My OperaBread & Circuses
Thursday, May 8, 2008 11:56:25 PM
No longer held by heavy chains the prisoner struggled to rise. He couldn't believe his time was up. With unsteady gait, hand-over-hand he stumbled his way to the sunlight. Stained by the detritus of his cell and stinking like an animal he emerged blinking into an uncertain world. Would his loved ones be waiting for him? Would their be banners? (“Free the Pontefract One”). Would the crowd be cheering? ...............Errr..........No!
It was a bit of an anti-climax really. Not worth shouting “Freedom” (a la Braveheart). My punishment over I could go back onto the dole. As a 'new claimant' I would be faced with a long-winded claim form and the usual degrading process of 'signing-on'.
Wednesday I faced the DWP. Now I can't complain too much about my usual 'advisor' – she's normally pretty fair. It's the system that is despicable. Still armed with all the necessary financial information (I kept quiet about my Lottery win) the form was duly completed. Now I have to sign on every week for the next 6 weeks (fortnightly is standard) – so I still have to take a few more lashes of the cat.
Of course I was asked if I benefited from the IAP and I politely answered in the negative. Still thinking back over the last few weeks of porridge I felt like Norman Stanley Fletcher when talking to the new intake. “Keep your heads down and do your time”, I said, “I was living proof that you could get beyond week 8”. Perhaps a few Godbers benefited from my sagely advice and then again maybe not.
The only thing I will miss is the extra £11.35 (Net) 'training' bonus. This has helped a little – but only a little – it has paid my Electricity bill. Given the huge rises in energy, food and petrol bills the miserly 60p rise we got last year will not even remove a few pebbles off my debt mountain.
Now I have to see how I stand with this so-called 'new claim'.
(I)Will it be contribution or income based? – if the former I will not be able to take my cats to the PDSA for 6 months (so they had better not get into any trouble). In addition I would have to fill out yet another lengthy form to claim exemption from Prescription Charges (it is automatic under income-based benefits).
(II)Will the DWP deduct 3 days from my claim (as they do on all new claims)? - and they take 3/5 of your weekly income not 3/7 (in spite of the fact that they want you to be available for work 7 days a week).
Luckily it will be another 18 months before they can force me back onto a 'training' fiasco. Perhaps by then I might manage to get a job!
Of course rich politicians never think about the consequences of their legislation or their mad-cap schemes. Don't let the public dwell upon the exorbitant 'wages' M.P.s pay to members of their own families (or the bloated expenses they claim). Just pander to 'public opinion' and the Tory press. After all we wouldn't want the general populace thinking that it's all bread and circuses!
It was a bit of an anti-climax really. Not worth shouting “Freedom” (a la Braveheart). My punishment over I could go back onto the dole. As a 'new claimant' I would be faced with a long-winded claim form and the usual degrading process of 'signing-on'.
Wednesday I faced the DWP. Now I can't complain too much about my usual 'advisor' – she's normally pretty fair. It's the system that is despicable. Still armed with all the necessary financial information (I kept quiet about my Lottery win) the form was duly completed. Now I have to sign on every week for the next 6 weeks (fortnightly is standard) – so I still have to take a few more lashes of the cat.
Of course I was asked if I benefited from the IAP and I politely answered in the negative. Still thinking back over the last few weeks of porridge I felt like Norman Stanley Fletcher when talking to the new intake. “Keep your heads down and do your time”, I said, “I was living proof that you could get beyond week 8”. Perhaps a few Godbers benefited from my sagely advice and then again maybe not.
The only thing I will miss is the extra £11.35 (Net) 'training' bonus. This has helped a little – but only a little – it has paid my Electricity bill. Given the huge rises in energy, food and petrol bills the miserly 60p rise we got last year will not even remove a few pebbles off my debt mountain.
Now I have to see how I stand with this so-called 'new claim'.
(I)Will it be contribution or income based? – if the former I will not be able to take my cats to the PDSA for 6 months (so they had better not get into any trouble). In addition I would have to fill out yet another lengthy form to claim exemption from Prescription Charges (it is automatic under income-based benefits).
(II)Will the DWP deduct 3 days from my claim (as they do on all new claims)? - and they take 3/5 of your weekly income not 3/7 (in spite of the fact that they want you to be available for work 7 days a week).
Luckily it will be another 18 months before they can force me back onto a 'training' fiasco. Perhaps by then I might manage to get a job!
Of course rich politicians never think about the consequences of their legislation or their mad-cap schemes. Don't let the public dwell upon the exorbitant 'wages' M.P.s pay to members of their own families (or the bloated expenses they claim). Just pander to 'public opinion' and the Tory press. After all we wouldn't want the general populace thinking that it's all bread and circuses!
