Case study: Daryl

Daryl, a British citizen aged 53, spent most of his life in the USA. He returned to the UK in 2006 after a divorce. He worked as a truck driver in the USA and ran a cleaning business.

When I got here, it was really hard to find a job. They didn't accept my American licence and I didn't have enough money to do the test and take lessons.
Also I'm older and I'm black. Well, you go in for interview, the impression on their face - it's like - why did you come?

I managed to get work as a cleaner at the children's hospital in Holborn for seven months. They used to pay £8 an hour and when I paid the rent - £450 per month, then bills, I was broke. So I said if I'm working and I've got nothing, I may as well go on benefits.

I get £57 a week. I'm always in arrears. The water, the electric and the gas. I don't like the cold weather, so I keep the heating on all the time. It's so expensive here. You go to the store and you come out with nothing. A little bit of food in a little bag. And that stresses me out.

So they made me go in this programme at the job centre. I have to go from 9:30am in the morning until 4:30pm. They say it's for motivation, like simulating a job, but all you do is sit there. There's no training going on. They send you to a room and say - look for jobs - and that's it. I have to go for 13 weeks. They will cut me off the benefits if I don't. Because I'm older they're not pressuring me too much with the housing. If I was younger, oh, I'd be on the street.

It's important to me to get a job because when I stay home, I get affected mentally. I just drink. I get stressed out so drinking eases the pain - you know the routine.
I think they should improve the payment because nobody can live on £57 a month. I know why they do it because they are trying to get you off the thing. I do want to get a job and be a slave like the other slaves. A job that will give me enough money to live a decent life.

Posted on 15 May 2009