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I have had mainly care and cleaning work though my last job was 2008. I hate living on JSA and it triggerd depression and anxiety which I am not on income support for. I have family who help with extra things but for many, this could be hard. I have tried agencies, and was offered a job a 20hrs which still is not enough to live on. The stupid rule of signing off if working 16 or more hours is my main problem. I have some GCSE's and qualifications but because I am nearly 29 age will also become a problem getting work. I get budget loans to help for xmas but its not fair to be expected follow new rules when you do all you can. I have thoughts of running away because there is nothing working for me right now, I NEED A JOB FROM 25HOURS!! it is a lot harder than people realise and I hate it. The government need to be in our place and live on £120 every 2 weeks as without family help, you could end up dying with desperation of taking anything, even though you could be facing fraud. Live needs to change for those of us who want to work.

- Katharine Bisset, Seghill, Northumberland, 04/10/2010 22:57
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@ Mel B, London UK....keep your chin up, you will find work eventually. In the meantime, don't take any notice of "Anglo" - clearly has no idea what he/she is talking about. Good luck.

- Lou, London, 30/06/2010 13:36
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CES you arr correct, first the govt encourage them for benefit,welcomed lot of peoples and get the political benefit form UN. Now they are in trouble and introduce unlogic restriction. Welfare state encourage take money without work, become lazy. "Easy come easy go". Now the govt get up and impose limit to get benefit. The question is why the counslate in ovrseas issue the visa to such peoples, why not they restrict them. Lot of local industries have shifted to others countries to control overhead expenses, why govt allow them?? You are getting the cheap labour like Middle East countries obviously there will be local unemployment. Please give the benefit to those who are working had 8 to 16 hrs per day, paying regular tax, law abiding, face hardship of the life, some time under debt, having bad credit history, despite that struggling for the better future in UK. Please merrcy on them consider their cases and instruct their employers or home office provide them legal authorisation to work free of mind, rather then tention and anxity. "WORK IS WORSHIP" There are lot of such cases and expecting the favour form the concerned authorities to help them.So they will enjoy the benefits of the welfare state,otherwise they are virtual slaves in the welfare state,which absouletly against the British values.In 60's till 80's you have welcomed the foreigners skilled unskilled with open hand and mind that was the boom period of the British economy growth.Strling were pouring on the street.

- Chishty, London, 30/06/2010 08:11
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CES you arr correct, first the govt encourage them for benefit,welcomed lot of peoples and get the political benefit form UN. Now they are in trouble and introduce unlogic restriction. Welfare state encourage take money without work, become lazy. "Easy come easy go". Now the govt get up and impose limit to get benefit. The question is why the counslate in ovrseas issue the visa to such peoples, why not they restrict them. Lot of local industries have shifted to others countries to control overhead expenses, why govt allow them?? You are getting the cheap labour like Middle East countries obviously there will be local unemployment. Please give the benefit to those who are working had 8 to 16 hrs per day, paying regular tax, law abiding, face hardship of the life, some time under debt, having bad credit history, despite that struggling for the better future in UK. Please merrcy on them consider their cases and instruct their employers or home office provide them legal authorisation to work free of mind, rather then tention and anxity. "WORK IS WORSHIP" There are lot of such cases and expecting the favour form the concerned authorities to help them.So they will enjoy the benefits of the welfare state,otherwise they are virtual slaves in the welfare state,which absouletly against the British values.In 60's till 80's you have welcomed the foreigners skilled unskilled with open hand and mind that was the boom period of the British economy growth.Strling were pouring on the street.

- Chishty, London, 30/06/2010 08:10
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Nobody has a problem with those who are genuinely down on their luck and actively seeking employment.

Everybody who works and pays tax has a major problem with the parasites who refuse to work and find a hundred different reasons not to get up in the morning and do something with their life.

Mel B. Walking the hound last evening I noticed that there were 3 No. jobs going in shops (advertised in the windows) on Kensington high street. Sometimes it pays to trawl the high streets looking in shop windows. Get in there girl. Chin up and good luck!

- Jimbob, Kensington, 30/06/2010 07:58
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Some of the comments on here are ill thought out and very nasty.
Job seekers allowance is a mere £60 p/w, which is of course VERY hard to live on. There is a massive difference between people bleeding the system for housing benefit, tax credits, fake incapacity benefits etc, ect and 'only' claiming job seekers allowance, which many people do. I signed on for 2 months and the way the staff in the Job centre talk to you is appalling, I couldn't wait to find work purely so I didn't have to be talked down and made to feel inadequate any longer, I feel very sorry for people signing on purely for this reason.

- Sarah, Richmond, 29/06/2010 22:31
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Easy to see a lot of people commenting have never been on the dole! The entire system's already difficult enough for people, and time after time studies show that JSA isn't enough to live on. Now the money's being effectively cut by being raised below the headline rate of inflation. No rational person would see a life on about £60 a week for food and bills and clothes and transport as something to aspire to - yet the myth of the workshy scrounger seems to die hard. It's hardly a career choice, you know.

The educational opportunities which existed for the unemployed twenty or even ten years ago are far rarer. Yet the same depressing negativity towards people on the dole continues. I wonder whether the impending expansion of the 'reserve army of labour' will make people think again about dismissing those on the dole as workshy layabouts when the cuts start to affect their friends, family and possibly themselves.

- Edward McKenna, London, 29/06/2010 21:42
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@ anglo

thanks for the further offensive comment of calling me a 'fool'. if you read my comment properly you would see i am not relying on the job centre to find me work, but as the name of the place is 'job centre' it implies it is a centre which can help with jobs. as for being told im overqualified, this is the feedback i have had from prosdpective employers, again if you read my comment properly you would see that i have and would do anything.
and lastly what you said was offensive, and nothing to do with the 'reality' that jobs are few and far between at the moment.

- Mel B, London UK, 29/06/2010 20:12
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If the government cuts benefits then some will resort to crime and the prison population will go up with a cost far greater than the benefits saved.

As foe sweeping streets well let councils employ road sweepers on prpoer pay rates as was the case before tthe TORIES forced councils to put such work out to competetive tender and the long term result is the filthy streets we now have to put up with.

The Tories still live in the same fantasy world they did under Thatcher and things can only get worse!!

(ps their may be some vacancies soon for a football team manager and some players!!!)

- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island , Essex, 29/06/2010 19:44
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you all seem to make it sound so easy on here. if there were so many reasonably well paid jobs people would take them truth is there is not. there will always be people who are trapped. try finding a training course that is worthwhile and free when you are over 19 then try and find a job. further education funding has been cut and will be cut further, truth us the government wont be creating the conditions to boost the economy eg vat rises etc etc. before you batter the unemployed dont put everyone in the same boat. very soon tens of thousandsn of public sector workers will lose theur jobs---will they be called scoungers??? no a victim of tory political revenge onn the labour party...put up or shut up

- david ord, south shields england, 29/06/2010 19:05
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Paul BMth: I wonder how you would respond if you became one of the casualties of the recession? If you found that there were no jobs to be had, or that every job for which you applied had many other applicants. And then you were told 'You are not tryng hard enough, Paul'

- Dectora, London, 29/06/2010 18:39
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Mel, if you are relying on the 'Job Centre' to get you a job then you are a fool. The 'job centre' is just a place where you sign so you can get the dole. I have never once found a job via the job centre.

Offensive? No, it's reality so get used to it and do n't expect it to be easy if you relocate - I found it tough.

"Overqualified?" I've heard that one before - usually just an excuse.

- Anglo, Sussex England, 29/06/2010 18:19
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Simple maths - 400,000 full or part time or temp jobs and anything over 2.7 million unemployed.

I'm a unemployed carer (look after my disabled father) including Cares Allowance and Income Support and CT/HB I receive about £4.50P/H (National minimum wage is £5.80 per hour) 5 hrs per day travel to and from work, I'm not sure how much it cost the state to have a full time carer for my dad but I bet I'm a very cheap option and Yes I'm really living a rich lifestyle anyone want to swap with me?

- David, Abbey Wood, 29/06/2010 17:59
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@ anglo,

what an offensive comment to make towards me, especially as i am not one of the workshy scroungers. How fortunate you were to be able to relocate for work, it isnt always so straightforward. and no, no one told me life would be easy. in fact, for your information, i have scrubbed mens urinals in pubs, cleaned, washed dishes, allsorts in order to provide for my family. my problem is that nowadays, i cant even find work like that!! so please, do not tell me to try harder when i actually am trying so so hard in the two months i have not worked SINCE LEAVING SCHOOL. my point was the jobcentre dont seem to be interested in helping people who have just become unemployed like myself, and surely that is part of what they should be there for? all that seems to happen is they send long term unemplyed onto courses to teach them how to write CV's.

- Mel B, London UK, 29/06/2010 17:39
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Some unemployed neighbours get benefits so high they state they will never look for work.

The parents both smoke four children have asthma and the parents claim Disability Living Allowance for them.

This family have a new car a well furnished home everyone wears the latest labels and they are always shopping.

Why are the children allowed to be forced to be ill because of their parents at the taxpayers expense.

A complete overhaul needs to be carried out to avoid the vast fraud being committed at all of our expense.

Give to those who genuinely need it but not the scroungers

- Patrick Mc Crossan, LONDON, 29/06/2010 17:36
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Great news.

- Frank, Home Counties, England., 29/06/2010 17:31
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how about people on benefits getting out and about in teams to clear the rubbish from the streets - work for your benefit money.

I'd also like to see recipients being means tested and then given vouchers for food, water, petrol/Bus fares with all their Electric and/or Gas bills paid automatically instead of them getting the money to spend in the bookies, on drugs and/or drink. Most long term unemployed are sat on their backsides watching Sky TV...you know who you are!

Too many people have had it good for too long, time for change.

- paul, bmth, dorset, 29/06/2010 14:53
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Mel B.

When I was made redundant by factory closure it took me 6 months to get a job and I had to relocate over 300 miles to get it. I was on the dole for 6 weeks and washed up in a restaurant while looking for a job in the daytime.

Try harder. Did anyone tell you life would be easy?

- Anglo, Sussex England, 29/06/2010 14:51
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Are people aware that huge swathes of people in 'social housing' (often so called 'families' do not and will not pay any rent.The rent is paid to them to hand onto landlords but they dont, knowing full well they will never be evicted because its cheaper to leave them there, then put them into B&B. The figures are billions of un paid rent. On top of that that get benefits

- armstrong, london, 29/06/2010 14:45
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Currently, individuals who refuse to take a job or fail to turn up for interviews under back-to-work schemes can have their benefit cut, but rarely for more than three months.
Ministers expect these penalties to be better enforced including cutting benefits for up to six months — and this could even rise to three years.

It could then even rise from three years to life; then deportation to none European countries that need workers with no skills, no homes, and no dole, and loads of kids.

Then we can watch them all come back under Lorries and Trains, and they will be able to claim asylum for human rights violations by the British Government; providing we are still in the EC by then?

I can’t wait to see how this all pans out?

- mickinlondon, london, 29/06/2010 14:16
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I lost my job 2 months ago, and every job i apply for i am 'over qualified'. i actively look for work every day. but on the fortnightly visits to the jobcentre, i ask them if there is anything extra they can offer to help me find work. I am told that until i have been out of work for 6 months, they cannot help me. its a joke.

- Mel B, London UK, 29/06/2010 14:16
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If the jobs exist, it's fine. Often people who are made redundant in their middle years are over-qualified for the jobs available, so are rejected. There needs to be a complete overhaul of the whole system...tinkering has happened over many years and it still ISN'T WORKING.

- Rod, Epping, UK, 29/06/2010 13:59
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Ces, London

It is all do to with Human Rights and the so-called 'do-gooders' who constantly sound off to anyone who will listen (they clearly have nothing better to do) and blame the government and everyone else except the "poverty stricken victims" themselves of course, about how desparate they are and should be given not jobs but even more benefits!! The fact that those "poor victims of poverty" (AKA scroungers) can always afford to drink, smoke, drive cars and have state of the art mobile phones is, of course, completely irrelevant.

I think all benefits should be cut for those who refuse to work - I also believe that if people are on benefits, they should be made to work/train every week in order to "earn" those benefits - why should they receive our hard earned cash for doing absolutely nothing?? There are certainly more than enough jobs out there with employers who would be only to pleased to join forces with the government and get the lazy so and so's back into work for mutual gain

As for "disability benefits" . . . Don't even get me started!!

Weed out the genuine disabled people and you will cut the benefits cost by at least two thirds (minimum), especially given that most people who are genuinely disabled will always try to work and function in any way possible to prove to themselves and others that they are still worthy and have the ability to do something. I think it is called 'self worth' or 'dignity'. . .

. . . And that is where I rest my case!!

- Lorna, Birmingham UK, 29/06/2010 13:49
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Why are benefits not cut permanently for those who simply refuse to work???

- ces, london, 29/06/2010 13:02
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This is a very positive step forward but benefits should be linked to the level of contribution someone has made. If an individual has worked for 20 to 30 years and then finds themselves struggling to find a new position they should be entitled to greater benefits and for longer than someone who has never been employed or has only worked for a short time.

I would like to see a minimum level of time employed, say five years before any qualification for benefit, part time work during education should qualify and a cap of lifetime benefit at 100% of the tax paid by an individual during their working life.

This would enable far more generous benefits to those who have worked hard but severely restrict what would be available to those who have never or hardly ever worked in their lives.

- Ian, London, 29/06/2010 12:59
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