Jobcenter Targeting older (55yrs onwards) women!

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.

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.

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

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.

"quite" not quiet tut

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 !

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.

I find it all very depressing. How can anyone think it is fair to treat people like this?

Hi Lyndy yes I'm sure I must have many skills but not on paper which is what employers want these days.

I have considered self employment but having no transport seems to hold me back.

I have just passed my Level 1 Photography NCFE and starting Level 2 next week.There are jobs for photographers (baby portraits in Malls, Estate agents need photographers) etc etc ...not many niches for jobs but at least it's something I am enjoying learning.

Your daughter sounds like a hard working single mum..good for her hope she continues onwards and upwards.

bikergran have you any skills you could use on a self employed basis. My DD runs a mobile massage and she averages 16 hours a week so she can claim working tax credit (single mum with 7 year old). On quiet weeks she can claim her working hours as maintaining her web site and advertising for customers. She certainly has more disposable income than I had when she was small!.

Even Tupperware, Betterware etc counts as self employed to claim the tax credit, I believe, unless the rules are different for over 60s. Another area much in demand is tutoring or after school child care. Sorry, I've gone into problem solving mode, you've probably already considered and discarded these ideas.

It does not save them money, though, FarNorth.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/dwp-fit-to-work-assessments-cost-more-than-they-save-report-reveals-a6801636.html

The government understands the realities of job searching perfectly well. They don't care about that.
They are only interested in saving themselves money, and they choose to do it by victimising those who can't fight back.

Hi Lyndy yes I always put that I can start straight away, and I don't have to give notice (well not that I am aware of) haa! giving notice to the jobcentre that is that wouldn't surprise me if they came up with that idea!!! best keep shum ehhhh

But will type it in on my jobsearch.thanks

What is also just plain stupid as well is ! they saying to me and 1,000s of other that we must "expand" our searches, so there's me in my location and then there's another person 25 or so miles away in another part of the country being told the same thing, its almost like role swapping. Obviously women at our age are to be expected to travel on bus/train/walk to jobs out of our reach at all hours morning and night,walking travelling dark streets at some ungodly hour.
I am not work shy, yes I must admit it is a bit of a shock at my change of circumstances, but I am willing and ready to do what I have to, I would love to have a paid roll in the Charity shop I work at, but of course it is all voluntary.

One thing to take note of for any of you that are over 60 and seeking work!! Even my adviser wasn't aware of this and of course no one is going to shout about it!!!

If you are 60 or over you can now work 16 hours and claim working tax credit as opposed to the 30 hours. I kept thinking I had to look for a job for 30 hours, but have since found out that no I can work 16 hours and claim WTC because I am 60

I am now off to do my Todays job search..now then what shall I be today!!! a "Jewellery Merchandiser" "a Mig Welder"! "Maybe the "Cruise ship entertainer" or theres plenty of "keep fit instructors/personal trainers needed"

Yes posie, I heard her talking on Radio 4 yesterday and I was quite impressed until she started saying that women over 60 aren't physically capable of working any more. Then she was saying how patronising people had been to her because she was both female and young, without a thought about how patronising she had just been to me!!

My DS always said the job centre was a complete waste of time and he was better off picking up casual work even if he only managed a day a week. Now he is a full time kitchen fitter, works long hours that really work out to less than the minimum wage, but as he is self employed on contract to a kitchen supply shop, he doesn't have the same legal protection as normal workers. Still he seems happy enough at the moment!

bikergran, I don't know if it helps but I find typing "immediate start" into my job search has brought good results. I applied for a role last Sep, on the Wednesday, interviewed Friday and started on the Monday. They asked for data entry skills but really anyone who can use a pc could have done the work. Just a temporary role , but there was scope to move into permanent work too. It even got to the point where they were asking us if any of our friends or family wanted some work!

I found that a very enlightening post NanaandGrampy

I'm wondering if the Jobcentre's targetting of older women has got any connection with the WASPI (Women against state pension inequality) campagn?
They seem to be gathering support & a lot of debates going on about it at the moment.

Could it be they're trying to get more of us in work so that they can put a spin on it?

However Scottish MP Mhaira Black gave a really good speech about the unfairness of the changes of the state pension age to the Government. She seems to be that rare thing though - an honest, sincere politician! Hope she manages to stay that way.

N&G the story of access is hilarious.
Not your situation of course. Just their blind ignorance.

Apparently not Anya I think the JC has some agreement with this company.

He has been on course too. The 'how to write a CV', 'interview techniques' type.

I have never had a positive experience at the jobcentre. In my 30's I went to university and supported myself and my 2 young children doing 5 part time jobs a day as well as studying long into the night.

I worked my way up in my chosen field and in the course of nearly 30 years was made redundant about 4 times - that's the trouble with being senior in a large company , they are always looking for ways to save money.

The first time I didn't go and sign on at all, I lived on my savings , sent out hundreds of CVs, and it took 6 months of dogged hard work but I got a new role.

On the other 3 occasions I 'signed on' . By this stage I had 3 degrees, and was at Director level. The questions were always the same! They didn't understand my skill set or previous roles so made me apply for ridiculous jobs like Double Glazing Sales when I have a Marketing background ( not even a vague match). They made me apply to the local Tesco who actually laughed at my CV and told me I'd be bored rigid in days. I explained at length I was happy to be bored rigid as a temp whilst I looked for another role but I didn't even get past the telephone stage. They simply weren't interested.

My favourite time was when they were having work done to the job centre building , I'm disabled and use a scooter and couldn't actually get into the building !! They actually convened a meeting for me to attend( in the building) to discuss how I couldn't get into the building !!!!

I have worked ALL my life since the age of 16. I've worked here and abroad. I usually worked a 60-80 week . My commute has been up to 2 1/2 hours each way each day. I never complained , not once ! I loved my job.

By the time my last redundancy came up a year ago, my mobility was compromised enough to make public transport into London unfeasible. Driving into the square mile is easy at 5am ( that's the time I would have to leave to get there for 7 before the traffic) but parking impossible even with a blue badge, but 4 + hour commute home is out of the question these days. I simply physically can't do it.

I tried to explain to DWP but quite frankly they were so busy trying to fit my round peg into their square box that I just gave up...

Im totally fed up with the one size fits all approach and I have absolutely no time or respect for the DWP .

Sorry for the lengthy post...but that's the depth of my feelings about the 'service' offered ( and I use that term lightly).

All this is the crap you get from a government who do not understand the realities of job searching.
Particularly when you are older or disabled in someway. Or the jobs are too far away to make it viable to pay travel costs. People on jobseekers who will probably never be able to earn really good wages cannot just up and move to where the jobs are.

The DWP is just trying to pretend they can solve this.

Those in rural areas can find it particularly difficult. As Ninathenana has described with her disabled son.

Why can't they organise some kind of training to upgrade qualifications?

What's the point in traveling miles to stack shelves? Surely if that was all they could offer there was something more local?

DS was put on a 'workplan' they found him a placement shelf stacking at a supermarket which was a train journey away. You still get your jobseekers whilst doing the placement as the company don't pay you. This placement cost me £7 a day train fare, a pair of black trousers and two white shirts, as he had to provide his own uniform. He was there 6 wks.

I shouldn't try for a job with the DWP. You'll get sanctioned.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/man-sanctioned-by-the-dwp-for-not-seeking-work-while-waiting-to-start-job-at-the-dwp-a6778486.html