Jobcenter Targeting older (55yrs onwards) women!

Bikergran its so unfair,you shouuld be claiming your pension now leaving any job that you would hope to get for a younger person who is also on jobseekers.

Yes but unfortunately I am not the only one! there is 1,000s & 1,000s

I do keep wondering if! the jobcentre woman should have actually told! me or used that phrase and maybe had second thought afterwards! as it's something being told! to do something, but to actually come out and say it to the general public! I mean surely its' not something the Government/jobcentre would shout about is it "yes we are targeting older people"!(for fear of backlash) just seems a bit odd for her to come out with it..like she was quite proud of it and said it with quiet glee !

"quite" not quiet tut

I like the idea of photography bikergran, you could definitely fill 15 hours a week with that and it's something you could carry on part time later when our wonderful generous State Pension kicks in for you if you want.

Yes I'm very proud of my daughter, for someone who was not very academic, she worked extremely hard to get qualified and now runs her own business with loads of regular customers, which is amazing. Thanks for your kind words.

Best of luck to you, don't let the jobcentre get you down, they seem to be more about bullying people these days rather than helping them.

bikergran your amazing I'd be bitter and twisted if I was in your position. I wish you luck and hope you find somthing soon

It is so very depressing indeed - it is bureaucracy gone mad. It really is.

biker - I worked as a photographer for the last 10 years of my career, having previously been a SW. I was very lucky in that there was a media company nearby with whom I was able to find work - I worked as picture editor on a magazine, and also they employed me freelance to take the stills for their film projects.

That was a pure piece of luck for me. Outside of that sort of luck, the field that pays best as a self-employed photographer is pet photography. If you like animals you can put adverts in local parish mags and shop windows - I am told that it brings a good response. It may of course be that the travelling element might be a problem for you. You could of course kit yourself out and do it from home. There might be set-up grants you could apply for - perhaps via the job centre (!?). Or it is worth researching various trusts who help people to set up in business. I had a free session with a business advisor.

I did get a grant from the Arts Council to produce some of my photos at a very large size and on light boxes so that they could be exhibited around the region and it was good publicity for me.

You will probably find that estate agents are a bit of a blind alley now - only the poshest of them employ photographers; the rest do it themselves with their digi cameras and tart it up in Photoshop.

It might be that if you head off down the self-employed route and can show that you are taking some of the steps, the Job Centre might lay off a bit. Or is that just wishful thinking on my part? The mall photographers are large concerns and they employ photographers who they provide with the basic kit - again there is often travelling involved.

I am so glad that you are enjoying your photography course and wish you lots of luck.

Too late for you, biker, but this epetition only started on Friday and already has enough signatures to require a government response.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/117916

It's about who says that people are fit for work.

hiLuckygirl thanks for that info and yes something to think about, photography is an exciting hobby but I realise a very hard niche to get into or make money from.The reason I started the Photography course was my elder DD moved house and after she was sorted she bought me this all singing /dancing SLR camera, bag, filters extra lenses as a thankyou for helping her over the years it sat in its box for a couple of yrs (it came out now n then for me to play with but then back into the box) I just had't the insentive or the enthusiasm at the time with DH being poorly, I couldn't concentrate.But now of course I have to get on, I still have trouble concentrating but I am getting there with it.Looking forward to starting the Level 2 this coming Wednesday and I believe we have visits planned to the Lowry arts center and a few other places.soooo watch out David Bailey!! (is he still around I haven't heard about him recently)

When I was at the JC on Friday, the support worker asked about all my courses(although they were there all on her screen)! when she came to the photography one she asked "did we put you on that"!!! I said no I put myself on it.... I could see what was going through her head """how dare this lady take it upon herself to go and do a course that she enjoys""" we can't have that tut tut!! she asked what time the course was (6pm-9pm) hmmmm! she said so it doesn't interfere with you looking for work??? "no" I said... grrrrrrrrrrrrr. The course itself I enjoy, but getting there is a diff matter, I walk to college (about a 50 min walk) in all weathers etc, I then will come out of college and have to walk into town (about a 10 mins dark and lonely walk) then I have to hang around the deserted bus station for the bus, if I miss the 9-10 one the next one is half hour wait.When I get off the bus I have a bit of a lonely walk of about 8 mins (5 if I run) lol.so although it may sound like its fun to the jobcentre , it is not all cut n dried.I do ask myself "what are you doing girl wandering about at this time of night"?? and of course my DDs worry.

(wish I had started a blog now lol)

I would love to hear from others in a similar situation.
I'm going to start a diary each time I go to the jobcenter.Dont get me wrong my last adviser was lovely and had sympathy for our age group (she was about late 40s) the new one is about ermmm 25/7 ish.

morethan2 yes I do feel bitter at times, even more so now I have to trudge down to town every Friday at all diff times(in the summer I would normally drive my mum n dad up to their caravan in Morecambe and stay with them every other weekend, make them meals and drive them about, but that will now have to stop now as I'm on weekly signings) but you just sort of slip into a routine, its like your life is being controlled, and you have no control over it, but I am hoping that something will crop up or that I have this "wonderfull" idea of my own business.Trying to think of it all as well as still grieving is a bit of a daunting task.But I am not looking for sympathy I am just trying to highlight what being unemployed and having to visit the jobcentre is like at our age.

How on earth do these people who are poorly and ill and who are forced off sickness and back into jobsearching, I really cant bare to think about.

Thank you Mr Government.

Bikergran I am full of admiration for you. To lose a loving husband and then be faced with all this must be soul destroying and I would be feeling very bitter. Good luck with the photography.

I have huge sympathy for you after my own experiences Bikergran

I also think you're right , a younger advisor just doesn't get it. How could they , I know when I was in my 20's I thought I knew everything ( of course now I'm in my 50's I do )

Its this impossible one size fits all mentality that ground me down. I never wanted to give up work, but circumstances forced that on me. I also knew I was discriminated against by potential employers.I did a straw poll and at one interview turned up with my walking stick- no second interview . Next one I folded my stick and put it in my bag, amazingly = second interview. A tiny sample of course I might be tarring all with the same brush !

I too did a photography course in my first year of 'retirement' and loved it and now am working on improving my photoshop skills etc.So I wish you luck with that , even if it doesnt lead to a job its a lovely skill to have.

I dont have any advice other than hang onto that positive attitude , it will stand you in good stead and I love the idea of a blog

All of this is quite creepy really - it is as if the "advisors" feel they have been given the right to control every aspect of your life, even out of work hours. It is wholly unacceptable and makes me cringe.

If you had gone into a decline, lost your initiative and sat around weeping, you would probably be exempt from trying to find work and provided with benefits. The fact that you have grabbed life by the balls, even though you are grieving, and got on and found useful and interesting things to do seems to count against you. Iy makes my blood boil on your behalf.

As someone has said, don't let the buggers grind you down.

Wouldn't it be great if the government thought their policies through in the real world, rather than dealing in sound bites and simplistic theories? Sigh.

Oh thanks all for your kind words, I am hoping if any one else is in similar situ that I may be able to at least encourage them.

I was advised prior to just going on Jobseekers (whilst still on Bereavement allowance) that I should maybe "visit the doctor"!! prior to being signed onto JS!!(an older more sympathetic one)

Believe me I have thought about it many times on my darkest days, but!! you are allowed I think 13 week certificate, at the end of this you then have to go back to the doc etc etc ..and sort of go through the hoops again, and whilst I'm sure my Doctor would have sympathy with me, it would only last so long and at the end of the day I wouldn't be able to stay on sickness for the next 6/7 yrs. I mean look at the people who they are "forcing" back into work! so there would be no chance of me being able to stay in that situation. At some time I would have had to face the music so I just think, may as well get on with it, there are so many worse than myself.I consider myself very lucky, I am fit enough to walk about, I have my family near by, I have met friends at college and I love being in the charity shop/chatting and all.

I do have days when I talk to my DH photo and say "this is your fault"
but he is free from pain and that's what makes me soldier on, he was in pain for years and never moaned or complained, so when I am out walking it doesn't bother me if I get soaked or tired or whatever, I just think of what he had to go through and my pain emotional or physical is nothing compared to what his was.

I want to be uplifted,and to make others feel like there is (hopefully) a light at the end of that tunnel.

Ha!! so much for me being a budding photographer!! I haven't even got one photo on my profile tut tut.!!

Did you read phoenix's posts when she was going through a similar time looking for work, biker? The splendid job she has now was gained by her own efforts. If you PMed her she might be able to give you some tips on "survival".

Yes I remember phoenix's post and yes she has done brill..really pleased for her and anyone that has managed to secure work.thanks Elegran

Funny you should mention being on the sick for 6 years * Bikergran* !!

My DD's MIL gave up work in 1979 when her first child was born and has never gone back!! Her husband gave up work in 1976 because ...and I quote ' He didn't like it' !! He then became her carer claiming she needed 24/7 care.

She has a mild disability that affects her walking in that she has a limp but as I have personally seen the lady in question dance the night away its not that disabling !!

Her DH passed away about 6 years ago and she remains totally supported on benefits , manages 5 nights at the pub a week - that's her social life she says and at least one holiday a year overseas !!

Thats where the system falls down. This lady could easily work in a call centre or behind a till . She manages the 1/2 mile walk each way to the pub alright

The thing about being a photographer is that you do not have to take photos of yourself, biker.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/117916

16,000+ signatures now in two days.
Those of you who feel sorry for people who are sick being forced to go back to work need to sign this.

lol durhamjen Il'e have you know I am quite photogenic (not)!! lol

ok off to do mix a new bathc of my chalk paint for my shabby chic furniture that isn't going to plan at the mo but I'm sure the end result will be fine

If the assessors are failing so spectacularly ( dj's link) it's time they were sanctioned!

What do they mean by "targeting older women"? Giving them extra help, do you suppose?

Who ever voted this nasty cruel government in need their heads examining !

FarNorth not quite sure.(but no I wouldn't think it was extra help).I was a bit taken aback when she just came out with it. I had just said to her....I'm 61 this year, I doubt if there is much out there for me....she replied "we have lots of women in here age 55 and over, and we are targetting ( I cant quite think if she said "targetting that age group or targetting your age group,either way we are targets. Lets see what this Friday brings! I am on a Level 2 Advanced cleaning course this Thursday and Friday for three weeks, have they let me off signing on ?? nope!! I have to still go down when I finish my course at 3-30 Friday and trot down to the. jobcenter.

I went through goodness knows how many hoops at the Job Centre to get JS Allowance only to be told I didn't qualify for it ?
No explanation why not.

I vowed never to go back, my local JC is the pits, you're made to feel utterly worthless and extremely uncomfortable (I'm not alone in saying this), terrible experience when you're already pretty low.

Luckily I found a one year post with a local charity (and am keeping my fingers crossed that it's extended beyond March 31st!)

Good luck bikergran ? ? and best wishes x

thanks loopy Unfortunately I have no choice but to go to the JC as I have no other income.

Hope your contract is extended in your charity shop! I love working in the one I am in, didn't realise there was so much work to do in a charity shop, just thought it was a case of standing there sorting clothes lol. I have been in extra days over Christmas and New year as I enjoy it so much thanks for the cake n flowers...for some reason they are black n white not colour !

loop when I was due to come off bereavement allowance and move onto JSeekers, I wasn't sure if I had to go on Universal Credit.I asked and asked but no one seem to know, took quite few phone calls and then when I went down to the JC and explained to a chap that when I was filling the claim in for UC, it wouldn't let me go any further as one of the first questions is "do you own your own home" which I do....I told him it wouldnt let me continue filling the form in....his words were!! "just put "no" to where it asks if you own your own home"!!!!! stupid *****!!!!! can you imagine the consequences of me telling lies!

In the end It was Jseekers I had to go on not UC.