Scratch-on my friend! Scratch-On

It’s not a particularly present place the Jobcentre. Oh the staff try to make it friendly and professional enough, but there is something about the fact that the clientele are unemployed and on benefits that gives it an air of down-at-heel scruffiness, and mild desperation.

The last time I was at the JobCentre I was sat waiting on a very hard-wearing sofa, and joined by a mother and her pre-teenage son. At one point a security guard asked politely if the boy could take his feet off the sofa. The mother retorted back, “Are we allowed to breathe?”. What an amazing connection to make.

I have also learned that some don’t say “signing-on” anymore, but instead the wonderful “scratching-on”. Not something to repeat in polite company.

But these people are in the minority, and anyway they shouldn’t be enough to put you off using the JobCentre for what it is there for.

My advice is to get in touch with JobCentre Plus (Phone: 0800 0 55 66 88 or Text phone: 0800 0 23 48 88 if you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech difficulties) the day after you have been made redundant. When I lost my job I left it a few weeks as I believed there was a job for me just around the corner. I was wrong and missed out on money I was entitled to.

So make that call and go to that initial interview – it’s not as imposing as it may look.

Scratch On!