Universal Credit..anyone? know anything about it? seems that is what I have to go on.

posie yes I have just been reading about when you have to put down the hours,, not sure if they would warrant picking n taking GS up from school! I thought it was only an house travel but I think I had been reading a very old post and yes I'm sure it is now 90 mins, wasn't sure if that was each way? if any one knows?

Farnorth yes some hindsight would be advantageous

My sister used to work in a jobcentre before she joined the post office, so she has been both sides of the desk.
She's the one who said it's a game these days, not like it was when she was there.
Whatever the government says, they have targets to meet. You just have to make sure you are not the one targeted.

My grandson's mother had to sign on last year when she was between jobs. She swore a lot more than I've ever heard her do, and I had to calm her down quite a lot. There were times when if she'd done what she wanted, she would have been sanctioned.

Stay calm, biker.

durhamjem I have been reading about them having to reach "sanctioning targets"! not sure if this is true but wouldn't surprise me at all, and also read that if they do you should ask for some thing some reason and then really question the reason..or something like that, I read that much my mind is now well and truly boggled

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/heart-attack-victim-benefits-axed-5926152

This isn't at all reassuring, sorry.

oh my gosh! shocking..

And what credit will you get biker for all the care that you gave your OH? The benefits system is inhuman at times, and I do feel for you.

You do not get any, Luckygirl. I looked after my husband for 15 years before he died, and even though he had DLA for getting about, he never got any for care, even though he could not go out on his own, walk without help, have a shower on his own. I even had to go to the loo with him in case he fell over, but it wasn't enough. It never quite fitted in with the categories.

Biker I was made redundant around 11 years ago and found the JobCentre staff very helpful - I could have gone on any number of courses.

I'm surprised that you're being advised to treat things as a game to avoid employment - it's not a game - you need to find employment it seems, so treat it as a challenge.

Many people in their 60s, and older, still work - it's not something that's to be avoided. Why should you not work as you are only 59?

You might find something really interesting, you might not, but don't consign yourself to the scrapheap and restrict your horizons just to fight the system.

Did anyone say that?
I said if you do not get a job, which is not the same as avoiding work.

Actually, I've reread and said when you do not get a job.
Treating it as a game means not getting despondent; it's far too easy to be ground down by it.

thanks all.. for help and advice

Riverwalk I haven't said I am trying to "avoid" employment,and yes I will look on it as a challenge as to any courses that may be available to me, I will go along with their rules and regulations no problem, and yes only 59. The problem is..I am still grieving, after looking after my dh through many years of illness, one cannot just switch off at a certain point, everyone is different, and only people that have been bereaved will understand that. To be thrown into the lions dens so to speak after caring for so many yrs can be quite scary.

I hope I do manage to find something interesting and certainly won't be joining the scrapheap just to avoid the system, do you really think I want to live the next 7 yrs on £72 a week.

Redundancy is the loss of a job/vocation...... one gets over this as I have (twice). Widowhood however, is an entirely different matter and I for one am not ready to rejoin society after 8 months now, and cannot see that I will be anytime soon. Being forced to seek employment only adds to the stress of learning to live without ones partner.

bikergran do you do any voluntary work? That can be a good way to get used to working and can also help you to get paid work by giving experience and showing that you are reliable and capable.

Farnorth no not done anything much the last 12 mnths to be honest, but I'm sure something will crop up thanks .

Jobseekers interview had been put back an hour next Tuesday...then got another phone call they had had a cancellation and could I possibly go tomorrow" ! at 10-10.. so lets see .

Good luck for tomorrow, biker.

Good luck!

All the best.

Could you be eligible for ESA?

By the way does 'own your own home mean mortgage paid?

Don't they want to get rid of ESA next week, Galen? Probably a good idea that biker's appointment has been brought forward.

I have a feeling it means you or you and the mortgage company Galen as you can apply for help to pay your mortgage interest in the same way that you can get housing allowance.

Good luck tomorrow bikergran probably better finding out what the reality is (usually better than you think ) than imagining it for the next few days.

Thanyou all for your good wishes..yes I am going with open mind, I must say the lady who rang me twice, did sound very nice called me by my first name and wasn't offhand or anything so I am hoping she is the lady whom I am seeing this morning.

Galanthat was a thought the ESA? I have been in contact with a welfare officer, she amongst others that I have spoke to did point me in the direction of the Doctors to maybe see if I could obtain a 13 week sick note to give me a little more time to start adjusting, I have been advised of that all the way along (even one of the jobcentre staff)! but...I thought I may as well just get on with it and no use prolonging it, as at the end of that I would still have to go onto JC.

The "own your home bit" was confusing, I didn't get to the stage where it asked about "outright ownership" or "Mortgaged" I was told after running round in circles that I was not eligible for Universal credit because I owned my own home, so not sure on that one.

Although some people (at the jobcentre) and others, may see "owning your home outright" may sound like "ohh well she! must be ok to own her home outright at 59/60yrs of age, what people don't always know, is that we downsized nearly 16 yrs ago we sold our bigger house and just had enough to buy much smaller house outright.

durhamjen I think you could be right that ESA is being phased out, the thing is they what they do is just make up a new benefit name but in the end it's just the same as the old benefit....(just to confuse us)

Oh and I am not sure if I can be "Bikergran" any more as I sold my bike yesterday