I'm gobsmacked.
Discussion
I'm in the process of being made redundant. Due to the technology I use being a somewhat diminishing marketplace (no jobs on jobserve) I am forced to look outside my core skill set and look at options that would need to be taken up should the worst happen.
With this in mind I called the DHSS or whatever its called this afternoon and therein lies the source of my astonishment.
When asked the question with regards to benefits (horrid word, horrid system but needs must and all that) as to what one could expect following redundancy.
Well, she started, you would have to sign on to recieve jobseekers allowance at approx £220 a month. You would be eligible for this and housing benefit.
Now this is the killer
Following an assesment to decide whether the rent we pay is fair (which it is commercially, very fair) we would cover the full cost of your rent at £1000 pcm. We would also exempt you from paying council tax at £150 a month.
So without really pushing the issue the government are willing to pay out almost £1500 a month no questions asked. It ocurred to me at that point to push the issue so I asked whether this would be the case if I turned my hand to full time education in order to convert to a degree. Of course came the response.
nthefloor:
So with this in mind and the government willing to hand out money left right and centre what exactly is my impotus to go back to work?
Now of course I will go back to work and I wont become a professional benefit worker but I do wonder how many people find themselves in this situation and then think balls to it, spark up a Lambert and watch Trisha.
It is absolutely bananas and whilst if I take up the option it will be very handy I still wish I paid less tax in the first place and this proviso wasnt there. £1500, thats a gross income of over £20K for doing absolutely nothing. Utter utter utter madness.
Oh and before anyone shouts dole scum, even if they paid me this for 12 months I would still be wayyy in the black with regards to contributions paid versus benefit recieved.
Astonishing really.
With this in mind I called the DHSS or whatever its called this afternoon and therein lies the source of my astonishment.
When asked the question with regards to benefits (horrid word, horrid system but needs must and all that) as to what one could expect following redundancy.
Well, she started, you would have to sign on to recieve jobseekers allowance at approx £220 a month. You would be eligible for this and housing benefit.
Now this is the killer
Following an assesment to decide whether the rent we pay is fair (which it is commercially, very fair) we would cover the full cost of your rent at £1000 pcm. We would also exempt you from paying council tax at £150 a month.
So without really pushing the issue the government are willing to pay out almost £1500 a month no questions asked. It ocurred to me at that point to push the issue so I asked whether this would be the case if I turned my hand to full time education in order to convert to a degree. Of course came the response.
nthefloor: So with this in mind and the government willing to hand out money left right and centre what exactly is my impotus to go back to work?
Now of course I will go back to work and I wont become a professional benefit worker but I do wonder how many people find themselves in this situation and then think balls to it, spark up a Lambert and watch Trisha.
It is absolutely bananas and whilst if I take up the option it will be very handy I still wish I paid less tax in the first place and this proviso wasnt there. £1500, thats a gross income of over £20K for doing absolutely nothing. Utter utter utter madness.
Oh and before anyone shouts dole scum, even if they paid me this for 12 months I would still be wayyy in the black with regards to contributions paid versus benefit recieved.
Astonishing really.
IMO the problem is that the assessments aren't thorough, in-depth and broad enough. council tax suspension, fair enough, check rent rate, easy to do, but what about following up job-seeking history?
And I know this doesn't concern you Plotloss, but these people claiming incapacity benefit can do it with a note from their GP, which is like the forged note from home letting you off PE in school - it's pretty easy to get hold of and fools most, so why not send investigators round at random times to check on their 'incapacity'.
Benefits I have no problem with, it's the people who lie to free-ride them I have a problem with.
And I know this doesn't concern you Plotloss, but these people claiming incapacity benefit can do it with a note from their GP, which is like the forged note from home letting you off PE in school - it's pretty easy to get hold of and fools most, so why not send investigators round at random times to check on their 'incapacity'.
Benefits I have no problem with, it's the people who lie to free-ride them I have a problem with.
Not bad i'll grant you. On the other hand I 'burn' way over £220 a week on house bills and food not including mortgage and council tax.
edit to add that it's people like you that make it sensible to have a benefits system - sometimes you need a little help through the leasn times but 99% of the time you are puting into the pot. Scroungers can f
off though
>> Edited by rude-boy on Monday 16th May 17:14
edit to add that it's people like you that make it sensible to have a benefits system - sometimes you need a little help through the leasn times but 99% of the time you are puting into the pot. Scroungers can f
off though >> Edited by rude-boy on Monday 16th May 17:14
This is it, its obviously a sensible mechanism of a civilised society to have a benefits system but it strikes me as making a rod for your own back at the very least to have one quite so encompassing.
I'm still amazed; perhaps a government sponsered basket weaving degree is my calling in life....
I'm still amazed; perhaps a government sponsered basket weaving degree is my calling in life....
So,
Were one to hypothetically transfer ownership of the house to a limited company owned by oneself (or appoint them leasing agents), then start charging yourself rent at within market tolerances.
Renting yourself your own house, paid for by the nice people at the DHSS.
Now charge your girlfriend the same rent and your starting to get some rather lucrative figures.
Dammit why is every great idea I have either illegal or immoral!
(Well, one is completely legal but a bit borderline morally... even so...)
On a serious note, I moved in with my parents after a period of unemployment and a breakup (seemed like a good idea at the time...)
Guess what? in that circumstance they will pay out £50ish a week. Thats it. No rent, no nowt.
Bastards, I'm still paying back arrears I accrued with me mum and dad at the time...
Were one to hypothetically transfer ownership of the house to a limited company owned by oneself (or appoint them leasing agents), then start charging yourself rent at within market tolerances.
Renting yourself your own house, paid for by the nice people at the DHSS.
Now charge your girlfriend the same rent and your starting to get some rather lucrative figures.
Dammit why is every great idea I have either illegal or immoral!
(Well, one is completely legal but a bit borderline morally... even so...)
On a serious note, I moved in with my parents after a period of unemployment and a breakup (seemed like a good idea at the time...)
Guess what? in that circumstance they will pay out £50ish a week. Thats it. No rent, no nowt.
Bastards, I'm still paying back arrears I accrued with me mum and dad at the time...
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I believe the property has to be fit for purpose so a a couple cant go out and get a massive gaff. But I explained 3 bed house, small child and they seemed fine. As soon as I mentioned child they did say well, we'll also contribute to the cost of childcare whilst you are out interviewing etc.
Sorry to hear about the job Plotloss... I've only a vague idea what you do - something RPG related? I can have a look at the internal vacancies here, if you like? Think we've got a couple of sales support and BA roles going, if that's your line? Can't promise anything, but we are just down the road! 
Dan
Dan
Plotloss,
all the best with the redundancy. I was made redundant last September, and managed to get some part time contract work (with the company that laid me off, but beggars can't be chosers).
Start my new job Monday, so keep plugging away, and something should drop eventually. The market is loads better than when I was last looking, and I had many interviews before this one fell in my lap.
All the best,
Fer
all the best with the redundancy. I was made redundant last September, and managed to get some part time contract work (with the company that laid me off, but beggars can't be chosers).
Start my new job Monday, so keep plugging away, and something should drop eventually. The market is loads better than when I was last looking, and I had many interviews before this one fell in my lap.
All the best,
Fer
TheLemming said:
So,
Were one to hypothetically transfer ownership of the house to a limited company owned by oneself (or appoint them leasing agents), then start charging yourself rent at within market tolerances.
Renting yourself your own house, paid for by the nice people at the DHSS.
...
Ah but the rent paid by you to you will count as income therefore your benefits will be reduced accordingly......
Saw this thread in another place - someone looking for RPG2/AS400 freelance work.
http://213-04.com/T.asp?id=83211
You can't post unless you are a member of L7C but you can email poster if of any interest.
http://213-04.com/T.asp?id=83211
You can't post unless you are a member of L7C but you can email poster if of any interest.
Mukes said:
Saw this thread in another place - someone looking for RPG2/AS400 freelance work.
<a href="http://213-04.com/T.asp?id=83211">http://213-04.com/T.asp?id=83211</a>
You can't post unless you are a member of L7C but you can email poster if of any interest.
Thanks for that
There is a member with a very similar name on PH so I do wonder if its the same chap.
Not my core skill but I'll give anything a go to get the money in.
Chim_knee you will have mail shortly too, thanks mate and I only call it 'the bank' because it was a mythical beast to us lowly folk at the coal face
>> Edited by Plotloss on Monday 16th May 17:55
Plotloss said:
Now this is the killer
Following an assesment to decide whether the rent we pay is fair (which it is commercially, very fair) we would cover the full cost of your rent at £1000 pcm.
It is indeed "the killer", but the true iniquity is the amount of the rent, not that housing benefit will cover it.
Since the alternative is you and family being on the street, they bloody well should cover it, but £1000/month is extortionate. It may be "commercially fair" but in absolute terms it is thoroughly unfair. £100 would be more like it.
The whole accommodation market is designed to strap you down to a bench and shaft you up the arse with an oil drilling rig. Pure exploitation of a captive market - you have to pay or you sleep under bridges. The sooner all rents and house prices are made to fall by a factor of 10, the better.
Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff