Living on benefits, I have realised Universal Credit suits our precarious labour market very well. It’s exploitation, stupid! Apart from admin roles, tutoring and personal training, the fair had desks for construction work, retail, catering, even health and social care. Names of brands caught my eye: Westfield, Nando’s and Tesco. It got me wondering. HowContinue reading “How Welfare Supports the ‘Gig Economy’”
Tag Archives: class politics
I am Daniel Blake
Watching I, Daniel Blake I am not ashamed to say I was moved to tears. I left the cinema still welling up inside. It does take a lot to make me cry, but an overwhelming sadness was not the only thing I felt. The other feeling can only be described as white-hot fury. I canContinue reading “I am Daniel Blake”
How to Get Your Universal Credit Raised
In case you don’t know, Universal Credit is the greatest achievement of Iain Duncan Smith. It is the only thing IDS achieved in government. It is his crucible. His life’s work, and his life’s worth. And it is utterly shit. But this should surprise no one. In theory, Universal Credit encompasses all the benefits you’reContinue reading “How to Get Your Universal Credit Raised”
Getting Paid (Late)
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)”
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 