Need money - leave dignity at the door.

I unfortunately joined the JCP after leaving college. I went to the interview and met my advisor - if that's what they're called - and went home feeling worse than when I woke up. They wanted me to log in everyday to the website, to join job sites, to phone companies and so on. I had no access to internet and travelling to the JC everyday was going to cost more than they were giving me.

After maybe five months my advisor retired and I was handed off to someone else. Turns out everything I had been doing was wrong and was in danger of losing my claim. Just because I didn't log in to the stupid website and type in what I was doing - I was writing in a book - they told me I wasn't looking for jobs. Just so we're clear there wasn't a single day where I wasn't looking.

They treat you like dirt regardless of who you are. Going on benefits creates a stereotype that no matter how hard you work never goes away.

Luckily I found a job all by myself with no help from anyone else just before the date I would be told to get any job no matter how far I would have to travel and for peanuts.

I have tonnes of respect for people who are in such a desperate way that they would have to join, its not their fault, but for me I'm glad I no longer have to burden myself with that place or those people.