On Sun, 20 Jul 2003 22:59:39 +0000 (UTC), "Essjay001"
wrote:

Some of us cant even qualify for JSA at all

I qualified last year, despite remaining a director of my own Ltd. The
fact was that the company had no income and no reserves, so couldn't
pay salary. Once the necessary checks had been made that we weren't
trying it on the Job Centre had no problem paying contributions-based
JSA - it is an entitlement for all, providing that you have a healthy
record of paying NI. C-based JSA is limited to a maximum of 26 weeks,
after that you get diddly squat unless you qualify for income-based
JSA (and magically after 26 weeks when you lose C-based you
mysteriously become "employed" again as far as Gordon Brown is
concerned - go figure!).

It's the I-based JSA that is nasty. Once you fall into that trap you
are into fantasy land where the Job Centre can tell you which job you
are going to apply for and you can't say "it doesn't pay enough!".
Basically if the local dairy need someone to clean the cow dung out of
the sheds, you are an instant candidate.

Have you noticed that B&Q seem to have lots of helpful staff in the
sheds recently? They don't appear to be the geriatrics of a couple of
years ago.

Andrew

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