
He has also been in a hell of a strop with her since she came out with the imortal line “Depression thats a disability isn’t it? then tried to send him on a sixteen month cause for people in wheelchairs in a nearby town to which he replied F-Off No Chance!!!
Lowestoft's Finest
June 28, 2010 at 8:57 pm
This is what the kind of thing I mean Ken and Lowestoft.
But I also know people who are have problems worse than being depressed (that after all tends to make you look inside yourself).
I’ve met people who are often borderline serious full-time treatment.
Sometimes individuals who could be a danger to themselves and others.
Andrew Coates
June 29, 2010 at 9:12 am
Andrew
Though I made light of it in my post my mates depression has been realy bad over the years, were talking suicidal at points on top of going full on alco for two entire years. Its realy only becouse he was fortunate to have good mates that rallied round and never abandond him that he’s still here and now on the come back, but I think the prospect of the black dog coming back is always going to be with him, As far as I’m concerned its a matter of catching it quickly when it reappears.Unfortunatly from what I can see of the mental health system you can forget the idea of it being caught quickly before things esculate.
I don’t think politicians grasp just how severe depression can be when they are coming out with the “what you need is a job to help you take your mind of things” line, as this might work on the mild end of depression sufferers but if anyone had witnessed my mate at the full depth of depression theirs no way he could even function on a daily home level with out a load of help from friends and the thought he could even get to work, get a job or function at work was just ridiculous.
I am worried that the governments combination of lack of knoledge of mental conditions and draconian back to work measures could push many vunerable people (like my mate at his worst), over into suicide, especialy isolated people without any friends or family to rally round which unfortunatly is often part and parcel of severe depression.
Lowestoft's Finest
June 29, 2010 at 12:14 pm
Perhaps some people would secretly prefer people like your friend to commit suicide rather than claim benefits…
Cynic
June 29, 2010 at 2:04 pm
Cynic,
Unfortunatly that same thought has crossed all our minds several times (including my mates,..bet that cheered him up no end)?
I don’t know if you ever saw the news a while back where the Unemployed French women in London got her money stopped and couldn’t just take it any more so jumped to her death?….But it unleashed such torrent of fascistic ignorent comments from the public that you would think Hitler had won the war and marched into the UK to the cheers of the locals.
The comments were the pits about 80% actualy celebrating her suicide, and many going on to slag her off for being, an asylum seeker, drug dealer,arab , black ..none of which she was she was a white French women living here legaly…W*nkers (I wasn’t expecting the Billy Britain brigade to start blubbing like she was Lady Di but a bit off dignity wouldn’t go a miss).
Lowestoft's Finest
June 29, 2010 at 3:04 pm
Just read about the recent suicide of poet musician Paul Reekie here:
http://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2010/06/26/letter-to-george-osbourne/
His housing and incapacity benefit had been stopped.
Cynic
July 1, 2010 at 10:02 am
Cynic, that is heart-wrenching.
This kind of thing happens more than most people realise.
Though most people just suffer in quiet misery.
Andrew Coates
July 1, 2010 at 10:10 am
In my oppinion its the countless people like this who society never gives a F about that need a memorial stuck up to remember them by (prefferably on Parliment Green) not the likes of Lady Di who at least went out enjoying herself their was pretty litle opportunity for that in these poor sods lives.
In Lowestoft we have a statue of a fisherman pointing, which is laughingly refferd to as “The Memorial To the Unknown Dolie” and tourists are told “it comemerates all the fallen dollies that have perished thanks to government after governments incompetance”. When they ask why it depicts a fisherman we say can you see any fishing ships to which they always repply no to which they get told you certainly would have 50 years ago. And if tourists ask “why is he not pointing out to sea, but instead pointing towards the south”? They get told “He’s pointing the way to London where the nearest Jobs are”.
Lowestoft's Finest
July 1, 2010 at 7:12 pm
My little rant,
Thatcher’s “right to buy” council homes policy is the cause of high private renting today, I suggest. When I was growing up poorer people had a council home, others who could afford it got a mortgage. Personally I don’t remember anyone in private renting until the early 1980’s.
Selling our countries assets, the biggest swindle ever. Council homes just the gas, water companies and the like, we owned them as taxpayers, now where have all the profits gone? A few people made good money, and the next generation suffers. Look at the price of utilities now, look at house prices now.
The people who have enjoyed the fruits of strong growth boom times in the last 15 years or so won’t be the ones suffering the government cuts. When the economy is rebuilt by drastic cut backs to the poor, who will benefit again? Who will suffer the next bust? A cold house to some who can’t afford the heating because of some government cut is an awful consequence, compared to some middle class/ wealthy person who may lose a benefit they don’t need. Who do you think are the ones using the Internet down the library that is about to close?
The Tories are loving this recession as an excuse to cut back the public state , as someone said it fits their ideology anyway, a “small state”.
Raising tax on the banks is clearly the most sensible thing. Tax the rich not the poor! Income tax is the only fair tax that I can think of.
Why cut public service jobs when the jobs market is the way it is? They will claim benefits won’t they? Pay freeze them or move them about, but don’t redundant them. Surely it is more cost effective to have them working than increasing the very welfare bill you are looking to lessen?
Why not address the benefit trap now, and concentrate on something useful for unemployed. Not in years to come, make it now. Cutting housing benefit and making work pay, is a nonsense statement, any fool can see through that.
Today for example, someone rang me about a job. £6 per hour, 6am to 2pm shift, and 2pm to 9pm. Temp contract. So how much is that? I guess on a 40 hour week, take home pay £170 at a guess. My studio flat is £110 a week, (it is cheap for my area), , plus I need £30 a week to travel, council tax, £15. Now that is just 3 main bills, which comes to £155. So that leaves about £15 to get food, clothes, transport, phone, the list goes on as you know. I want that job, I just can’t afford it. Don’t you Tories get it, get it in your head, this is the reality now for people. I have a degree by the way. I am also long term unemployed. Maybe on the face of it I am a scrounger to some people. I think most people will take jobs if it is worth while, or doable. It just isn’t doable with the wages to rent ratio. It is prejudice call someone lazy based on the face value of them being long term unemployed.
Thanks,
Daz
Daz
October 26, 2010 at 3:56 am
You have refused a job and put yourself inline for a sanction. Don’t you realise that your local authority will help with HB and CTB run on and other assistance where and when required. This DOES seem like shear laziness and yes it does prove that SOME not all benefit claimants are SCROUNGERS.
Benefit Delivery Centre (Bury St Edmunds
October 26, 2010 at 9:48 am
The point here is surely the rent for a flat is so high that it’s a scandal.
You are right Delivery, but people I know who get this help at present already have a hard time filling in forms (temp contracts make the wages not always sure anyway).
In theory the new universal system is meant to sort this out.
The Government however plans to finance this through cutting Housing Benefit and raising social housing rents, so that, while I agree with Benefit Centre that you can get help now, this will not necessarily last.
Andrew Coates
October 26, 2010 at 11:15 am
Some people on this site have already worked out the calculations and have found out that they will be much WORSE OFF under this new system. Universal Credit does sound a lot more, trendy, cool and modern compared to say Housing Benefit, so it should appeal to da yoof: “wots dat housing da benefit 4 man, yeah, like 4 old geezers, give me ma uni cred top-up man”. You have to learn to think like a Tory! 🙂
Pudding & Pie
October 26, 2010 at 11:31 am
The other day, while I was at work, my cousin stole my
apple ipad and tested to see if it can survive a thirty foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation.
My apple ipad is now broken and she has 83
views. I know this is totally off topic but I had to share it with
someone!
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July 11, 2013 at 6:11 am