The Cellar - View Single Post

Sundae · 11-11-2010, 01:09 PM

Yesterday I found out that my enhanced CRB check (Criminal Records Bureau I think) could still be 10 weeks in coming.
I can't start paid work at the school until it does, so I am stuck pretending to be looking for work in order to claim.
I know - I should be grateful to be getting any income, but after all I spent my time on benefits (after I was signed off as fit for work) volunteering precisely to get a job in this field - I've not been lounging about watching Maury, eating pizza and getting stoned.
Although I should probably have been getting toned...

Thinking my CRB might come through any day (before I was disabused of this notion) I've been spending my "jobseeking" time looking for work that will fit in and around my new job when I start it.
I have to attend the Job Centre every Monday with written proof that I am applying for work and attending interviews you see.
So I applied for a weekend job delivering hot food to elderly and mentally ill patients for approx 4 hours each Saturday and Sunday.

Having looked into it, as the money I earn is less than the benefit, I will be part-paid.
So I am paid by the company and then the department of Work and Pensions then tops it up so I am not out of pocket for working.
I get £5 (a fortnight I think) for being back in work.
I am not annoyed by this - although it will feel like I'm working for free!
I am annoyed that the bloody paperwork required for pretty much anyone working with people takes so bloody long to come through.
This new company will still have to obtain a CRB for me, as the people I am visiting are vulnerable and in the majority of cases I will have their KEYSAFE NUMBERS! Which means should I choose, I could walk into any of their houses any time I fancy.
But they will allow me to double-up while I am training (ie go out accompanied to learn the routes) and still pay me.

In light of all the Tory rhetoric spewed about dole-scum and scroungers, you'd think anything that gets people off their lazy fat arses and into paid work would be fast-tracked.
They're fast enough to swoop down on people suspected of benefit fraud after all (oh, not those avoiding tax - that's canny accounting, despite the fact it denies the country much more than fradulent claims...)

I haven't been offered the job yet.
And if I do I'll take it like a shot.
I prefer to work and this looks ideal (I'll address the fact I haven't driven in 3 years at a later date!)
It'll mean an extra £150 a month once I start work.

But in the meantime I just wanted to moan about being in limbo solely due to red tape.
The End.

11-11-2010, 01:09 PM	#428
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Yesterday I found out that my enhanced CRB check (Criminal Records Bureau I think) could still be 10 weeks in coming. I can't start paid work at the school until it does, so I am stuck pretending to be looking for work in order to claim. I know - I should be grateful to be getting any income, but after all I spent my time on benefits (after I was signed off as fit for work) volunteering precisely to get a job in this field - I've not been lounging about watching Maury, eating pizza and getting stoned. Although I should probably have been getting toned... Thinking my CRB might come through any day (before I was disabused of this notion) I've been spending my "jobseeking" time looking for work that will fit in and around my new job when I start it. I have to attend the Job Centre every Monday with written proof that I am applying for work and attending interviews you see. So I applied for a weekend job delivering hot food to elderly and mentally ill patients for approx 4 hours each Saturday and Sunday. Having looked into it, as the money I earn is less than the benefit, I will be part-paid. So I am paid by the company and then the department of Work and Pensions then tops it up so I am not out of pocket for working. I get £5 (a fortnight I think) for being back in work. I am not annoyed by this - although it will feel like I'm working for free! I am annoyed that the bloody paperwork required for pretty much anyone working with people takes so bloody long to come through. This new company will still have to obtain a CRB for me, as the people I am visiting are vulnerable and in the majority of cases I will have their KEYSAFE NUMBERS! Which means should I choose, I could walk into any of their houses any time I fancy. But they will allow me to double-up while I am training (ie go out accompanied to learn the routes) and still pay me. In light of all the Tory rhetoric spewed about dole-scum and scroungers, you'd think anything that gets people off their lazy fat arses and into paid work would be fast-tracked. They're fast enough to swoop down on people suspected of benefit fraud after all (oh, not those avoiding tax - that's canny accounting, despite the fact it denies the country much more than fradulent claims...) I haven't been offered the job yet. And if I do I'll take it like a shot. I prefer to work and this looks ideal (I'll address the fact I haven't driven in 3 years at a later date!) It'll mean an extra £150 a month once I start work. But in the meantime I just wanted to moan about being in limbo solely due to red tape. The End.