Haunted by the ghost of unemployment

Have you been paying attention?  If so, you will know that I am now working, albeit part time.  During my brief spell of redundancy, I decided to try and reclaim some of that hard earned cash that I have been haemorrhaging into the social security coffers for the last 25 years.  I think I regret it now.  Approximately six weeks after making my claim for benefits and the like, I received a cheque through the post.  Hurrah I hear you cry.  Calm yourself now, it wasn't for that much, also a reduction on my remaining council tax.  Hurrah I hear you cry again. Now, for clarity the total of these sums isn't enough to retire on.  Shortly later, a letter arrives from Inland Revenue telling me they are going to give us more money.  I'm almost giddy with excitement by now.  It seems the system is giving me money!  Now, before we get too carried away, let's hit the brakes for just a moment.  Working tax credit is considered as an income so far as benefits agency are concerned and by now I have a job that I will be starting imminently.  So, as a good honest citizen, it's back off to the Council offices to tell them everything.  So I do.  That's the best part of an afternoon gone being honest and appeasing my conscience; but as a consolation I leave with the warm glow of an honest man.


About 36 seconds later, several million letters appear through my door from Gloucester City Council.
1. A cheque for back payment of housing benefit.  Hurrah!
2. A letter telling me all about my claim that looks much the same as previous letters.  Hurrah!
3. A big fat letter explaining why I am no longer entitled to housing or council tax benefit and indeed haven't been since tax credits went up so I've been overpaid.  Boo hiss!
4. An invoice asking for everything back, including the value of the cheque above all bar about three shillings.  Boo hiss!
5. A new council tax bill, hiking it up to pre benefits levels and wanting the overpayment back.  Boo hiss again.


All the letters arrived on the same day and indeed 1-4 all have the same date and 2 and 3 are from the same person.  My head spins.  There is only one thing for it.  Phone.  Talk to someone, find out what's going on.  So I do. About a week later.  Desperately helpful cheery bloke confirms that I do indeed need to give them money back.
"How would you like to pay it Mr Kirby"
"Well, I wouldn't really but what are my options"
"I can take it over the phone now, pay over three or four months, couple of other options blah blah blah"
I pay in full, they'll probably only write to me again if I don't. "D'you realise I was probably better off on the dole"
"I couldn't possibly comment sir"
"Ah, go on"
"I can't"
"Ah, go on"

"I can't"

He wouldn't be goaded.  Good professional chap.  Not that good however, his name was on letter 4.


So, I am now considering revisiting my own honesty and conscience.  Seriously though, in the same metaphorical boat again, would I bother?  I really don't know.  Claiming dole was easy and quite an experience every fortnight, the rest is hassle.  Benefit fraud must be a full time job and as much work as a real job.


Anyway, how are you all?  Been up to anything interesting?  If you have, blog it, I might give it a read.  Brother, take note, your blog is barren.  That being said, I do know my brother is drinking hard to get his book complete, and a fine book I'm sure it will be.  Shameless plug, where's my commission?
In amongst the benefits melee, I have also been on my first practical driving lesson.  I'm being taught one instructor to two trainees so we get a bit of practice trying to teach and getting used to how much it is necessary to say.  It is possible that my co-trainee was hand picked to make me feel better about my own efforts.  Feel free to draw your own inference.  Over a two(ish) hour drive, notwithstanding I didn't do any manoeuvres, I did drive well enough to probably pass a normal driving test.  Considering it is 13 years since I was last taught to drive, I'm quite happy with that although I have naturally been swotting up. Things on the road and driving best practice has changed in the time I've been driving so I reckon there is a case for refresher courses.  Give it a couple of months, tell me you saw it here and I'll do you a deal.

So if you see a heavy liveried Vauxhall Corsa on the streets of Cheltenham or Gloucester, give it a wave, it might be me...

Given that the spectre of redundancy still hangs, the blog title has a reprieve, giving you all more chance to win the exciting prize I spoke of in my previous blog.  OK, truth is I still haven't worked out how to change the title yet.