The dole fucking sucks, I was on it for a month in '97 and did everything I could to get off...even sitting behind a boring council reception desk and letting councillors in and out when they've forgotten their swipecards was a zillion times better. £190 a week vs £40 a week (back then...I understand it's gone up to a generous £50 now?)...you work it out.
I mainly remember spending a lot of time in libraries, going for long walks, filling in endless stupid fucking housing benefit forms and having to wonder whether to splash out on fags or food. Going down the pub wasn't really an option. Fuck anyone who says it's a 'cushy option'. But then I hate being skint more than anything else and love the smell of money (which really endeared me to the anarchists...)
Kinda facing a similar situation now, but just going ballistic lining up as many interviews as possible. Can you get any translation work? Maybe do a Google for relevant agencies... my mate used to do Swedish / French translations for one in Central London, and the money wasn't bad, if I remember right.