Originally, the payment was due on the first day of September. It didn’t come through. All the documents were already handed in. All ‘the evidence’ was in Scottish hands. So, I was perplexed to find myself slipping into my overdraft. When I went to see my work coach — that’s Dick, to you — heContinue reading “Getting Paid (Late)”
Author Archives: jtwhitenoise
It’s Very Expensive Being Poor
I was meant to get my first payment of Universal Credit today. I checked my account online with some anticipation (though not much) only to find nothing there. I’ll be calling Scotland soon, listen to canned Vivaldi once again. Eventually I’ll get a dour voice telling me something. But even if I got the money, it wouldn’tContinue reading “It’s Very Expensive Being Poor”
The Evidence, Part II: Still unproven! Or, am I?
Opening a new letter from the Mail Handling Site B in Wolverhampton is always a special moment. First, I received a letter demanding ‘the evidence’, which was perplexing because it did not explain what exactly I needed to send to them. The robots at Site B assumed I would already know. So I went intoContinue reading “The Evidence, Part II: Still unproven! Or, am I?”
The Evidence, Part I: Unemployed? Prove it!
If you’re unemployed, can you prove it? Actually, can you even prove you exist? And, if you do exist, can you prove you’re you? Apparently, I can’t. Not according to Universal Credit’s Mail Handling Site B in Wolverhampton. This must be a common problem because Site B felt the need to send me one ofContinue reading “The Evidence, Part I: Unemployed? Prove it!”
The Joy of the Job Centre
Four days into my workless life, I head to the job centre early and ask to apply for Jobseekers Allowance. They tell me I can’t speak to someone, so I should use the computer instead. The computer tells me I’m eligible for Universal Credit, but not JSA. I apply for Universal Credit. At first, itContinue reading “The Joy of the Job Centre”
Joshua White 