[Angus]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

I think it after claiming JSA for 6 months? Not too sure as I was only ever on jobseekers for a fortnight while inbetween jobs (before this job shortage, when it was simple to just get one on the spot). My mate has been unemployed for a year now, and he had to go on some course which was mandatory if he wanted to keep claiming. Know what the ONE WEEK course was for? To make a CV. During the week, they repaid his travel costs, and gave everyone who was on the course £2 a day for their dinner. They were there for 6 hours a day. A total of 30 hours, to do something that he finished in an hour. He said he spent the rest of the time using the internet at the facility.

Another waste of money if you ask me :/

That's because this ridiculous course is not intended to actually find anyone a job - people on it are removed from the official unemployment figures for the duration, as they will be shown as "in training" - this artificially massages the true figure of unemployed. Pathetic but true. I know this because I have a friend who works at our local Jobcentre.

Furthermore, the courses are aimed at the least intelligent, least motivated, and least likely to ever get work, thereby not actually being of any use whatsoever to genuine jobseekers like your friend, who find themselves twiddling their thumbs for hours every day. Surely his time would be better spent pounding the pavements and knocking on doors, not making him do the infantile activities they insist people participate in to get their Jobseekers. A total waste of resources.

In my opinion, those claiming JSA who have worked for years and paid their dues should not have to fulfil any other conditions in order to receive their money. It is actually quite insulting and demeaning to have to attend such basic courses as "how to write a CV"; how to apply for a job; how to behave at an interview; etc. I would refuse point blank to attend any course that is not going to actually teach me anything I already know.

Only the workshy, long term unemployed (and usually unemployable), should have to attend these pathetic courses to "earn" their JSA which they have probably never contributed a penny to in the first place.