Jobcentre Plus Part 2 - More Madness(1/2) By Martin Nickson

(1/2), (2/2). Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.

Extract taken from my blog about my experiences since recently returning to UK, specifically Hull, after 10 years abroad, mostly in Canada. Thursday, 8 March 2007

Well after the adventures described in Website Madness 1061459431_martinwebsitemadness.html, I thought it would be unkind to leave the tale incomplete - who was it said 'A start, a middle and an end'. As it turns out, my previous post was only the start, this missive represents the early middle, and the end is some way off. Chosen career number one, Adult Education Lecturer, is in a state of suspension. I have applied for, and been accepted on a course starting in September that is designed to convert my experience into teaching qualifications.

The Little Yellow Application form has worked its magic, and I am also at the end of a shortlist to actually get some work if a position becomes available. I should add that the phrase 'shortlist' in a country of 60 million people is oxymoronic.

Chosen career number two, Home Inspector, is also in a state of suspension, although this career choice is cryogenically frozen until someone discovers a cure, rather than just a year or two off. This is due to a combination of our finances, and possibilities of the next UK government messing with the Home Inspector scheme, thus making any contemplation of investing in this training the least sensible idea we've had since Nel and I attended dance classes and agreed that the man (i.e. me) should lead. The conclusion is that I actually now will be returning to the building site (at least metaphorically if not an actual building site), as soon as possible, because we need money.

Having taken several days to have a magnificent sulk about this 'should have been obvious' necessity, I also decided to register for the English version of EI. The English version was known as Unemployment Benefit (UB), but is now the friendlier sounding Job Seekers Allowance (JSA).

NOTE: Some countries have Reciprocal Agreements (RA). These agreements allow a person who has contributed to the EI scheme (EI CONTS) in Canada (CAN) to transfer these EI CONTS to the UK National Insurance Scheme (UKNIS) and get paid JSA money. It can be expressed as follows: EI CONTS/CAN * (RA + UKNIS) = $$$ where $$$ = JSA and EI CONTS = loads. Applying for JSA means revisiting the website of my old friend, JOBCENTRE PLUS. Undeterred by my previous experience I log-on, thinking 'Dishing out benefits is their specialist area, this will be a snip'.

Alas, as the bard quoth, the plans of mice and men 'aft gang awry'. It looks promising at first, as I scroll to the page that says 'How to claim benefit'.

Continued .... Next Page (2/2)

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