Is it OK to be on JSA (job seeker's allowance)?

[Tommy]

I've seen many opinions on this and was wondering what you lot think.

JSA is a thing in the UK where you get money from the government for being jobless, basically. You have to apply to a certain amount (and prove it with minimal effort) of jobs to get paid, though.

1) Do you think the system works?
2) Do you think there's any shame on being on JSA and
3) Would you be embarrassed to be taking this benefit?

 

[Phossix]

Yes, I was on JSA.

Sure, some people abused the system. But we shouldn't be ashamed because we need money to survive.

 

[Rebecca Chambers]

I'm on it. I don't like being on it though. The job center does very little to actually help you find a job, and their website which you have to use is coded terribly. I could make a better website and I'm an amateur.

With the help of the job center, I've had a total of ONE job interview in nine months. When I go in to sign on, it's usually a meeting of less than sixty seconds. "Are you looking for work?" - "Yes." - "Okay, see you next time."

 

[SammyB]

I too am also on it and hate being on it. The people that go mine don't look for jobs and try scrounge. If I didn't have a few bills pay for then I wouldn't be bothered to go sign on.

 

[Kirk]

I was on it for about a month; got about one fortnight's pay from it. The first fortnight I came in and they said I'd been flagged up as still in college (I didn't realize I was still enrolled to the end of academic year as my course finished earlier).

It's okay, depending on who's using it. It's a lifeline for some, and a lazy way out for others.

 

[Han]

1) Do you think the system works? In some cases. You don't really have to prove any job seeking and their minimum jobs you must apply for can be as low as 3 per week.
2) Do you think there's any shame on being on JSA? I dislike being on JSA and I would much rather return to working. But there's so few jobs out there with so many people applying - you find that the people who tend to get the most interviews are those who have been on JSA for years and purposely interview **** or whatever so that they can carry on doing **** all in life - that those without wealthy, give you everything parents, would struggle even more to get by without it.
3) Would you be embarrassed to be taking this benefit? This question is extremely close to the one above. I was slightly embarrassed to start, but I know I'm really trying to get a job and not just lounging around living off of everyone else's taxes.