The Desperation of those on JSA

The Jobcentre have had an influx of new people coming onto benefits. In the last year, the number on benefits has doubled. This could be due to the recent economic downturn. Even though it has been reported as early as 2001, hardly anybody saw it coming. Thousands of people have been made redundant, and the number of those going on to benefits has dramatically increased.

I've spent all week with groups on the CMP, and there are constant themes that echo throughout them all. People are desperate to get into work., that is all they can focus on. They are willing to take any and all work - all they require is the opportunity to find a place that will take them. Representatives from the Job Centre who came to talk to them were bombarded with questions - questions that they couldn't answer. What is certain is that there is much more available than is let on; they have "pots" of money that they can allocate to anyone they wish to be used for certain purposes, such as buying a suit for an interview or issuing travel warrants.

They are a good thing, but the benefits received almost seem to hinder a person's ability to get into work. A person has to be on benefits for a period of time, something like six months, before they can go on any training courses that would benefit them getting back into a job - such as first aid. Perhaps this is because if they allowed people to go on them immediately, the up-take would be too high and the budget not flexible enough.

Those on incapacity benefit can work for up to 16 hours for a year whilst still receiving their benefit. That can only be done for a year, when the receiver must either continue the work (perhaps extending their hours), or go back on benefits - which seems to be the preferred choice of the advisers. Work trials can be arranged, where people can work for a period of three weeks at a company. There is much bitterness surrounding this scheme; those I have met that have had trials have done several, and not been offered a job. However, the company has continued to have people on trials. Perhaps this is something to do with the company receiving money from the government, and the worker only receving costs such as transport and meal allowance.

Working has lots of good side-effects. When you go to a party, the first question someone asks you is "so what do you do?" and it can be very difficult to say "nothing". Working gives people a sense of belonging, worth, not to mention financial gain. It also improves social wellbeing and skills that could be transferred to another job. And instead of the government having to fork out billions in benefits, people pay into the system rather than taking from it. It also stimulates the economy,with people having more money to go shopping and engage services.

The Tories are planning "work for benefit" schemes, where those on job seeker's allowance for more than twelve months do some sort of volunteering or community project. George Osborne has said that the culture of "money for nothing" needs to end. Meanwhile, GB ploughs more and more money into the economy.

Most people want to work. But for every one that wants to get back to work, there must be ten that have no intention of doing so. Which is a shame; if only they knew what good it would do them.