Universal Credit

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu

I have the perfect example of this travel fee via the Job centre.

I got an interview at a well known business, l had a letter with letterhead, l went to the job centre to ask for help.

I was told to ask friends for the money first, could not get it, l was told to apply for an emergency crisis loan, and sit and wait - after three hours, l was told l could not claim, l was NOT unemployed long enough - l was 6 months out of work.

A friend of mine drove me there, l was lucky to get the job, BUT would not get paid for a month. Again, l applied through JC again, they told me to get THREE quotes for travel ONLY, l got a travel card quote for the month - it came to approx £45.00 l went again back to the JC, l had to queue for another emergency crisis loan.

They told me l could get one if l signed off that day, and then claim a crisis loan to cover me the month.

I got the crisis loan for travel, BUT had to pay it back within 28 days. My JS allowance was stopped after TWO weeks, and l had to go back to the JC for help, they told me that as l was NOW employed l could not claim the final two weeks of my month. It was the company that l now worked for help me out.

The Job Centre are useless, all they do is cause problems for people, and all this government crap about helping you out and is all rubbish, all they want if for you to come off the unemployment register and make them look good.

I might sound bitter, but my family and l had a rough time that month, and l will never believe again what comes out there mouth, when you sign on - you are just a number.

When was this, please, Arthur?

[m419]

Originally Posted by Hugh

When was this, please, Arthur?

If you are in the London area, you will definately experience things like this!

[Arthurgray50@blu]

Hugh, two years ago, A friend of mine has been unemployed for three years, he has been offered two jobs, but the jobcentre has told him that he will only get help if he has been unemployed longer.

He is a proud man, and does not like taking benefits, but he has a young family to look after, and he got made redundant. and was told he has to spend every penny of his redundancy before claiming any benefit - he is sick to the stomach.

[Taf]

The national minimum wage will rise by 11p to £6.19 an hour in October, the government has announced.

This is a rise of 1.8% from the current level, which is lower than the current inflation rate.

The minimum wage for workers aged under 21 will be unchanged - a decision that has been criticised by union leaders.

The freeze in the minimum wage for those aged under 21 means that from 1 October:

The rate for 18 to 20-year-olds will remain at £4.98 an hour
The rate for 16 and 17-year-olds will remain at £3.68 an hour
However, the rate for apprentices will rise by 5p to £2.65 an hour

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17429325

Originally Posted by Taf

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17429325

should at least match inflation ,as should the lower scales .Not realy an incentive to take low paid work is it

[mertle]

Originally Posted by martyh

should at least match inflation ,as should the lower scales .Not realy an incentive to take low paid work is it

indeed would argue at present they need to anounce double inflation wage rise.

The problem I always had with inflation increases it never takes account the whole package inflation. You just always end up worse off as food, rent, utilities go up but the never work out how much the households lose then replenshish with that wage rise to keep parity.