1st September, 2021.
Yes: it’s the first of September … and officially the first day of meteorological autumn.
Which means …
Well, not a lot, from where I’m sitting.
It just means that there’s going to be the inevitable slide to a freezing cold meteorological winter: and a ever so slowly declining temperatures.
What makes it REALLY nice … ?
Is that my gas supplier — along side everyone else’s! — are putting prices up in October.
Wouldn’t you know it?
~≈⛽️≈~
Prices going up …
And income coming down.
As you know, I’m not working at the moment, and receiving Universal Credit: the standard benefit for unemployed people in the UK.
Which — currently? — includes a twenty pound uplift, introduce in April of last year, to help deal with the COVID 19 crisis.
There’s been calls, over the months, to extend the uplift: call that were partially successful when it was extended to the end of this month.
Yesterday? I told you that the relevant welfare sections of the UK’s devolved parliaments had called for it to either be extended, again: or to be made permanent.
Today … ?
Today, Work and Pensions Secretary, Therese Coffey, has rejected this.
Saying that “Our ambition is to support two million people move into and progress in work through our comprehensive £33 billion Plan for Jobs.”
I’m …
Actually, I’m not angry about this.
I’m not surprised about it.
But not angry.
More disappointed.
And curious.
What IS that plan?
And does it have provisions for those of us — like me — who’ve not received a practical job offer in three years.
I serious doubt it.
Given that … ?
I’m going to have to ask Therese Coffey a question or two.
Will she ask the Chancellor to make this permanent? She’ll make life easier for people claiming Universal Credit.
The other is quite simple.
Ms Coffey, if you’re reading this? Will you, personally, offer me a job at either your office, or your department?
The way my job hunting’s going, that’s the only way I’ll be ‘moving into work.’
~≈£≈~
