Oh, Government...
Dec. 15th, 2009 06:46 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
charameiTwo weeks ago, I forgot to go to my fortnightly appointment at the Job Centre.
This is partly because it was a complete waste of time: haul arse down to the station and onto a 20-minute train ride to Bromley for a two-minute meeting with a faceless entity who would basically read my little homework card and say, 'Yep, that's fine' before sending me on my way back through the 20-minute train ride. And I wasn't even getting dole money for my troubles.
So, a couple of days ago I got a P-45 form through the post from Inland Revenue, which was kind of weird because I don't have any employer to give it to (all I want for Christmas is a paying job...).
Turns out, because I didn't turn up at the Job Centre in person within five days of missing my appointment, my claim was deactivated. Which basically means that the Department of Work and Pensions has stopped paying me no money.
Now, personally, this is great. As mentioned, all I was getting out of the scheme was the obligation to drag myself up to town every two weeks - no help, no money. As soon as I can call Inland Revenue and explain to them that I don't have a job, I'm more than happy to forget the Job Centre exists and carry on failing to get gainful employment by myself.
But.
Let's say I didn't forget. Let's say I was in a car crash, or I went into labour and gave birth that day, or I was diagnosed with swine flu or there was a family crisis or my house caught fire or whatever. And let's say I was getting money from them, and I did need that money to survive.
How the hell can they expect people to get there in person within five days under any of those circumstances?
It's easy enough to sign on again, but that's not the point. The point is, this system is stupid. People should not be given less than a week to keep what might be their only source of income active.
It's just not acceptable.
This is partly because it was a complete waste of time: haul arse down to the station and onto a 20-minute train ride to Bromley for a two-minute meeting with a faceless entity who would basically read my little homework card and say, 'Yep, that's fine' before sending me on my way back through the 20-minute train ride. And I wasn't even getting dole money for my troubles.
So, a couple of days ago I got a P-45 form through the post from Inland Revenue, which was kind of weird because I don't have any employer to give it to (all I want for Christmas is a paying job...).
Turns out, because I didn't turn up at the Job Centre in person within five days of missing my appointment, my claim was deactivated. Which basically means that the Department of Work and Pensions has stopped paying me no money.
Now, personally, this is great. As mentioned, all I was getting out of the scheme was the obligation to drag myself up to town every two weeks - no help, no money. As soon as I can call Inland Revenue and explain to them that I don't have a job, I'm more than happy to forget the Job Centre exists and carry on failing to get gainful employment by myself.
But.
Let's say I didn't forget. Let's say I was in a car crash, or I went into labour and gave birth that day, or I was diagnosed with swine flu or there was a family crisis or my house caught fire or whatever. And let's say I was getting money from them, and I did need that money to survive.
How the hell can they expect people to get there in person within five days under any of those circumstances?
It's easy enough to sign on again, but that's not the point. The point is, this system is stupid. People should not be given less than a week to keep what might be their only source of income active.
It's just not acceptable.