The struggle against the bureaucracy

Being an organised sort of a chap, and since I shall be unemployed soon, I though I would contact the Jobcentre in advance. It was not encouraging. I went to the Job Centre Plus web site. They say "Contact your local Jobcentre Plus office or Jobcentre as soon as you know you will be unemployed. Claim as soon as you can. If you delay you may lose money".
So I looked up the number of the local Jobcentre. It's in Newhaven. I rang them, and was told not to ring them but to ring a central number. So I did, they said they could not deal with me until I was unemployed, "because of the computer". I know precisely when I shall be unemployed, the web site advises people to get in touch as soon as they know...I fear this is going to be a long struggle.
I was last unemployed in 1991, signing on at the Tottenham unemployment office in Scotland Green, once the worst street in North London. Plus ça change.