I am about to claim job seekers allowance for the first time. What can I expect when I attend my interview?

Question

What am I entitled to.

I am actively looking for work but obviously need some financial assistance.

Answer 1

Well to be honest, much depends upon where you live. City Jobcentres can be rather less helpful, but in the rural outback they're not too bad.

First you have to complete a long and tedious form (B14 I think it is or was). Fill it in before you go. If there isn't box for anything extra you want to say, just write it in anyway. The more you can communicate to your advantage, the better for you. Make a note of anything you don't understand.

At the interview, they'll go through the form with you to check it's properly completed. Any questions you have regarding benefits, or the form itself can be ironed out at this point.

Then you'll be sent to someone else, whilst the first person who saw you goes away and works out how much you're entitled to.

Depending on their city or rural attitude, and your level of intelligence, they'll ask about your skills and experience, and what you'd like to do. They'll offer you all sorts of stuff like New Deal, courses, retraining. Or, if they have any jobs on file they think might be suitable, they'll offer you them. (Wages aren't important here by the way. They need to get you off the unemployment statistics so it doesn't really matter where they place you - a job or training).

You are entitled to six months dole now (it used to be a year) after which you have to sign for income support if you are still unemployed. Same thing, slightly less money.

Generally speaking, the people who work at the dole office are sympathetic and helpful and if you are polite, eager and intelligent, they might even offer you a job with them, as they did when I signed on one time!

Good luck.

Answer 2

Good luck. Remember Pauline off League of Gentleman?
It matters not how highly skilled, highly qualified or competant you are, they'll try to have you stacking shelves for minimum wage within a week.
You are basically signing a contract to say you are looking for work and in return you get a small amount of money per week, depending on your age and circumstances; about £45 a week average.
That will also entitle you to some help with your rent and council tax, get the forms filled in and hand them in to the office in person, and get a receipt.
You'll also get free prescriptions and dental care, if your g.p. and dentist are NHS. Plus you get some help towards the cost of new glasses, about £30 in vouchers.
My advice is start jobhunting now.

Answer 3

Expect to be treated like a number and a criminal, depending on your age you'll get something like 55 per week paid fortnightly, but if you have a different bank to the Jobcentre your money won't go through until the next week (seven working days).

Just make sure you do what they ask to the letter otherwise they will cut you off and you'll have to fill out all those forms again.

Answer 4

They'll just go through your details and ask you what jobs you are looking for and how flexible you are etc. Then every two weeks you'll go and sign and have to show them what you've done to look for jobs by keeping a diary- dead east( internet, paper, jobcntre etc)

Depends on your situation how much you'll get. If you are over 25 and you liva alone then £57.45. Most people get this and housing benefit and council tax benefit. If you need more info call 08456003016 option 3

Answer 5

You will be put on the new deal, told to sign on fortnightly and have to fill in an activity sheet, to show what jobs you've been looking at and applied for. You will be put on courses and schemes, and expect around £50 or just under a week, rent and council tax, plus nhs free prescriptions and glasses.

Answer 6

they will try and force you into any rubbish job they can,

example
i am claiming incapacity benefit and have been for 3 months, i am unable to walk with crutches and then only a matter of feet, i fall very easily, my hands become numb and stop working very easily and i have little upper body strength, i get so stressed in alien enviroments my body becomes numb and i loose all my strength to the point i collapse in a chair. still i must attend meetings about getting back into work even though i do not need to attend medical examinations due to the severity of my illness.

Answer 7

You will face various questions.
A short selection appears below.
Are you an immigrant? Are you a gypo? Do you have three mixed race kids hanging off each tit (preferably each having a different father)? Do you find it hard to spell; "savings"? Will you be claiming invalidity benefit for an ingrowing toenail? Will you be voting Labour at the next election? Are you ashamed of being a social parasite?
You answer "No" at your peril.

Answer 8

Not much! to be honest with you, you will get if (single) £30 per week, if your married im not sure!
They also will pay housing benefit if you are in accomodation, i believe they also assist with paying your mortgage.

hope this helps and good luck in finding employment.

Answer 9

Don't do it, I signed on once, after being made redundant, and it was the most depressing experience of my life - there is a job for you out there honey

Answer 10

1- rejection
2-ignorance
3-admiring
4-accept-ion
5-nothing, they would leave u confused with out a reaction ..til they answer you
just be self confident and be yourself ..
good luck