A Gen Z has complained that claiming benefits is tougher than a ‘full-time job’.He called the process of undergoing meetings at the job centre a ‘humiliation ritual’ after applying for Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) UNiversal Credit.
27-year-old Joshua Bishop took to TikTok to share how he studied philosophy at university with a masters in business but has been struggling to find work since finishing his course in October. In a video on TikTok, he also said he was a “god-d*** graduate, not some random refugee or something trying to milk the system”.
He blasted the DWP system, calling the process of undergoing meetings at the job centre a “humiliation ritual.” He claimed staff try to “shame” and “psychologically manipulate” him into getting jobs unrelated to his education.
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“They’re giving me constant homework and it’s misguided help because they’re adding more layers of bureaucracy,” he said. He fumed: “They obviously have this method of trying to get people off [ Universal Credit ] with guilt or shame but for some people it just makes them more pig-headed.”
He added: “[Staff are] heavy-handed and say things like ‘make sure you do it or you won’t get your payment’. It’s psychological manipulation.” He claimed he is getting “burned out,” and said he will have to start earning his money from TikTok.
“Maybe this TikTok thing will work out and I won’t need a real job anyway. I can just make videos and make money. That would be cool,” he said. In reply, one TikTok user commented: “Comparing a full time job to attending one singular meeting a week is insane.”
Another said: “What a useless member of society. Just can’t be bothered to work or to go to a single meeting a week so then cries “mental health’. Give it a break.” And another said: “Hope you get better soon. To all the haters- jot down how you would live on £400 per month.”