A MECHANIC who has been unemployed for more than a year says he feels empty and let down after being unable to claim benefits. Adam Forder has had a luckless job search since December 2008, but the Jobcentre in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire.

Story by: ANDREW PAPWORTH

A MECHANIC who has been unemployed for more than a year says he feels "empty and let down" after being unable to claim benefits.

Adam Forder has had a luckless job search since December 2008, but the Jobcentre in Wisbech will not let him claim Job Seeker's Allowance because staff suspect a partner is living with him.

A job interview at Asda in Wisbech for a retail assistant is the closest the 18 year old has come to a job. He is waiting to hear whether he has been successful.

Adam, of Gull Road, Guyhirn, said: "It makes me feel worthless. I feel empty and let down.

"It is very frustrating but I am just going to have to sort it out one way or another."

Adam, who spent his 18th birthday trying to sign on, left school aged 15 because he secured a job in heavy duty mechanics for a coach company.

He was due to take an apprenticeship, but he and others were made redundant on December 19 2008. Since then it has been a long struggle.

The teenager goes out every morning, looks at advertisements in shop windows and picks up application forms.

He spends afternoons filling them in before going out to submit them the next morning, ready to start the process over again.

Adam has only heard back from Asda, which offered him an interview, and a butcher's which rejected him. He lives at home with his mum Tina who said: "The whole thing makes him feel so degraded."

Adam received one payment of Job Seeker's Allowance in January <<2010>> but it was cancelled when his girlfriend moved in with him - meaning they had to make a joint claim.

His girlfriend has since left, but the Jobcentre has to carry out a home visit to make sure she has moved out.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Work and Pensions said a home visit was due to take place on Wednesday (March 17).

She added: "We know it's tough right now but new vacancies come in every day and it's important not to give up hope.

"We give our customers guidance tailored to their individual needs, including help with job searches, CVs and training and enhanced support for long-term unemployed customers."

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