Life on the dole is not quite the experience that I
expected.
I did
not once in my whole career moan about folk on benefits. Fraudsters are a
different matter, but people who are entitled to it, I have always advocated,
should jolly well get it. My recent encounter with Jobcentre+ has done nothing
to change my view. If anything, I am now as angry with DWP almost as much as
those incompetent numpties at HMRC. I’m proud that I at least had the good fortune
to work for an agency with credibility. Just as I’m sure that that’ll be the
case until they sell it off.
I haven’t
signed on for the purpose of getting any money. As a man of leisure of three
years standing, I haven’t, obviously, been credited with any National Insurance
contributions in that time. On reflection, I perhaps should have signed on
straight away but the thought of doing so when we had money coming out of the
wazoo seemed to me unconscionable. Now the gelt is all but gone. I have a
part-time job and a bit of money from my other gig as a private residential landlord.
It’s just that with the taxman after me for big numbers and arrogant
politicians claiming that the good times are back, I thought the time right to
set the record straight.
After
signing on online, I got an appointment to attend the Jobcentre in Kirkwall. ‘Bert’
is an OK guy, helped me through the application and handed me the forms I’d
need to complete to show that I was actively looking for employment. It’s a fair
enough request. I don’t have a plan to return to servitude, but if the ideal
position comes to up, I could do that for a few years. Basically though, who
needs that shit?
So for
no benefit from the benefit system that I happily contributed to for thirty
years, I’m at a loss how to proceed. If I continued to ‘claim’ to be out of
full time employment, which I have to concede is the truth of the matter, I
have to regularly post (at a minimum of fifty three pence a hit for the stamp)
a declaration to DWP. Not only that, but every time I change my work days or anything
else happens that changes my weekly earnings (which generally fluctuate with arrhythmiatic
certitude) I am obliged to phone them on a premium rate number to keep them in
the loop.
What sort of scam are DWP running here?
It’s a
shame that the truth is such an expensive commodity. Don’t believe jobless
figures. Trust that there are a number of people who CAN’T AFFORD to be
registered unemployed. Don’t believe that those on benefits don’t deserve it.
In the last two weeks, I can’t remember ever having to work so hard.
And for
what?
From my
experience, I haven’t a blinkin’ clue!
