The last few days could best be explained by this e-mail that I sent to my local MP this morning.
I am writing to ask you if you could assist me with an issue that I have with the Department of Work and Pensions. I also apologise in advance if this comes across as rambly and long-winded but the situation I’m in is quite bad.
Basically, I have been looking for work since graduating in June and, like so many other graduates, have applied to gain Jobseeker’s Allowance. I made my claim on the 6th August and have since been to the Guildford Job Centre twice (one for initial interview and one for a sign-on). In this time, I also got a letter from the DWP, which was horrifically worded, saying that I wasn’t based to contributions-based JSA. I then decided to apply for income-based JSA.
I received a phone call yesterday saying that I am now not entitled to JSA and, as such, am not entitled to any form of benefit at all. The reason why is because I live with my partner at my mum’s house and she works more than 24 hours per week (income) and that I haven’t paid enough money into the system in the last two tax years, even though I’ve been busy with studying and unpaid work experience placements (contributions). Our current living situation also renders as unable to claim housing benefit.
The DWP are, therefore, expecting us a couple to live on my partner’s full-time wage, which is barely enough as it is. This is ludicrous, since I need money to pay for bills, pay for travel for potential job interviews and, more important, actually be able to live my life.
It is a total joke. It also sums up, in my mind, why I think the benefits system is broken and why I think the DWP is an inept organisation that needs to be shaken up. I feel that the system is not helping the people that potentially need the most support. There are far too many people are on support because they find it easier than facing up to the ‘real world’ of employment and taxes and so on. It’s a smack in the fact to people like me who are trying to find work and trying to get on the career ladder. This has got to change.
I hope that you can help me with this. I literally have no one else to turn to at the moment.
So, that’s the situation in a nutshell. It angers and saddens me in equal measure. I’m still trying to comprehend it really but I’m not sure I will comprehend the fact that not even the government will help me, especially since I know of students who never worked during their time at university and still managed to get help.
I’ve had some pretty disastrous setbacks in life but this really ranks up there with the best of them. This is most definitely a low.
