New UK immigrant on jobseekers and social security number?

SJB · Post by **SJB** » Sun Sep 16, 2012 3:05 pm

Right, i have just got back to the uk from a month in finland with my girlfriend after a year in Australia with her.

the original plan was to come to finland, find a job and stay. However that didn't quite go to plan as finding work for someone that doesn't speak much Finnish and isn't in the unemployment system is as i'm sure you all know a bit of a nightmare.

Soooo i came back to the UK, where the job situation is still bloody awful and i will likely be going on jobseekers allowance for the first time in my life very shortly. I absolutely hate it here and i am desperate to get back to lovely finland and my lovely girlfriend. I've been informed of the E303 form, which basically allows you to claim UK JSA whilst looking for work in another EU country for up to three months as long as you register with the unemployment service of your destination country within seven days of arrival.

Not having a social security number was a pain in the arse on my last visit as you cant even register as unemployed to get their help without one, so to register as unemployed you need to be employed first :/ I'm not particularly bothered about getting any money out of the finns but i would like some help from the unemployment office with finding a job.

My question is.... Will having this form mean that i will be able to actually register with the unemployment office and granted a social security number and actually put into the finnish system wherein they will help me to find work?

Thanks in advance

Sam

**Sponsor:**

CH · Post by CH » Sun Sep 16, 2012 4:28 pm

SJB wrote:How do the bloody somalians manage to get straight on the system? as when i visited the unemployment offices last it was just me sat with about 50 somalians and i was the only one they could't do anything for as i don't have a social security number!

What a lovely attitude! Because they are residents and you aren't? Search this site for lots of information on how to become resident, or go to www.migri.fi.

SJB wrote:wherein they will help me to find work?

You assume the unemployment office will help you find work? If you are on unemployment benefits sure they will send you "apply for this or no unemployment benefits" notices, but that doesn't mean that they will actually help you find work. Got to www.mol.fi and you can search for yourself what open positions there are listed. (It's not the only place, but it is the one the unemployment office would be using.)

Adrian42 · Post by **Adrian42** » Sun Sep 16, 2012 5:15 pm

SJB wrote:How do the bloody somalians manage to get straight on the system?

That's a horrible racist attitude you display here.

You should be happy every day that you come from the UK and didn't have to flee from a messed up home country for seeking asylum in another continent like people from Somalia.

SJB wrote:Will having this form mean that i will be able to actually register with the unemployment office and granted a social security number and actually put into the finnish system wherein they will help me to find work?

Trying to find a job in Finland without speaking Finnish fluently is like trying to find a job in the UK without speaking English fluently: Your chances are not that big.

And getting a social security number won't suddenly create out of the void a job for you - the fundamental problem that you don't speak Finnish fluently won't change.

SJB · Post by **SJB** » Sun Sep 16, 2012 5:57 pm

Edited: look it wasn't racist and it certainly wasn't meant that way, it was an observation (albeit a badly worded one) so can everyone disembark from the high horses please.

and mate if you come to the uk without speaking a word of english the chances of you actually getting a job is quite high to be honest. I've been in the building trade for years and have met many workers who cannot speak anything past hello.

So if i get it right, the unemployment service does't help you find a job? at all?

rinso · Post by **rinso** » Sun Sep 16, 2012 7:05 pm

SJB wrote:So if i get it right, the unemployment service does't help you find a job? at all?

They tell you to use Internet (mol.fi).
You're completely on your own in this.

Adrian42 · Post by **Adrian42** » Sun Sep 16, 2012 7:19 pm

SJB wrote:So if i get it right, the unemployment service does't help you find a job? at all?

There is no hidden stash full of jobs at the unemployment service just waiting for you, and there is also unemployment in Finland.

And an equally qualified Finnish or Estonian guy who speaks Finnish fluently always has a better chance to get a job than you.

On a side note, now that winter is near it is likely not the best time for getting jobs in construction (in a proper winter the ground is frozen from November/December till April).

SJB · Post by **SJB** » Sun Sep 16, 2012 7:42 pm

From what i gathered i was under the impression that it slightly increased your chances of being hired if you were registered at the unemployment office? IE it's less of a ballache and there are incentives for a finnish employer to hire someone that is registered unemployed. Plus the language courses would be a help too.

I really dont care what i do to be honest i can turn my hand to just about anything and I am registered with a few agencies in Helsinki already but to be able to sign up for a couple they required a social security number, which takes me back to the question of - if i bring the form E303 with me to the unemployment office the next time i have another crack at staying in finland do they enter me into the system and provide me with an SS number etc?

Adrian42 · Post by **Adrian42** » Sun Sep 16, 2012 9:18 pm

SJB wrote:From what i gathered i was under the impression that it slightly increased your chances of being hired if you were registered at the unemployment office?

From what I gathered I am under the impression you are an unskilled worker who does not speak Finnish fluently.

If that is correct, then no matter how bad the job situation in the UK is you have much higher chances of finding a job if you spend the 3 months in the UK and not in Finland.

If you are eligible for a JSA that allows you the E303 job search in Finland you can use that to spend time with your girlfriend while searching for a job. You can sort out all details (e.g. whether you can get a SSN) after you arrive here (also ask your girlfriend for help).

Based on stories from many people I've met who came with their girlfriend/wife to Finland it will in any case be a steep uphill battle for you to find any job in Finland unless you are extremely lucky or your girlfriend knows someone who has a job for you, and that won't change significantely if you get a social security number or are registered as unemployed in Finland. Finding a job in Finland when not speaking Finnish fluently is a huge problem even for many people with a college degree who are fully integrated into the Finnish social security system due to their Finnish wife.

kiwijim · Post by **kiwijim** » Sun Sep 16, 2012 10:13 pm

If your very seriously wanting to come and live here... learn Finnish (buy book, internet sites or CD..what ever works for you)! Of course Finns know English, they are taught basics at school but that doesn't mean they can understand you or you understand them... so learning Finnish isn't an option...it's a MUST. You need to start now, it's hard but not impossible.

Register your unemployment in UK if you want but make sure you have cash in the bank and your EU healthcare card. Register at the police when you get here straight away the right to reside here, then head to the Maistraatti to get a Finnish ID number. There have been many cases of the police and Maistraatti not given people the OK, the laws lack quantitative measures, for example; exactly how much money is required.

Good luck

SJB · Post by **SJB** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 1:26 am

Adrian42 wrote:
From what I gathered I am under the impression you are an unskilled worker who does not speak Finnish fluently.

Far from unskilled mate, i've got ten years of running my own business behind me and all the plumbing and heating qualifications under the sun. Self employed work here is slow so i'd rather take a job cleaning toilets closer to my girlfriend than fixing them far away. The Finnish part fair enough but i'm willing and actively learning so dont be a dick.

kiwijim wrote:If your very seriously wanting to come and live here... learn Finnish (buy book, internet sites or CD..what ever works for you)! Of course Finns know English, they are taught basics at school but that doesn't mean they can understand you or you understand them... so learning Finnish isn't an option...it's a MUST. You need to start now, it's hard but not impossible.

Register your unemployment in UK if you want but make sure you have cash in the bank and your EU healthcare card. Register at the police when you get here straight away the right to reside here, then head to the Maistraatti to get a Finnish ID number. There have been many cases of the police and Maistraatti not given people the OK, the laws lack quantitative measures, for example; exactly how much money is required.

Good luck

Mate, i'm learning as fast as poss, it's not the easiest language in the world i already speak french and spanish and they were nowhere near as hard to get to grips with. I went to both the maistraati and the immigration police on my last visit and couldn't register, get an ID number or achieve anything without a contract of employment.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 1:33 am

but i would like some help from the unemployment office with finding a job.

Oh we can do that. Imagine you're sitting in the unemployment office

From what i gathered i was under the impression that it slightly increased your chances of being hired if you were registered at the unemployment office?

Naah, thats the long-term unemployeds whove been on the dole for 500 days and dropped off to basics. They got some back-to-work government programmes just like in the UK.

SJB · Post by **SJB** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 1:41 am

bloody hell, well i've neve been unemployed in my life i thought it was these peoples jobs to get you a bloody job!!

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 2:16 am

So you've not been out to the wank... jobcentre in the UK either? You're in for a ride mate. BTW if you get invited to a job interview say you don't have a suit, you might score one off them.

Oombongo · Post by **Oombongo** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 7:38 am

Your lady has very hight chance to get job in UK than you finding job in here instantly.
So when your will be out of work for a few weeks or even months then your lady will get impatient because she has a local circle here who will be asking a question about your career from your girl. Now a man without career is like a stain on underwear in the eyes of a lady. Hence, you will be saying good f-bye to your love story starting with domestic fights and arguments.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Mon Sep 17, 2012 11:47 am

Far from unskilled mate, i've got ten years of running my own business behind me and all the plumbing and heating qualifications under the sun. Self employed work here is slow so i'd rather take a job cleaning toilets closer to my girlfriend than fixing them far away. The Finnish part fair enough but i'm willing and actively learning so dont be a dick.

Well, for the "being a dick" part, you need to figure with the "what I want to have" vs. "what I can have". Also thinking with a brain is advised, as only Americans have a constipational amendment not to think with a brain. Fact remains, even you show up with the E-document with 3 months JSA hopefully being paid, you still won't be a "resident" (unless you do the m-thing), just "wanting" isn't enough. They want "proof" and thats a job contract in hand, and no "promises promises" either, open end, guaranteed hours & fixed salary, and proof its coming into the account. Of course now every foreigner goes !"#¤% and starts his own business. And gets anally raped by the tax office, sideways without any vaseline, because they were "thinking" its a good idea - Finns are reluctant to start a business as they know what happens if the business if "self employed work is slow", and they don't have the option of absconding the country to avoid 10 years of blacklisting as there isn't bankrupcy for individuals.

Of course, with an UK company one could try some cute manoveurs, (I've got an eye for a conservatory & windows and bits and bobs for my cottage like an electric shower as some of the building stuff is cheap as soap) but unfortunately the pikeys have already come doing roofing and paving, so an English van in the yard gets you a polite "f*k off" if you are lucky, before the villagers come with hayforks and burning torches...

So, well, I do think your enjoyable experiences with the gobshi... I mean jobcentre is going to take you off a tangent, but actually your gf would get a job in the UK more or less yesterday. Depending then again on the location. Heck, I could get one without being in the country and I'm over 40.

What you need is a plan - one that works. That m-thing is one option that'd get your foot in the door with an useless integration programme, Finnish classes and you could get into a business incubator where they'd course you in Finnish bookkeeping & legislation. For I know that parquet cosmetology with them wicked somalians wouldn't quite be your cup of tea.

Finland Forum

Find information about moving to, living in and life in Finland