Issue: 2322 dated: 29 September 2012
Letters posted: 6.30pm Tue 25 Sep 2012
Channel 4 recently ran a programme called Tricks of the Dole Cheats. But this isn’t quite right. I think there should be an alternative called Tricks of the Employers.
I’m 59 years old and I’ve been out of work for three years.
I’ve applied for lots of jobs but so far this year I’ve only had one reply.
I applied for work in two hotels. I had experience for both the jobs. And even though I handed my CV into one of the hotels personally, the manager claimed to have never received it.
I heard by word of mouth that one of them doesn’t take on anyone who is over 25 years old. Yet these people are advertising in job centres.
I think that employers throw away CVs of older people. There is blatant ageism going on. I’ve got as much chance of getting a job as I have of winning the lottery.
I’ve already received a threatening letter from the Department for Work and Pensions. It said if I don’t comply with work programmes I could lose my benefits.
It’s hopeless. I see the same jobs in the job centre all the time. Most are temporary. And I think many are phantom jobs—they don’t really exist. I’ve got five more years of this to go. And there are a lot of people in the same situation.
Name withheld, west London
welcome to the tory world where they like to have you to work for nowt .and please go quietly as now we over age to make way for them who are young knackers yard this way jeff3
All the bluster about ‘benefit cheats claiming entitlements’ is now being seen to be bollocks. The only people who think they are entitled are the royal family, the elites, politicians and celebrities. They think they are entitled to all the wealth of the country; they think they are entitled to be above the law; they think they are entitled to label anyone not of their kind as lazy, cheats, scroungers,plebs.
There is no doubt that this country is well worth hating. Where has the Olympic legacy gone? I wish I could feel civil unrest coming on …. but I can’t. I wish I could hear someone in power stand up for the people …. but I can’t.
We truly are doomed
I’ve got it!!
To fight our way back for justice and dignity …….. let them all gather for PMQs whenever they are back at work (what is it 20 weeks holiday a year?)….. lock the doors and burn the place down with the lot of them inside …….. it’s a start …..new meaning to SureStart!! Could call it the SUREFIRE PrOJECT
The shame of it is that there ARE benefits cheats whose actions make it very difficult for those who are truly needy. I just hope that everyone who contributes to this site can do so with a clear conscience
nice one Roger – presumably to you it is okay if all 2-3million disabed people are put through ‘a little bit of trouble’ in order to catch the odd 0.3% cheaters hey??????
Sad but true, that ordinary working people are falling for the propaganda. Some opinion polls show that the cuts are popular. People just do not find out the truth of how welfare cuts are realy happening. Until it happens to them, they live in ignorance. You either accept what is happening or take the fight to the streets.. Expose the Coalition if you have an MP in your area. Let those who live with a Tory MP know what effect getting a Tory governmnet has on disabled people. But if we just sit back, the system will pick each one off, one at a time and then it will be too late.
Poverty and Oppression in Dickensian Britain whilst the ” Royal ” Family Lives in
Luxury Poverty in Con Dem Britain whilst the ” Royal ” Family lives in Luxury
Better that the ” Royal ” Family is No Longer in their Expensive Position of Privilege
Wealth and Luxury than the Poor of this Land continue to Suffer
There have been Programmes upon the Idiot Box of TV to which I have taken Offence
in their Ignorant Disregard of the Suffering of the Oppressed and the Underdog
and I am Glad I that I do Not Watch the Sewer of Rubbish upon the Oblivion Box
of TV
Revolution Political and Economic is the Answer to Sorting Out the Diabolical Mess
of the UK
No Warmongering in Afghanistan a Waste of Billions of Pounds
I feel for you, I was in exactly the same boat.
When you are 60 you will be able to transfer from Jobseekers to Guaranteed Pension Credit – same benefits but no more signing on.
Unfortunately for me, I didn’t know about this until I was 61, Citizen’s Advice told me about it…the Jobcentre were either quite happy for me to stay on the unemployed register and continue signing on for a year after I had no need to, or were incredibly thick.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/moneytaxandbenefits/benefitstaxcreditsandothersupport/on_a_low_income/dg_10018692
Good luck to you.
My experience for the last 4 years has been pretty much the same. I lost my job in early 2009, and since then I have been able to get only a few days or weeks of casual work – I’ve just finisned 6 weeks as a relief teacher – and I’ve been asked by WINZ (the New Zealand version of your department) what’s ‘wrong with me’ that I can get only short-term temporary work!
Duh, I’m 58…
Deb
We Need Mass Public Protests and General Strikes to Get a Better Political Situation
than the Present Abyss and to Reverse the Diabolical Outrage of Price Increases
We Need a End to the Parliament of Politicians Privilege at Westminster and the
Huge Salaries of MPs Now and Forever